If Your Cat Is So Clingy You Can’t Go To The Bathroom By Yourself, These Attention-Grabbing Toys Are Worth A Shot
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If Your Cat Is So Clingy You Can’t Go To The Bathroom By Yourself, These Attention-Grabbing Toys Are Worth A Shot
No promises… but I have a good feeling about these 🤞
1. A cat dancing toy that literally costs less than $4 (it’s just a steel wire with some rolled cardboard on the end) but proves IRRESISTIBLE to kitty babies the world over.
Promising review: “These toys are my and my cats’ favorites! We have two Bengal cats who need a lot of playtime! These are so great because they mimic an insect or bird’s movement. Because they are wiry, they are springy and somewhat unpredictable. The cats sometimes catch the cardboard pieces and chew on them, but it’s not as easily caught as, say, a ribbon or plush toy, so there’s more movement and exercise. Simple but the best!” —Jakson
Get it from Amazon for $3.99+ (available in packs of one and three).
2. A self-grooming toy if your babies need 24/7 scritches and scratches and they just don’t get the fact that you can’t do that while you sleep/eat/use the bathroom or that you only have two hands, ya know?
Promising review: “Now I bought this out of the fact that my cat likes to rub her face on EVERYTHING, so I thought she would like this and she absolutely LOVES THIS. Usually you think cheap cat things like this wouldn’t work, and I thought the same, then my cat rubbed her face on it and it was like holy cow this actually works, like my cat actually likes this. A whole new experience tbh.” —Raychelle Schar
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
3. A self-rocking teaser toy sure to tempt feisty bebes with its unpredictable movements, fluffy feathers, and colorful ribbons.
Promising review: “This is small but mighty. My cat loves to tap this and watch it bounce. Sometimes, I pick it up, and he likes to chase the feathers and ribbons. Love how small it is; it’s easy to put away when we are cleaning or take it with us on the go.” —Amanda Smith
Get it from Amazon for $4.78+ (available in various styles and bundles).
4. A trio of cat kickers with silvervine catnip sure to attract most bebes and three lifelike chirping noises one reviewer says helps their blind kitty better locate the toys 😭
Promising review: “All fosters seem to enjoy these. They definitely make noise, but I don’t mind. I actually get a kick every time I hear them playing with them. So fun and entertaining; they are a great size for both kittens and adult cats, love the colors and the different noises each one produces. They are soft and fluffy but made well. They are motion-sensored, and some are set off easier than others. Great buy.” —Bella
Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in two styles).
5. A laptop-shaped scratcher if the last few years of WFH life have led your cats to believe that they *too* have a 9 to 5. It’s this or have them all piled on top of you, and that makes it quite hard to type…
Promising reviews: “Kevin loves that it is sturdy, practical, and has an endless battery life. 5 out of 5 paws 🐾” —Katie
“Rocket is a very important businessman and needed something portable to send out his weekly meeting notes. This was perfect for his needs, and I even hear him late at night typing up a storm. 10/10.” —Danielle
Get it from Amazon for $21.90.
6. A zebra-print activity mat that looks exactly like a baby play mat and that just tickles me pink. If your kitties could use some tummy time, the attached hanging toys will keep them entertained.
Promising review: “My cat simply loves this! He dives right into it, sometimes even doing somersaults into it, and it has really held up nicely! He’s 15 pounds, so he’s not small, and it bounces right back into place after he pounces on it. It moves with him and has provided hours of entertainment for him and for me! Highly recommend for active cats.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $20.99+ (available in two styles).
7. A “jingle and roll” cat kicker toy laced with organic catnip, silvervine, and valerian root so intoxicating, they might just get their fill of scratching and biting it instead of their siblings or your arm.
HoffnPaw Pet Toys is a small, Chicago-based biz that creates handmade, eco-friendly pet toys. Owner David says his cats Sweetp and Simba serve as his inspiration.
Promising review: “She’s obsessed! My cat has not let go of her new favorite toy since I took it out of the package. In fact, she’s currently napping atop it. Excellent construction, fast shipping, and very communicative seller.” —Sarah Mersch
Get it from HoffnPaw Pet Toys on Etsy for $15.95+ (available in sizes S–L and four colors).
