Obesity is one of the most common health issues in cats, and more than half the cats in the United States are reportedly obese1. This can lead to a host of other health issues and a dramatically shortened lifespan, so exercise is a vital part of keeping your cat healthy and happy. Electronic toys can help give your cat plenty of mental and physical stimulation and appeal to their innate hunting instincts, so they are great additions to any cat-loving home.
With all the electronic toys available on the market today, it can be overwhelming to find the right one, but fear not! We put together this list of in-depth reviews to help you find the best electronic cat toy to suit your needs. Let’s dive in!
In this article
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2026
| Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall
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PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser Cat Toy |
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Best Value
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SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic |
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PetFusion Ambush Interactive |
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SmartyKat Loco Laser Cat Toy |
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SmartyKat Instincts Hidden Hijinks Cat Toy |
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The 10 Best Electronic Cat Toys
1. PetSafe Bolt Interactive Laser Cat Toy — Best Overall
| Weight: | 84 ounces |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Batteries: | 4xAA (not included) |
| Features: | Automatic laser |
The PetSafe˙Bolt Interactive laser is a lightweight, battery-powered toy that will keep your cat entertained for hours and is our top choice overall. All cat owners know how much cats love lasers, as the bright moving spot stimulates their hunting instincts. The toy has an automatic rotating mirror that beams the laser out in random directions. The laser has an automatic mode so your cat can play while you’re away, and you can switch it to manual mode for hours of fun with your cat. With one press of a button, the toy will stay on for 15 minutes and then automatically turn off to save battery power.
The only issue we found with this toy is that it does not come with batteries, and the laser is rather dim in bright settings.
- Automatic rotating mirror with laser
- Automatic and manual modes
- Great for mental and physical stimulation
- Auto-shutoff
- Hands-free operation
- Laser is dim in bright settings
- Batteries not included
2. SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy — Best Value
| Weight: | 8 ounces |
| Material: | Plastic, feather |
| Batteries: | 3 AA (not included) |
| Features: | Lights, two speeds |
The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit is a great way to stimulate your cat’s innate predatory instincts and is our favorite electronic cat toy for the money. The fast-moving wand will keep your kitty chasing for hours on end, providing them with essential exercise and mental stimulation. The enticing wand is concealed and moves erratically and irresistibly around the base, which lights up for added fun and stimulation. The toy has two different speeds, making it great for kittens and adults alike. The wands are interchangeable should your cat get too excited!
Unfortunately, this toy has no auto-shutoff feature, which can quickly drain the batteries if left on. Also, it will break easily with big, excitable cats.
- Inexpensive
- Stimulates your cat’s hunting instincts
- Erratic movement
- Light-up base
- Two speed settings
- Interchangeable wands
- No auto-shutoff
- Easily broken by large cats
3. PetFusion Ambush Interactive Electronic Cat Toy — Premium Option
| Weight: | 3 pounds |
| Material: | Plastic, feather |
| Batteries: | 4 x AA (included) |
| Features: | LED lights, randomly moving feather wand |
If you’re looking for a premium electronic cat toy for your feline, the PetFusion Ambush Interactive Toy is one of the best electronic cat toys on the market. This toy is designed to stimulate your cat’s innate predatory instincts with a fast-moving, colorful feather that pops out of six different holes in random order. This will keep your kitty guessing and chasing, and the colorful LED lights will entice your feline further. The toy has safe, padded feet to prevent sliding. The feather wand detaches easily once your cat wins the battle, and the unit comes with a spare should your cat destroy it. We also love that this toy has an automatic shut-off feature after 8 minutes to save battery life.
As great as this toy is, it is rather expensive, especially if your cat decides that they don’t like it, which some customers have reported. It also has a loud operation noise, which could make some cats afraid of it.
- Enticing LED lights
- Fast-moving, concealed feather
- Random movements
- Padded feet
- Spare wand included
- Auto-shutoff
- Expensive
- Loud operation
4. SmartyKat Loco Laser Cat Toy — Best for Kittens
| Weight: | 32 ounces |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Batteries: | 3 x LR44 (included) |
| Features: | Laser |
Kittens are almost constantly playing, and these formative months are essential for them to learn about the world around them and hone their natural instincts. The SmartyKat Loco Laser Toy is a wonderful way for kittens to get mental and physical stimulation and is a great way for you to interact with your new kitten too. The mouse-shaped laser pointer is a simple concept: Shine the small dot on the floor or wall to replicate the movement of prey to get your kitten’s instincts activated and help improve their health and happiness. This toy is great for kittens but works perfectly for adult felines too.
Unfortunately, the laser is fairly dim in daylight or under bright lights and uses up the three batteries quickly.
