Keeping cats indoors is one of the best ways to support their health and well-being. But indoor cats have special requirements, and they rely on their human caretakers to provide them with the exercise and fun they’d otherwise receive when prowling the great outdoors. Giving indoor cats toys goes a long way toward keeping them active and engaged, which can prevent weight gain and the development of chronic diseases such as high blood pressure and arthritis.

Indoor cats often do well with various toys; some are designed for the two of you to enjoy together, and others they can turn to on their own. If you’re looking for inspiration, keep reading. We have reviews of the 15 best cat toys for indoor cats in 2024.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 15 Best Cat Toys for Indoor Cats

1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy – Best Overall

Hepper Catnip Sticks are the best cat toys for indoor cats that can provide hours of fun for cats of all ages. The sticks are easy to clean with a simple wipe with a wet cloth. The double-bagged construction makes them virtually indestructible; they’re perfect for cats who really enjoy their catnip or are heavy chewers or kickers!

They’re crafted by hand to ensure quality and durability. Catnip toys are a great way to motivate couch potato cats to engage in a bit of physical activity, but not all cats respond to the herb. Hepper Catnip Sticks are also a great way to give your buddy entertainment when you’re not around, which often helps reduce anxiety in pets who don’t enjoy being left alone.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

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2. Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy – Budget Buy

Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy gets our vote for the best budget cat toy for indoor cats due to its large, enticing design and fantastic price. It’s catnip infused to draw in felines and then encourages play with a hidden bell and a multi-texture surface that cats get seem to get enough of.

Its a great option for all life stages and is affordable enough to purchase a few for a multi-cat home. The Plush Mouse Kicker can keep your cat busy while you are at work, or running errands and when the catnip scent fades, can be used as a snuggle buddy for your feline during rest periods.

At Catster, we’ve admired Hepper for many years and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

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3. SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy

Although cats don’t require regular walks like dogs, they need daily exercise, making the SmartyKat Hot Pursuit toy an excellent option for those days when you’re just too tired to engage in spirited play with your cat.

The tail moves around to encourage your cat to give chase, and it gives you two speeds to choose from to keep your cat entertained. The SmartyKat runs on batteries, so you don’t have to do all the work. However, the toy goes through batteries pretty quickly; the average battery life is about 1 hour.

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4. Catit Treat Ball Cat Toy

Food puzzles are great ways to keep cats busy when you’re away for the day, and this Catit Treat Ball may be just the thing to elevate your pet’s leisure time with a bit of fun (and tasty) mental stimulation. Just add treats to the ball, twist it closed, and allow your cat to go crazy chasing and pouncing to shake the treats free.

Treats fall through the holes in the ball as your cat goes on the attack. It’s available in two fun colors, blue and pink. Unfortunately, the product doesn’t come apart, so keeping clean can be difficult. The opening isn’t adjustable, so you’ll need to find treats just the right size for the puzzle to work.

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5. Frisco Cheese Interactive Maze Cardboard Cat Toy Box With Catnip

The Frisco Cheese Interactive Maze Cardboard Cat Toy Box gives pets many ways to release their natural wild tendencies in the comfort of their living room. It’s a box with holes cut in the top to allow cats room to reach in and bat at the balls held inside.

Two mice are connected to pop-up levers so you can get involved in your cat’s new favorite activity. The mice feature catnip to encourage your cat to engage and keep them returning for more. The whole kit fits inside a bright yellow cardboard box.

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6. Hexbug Nano Robotic Cat Toy, Color Varies

Most cats love to chase and capture bugs. The Hexbug Nano Robotic Toy encourages cats to get moving by mirroring the motions of skittering bugs. It scurries around and even flips over to grab and keep your cat’s interest. The toy runs on batteries that are included, so your cat can start playing immediately. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work on carpeted surfaces, but it’s still a fantastic option, given its affordable price.

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7. Nina Ottosson Petstages Buggin’ Out Puzzle & Play Cat Toy

The Buggin’ Out Puzzle & Play Cat Toy is an adorable feeder that looks like a pretty green leaf with cute little red treat cups that resemble ladybugs. You can hide food inside one of the many divided sections, and each has a movable leaf that cats must negotiate to reveal their treats.

It is designed to increase the difficulty level as your cat learns. It is a great way to stimulate your cat’s meal times mentally and physically. And it can also help with weight management by making your buddy work for their food. Because of the design, it may not be the best option if you’re looking for a wet food slow feeder.

