It’s often included in cat toys since it elevates playtime and encourages more sedentary cats to engage in physical activity. There are many brands on the market and products to choose from, so you might be wondering where to start. These reviews will give you a quick introduction to the possibilities to help you make the right choice for your cat.
In this article
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2026
| Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall
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Hepper Catnip Stick Toy |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Hepper Flax Mice Set Toy |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Mad Cat Big Cactus Kicker Catnip & Silvervine Cat Toy |
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CHECK PRICE |
| Best for Kittens |
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KONG Kickeroo Kitten Toy small |
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KONG Refillable Squirrel Catnip Cat Toy |
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CHECK PRICE |
The 11 Best Catnip Toys for Cats
1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy – Best Overall
| Dimensions: | 6” L x 1” H |
| Refillable: | No |
The Hepper Catnip Stick Toy gives kitties multiple play options; they can bat, chase, or snuggle with the stick. It’s our pick for the best overall catnip toy and is hand-stitched for durability, making it a great option for cats that enjoy a bit of enthusiastic play. It features 100% organic catnip safely double bagged so cats can truly go wild.
The toy’s clean, simple lines ensure it looks great even in the most elegant homes, and it comes in three soft pastel colors to complement various color themes. Unfortunately, the Catnip Stick Toy is not refillable.
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!
- 100% organic catnip
- Multiple self-motivated play options
- Simple, elegant design
- Comes in a few colors
- Not refillable
2. Hepper Flax Mice Set Toy
| Dimensions: | Big – 9 in ; Small – 5.7 in (tail included) |
| Refillable: | No |
The Hepper Flax Mice Set Toy features a cute plush design filled with catnip that gives cats something fun to play with when they need a bit of entertainment. It comes in a set of two, each a different size, making it a great option if you’re looking for the best catnip toy while on a budget.
Cats can snuggle with the mice or use them to pounce on and bat if they’re in the mood for more active pursuits. The shape and design of these toys also mimic natural feline prey, giving an extra bit of enticement for self or interactive play.
The scent of the catnip will eventually fade, but these affordable mice are easy on the wallet when it comes time to repurchase.
- For mimic play
- Set of 2
- Natural materials
- Appropriate for multiple types of solo play
- Catnip scent will fade over time
3. Mad Cat Big Cactus Kicker Catnip & Silvervine Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 8” L x 4” H x 2” W |
| Refillable: | No |
The Mad Cat Big Cactus Kicker Catnip and Silvervine Cat Toy features catnip and silvervine, making it a fantastic choice since it’s guaranteed to drive your cat wild. Felines that don’t respond to catnip often react to silvervine instead! The catnip and silvervine included in the product are both pesticide-free.
It’s made of a soft plush material, which is perfect for snuggling but tough enough for cats to bite, bat, and kick. It even features different textures to keep your cat interested. You’ll need to buy your companion a new one when the catnip and silvervine wear out since the toy isn’t refillable.
- Catnip and silvervine
- Various textures
- Multiple play options
- Not refillable
4. KONG Kickeroo Kitten Toy – Best for Kittens
| Dimensions: | 8.5” L x 2.25” W x 1.25” H |
| Refillable: | No |
The Kong Kickeroo Kitten Toy is just the right size for your little companion, and it’s specifically designed to get kittens up, moving, and kicking up a storm. When kittens paw at the toy, it produces an enticing crinkly sound that encourages them to play. It also has a fuzzy tail for kittens to chase and pounce on.
The toy comes packed with catnip, but it’s not refillable. Make sure to regularly look at the toy to ensure it’s intact, as kittens can sometimes be hard on their toys. And if your kitten falls in love with the toy, you’re in luck; multiple adult-sized options are also available.
- Fuzzy tail to encourage pouncing
- Crinkle sounds to stimulate engagement
- Entices kittens to play
- Not designed for adult cats
5. KONG Refillable Squirrel Catnip Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 7” L x 4” W x 0.5” H |
| Refillable: | Yes |
The KONG Squirrel Catnip Toy features a sturdy sealable internal pouch that holds fresh catnip. The KONG is refillable, and you can always add more catnip when it’s time to freshen things up. It even comes with extra catnip in a convenient re-sealable vial. Make sure to keep any unused catnip in the freezer to ensure it’s nice and fresh when you need it.
The KONG toy is shaped like an adorable squirrel, but it comes in several other designs, so you can pick something sure to appeal to your cat’s specific personality; turtles, beavers, hedgehogs, and even carrots are available! It’s machine washable, but the catnip is not organic.
- Includes extra catnip
- Sealable interior pouch
- Machine washable
- Catnip isn’t organic
6. OurPets Hot Stuff Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 4.5” L x 6.5” W x 2” H |
| Refillable: | No |
The Hot Stuff Cat toy looks just like a hot pepper and comes stuffed with 100% catnip to keep your cat entertained when you’re away from home or busy. It’s designed to tap into natural feline instincts to hunt and pounce. Cats that don’t enjoy physical activity are sometimes willing to engage in solo play when motivated by catnip, and it’s a fun way to encourage your cat to exercise. It’s not built for longevity as it’s not refillable or machine washable. But you can always keep things interesting by refreshing the pepper with a catnip spray if your pet falls in love with the toy.
- 100% catnip
- Encourages physical activity
- Stimulates hunting and pouncing instincts
- Not machine washable
7. Petlinks Lil’ Critters Mice Cat Toy With Catnip
| Dimensions: | 6” L x 4” W x 1.62” H |
| Refillable: | No |
The Petlinks Lil’ Critters Mice Cat Toy With Catnip gives kitties something simple and fun to engage with. They’re excellent solo-play options for cats that need something interesting to fill their days. Each mouse features jute and “fur” to provide cats with different textures to explore.
