Cats are magnificent, difficult, queer creatures. They’re moreover very choosy. Finding cat toys that they’ll in actuality play with is complicated, especially with the sheer oversaturation of the pet market as we hiss time. Cats require a tell atmosphere to play, scratch, and chill out. Per years of checking out with our cats, these are our popular WIRED-approved, techy cat toys (and furnishings). Even if our cats rejected a tell product, we peaceful examined total constructing, invent, and fee to resolve whether it’ll be indispensable for other kitties.

We adore interactive cat toys—the whole thing on this checklist we now possess examined through the years, and our cats in actuality play with. All of those toys moreover possess an aspect to serve interact their pure instincts, admire an interactive mat that mimics prey’s actions, or a puzzle toy so your cat has to employ their pecan-sized brain to salvage rewarded with scrumptious treats. Plus, increasing vertical condominium with cat furnishings is a gargantuan technique to provide passive enrichment.

I’m a helicopter cat mother specializing in pet tech, and all of the cat toys and furnishings in this e book are approved by every my and other staffers’ (very foul) WIRED cats. Strive our linked guides admire the Top doubtless Automatic Cat Litter Boxes, Top doubtless Automatic Cat Feeders, Top doubtless Cat Water Fountains, and Our Well-liked Adore Cat Furniture. More of a dog particular person? We possess now got you covered! Concept our Top doubtless Tools and Tech Essentials for Your Canines e book.

Up so some distance October 2025: We possess now added The Purrgola, Mau Reiya, and Mau Ivy 3, and removed the 5Strands Intolerances & Imbalances Check. We possess now up so some distance costs and hyperlinks all the scheme through.

Cat Toys

This tom cat crowd pleaser is the cat toy I counsel all people purchase. My extremely foul cats rarely ever ever possess interaction with a toy for better than 5 minutes, nonetheless they play with this interactive cat toy for hours on raze. It has three modes so cats never salvage bored: Traditional, Stuffed with life, and Interactive, and it shuts off robotically after a length of time not being outmoded. It has a straightforward USB charger (nonetheless lasts on a price for roughly six days_, and a button that controls the whole thing, plus it comes with a substitute wand in case your cats are as rough-and-tumble as mine. Even though that is a piece better than I prefer to spend on cat toys, it used to be the very best doubtless purchase I’ve made this 365 days.

My cats jog bonkers for interactive play mats, and though this one did not again their consideration as noteworthy because the play mat above, it be peaceful a real selection and presents them with alternate choices in the case of human-free play. The rechargeable rolling ball lights up and moves inconsistently within the mat, which held my cats’ consideration for potentially half of an hour. I uncover this one away for a pair of days earlier than bringing it again out to again hobby. You would even employ the rolling ball as a toy exterior the mat, nonetheless beware that it with out problems rolls under furnishings and in laborious-to-reach corners. My best doubtless gripe is that the rechargeable ball has a short battery lifestyles and needs to be charged after every play session.

There’s some controversy in the cat-proudly owning team about whether lasers are too frustrating for cats, who also can in actuality feel admire they’ll never “get” the “prey” (aka pouncing on the laser dot with out in actuality being ready to salvage it). My cats are every eager about laser toys, and it be a gargantuan scheme for them to salvage say and again themselves entertained; I upright always give them treats after to reward them for a job effectively done. This toy has three interactive modes and movement sensor activation to additional again cats’ consideration, and it lasts a pair of day earlier than wanting to be recharged.

One of my cats is an especially engaging, high-energy cat who’s moreover very meals motivated, so it is miles a continuous topic to obtain things to again him entertained—to not recount, I moreover want to kind particular he would not inhale his meals. With this toy, it is doubtless you’ll well well duvet up the treats with the leaves or uncover them handiest in the cups for an additional topic—I adore that this puzzle toy is fully customizable in step with your cat’s intelligence stage. I in actuality possess every the Melon Insanity and Buggin’ Out items, and even years later, my cats are peaceful entertained by them. I name that a real funding.

If you happen to can not figure out which more or much less toy your cats will admire, or you upright desire them to be refreshed every so on the total, Meowbox is a gargantuan subscription. You would resolve to salvage deliveries each one or two months, and they consist of every treats and extremely cute toys with an equally cute theme. Plus, for every box sold, the company presents meals to a shelter.

