Cats are playful and curious pets that thrive on having various enriching activities scheduled throughout their day. Some cats seem to have an endless supply of energy or are too athletic to be appeased and entertained by your basic cat toy. So, if you have a high-energy cat, it’s probably time to look into remote-controlled cat toys.

Remote-controlled cat toys are designed to keep your cat entertained for longer periods. The best part is that you can still play with your cat without having to wear yourself out. Make sure to read our reviews of popular remote-control cat toys. You’ll be sure to find the perfect boredom buster for your cat.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

The 10 Best Remote-Control Cat Toys

1. VARY Smart Interactive Cat Toy – Best Overall

With all its features and the convenience it provides, the VARY Smart Interactive Cat Toy is definitely the best overall remote-control cat toy. This toy is versatile and has many options that appease different kinds of cats. Its play features include a red laser pointer, a feather tail, colorful LED lights, and bell sounds. These multiple options make it a great toy to have if you live with more than one cat or if you have a cat that gets bored easily.

This cat toy is controlled through a phone app, so you don’t have to worry about losing the remote control. The app enables you to control the direction of the toy, or you can use the automatic setting to let the toy zoom around on its own. This cat toy is also rechargeable and has a battery life of 4 hours between charges. Just make sure to stay on top of charging it because it takes about 1.5 hours for it to fully charge from a low battery.

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2. Hexbug Remote Control Mouse Cat Toy – Best Value

Even though remote-controlled cat toys are fancier than regular cat toys, you don’t have to spend a fortune to find a good one. The Hexbug Remote Control Mouse Cat Toy is budget-friendly and the best remote control cat toy for the money. The toy is about the same size as an actual mouse and has whiskers and a tail that wiggles to entice and grab your cat’s attention.

The remote control is easy to control, and it comes with two channel options so that you can control multiple toys. It also enables you to go forward or backward and turn left or right. We’ve found that this toy works best on hardwood floors and smooth surfaces. It can get stuck or flip over if it runs on shaggy carpets or textured rugs.

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3. ENABOT EBO AIR All Family Robot Care Dog & Cat Camera – Premium Choice

The ENABOT EBO AIR All Family Robot Care Dog & Cat Camera is a high-tech, multifunctional pet camera and toy. It runs on a rechargeable battery and automatically returns to its charging dock when it has a low battery or isn’t in use.

This device has both automatic and remote-control settings that you can toggle between on your phone. Turn the automatic mode while you’re gone, and the ENABOT EBO AIR will recognize and track your cat. You can use the accompanying app to keep an eye on them with its 1080p HD camera and clear night vision mode.

When you’re at home, you can switch to the remote-control setting, which will enable you to play with your cat with one of five pet teaser options. Just make sure to use these play functions on smooth or hardwood surfaces, as the wheels can’t run across thick carpet very well.

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4. SmartyKat Race ‘N Chase Electronic Motion Remote-Controlled Mouse Cat Toy – Best for Kittens

The SmartyKat Race ‘N Chase Electronic Motion Remote-Controlled Mouse Cat Toy has a simple yet straightforward design that’ll keep your young kitten entertained for a long time. It’s a pretty small toy, which makes it the perfect size for shy kittens, and the ears and tail are sure to pique your kitten’s interest.

The toy is also very fast and promotes exercise. While remote control only enables you to make the toy run forward or backward, it’s not too big of a problem. Since the toy runs fast, it’ll still be a good challenge for your kitten to chase around.

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5. SKYMEE Owl Robot

The SKYMEE Owl Robot is another mobile pet camera device with built-in play functions. One of the main perks of this device is its large wheels. It can wheel across all kinds of surfaces and even works outdoors. It also has a 1080p HD camera with 4x zoom and night vision.

The SKYMEE Owl Robot has both automatic and remote-control modes. In the automatic mode, the SKYMEE Owl Robot will track your pet and will trigger different action modes to keep your cat entertained. You can manually track your cat through the remote-control mode, dispense treats, and play a game of chase with your cat.

Overall, the SKYMEE Owl Robot is another excellent premium cat camera and toy to consider. The only downside is that, unlike the ENABOT EBO AIR, you’ll have to charge it manually once it has reached a low battery.

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6. Cat Catch Interactive Cat Toy

The Cat Catch Interactive Cat Toy is a fun interactive remote-control cat toy that’s designed to prevent boredom in cats. It has a colorful LED wheel to attract your cat’s attention and an enticing tail attachment to encourage them to chase. This toy can rotate 360° and can run across all kinds of surfaces, including thick carpets and rugs. You can control its movements with the accompanying remote control or put it on its timer setting. When on the timer setting, the toy will activate every 30 minutes so that your cat can still play while you’re away.