The package includes two toys, so you won’t have to run to the store immediately if your cat loses one. The mice are stuffed with catnip that’s free of pesticides, but the mice aren’t refillable, so you’ll need to replace them once the catnip becomes stale.
- Pesticide-free catnip
- Features different textures
- Package includes multiple toys
- Not refillable
8. Yeowww! Catnip Yellow Banana Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 7” L x 1” W x 3” H |
| Refillable: | No |
The Yeowww Banana Cat Toy comes packed with 100% organic catnip that hasn’t been treated with pesticides. It’s filled with potent catnip leaves and flowers to give cats a serious buzz. The Yeowww toy is free of fillers as well, so it’s a good option if you’re trying to avoid giving your companion problematic chemicals. The bright yellow exterior is made of rugged cotton twill and colored using soy and vegetable dyes.
Each toy is hand-sewn and stuffed to ensure quality and durability. Unfortunately, the Yeowww isn’t refillable, but you can always use catnip or silvervine spray to spruce things up.
- 100% organic catnip
- Tough cotton twill exterior
- Features natural dyes
- Expensive
9. SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 1.5” L x 1” W x 2” H |
| Refillable: | Yes |
The SmartyKat Chickadee Bird-Sound Toy is a fun interactive toy that makes intriguing chirping noises when cats bat at or pounce on it. It provides fun solo play, so it’s a nice choice for kitties who could use something fun to keep them entertained when you’re busy or away for the day.
It runs on batteries that come included but aren’t replaceable. However, turning the toy off when it’s not being used can extend the battery life. But the catnip is refillable, so your cat can always use it as a plush toy when the batteries run out.
- Makes fun chirping noises
- Interactive option for solo play
- Can turn on and off
- Batteries aren’t replaceable
10. KONG Pull-A-Partz Bugz Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 1.25” L x 10” W x 13.75” H |
| Refillable: | No |
The Kong Bugz Toy provides cats with four options to play with, all of which are part of one toy. Three adorable catnip-filled bugs perch on a bright green catnip-infused leaf. Cats can play with the leaf with the bugs attached or use their brains to remove the bugs to play with individually. Each bug is attached to the base by Velcro, giving cats a fun but not impossible challenge that’s great for mental stimulation. The toy features a crackling material in the base that catches and holds cats’ attention. The catnip isn’t refillable, and the KONG Pull-A-Partz isn’t machine washable.
- Makes crackling sounds
- Four toys in one
- Provides mental stimulation
- Not machine washable
11. SmartyKat Tea Teazers Catnip Cat Toy
| Dimensions: | 6.88” L x 2.5” W x .25” H |
| Refillable: | No |
These catnip-filled tea bags are simple, elegant, and cute. They look like little tea bags, but they’re filled with 100% organic catnip to delight cats and encourage them to get up and play. The catnip the toys come stuffed with is pesticide and chemical-free. Some cats may enjoy batting the tea bags around on their own.
But you can also use the tea bag’s “string” to make the toy dance and spring if you’re interested in some human-cat play time! They’re made of thick, durable fabric to ensure your companion can enjoy hours of playtime, and they’re cute enough to impress your friends when they drop by.
- 100% organic catnip
- Cute tea bag design
- Durable fabric
- Not refillable
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Catnip Toys
Although selecting a catnip toy doesn’t require a thorough analysis, there are a few things to keep in mind when making a selection, including your cat’s needs, whether the catnip toy is refillable, and sustainability.
Your Cat’s Needs
Catnip toys are so incredibly popular in part because they can meet so many different feline needs. Small, inexpensive options are simple and easy for cats to enjoy batting at on their own. They’re often great choices for cats who enjoy physical activity and are self-motivated to exercise when given something fun to play with.
Medium-size plush choices are large enough for cats to snuggle against and carry around in their mouths, making them good choices for older pets. But they’re also designed for cats to throw and kick against, so they provide multiple solo-play activities, which can give cats who regularly spend time alone something fun to fill their hours. Interactive options that chirp and tweet in response to cats’ attacks add just an extra bit of feline-centric fun to the mix that may help keep cats interested and engaged for longer.
Refillable Catnip
Most catnip toys come already stuffed, and some are refillable, while others aren’t. Refillable products can extend the life of your pet’s toy, and you can easily add more catnip when the current portion becomes stale.
Refillable options also make it easy to simply switch to silvervine if your pet doesn’t respond to catnip or you’d like to give them something different as a treat.
They can also minimize your pet’s environmental burden, as you won’t need to purchase as many new toys or continually throw away old ones that simply need more catnip.
Batteries
Most catnip toys are relatively simple and require cats to do pretty much all of the work, but some interactive toys that move and chirp run on batteries. Being able to replace the batteries in a toy can help limit the number of new products you end up purchasing, and you won’t need to buy a new toy every time a battery needs replacing.
Sustainability
If you’re interested in being good to the earth, you can find toys made of natural fabrics such as cotton and choices colored with natural dyes. Also, you can purchase organic catnip toys if you’re concerned about how the herb is sourced!
How We Selected Our List of Catnip Toys for Cats
Catster has an experienced, expert team of writers, editors, and veterinarians who carefully consider a wide range of parameters when choosing catnip 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 catnip 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
After you’ve had the chance to read a few reviews, spend some time thinking about your cat’s needs so you can identify the best product for your pet. The Hepper Catnip Stick Toy features 100% catnip and has a simple, elegant design. Hepper Flax Mice Set Toy is an affordable set that provides everything most pets enjoy in a catnip toy at a reasonable price. The Mad Cat Big Cactus Kicker includes catnip and silvervine, so it’s guaranteed to catch most cats’ interest.