- Ideal for kittens and adults
- Interactive
- Laser pointer stimulates hunting instincts
- Inexpensive
- Dim under bright light
- Uses batteries quickly
5. SmartyKat Instincts Hidden Hijinks Cat Toy
| Weight: | 14.72 ounces |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Batteries: | Three AA batteries |
| Features: | Wand, interactive |
The SmartyKat Instincts Hidden Hijinks Cat Toy is sure to get any kitty’s attention. They won’t be able to help themselves. It’s all about instinct when the wand dips in and out from under cover. The toy has different speeds to keep your pet engaged. Simply turn it on and watch the fun begin!
The product runs on three AA batteries that aren’t included in your purchase. It also has a 10-minute timer to conserve battery usage. Some cats take the hunt quite seriously. Fortunately, you can replace the wands if playtime gets too intense. This toy will interest kitties in all life stages. Even older, more sedate cats will enjoy it. We loved reading testimonies of pet owners who were delighted that their old boys were getting in touch with their inner kittens.
The skirt is made of plastic. While reasonably durable, cats with claws will poke some holes in it. However, it’s rip-stop material, so it should handle some abuse well. Pets may also flip it over since it’s not very heavy at less than 1 pound. Overall, it’s an excellent interactive toy. We suggest occasionally swapping it out with other ones to keep your kitty interested in it.
- 10-minute automatic shut-off timer
- Engaging for cats of all ages
- Replaceable wands
- Different speeds
- Batteries not included
6. SmartyKat Chitter Critter Squirrel Electronic Cat Toy
| Weight: | 96 ounces |
| Material: | Polyester |
| Batteries: | Included |
| Features: | Enticing sounds, movement-activated |
Some cats are most stimulated by sound, and if your cat is one of these, the SmartyKat Chitter Critter Squirrel toy will keep them enticed for hours. Not only does the toy emit realistic squirrel sound effects, but it’s also made with multiple textures, like feathers, ribbons, and burlap. The lack of stuffing will make it last longer and feel more realistic. It’s great for your cat to play with solo or as an interactive toy for bonding. As the sound is stimulated by movement, your cat can play with it whenever they feel the urge.
Like many toys with sounds, once the batteries begin to run low, the noise becomes rather strange, to say the least. Also, many customers report that the chittering sound is not that loud to begin with, and their cats barely noticed it.
- Realistic squirrel sounds
- Sound is stimulated by movement
- Multiple textures
- No stuffing
- Interactive
- Doesn’t work well on low batteries
- Low volume
7. SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy
| Weight: | 48 ounces |
| Material: | Polyester, plastic |
| Batteries: | 2 LR41 (Included) |
| Features: | Touch activated |
The SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp is the ideal toy to stimulate your cat’s hunting instincts, with a touch-activated chirping bird sound that is irresistible to most felines. The toy mimics real bird sounds with every swat of your cat’s paw, keeping them entertained for hours. If this chirping is not enough, the toy is also stuffed with replaceable catnip to entice your cat even more. Your cat will play happily alone for hours with the touch-activated sounds, or you can use it for interactive play and bonding with your feline too.
Disappointingly, the batteries in this toy are not replaceable, although it has an estimated lifespan of 10,000 activations. That said, many customers reported that the bird stopped chirping after only a few days or weeks.
- Touch-activated sounds
- Realistic bird sounds
- Stuffed with catnip
- Perfect for solo or interactive play
- Batteries are not replaceable
- Batteries are not long-lasting
8. Premier Pet Fox Den Cat Toy
| Weight: | 15 pounds |
| Material: | Plastic, polyester |
| Batteries: | 3 x AA batteries |
| Features: | Manual and automatic modes |
Ideal for cats of all ages, the Premier Pet Fox Den cat toy has a motion-activated fox tail that your felines can swat at to their heart’s content! The toy has an on/off mode to use while you are around or an automatic shutoff feature where the tail swishes back and forth for 10 minutes every 2 hours, making it ideal for solo or interactive play. The swishing tail stimulates your cat’s prey drive, but it’s great for kittens to learn their hunting skills and for senior cats that cannot run, jump or pounce as much as they used to.
The only issues that we found with this toy are the relatively high price and the tail easily being detached by large, excitable cats.
- Motion-activated
- Manual and automatic modes
- Stimulates prey drive
- Perfect for cats of any age
- Automatic shutoff
- Expensive
- Tail detaches easily
9. BurgeonNest Automated Cat Toy
| Weight: | 44 ounces |
| Material: | Plastic, feather |
| Batteries: | Rechargeable |
| Features: | Three operating modes, LED, sounds |
The BurgeonNest Automated cat toy is an automated unit that will keep your cat entertained while you’re away from home. The unit has three operating modes: self-operating mode, interaction mode, and standby mode. There are also two speed modes depending on your cat’s age and a “squeaking” sound option. The unit comes with a rechargeable 2000 mAh battery that can last up to 7 days that is easily charged via USB. It also has a sturdy feather attachment with three different wands and a colorful LED light for further enticement.
This toy is loud and moves erratically, which some cats may enjoy and others will be frightened off. Also, the slow speed is too slow to retain many cats’ interest, while the fast speed is too fast and potentially dangerous. The toy can get easily get stuck in corners or between furniture.