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8. Frisco Bee & Leaf Cat Tracks Cat Toy With Catnip

Track toys are generally great options for indoor cats since they make it possible for kitties to entertain themselves. It’s not a robotic or electronic toy, and cats are responsible for creating their own action! The Bee & Leaf toy has three tracks holding balls for cats to torment with their paws. It also has a teaser with a catnip toy attached to the top to encourage cats to jump while playing. Unfortunately, the catnip-filled toys aren’t refillable, but an extra one comes in the package, so you can replace the toy to keep your cat interested.

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9. SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy

The SmartKat Chickadee Electronic Bird-Sound Toy is a fantastic option for indoor cats; it’s a catnip-stuffed bird that chirps when cats bat at it! The chirping sounds encourage cats to stay engaged and keep playing.

It runs on built-in batteries that aren’t replaceable. Expect to get about 10,000 chirps before the juice runs out. Make sure to turn the toy off when your cat’s not using it to extend the product’s battery life. Unfortunately, the battery can’t be replaced, so you’ll need to purchase a new toy to replace the old one once the battery dies.

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10. Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy

Circuit toys are great ways to encourage self-motivated and solo feline play! The Catit Design Senses Circuit Toy features a closed track containing balls your cat can bat at through different-sized cutouts throughout the track. The balls have fun graphics to draw your cat’s eye, and the design keeps the balls safely contained while at the same time allowing them to roll about to pique your cat’s interest.

You can expand the tract by adding extra segments to keep things fresh and entertaining for your pet. It features a battery-operated, motion-activated ball that swirls about to keep cats engaged. Unfortunately, the batteries in the ball aren’t replaceable.

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11. Pet Fit For Life 5 Piece Squiggly Worm Wand Cat Toy

Teasers are fantastic choices for indoor cats. Not only do these old-fashioned options get cats up and moving, but they also offer a great chance for you to engage with your buddy. This Pet Fit for Life teaser set includes a heavy-duty carbon-fiber wand and five squiggly worm attachments, although it may not be sturdy enough to withstand serious action from heavy cats.

The worms are mounted on swivels to provide just an extra little bit of squirming. The set comes with five stuffed wigglers to keep the fun going when one wears out. The plush toys don’t contain catnip, but you can always add a spritz or two if your cat enjoys the stimulation.

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12. Frisco Colorful Springs Cat Toys

These vibrantly colored springs are a great way to keep your cat entertained when you need a few minutes to concentrate on getting something done. They’re bright red, yellow, blue and green springs that bounce about randomly to surprise your cat and engage their curiosity.

They come in packages of 10, and you’ll have enough to keep your cat busy for quite a while! The springs are made of springy PVC plastic, which means there’s no way to add catnip.

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13. Pet Zone Play-N-Squeak MouseHunter Cat Toy With Catnip

Cats generally enjoy chasing after catnip-filled toys, particularly when they squeak and make enticing noises. The Pet Zone Play-N-Squeak MouseHunter keeps cats interested by squeaking every time they bat at the toy or give it a good pounce.

It runs on batteries, which aren’t removable, and there’s no way for you to refresh the catnip when it gets old if your cat falls in love with the toy. However, it’s relatively affordable for an electronic toy.

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14. Mad Cat Big Cactus Kicker Catnip & Silvervine Cat Toy

Plush toys are perennial favorites in the pet toy department for a reason; they’re simple, affordable, and generally loved by cats. They’re fantastic solo-play options that allow cats to enjoy hunting and pouncing on their own terms.

But you can also train your cat to play fetch using their favorite plush toy, which is also great for bonding activities. The Mad Cat Big Cactus Kicker Catnip and Silvervine Cat Toy elevates feline enjoyment to the next level by featuring two feline-friendly herbs: catnip and silvervine. Silvervine is an herb that stimulates felines, much like catnip, but it often works in kitties that aren’t affected by catnip.

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15. Hartz Just for Cats Peek & Play Pop-Up Tent Cat Toy

The Hartz Just for Cats Tent is a wonderful all-around option with enough features to keep your cat busy for hours. It has a semi-enclosed space for your buddy to hide out and lounge or play when in the mood for some activity. The cute pop-up tent has hanging toys for your cat to bat at and holes for cats to launch stealth paw attacks through. It’s incredibly easy to set up; just open the box, and the tent pops up on its own.