8. A “ripple rug” your kitty can burrow into, scratch as much as they like, and just generally just roll around on. The mat’s non-slip rubber bottom keeps it in place and also allows you to prop it up in various configurations if your babies are a fan of tunneling.
Stephanie / Chewy, Wink / Chewy
Ripple Rug is a small biz that makes their product from recycled materials.
Promising review: “My cat loves to play in my carpet runners, throw rugs, and mats, so this seemed like a no-brainer. After a few days of being afraid of it, he embraced the ripple rug as his favorite toy! I fluffed it up a little and placed several of his best toys inside, and when he was ready, I showed him where his toys were hidden. Once he understood the game, he was instantly hooked. He crawls inside; he pounces and bats his toys; he hides inside and bats his paws outside the holes. When he’s finished, he sleeps on top of it!” —AnimalFriend
Get it from Chewy for $46 (available in two colors).
9. A pair of play-‘n’-squeak mice if your formerly feral babies still love to hunt and you’d prefer they stalk these instead of your toes.
Promising review: “My cat is flipping OUT. The instant I pulled the tab and tossed it to him, he flailed and slapped it across the floor. He’s been playing for 20 minutes straight, and talking about it the whole time. Kitty’s rough on his toys, so I anticipate having to perform emergency mouse surgery sooner than later — but for now? This toy’s worth every penny.” —Emily S.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $11.76.
10. A floppy robotic fish that only moves when your pet interacts with it. Once they get the hang of it, I guarantee they’ll be karate chopping, bunny kicking, and biting the ish out of it.
The fish comes with a small bag of catnip as well as a USB charger so you can juice it up whenever your cat kills the battery.
Promising review: “My cat’s favorite toy! I am SO glad I bought this. Since the moment I opened it, my cat was all over this fish for the catnip in it, then he was mind blown when I turned it on, and it started flopping. He’s been attacking/cuddling it ever since :,) I was surprised and impressed with how durable the fabric was, too! My cat has extremely sharp claws, and the fish has remained intact. After a few months, the mechanism became worn down, and the floppiness isn’t as detectable, but that doesn’t stop my kitty from viciously loving this fish!” —Virginia Benitez
Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in seven styles).
11. A refillable catnip mat for lazy lil’ kitties who rather roll around on the floor than get in some cardio chasing after a robotic toy.
3 Kitties and 2 Humans / Etsy
The 9 x 9-inch mats come from 3 Kitties and 2 Humans, Willowick, Ohio-based shop with all sorts of cat goodies.
Promising review: “My cat LOVESSS this genius product (: She’s an odd one and doesn’t play much, catnip or not, but she does snooze around pretty much all the time so this is perfect! She won’t give it up! Shipped super fast, super soft fabric, great quality! I definitely recommend! (:” —BreAhnna Stephens
Get it from 3 Kitties and 2 Humans on Etsy for $8 (available in dozens of colors/prints).
12. A banana toy sure to please as it’s filled with nothing but 100 percent catnip! One reviewer said the faux fruit is so potent that their fur baby is still attacking it a full year later!
Promising review: “I’ve spent a crap ton on toys for my picky cat, only for him to ignore them. My co-worker gave me one of these unassuming bananas and it’s like crack for cats! He can’t get enough! I got three for backup. They are super durable (I don’t clip his claws) and the right size to hold and kick. Smoosh and twist to activate the catnip, and he’s ready to play. This is a staple in his toy box now.” —Lan
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $18.86.
13. A versatile scratching post and entertainment center that’s disguised as a miniature pool table!! The pool cues are cleverly designed as teaser wands, and that just sends the whole thing over the top 😆
It comes with two feather teaser sticks and six colorful felt balls.
Promising review: “This is a perfect gift for cats who already have everything their hearts desire but it’s still not enough. It is so cute, doesn’t take up a ton of space, easy to assemble, and sturdy. The pool cue wand toys are genius. In general, my cats will bat the balls under the furniture and then sleep on the pool table. Human and cat approved!” —Laura
Get it from Amazon for $79.99.