Passe WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano‘s cats went nuts for this Ripple Rug. The bottom part stays in put whereas the tip also can moreover be configured into various shapes for taking part in (or searching), and also it is doubtless you’ll well well reshape it as on the total as you wish. The cloth feels admire felt, nonetheless is created from 24 post-user plastic bottles and can face up to interesting claws.

All three of our cats adore the Kong Kickeroo, and it has been even handed one of essentially the most long-lived cat toys we’ve got ever sold. Bodhi is our eldest cat and seldom plays with toys anymore, nonetheless even he can’t withstand the Kickeroo. It’s the supreme shape to rob and claw at with his again paws, and it has a tail, blended textures, and crinkly cloth inside with a splash of catnip. We moreover tried the smaller mannequin, nonetheless it used to be swiftly chewed through, whereas the simpler one has lasted for years. —Simon Hill

My overactive cat Basil is even handed one of roughly 40 percent of cats that don’t react to catnip, which is a bummer attributable to he will get FOMO searching at his sister jog wild. Fortunately, every of my cats jog loopy for these straightforward sticks. It helps them interact with pure kicking instincts and redirects aggressive chewing from my iPhone cord. I’d counsel that somebody with cats who don’t react to catnip or possess aggressive chewing traits give these a strive.

I’ve had seven cats over the previous twenty years, and each even handed one of them has been eager about this interactive toy. And not upright any wand toy, this one namely and its usual feather attachment, which uses the identical swivel mechanism as a fishing trap to make movement during the air that registers as 100% reliable to cats. There are other attachments available, admire fur “mice,” nonetheless nothing hits reasonably admire the distinctive feather cluster. Be particular you occupy up on refills, in case your cat finds the wand in the center of the evening and has its scheme with it. (Speaking from trip.) —Kat Merck

This pet camera has the flexibility to manipulate a laser by scheme of app, so that it is doubtless you’ll well well interact in play with your cat even when away, and it targets to auto-interact when movement is detected (nonetheless very on the total it did not). Even though I wish the movement sensors were a piece more subtle to interact in play more on the total whereas I’m not home, it consistently saved my cats entertained, plus it used to be stress-free to be capable of play with them during the app from afar.

Is it a toy? Is it a security camera? Is it a treat dispenser? There might per chance be no want to resolve! Whereas my cats were more moderen than mad to play with this li’l robot pet camera, it did again their consideration, which is a salvage in my e book. My cat Basil used to be eager regarding the toy attachment and loved discovering various programs to proudly pull it off and bring it to me. The app is on the total a piece glitchy, and the robot is by no arrangement good, nonetheless it is miles a camera it is doubtless you’ll well well switch about your condominium whereas it is doubtless you’ll well be away, and it will roll, slam into objects, and shoot treats out at your perplexed cats. On the raze of the day, the robot used to be gargantuan at maintaining their consideration, which is all we in actuality desire in the raze.

Cat Bushes and Furniture

Bigger than upright a cat tree, the modular Freestyle permits you to customize your individual indoor or outside cat jungle gym from a series of bamboo platforms, beds, ramps, hammocks, and scratchers. The platforms are sturdy adequate to enhance cats of any size or job stage, and the poles can accommodate ceilings up to 14 feet. The intention will not be cheap or especially straightforward to place collectively, nonetheless my cats Circe and Scylla spend every day on theirs, making it definitely worth the funding. —Kat Merck

That is even handed one of essentially the most neatly-liked items I in actuality possess ever examined with my cats. Neighbors love it, provide of us comment on it, and, obviously, every my cats prefer it. It’s mammoth straightforward to assemble and install, offered you possess a vertical sash window—upright shut the window on it, and raised acrylic stakes in the again will again it in put. (You moreover possess the choice to screw the Purrgola to the window body, which is suggested, and/or real the window in put with window locks.) The thick, weatherproof acrylic—which is seriously thick; it even survived a tumble out of a first-fable window all through our take a look at—is load-examined to 90 pounds, and the cushion inside has a at ease, minky, machine-washable duvet. The monitors on both aspect are stainless-steel mesh to forestall any humorous commerce. It’s got an acrylic door on the room aspect that pulls out and appropriate down to shut, nonetheless this part is fragile; I’ve now broken it twice taking it out and in of the window, nonetheless it glues again upright graceful. I wouldn’t counsel using a Purrgola all through a extremely rainy season, as a little bit heavy rain will reach in the aspect monitors (though not plenty!), or the put there are many bugs, because it’s not an airtight slot in the window. Nonetheless, if your cats are indoor-handiest (and they ought to be!), that is a stress-free and popular scheme for them to possess interaction safely with the outside. Furthermore present that it is miles going to also steal cats a whereas to salvage outmoded to it—it took every of mine about per week, nonetheless after that, they were every in it each day. —Kat Merck