A removable scratcher gives cats a fun and appropriate place to unfurl their claws. The scratcher doesn’t come infused with a cat-enticing sent, but you can always add catnip or silvervine if your pet enjoys it. The tent is only available in one color scheme: red and white.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Cat Toys For Indoor Cats

Indoor cats have special needs when it comes to mental stimulation and physical activity, and they can’t get their fun and exercise in the same ways as their outdoor buddies. Toys keep cats active and give them fun activities to enjoy. Veterinarians generally recommend that cats get about 20 to 45 minutes of daily exercise to reduce stress and prevent weight gain. And keeping your cat fit is one of the absolute best ways to minimize their risk of ending up with obesity-related chronic conditions such as osteoarthritis and high blood pressure. Keep reading to learn more about selecting cat toys for your companion.

Provide Several Choices

Cats often benefit from having access to several types of toys, including choices they can play with on their own and products designed to encourage human-feline interaction.

Solo Options

Plush toys, small balls and tiny mice give cats something to swat at and throw around if they suddenly become motivated to engage in a bit of activity while you’re away from home. Food puzzles and catnip toys keep cats busy when they’re alone, which can go a long way toward supporting their mental and physical wellbeing.

Electronic toys that squiggle or chirp when cats bat and swipe keep things entertaining, which can add fun to your cat’s day. Interactive enrichment boxes give cats fun activities that tap into their innate problem-solving skills. And there are electronic toys that encourage cats to run, chase, and pounce with abandon.

Human-Feline Interactive Options

Teasers and laser pointers are toys that allow you to actively engage with your cat during playtime. Avoid pointing lasers directly into your cat’s eyes, and allow your buddy to catch something every now and then to keep them from becoming frustrated. Plush toys are also great for playing games like fetch.

Factor in Refillability

Some plush toys come stuffed with catnip or something similar. Options that you can refill are easy on your pocketbook and the environment, and you won’t end up having to throw products away quite as quickly. Just add a bit more catnip or silvervine when needed, and you’re set.

When buying toys with multiple activities, like track-ball setups with wands featuring plush toys for cats to bat at, look for brands that allow you to purchase replacement items like to increase the toy’s longevity.

Consider Your Cat’s Preferences and Needs

Ultimately the best cat toys for your cat are the ones your buddy engages with and enjoys. Let your pet’s reaction be your guide when it comes to selecting toys. Cats that particularly enjoy bonding time may prefer toys the two of you can enjoy together, such as teasers, wands, and laser pointers. Activity boxes are great for cats who enjoy solo play while in the presence of their favorite people.

Older cats may not be quite as interested in running about and pouncing, but many enjoy toys such as food puzzles that provide mental stimulation with just the right touch of physical activity. Some senior cats enjoy gentle games with teasers. Just keep an eye on your buddy during playtime and try to ensure things don’t become too intense.

How We Selected Our List of Cat Toys For Indoor Cats

Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing the cat toys. This includes but is not limited to customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, hands-on testing, and of course, our cats have a say in the process too! We aim to select and review only the best products available, to help you make the best possible choice and most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.

Why Trust Catster?

A trusted online brand since 2001, Catster has a lot of experience with cat toys. Our team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians is dedicated to helping you make the best decision for your precious cats. Our aim is to provide the best information available for cat owners to help cats live their best life possible. To do this, we scour reviews from the most trusted sources available and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options available to readers. Our team is deeply invested in the health and welfare of cats the world over, and believes that expert knowledge and veterinary guidance will help you make the right choices—for you and your cats!

Conclusion

When it comes to toys for indoor cats, you have several options to choose from, including old favorites like plush toys and fun electronic choices. According to our reviews, Hepper Catnip Sticks takes home the crown for the best overall cat toy for indoor cats, thanks to its durability, limited materials, and price point.

Hepper Plush Mouse Kicker Toy delivers a large, organic catnip-filled plush that is extremely affordable. The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Concealed Motion Cat Toy is a fantastic electronic option. We hope you find the ideal toy for your lovable indoor cat!

• See Also: Rompicatz Adjustable String Wand Toy Review: Pros, Cons & Verdict

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Featured Image Credit: Garmasheva Natalia, Shutterstock