14. A UFO-shaped teaser with two 360-degree battery-operated butterflies and a track with two impossible-to-remove balls. The dual toy can be used as is or even separated if your kitties are territorial and want their own toy.
The butterfly teasers run off of three AA batteries — so be sure to pick those up, too!
Promising review: “BEST purchase ever made on planet earth! It has kept my two kitties busy for over an hour…still loving it and I can take a break from worrying they’re getting into trouble! Buy this…now!” —Molly M.
Get it from Amazon for $18.99.
15. A launcher with 20 colorful pom-pom balls if your kitty loves to play fetch but doesn’t quite understand the whole bring it back part of the game. This will buy you a whole lot more time so you can shoot of multiple before you have to get off the couch and venture into the kitchen or bedroom in order to retrieve the balls.
Promising review: “My cats love to carry things like this around the house. When these came, I just opened the package and threw them all out at once. I thought my kitties’ eyes were going to pop out of their heads when they saw the cloud of pom-poms falling on them. Super fun.” —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (you can also buy extra pom-pom balls separately).
16. Some mouse-shaped feeders that will keep your cats on their toebeans by encouraging their natural hunting instincts. Fill them up with food, hide them somewhere in the house, and then let ’em loose.
Promising review: “These are the BEST! My cats were familiar with puzzle feeders, but these are their all-time favorite! They are very stimulating, well constructed, and are easy to use. I love that there are different difficulty levels. Enriched cats = well behaved cats!” —Denise
And here’s more from BuzzFeed Shopping writer Mallory Mower!:
“I started a hunting system for my cats when I felt like they were getting lethargic. One of our cats was overweight because he would sit and eat the dry food left out when he was bored. With these he’ll ‘hunt,’ eat one, and not eat again until he’s ready to go hunting. I’ve written a full review on this clever feeding system before because I refuse to stop recommending it!”
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
17. A large catnip-spiked cotton swab if your lil’ angels have an affinity for the real thing. Give them this and maybe, 🤞🏻just maybe, they’ll stop pulling used ones out of the trash.
Oddball Cat Toys is a woman-owned, Rapid City, South Dakota–based small biz from Anne Springer (and her seven cats) that’s been selling all sorts of fun toys, collars, and bandanas since 2013.
Promising review: “Beautiful handcrafted cat toy. It came super quick, and is the perfect size for both my kitties to enjoy. My tabby is in love with this toy, she bops at it with her little paws, and chases it around all the time. My sphynx was a little more hesitant at first, but once she realized mommy wasn’t going to get her in trouble for playing with this particular ‘forbidden toy’ (cotton swabs are her favorite but I don’t let her play with them) she was all for bopping and chasing and chewing it lol. I plan on buying more in the future!” —katherine810
Get it from Oddball Cat Toys on Etsy for $7 (available in six colors and with or without bells and catnip).
18. Some catnip-infused felt balls that are the *perfect* size for cats who fancy themselves footballers. They also come with a “charging tin,” so when the catnip starts to wear off, you can pop them back in to absorb some more.
Simply B Vermont is a small business located in, you guessed it, Vermont. They make all kinds of adorable pet accessories and toys for cats AND dogs.
Promising review: “These are easily my cat’s favorite toys, and I couldn’t even tell you why. Maybe it’s the perfect size, maybe he loves the felt, or maybe the homemade herb/catnip mix is just purrrrrrfect for him. But he will chase these everywhere.” —Becca
Get a set of four from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $7.86+ (originally $9.25; available in three color combos; refills for the balls and catnip are also available).
19. And a 12-piece set of spiral springs if your cats are ~basic~ and will play with just about anything.
Promising review: “I do cat foster care and have 18 cats in my house right now (I KNOW!). They all love these ridiculous little springs. I don’t get it. Because they roll and bounce, they have just enough movement for everyone to be running after them. BE PREPARED. They will be found under every appliance, door, and piece of furniture you own. Do yourself a favor. They are cheap — order two packs right away.” —Mixed Blessings
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $5.99.
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
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