No one does high-raze cat furnishings reasonably admire Mau. WIRED has examined plenty of of Mau’s cat trees through the years, and each one has been a banger: objectively magnificent, sturdy, effectively-made, and loved by cats. The real-oak Reiya isn’t even handed one of Mau’s flashier designs, and in actuality, I’m bowled over by how unassuming it looks to be like on-line—in particular person, it reads as a midcentury work of artwork, Hans Wegner-esque with rounded edges and a gorgeous oak make. All individuals who visits our condominium has commented on it. I admit I was a little bit regarding the hampers being clawed or unraveled, nonetheless they’re plastic rattan. The woolly Oeko-Tex cushion covers zip off for laundry, and for youthful, more prankish kitties, there are rings on the underside of the tip platform for dangling white, inexperienced, or purple optionally available pom poms ($12). The scratching pad is the laborious more or much less sisal cloth, which my cats don’t adore, nonetheless they swiftly warmed up to it with some coaching. In spite of the whole thing, a Mau cat tree is an funding, nonetheless you salvage what you pay for, and that is doubtless the closing cat tree you can want to purchase in your lifetime. If you happen to’re not particular, Mau presents a 45-day trial length and one-365 days guarantee. —Kat Merck

It be resplendent particular that the WIRED evaluations crew loves Mau furnishings. It be graceful, effectively-made, and looks admire a high-raze a part of furnishings as a substitute of the grotesque, cheaply-made cat trees of yesteryear. This part is real: with a heavy wood deplorable, two sturdy sisal-rope lined trunk items that screw collectively, three woven baskets that screw in to position, and three mammoth-at ease fur pillows. Plus, all of of the items are replaceable, so that if one thing succumbs to place on and trudge over time, it is doubtless you’ll well well also not want to throw away the total tree. The fur cushions are machine cleanable too, nonetheless kind particular you read the cleansing instructions to make certain that they closing as long as imaginable. Mau has free transport (in the contiguous USA and Canada), a 45-day return coverage, and a one-365 days guarantee. My cats employ this tree each day, and I’m cheerful to possess this popular part proudly on recount in my entrance room.

Cats prefer to leap and climb whatever they’ll, so a cat tree ought to serve again them occupied and off your mantel or breakable glassware. Our popular cat trees are created from presents that can moreover be scratched up. (We moreover possess a e book to the fanciest cat furnishings we now possess tried if you happen to in actuality desire the fat scoop.) If you happen to are living in a shrimp house, the whole thing you embellish with issues attributable to it be all on recount—nothing will get hidden if you handiest possess one to three rooms. A few of us desire our cat’s furnishings to envision, too. Mau’s Cento is even handed one of used WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano‘s favorites. If you happen to might per chance give you the money for it, your cats will thanks.

Mau is identified for its high-raze and tasteful cat furnishings (collectively with our Mau picks above), and its Kona aspect desk suits upright into the lineup with a midcentury mod vibe and scratching pad discreetly tucked into the again. The real-wood desk is awfully heavy and effectively-made, with alternate choices for an oak or walnut make. It didn’t dissuade my cats from scratching the chair it’s next to, nonetheless it does reach with a get of catnip to serve with encouragement. This desk is neatly-liked and on the total sold out, nonetheless it is doubtless you’ll well well register on Mau’s web put to be notified of the next restock. —Kat Merck

Our popular window perch lets cats responsibly possess interaction with the exterior world. Passe WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano loved these window seats attributable to they are a gargantuan scheme for cats to steal pleasure in the solar and again a watchful leer on the neighborhood whereas safely indoors. They’re straightforward to install too, with sticky strips that connect with your windowsill that might per chance well withhold up to 40 pounds. You would moreover nail the deplorable into the window body, and there are even heated seats for mammoth-foul kitties. The covers are removable and also can moreover be machine-washed. Heads up, you can want a windowsill a minimal of 2 inches deep to effectively enhance it.