This toy is also rechargeable, so you don’t have to worry about changing out batteries frequently. However, the charge time is relatively long, and it takes 2 hours for it to charge fully.

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7. NETRCO Smart Interactive Cat Toy

At first glance, the NETRCO Smart Interactive Cat Toy looks like a simple ball toy. However, it can provide a ton of fun and promote healthy exercise habits for your cat. This toy is smaller than most remote-control cat toys and is relatively quiet, so it’s a good option for shy or timid cats that usually get spooked by larger electronic cat toys. It also has a soft silicone cover that’s easy to grip and reduces loud noises.

Once your cat gets used to playing with this toy, you can use the remote control to make bird noises. The remote control also rotates the direction of the ball and lets you turn the toy on and off. The toy also has a normal play mode and a “crazy” play mode, which increases the speed and motion of the ball. However, you can’t switch between modes using the remote control and will have to manually push a button on the toy each time you want to change the mode.

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8. Petgravity Remote Control Electric Cat Toy

The Petgravity Remote-Control Electric Cat Toy is designed like a racecar and is a fun and speedy toy for your cat to chase. It has a feather attachment to encourage and entice cats to play and has two play modes. The first play mode enables you to maneuver the toy using the accompanying remote control. The second play mode initiates automatic play, and the toy will start to zoom around on its own. You won’t have to worry about it bumping into items or getting stuck because it has motion sensors and an automatic obstacle avoidance system. The toy will automatically stop running after 5 minutes but can be reactivated with touch.

While this toy is capable of turning 360°, it has a tendency to knock itself over, especially if it turns too fast. It also doesn’t really have any features that enable the toy to get back in an upright position.

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9. Giveme5 Remote Control Fake Rat Cat Toy

The Giveme5 Remote Control Fake Rat Cat Toy is a considerable option for cats with a strong prey drive. Its size is accurate to the size of a real rat, and it has whiskers and a realistic tail. The remote control is easy to use and enables you to move the rat in all four directions. While the toy doesn’t have adjustable speeds, it runs pretty fast, and cats will enjoy the challenge of chasing it around. However, this toy only runs on hardwood floors and can’t move across carpet surfaces very well. The toy and remote controller also use different types of batteries, so replacing batteries can be inconvenient.

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10. Potaroma Cat Toys Floppy Fish

This simple fish toy can provide tons of entertainment for cats. It comes with a remote control that enables you to turn it on and cause the toy to wiggle like a real fish. This toy has three flopping modes: gentle, normal, and active. If you leave the toy on, it will activate again when it’s touched.

The exterior of the fish toy is made with durable bite-resistant material that’s easily removable for washing. It also comes with a catnip pouch for added fun for your cat. Overall, it’s an entertaining toy for cats, but it doesn’t really promote exercise. It also runs on the larger side of cat toys and can be too big for smaller cat breeds.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting the Best Remote Control Cat Toy

There are several different kinds of remote-controlled cat toys, and different kinds will be suitable for different cats. Here are some factors that will help you find the right toy for your cat.

Size

Cats can be intimidated by the size of a remote-control cat toy. So, don’t forget to look at the toy’s measurements. If a toy is too big, it’s likely that your cat will get scared by the toy as it moves around. Sometimes, it’s helpful to introduce your cat to a small remote-controlled toy and gradually increase the size of the toy as your cat gets used to them.

Noise Level

Low-quality remote-control cat toys will have loud motors or wheels that can startle cats. So, when you’re shopping for a new toy, try to look for any reviews containing information on sound levels. Make sure to keep an eye out for toys that emit minimal noises.

Battery

It’s important to also check for information on the toy’s battery source and battery life. Alkaline batteries are often inconvenient because you have to change them out fairly frequently. If you’re interested in toys with rechargeable batteries, pay attention to the charging time and battery life. Some toys will run for just a couple of hours while having a really long charge time.

Conclusion

Out of our reviews, the VARY Smart Interactive Cat Toy is the best option because of its multiple play options and convenient phone app. The Hexbug Remote-Control Mouse Cat Toy is a good, affordable option that can provide enriching playtime for cats. If you want to splurge, the ENABOT EBO AIR All Family Robot Care Dog & Cat Camera is worth every penny as it offers several play options while keeping an eye out for your cat’s safety.

Remote-control cat toys can provide refreshing and exciting playtime experiences. So, make sure to check out your options to find the perfect new toy for your cat.

• Also see: Best Robot Cat Toys – Reviews & Top Picks

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Featured Image Credit: Viacheslav Lopatin, Shutterstock