Best Cat Toys to Improve your Pet’s Behavior

Few things are more destructive than a bored cat. That’s because cats have a high prey instinct, and when they can’t find an outlet for those instincts, they exhibit them in ways you might not appreciate, like slaughtering your rug or lacerating your sofa.

So, if you want to have both a cat and beautiful furniture, it’s natural to wonder, ‘What is a good toy for a bored cat?’

Why All Cats Need Toys

But first, do cats need cat accessories?

They do if you want to preserve your furniture. Many people are attracted to cats because they see them as low-maintenance pets. But cats need as much enrichment and attention as any other pet.

The best cat toys stimulate your cat, enrich their environment and alleviate boredom. The best cat toys also help reduce cat aggression caused by stress or boredom.

So, what is a good cat toy for a bored cat?

What Makes a Good Cat Toy?

Cat accessories have come a long way in the last few decades. Many of the best cat toys:

Foster hunting instincts

• Reduce boredom
• Redirect scratching
• Prevent inappropriate toileting

Paoli Vetcare’s Top Picks

But, not all cat toys are created equal. Here are our picks for the best cat toys on the market.

BENTOPAL Automatic Cat Toy

BENTOPAl’s Automatic Cat Toy revolutionizes the ubiquitous rod toy cats love.

The feather lure stimulates your cat’s prey instincts like all the best cat toys while balancing on a robotic base. It ably navigates obstacles and changes paths to mimic a real animal and keep your cat guessing where its prey will turn up next.

Concealed Motion Cat Toy

The Concealed Motion Cat toy is another of the best cat interactive toys. Indoor cats run the risk of weight gain from inactivity.

The Concealed Motion Cat Toy combats this problem by reinventing the fun of the chase, but without the risk of dead animals on your doorstep.

All you have to do is press a button, and instead of wrestling with the rug, your cat will tackle Concealed Motion’s hidden prey instead.

Cat Charmer Toy

Despite its simplicity, the Cat Charmer remains one of the best toys for cats. It also provides a colorful, creative answer to ‘What cat toys do kittens like the most?’

The material is non-toxic, the pattern is eye-catching, and the movement of the felt ribbon lures even our inactive cat from her basket.

Incredible as this cat accessory is, it’s best limited to supervised play sessions, especially if you have a teething kitten or inveterate chewer.

FurryFido Laser

Even as the best cat toys evolve, the FurryFido Laser remains a perennial favorite.

And when it comes to answering ‘What is a good toy for a bored cat?’ It’s hard to beat a laser pointer. The mobile red dot is an excellent way to get your indoor cat active again.

But pouncing on and ‘catching’ an intangible victim can increase rather than decrease frustration, so we recommend occasionally dropping an old-fashioned catnip mouse over the laser dot. Your cat can score a victory and won’t lose interest in the FurryFido laser.

PAWZ Road Scratching Post

If you want to protect your furniture, the PAWZ Road Scratching Post is one of the best toys for cats there is.

They can also help preserve your cat’s claws and avoid painful procedures like declawing.

It includes a sisal scratching post, a sisal pad, and a furry ball that your kitty can bat for hours of independent play.

The horizontal position of the scratching post is excellent for wrestling with, especially for kittens. However, not all cats are horizontal scratchers, so know your cat’s preference before investing.

Pawaboo Cat Tunnel Tube Collapsible Play Tent

Pawaboo Cat Tunnel is also recommended as one of the best cat toys for bored cats. It’s collapsible and portable. It offers hide-and-seek opportunities and enriched prey-seeking opportunities when engaging with rod or catnip toys.

One of the advantages of Pawaboo’s Cat Tunnel is that you can set it up before leaving your cat for the day, and with training, an independent cat can take full advantage of it.

Swimming Robot Fish With LED Lights

This cat accessory is another excellent answer to ‘What cat toy is good for a bored cat?’

Although the bowl isn’t included, the battery-powered fish are fast and easy to set up. Fill a dish with water, switch the fish on, and watch your cat reawaken their hunting instinct as they chase their prey around the improvised pond.

However, while still one of the best cat toys, we recommend supervising play. Otherwise, eager, playful kittens may knock the bowl over, and you’ll find yourself coming home to a stopping mess.

YVE LIFE Automatic Cat Laser Toy

The YVE Life Automatic Cat Laser toy is another of the best cat interactive toys.

One advantage of this laser over the usual laser pointer is that it operates autonomously, keeping your cat entertained while you’re out. It’s also the ideal answer to ‘What cat toys do kittens like the most?’ since their high-energy and nascent prey drive is the perfect match for the mobile laser pointer.

We also appreciate that the laser can be positioned to guarantee entertainment without potentially damaging your cat’s eyes.

Trixie 5-in-1 Cat Activity Center

Trixie has a long tradition of producing some of the best cat toys for your favorite felines, and their 5-in-1 activity center is no exception.

The five puzzles on this board offer different levels of challenge for cats of varying abilities and activity levels. Some require the cat to give chase, and others can be played with while lounging on the carpet.

For food-motivated cats, this puzzle toy also offers the advantage of slow-feeding, which helps discourage grazing and improve weight for many indoor cats.

One Fast Cat Exercise Wheel

As discussed, indoor cats are more likely to gain weight than other cats.

One Fast Cat Exercise Wheel is one of the best cat toys to counteract this problem. Low-energy cats may be more interested in the box it comes in than the toy itself. Still, the wheel targets medium-to-high energy cats, giving them a way to burn off some of their feline exuberance without stepping into the garden.

Conclusion

When it comes to deciding what the best cat toy is for a bored cat, lots depends on activity level and personality type. You can’t expect a naturally lazy cat to climb on an exercise wheel.

It takes time and effort, and familiarity with your cat to find the best cat interactive toys for your pet. Hopefully, our list helps you improve your cat’s health, happiness, and of course, the state of the sofa.