18 Best Cat Toys to Stimulate and Exercise Your Kitty

There is no doubting the cat-attracting strength of the catnip in the Yeowww! line of toys. Though the cigar, banana and other versions are all equally attractive to felines, this colorful rainbow will look the cutest as it gets knocked around on your floor. Reviewers report that their cats can smell the toy through the packaging (and even through an Amazon box!).

Once unboxed, cats tend to pounce on it, kick it, lick it and generally adore it. Our tester cat "fought" it, must have decided that she won, then sat on it to claim it as her own. While some people report that their ninja cats have clawed a hole in it, our testers have found it to be durable and long-lasting.

Catnip toys are classic for a reason: Just about every feline goes gaga for them. Most cats will get excited when they smell the catnip and chase it around, then adorably cuddle the soft toy when they tire out.

This refillable catnip toy has an opening in its belly where you can put in new catnip to keep the toy fresh. It comes with a small bag of nip and then you can use your own favorite catnip from there. (We've had success with Made by Nacho catnip.) Note that you can't pick the toy color. The brand says: "Color variant will be randomly selected and shipped."

This realistic mouse will help channel your feline’s natural urge to hunt — without you ending up with an actual kill on your kitchen floor. Frankie is even a bit more enticing than a real mouse because there's catnip and crinkle sounds inside.

Owners say their cats like swatting, pouncing and chasing after this because it's realistic in size and texture. Of course, this means it might make you jump when you catch it out of the corner of your eye.

Cats can't help it — they're hardwired to be obsessed with the unpredictable bounce of these colorful springs that comes in a 10-pack. Toss one across the floor, and your cat is likely to chase and pounce.

The springs are small, though, and easily knocked under the couch or refrigerator. Pet parents report occasionally going on a spring hunt and retrieving them from around the house, then letting their cat go wild with them again. But they're so reasonably priced that once they all go missing, plenty of people just order a second set!

Anything shaped like an avocado earns cuteness points with us. But the floppy shape and string legs combined with enticing catnip make this a favorite among cats. Some online reviews say the legs can get shredded, but in one tester home they have held up for more than a year.

"The dangly limbs must resemble an insect because one of my cats loses their minds over this," the tester said. "Every morning we wake up and find 'avocado baby' in a new spot, usually out in the open. They must carry it around at night, looking for a new place to show it off."

Cats can't help chasing after a little red dot on the floor that you control. They look confused when it “mysteriously” disappears, but stay activated waiting for it to come back — all of which provides some much-needed exercise. Sometimes cat parents make sure the dot lands on another toy, so the cat has more of a "gotcha" moment of success.

This laser pointer, meant for you to use to get your cat moving, actually has other light shapes it can make, including a mouse, butterfly and smiley face. It's rechargeable, but our one complaint is that all cat laser pointers (not just this one) seem to hold their charge for less time as weeks go by.

This funny catnip pickle has a dark green durable mesh on the back to support chewing and to help clean your kitty's teeth. It's about six and a half inches long, so many cats can also kick the poor pickle with their back feet while they give him a bite.

We've tested this with a staffer's cat and it was a hit. If a cat gums and bites it a lot, you can spot clean it with warm water and mild soap.

A cat tunnel provides some self-directed stimulation to your pet. With three different openings, it’s great for households with multiple cats who can chase each other through it. But it's also fun for a mischievous cat or kitten to use as a hideout.

A dangling ball on each exit and an attachable feather toy also help get their attention. Each tube is 10 inches tall and 17 inches long and can be folded down for travel or to pack away if you don’t want to hear them rustling about at night.

A treat puzzle works to slow a cat down during mealtime or gives your bored cat something to do when home alone. Hide dry food or treats among the activities and the hunt is on with a built-in reward. The board is dishwasher-safe.

The brand says this is best for small-to-average size cats and kittens. Online reviewers say that some of the activities are harder than others. When we tried a treat puzzle with a tester they said that the cat wouldn't touch it when people were around, but then when humans returned from work all the food would be gone. The cat worked it out in secret!

RELATED: Best Cat Treats

Set up this automatic, battery-operated flutter toy that lets your cat practice its stalking skills. The colorful butterflies on top and the feather duster at the bottom move sporadically, which encourages your kitty to bat and chase. There's a track ball too, so it's three toys in one.

The feather or butterfly runs for 5 minutes and then stops if left alone and starts again if your cat gives the toy a tap. If you don't want to use batteries, this can also be recharged using a phone cord.

If you've got a new cat or kitten or are fostering a litter, this collection of popular cat toy favorites will help you discover something that's a hit with your new housemates at a bargain price. It's also great if your cat seems bored; something in here should catch their attention.

Some cats particularly love a cat tunnel, which is included in this set. It lets them stage a stakeout, watch what's going on around them and find the perfect moment to pounce on one of the balls, springs or mice that are also included. With 24 toys in this set, you're paying less than 50 cents per toy!

Wave this like you're conducting an orchestra or doing rhythmic gymnastics in front of your kitty. The swirling ribbon entices your cat to "dance" by leaping through the air or standing on its hind legs and swatting.

If you remember ribbon dancers from the '90s, this is basically that retro toy — but for your cat. Kids really get a kick out of using this durable ribbon to get a cat to do silly tricks. The only downside is that this isn't a toy a cat will play with by themselves. They'll need a human to, at the very least, drag it along the floor so a chase can begin.

These catnip-filled fishies, about eight and a half inches long, are a great size and durable for kicking and wrestling — a favorite play pattern for many cats. They hold on with their front paws and kick with their back ones.

Try throwing one of these to initiate play. That lets your cat pretend that it's alive and fair game for tackling! The only negative is some picky cats just don't go for it, but we think it's worth a try.

Interactive puzzle toys like this one can keep cats busy for longer. Because your cat can walk over and start the game on their own, it's a toy that can reduce boredom-related kitty destruction or keep your cat from bothering you while you try to do other things.

There's no chase required with this one, or leaping and catching, which is why we like it for older cats. They can simply sit at the side and bat the balls around and around in a circle. But cats of all ages, including kittens, might love this too.

There's some light assembly required. We suggest not having it in your bedroom, because the bells in the balls do make some noise.

This set of five felt balls that cats love to pursue works great for owners who prefer playthings that don't crinkle, chime or require batteries. They're also pretty enough that you may not mind so much if your furry angel leaves the ping pong ball-size toys out in the living room. Reviewers say their cats love to play fetch with them and bat them across the floor.

We love a toy that multitasks, and this play tunnel doubles as a nap bed. Perfect for cats who like to burrow and hide, it's got space for them to either get out of sight or take an all-day snooze.

Dangling toys at the entrance give them something fun to swing at. If you've got two rambunctious kittens, they might love to chase each other through this. It's about 39 inches in diameter, so it does take up space in a room.

Just one toy has three ways to entertain your feline. Cats may come for the scratcher, which you can sprinkle with the included catnip, but stay for the roller ball or spring toy. It's also a nice spot for lounging!

Having a cardboard scratcher to shred might keep a restless cat from clawing the furniture. When your cat tears it up, you can buy a two-pack of replacement scratchers.

For a realistic indoor "hunting" experience, surprise your kitty with this play wand. Not only will your cat be stimulated by the catnip in the toy at the end of the wand's cord, they will be entertained hearing chirping sounds when they bat the toy. It tickles all their senses!

This is an interactive toy that's best when a human plays along, but some cats might bat at the toy even if it's just lying on the floor, waiting for the next game.