- Three operating modes and two speeds
- Colorful LED
- Optional sounds
- Rechargeable battery
- Three different wand attachments
- Loud
- May frighten some cats
- Inconsistent speed settings
10. PetSafe Dancing Dot — Interactive Cat Laser Toy
| Weight: | 78 ounces |
| Material: | Plastic |
| Batteries: | 3 x AAA batteries (not included) |
| Features: | Automatic, random laser movement |
The PetSafe Dancing Dot takes the favorite toy of cats around the world — a laser — and automates it for an ideal interactive toy for your feline while you’re away. The unit has a certified class 1 laser that is perfectly pet safe, with two different modes for play while you’re at home or away. One-time mode switches the laser on for 15 minutes with an auto-shutoff, while all-day play turns the laser on for 15 minutes every 2 hours. The toy has a sturdy base for floor play and a convenient handle to hang it up on a higher surface and expand the fun.
The laser on this unit moves fast and erratically, and it may cause some cats to lose interest because they can never get close enough. Also, the batteries do not last that long — 2 or 3 hours at most — and many customers reported that the all-day mode worked only sporadically at best.
- Automatic, random movement
- Pet-safe laser
- Auto-shutoff
- Suitable for all ages
- Fast-moving laser
- Poor battery life
- Programmable mode is not reliable
Buyer’s Guide: Choosing the Best Electronic Cat Toys
Electronic cat toys are ideal for mentally and physically stimulating your cat while you’re not home. Naturally, you want such toys to be both safe and interesting to your feline. Cats have a powerful innate prey drive that needs to be stimulated for them to remain healthy and happy. While electronic toys can certainly help that, you need to choose the right one for your feline, and it can be difficult to know what works. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Here’s what to look for in an electronic cat toy.
Safety
The most important aspect of an electronic cat toy is safety. Cats can be rough during play, and since all electronic toys have batteries of some kind to run them, you’ll want to make sure they cannot rip open the toy and access these batteries. The toy should also not be made from any potentially harmful materials or have any obvious choking hazards.
Durability
Your cat is strong, athletic, and powerful and is equipped with razor-sharp claws and teeth, so the toy that you choose will need to be as durable as possible. The toy should be able to take your cat’s weight and withstand claws and teeth for months or years to come.
Features
The toy that you choose should have features that your unique feline will enjoy. Fast-moving toys will not interest an older, more docile feline, for example, and slow, stationary toys will not be that interesting to kittens. Electronic toys can come with various features, like noises, lights, and movement, and it’s important to assess them carefully to make sure that your cat will like them. Catnip is irresistible to most cats, so toys with small pouches to stash catnip inside of might be winners!
Battery life
All electronic cat toys have a battery of some kind. The best varieties have rechargeable, built-in lithium batteries to save you money. With other electronic toys, regular batteries can still last a surprisingly long time, but if the toy has many moving parts, lights, and sounds, you can expect to replace the batteries fairly often.
Our Electronic Cat Toys Selection Process
Catster’s dedicated team of writers and editors collaborate with expert veterinarians, considering a wide range of factors when selecting the best electronic cat toys for cats. These parameters include customer reviews, brand reputation, veterinary experience, and in some cases, hands-on testing. Of course, our cats have a say in the process, too! We strive to select and review the highest-quality products available, to help you choose the best possible product and make the most informed decision for your and your cat’s needs.
Why Trust Catster?
Catster has been a trusted online brand since 2001, so we know a thing or two about electronic cat toys. We’re a team of cat-loving writers, editors, and veterinarians dedicated to helping you make the most informed decision for your feline. We deeply believe in providing the best information for cat owners to help their cats live their best life possible. We look at reviews from the most trusted sources available, and this, combined with our veterinary team’s experience and expertise, helps us gather the best options on the market. Our team is invested in the welfare and health of cats around the world, and believe that expert knowledge is one of the best ways to achieve this.
Conclusion
Our top choice overall of an electronic cat toy for your feline friend is the PetSafe˙Bolt Interactive Laser. The toy has an automatic rotating mirror that beams a laser out in random directions, with an automatic mode and manual mode to keep them entertained while you’re away or for hours of interactive fun with your cat.
The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit is our favorite electronic cat toy for the money, with an erratic, fast-moving wand that will keep your cat entertained for hours on end. It has two different speeds, making it great for cats of all ages, and there’s a spare wand should your cat get too excited!
If you’re looking for a premium electronic cat toy for your feline, the PetFusion Ambush Interactive toy has a colorful feather that pops out of six different holes in random order. It also has colorful LED lights, a spare wand, non-slip feet, and an automatic shut-off feature to save battery life.
There you have it: 10 great electronic toys to keep your cat mentally and physically stimulated even when you’re not at home. Hopefully, our reviews have helped you to get one step closer to finding the ideal electronic toy for your feline friend!