This cat mattress has a memory foam sculpted-contour mattress deplorable with a mammoth at ease (removable and washable) nano heating and volcanic-particle-infused duvet. It has a button on the aspect with various heat settings, collectively with timed heatings. It has optionally available self-heating pure herb pad attachments for additional anxiety reduction and to serve decrease arthritic inflammation, which is essentially supreme for senior cats. The sculpted mattress is namely contoured to provide orthopedic enhance for the cat’s joints. Professional tip: Set up the mattress on a elevated surface or somewhere the cats already lounge. Cats adore to be off the ground, and after I moved this on high of my aspect desk, every of my cats lay in it frequently.

I have been getting Instagram classified ads for this popular mattress that attaches to your desk for goodbye, I needed to cave and leer if it used to be definitely worth the hype. Especially since I in actuality possess a extremely needy cat who loves to lounge on my laptop laptop whereas I WFH. This mattress is easy to assemble, with an arm that screws into the wooden deplorable and a screwed vise to again the mattress in put on the desk. It has adjustable vertical high, and the deplorable moreover rotates. Upright kind particular you measure the outside you’ll want to connect it to earlier than you purchase. My desk used to be too thick, and my aspect desk used to be too skinny—fortunately they sent additional planks to be capable of add into the screwed vise to kind it sturdier, nonetheless I possess not realized the purrfect put for it yet.

Other Essentials We Retain Going Back To

Photograph: Molly Higgins

Yeowww! Banana Catnip Toy for $6: This toy has been the single most loved toy by all of used WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano‘s cats.

Playology Feather Mice for $17: Manufacture you understand there are “bird” cats and “mouse” cats? Most cats in actuality prefer to hunt tell forms of prey, and I’ve viewed this play out in my very own condominium. Even if they’re litter mates, even handed one of my indoor cats clearly prefers to leap at flying things (birds) and the different likes to screen and leap out at things down low (mice). They every revel in these toys—they’re fuzzy admire mice nonetheless feathered admire birds, with some catnip for added hobby. I counsel placing them away when playtime is finished to again hobby unique, and to put off the bell if you happen to don’t are searching for to hear jingling in the center of the evening. —Kat Merck

Cat Dancer Interactive Cat Toy for $4: This absurdly straightforward toy is a low-worth crowd pleaser. It be upright some rolls of cardboard that weigh down a springy steel wire. The erratic actions are the same to bugs flying, and my cats always actively play with it.

Lick Mat for $8: A lick mat is a gargantuan technique to be capable of add enrichment and stimulation—plus, it helps them promote slack keen (and not more throwing up). I moreover possess this space of two cute fish-fashioned lick mats ($17) for every of my kitties, and it be a stress-free technique to give them a treat whereas promoting slack feeding and stimulation. I uncover Churu puree with some added water to serve sneakily add more hydration to their snacks.

Chom Chom Roller Pet Hair Remover for $25: This instrument is universally loved amongst all pet-proudly owning WIRED reviewers. This nifty system makes it straightforward to de-fur with regards to any surface. We employ them every day. It be atmosphere friendly, would not occupy up too swiftly, and emptying it takes upright seconds.

Uproot Cleaner Professional for $20: This straightforward instrument is so stress-free to employ. It be shrimp, lightweight, and easily pulls up hair from a diversity of carpets and materials. I employ it religiously on my cat trees and in most cases on my carpets, and it always pulls up fur that is invisible to the naked leer.

Basepaws’ Breed + Well being Cat DNA Check for $90: This at home DNA take a look at tells you if your cat is evident, a provider, at threat, or at high threat of a big quantity of metabolic, cardiovascular, leer, blood, endocrine, renal, autoimmune, pores and skin, musculoskeletal, and connective tissue complications, moreover to blood kind, transfusion threat, and other traits. Any cat can make a illness or dental complications, nonetheless having a baseline can alleviate anxieties and empower you to work with your vet to kind the very best doubtless lifestyles selections to your cat. (Read my overview right here.)

Recordsdata Panel Cat DNA Check Kit for $104: I swabbed the within of my cats’ mouths, sent the pattern again, and got the DNA results delivered straight to my inbox in barely a pair of weeks. With this equipment, your cat is when compared in opposition to over 70 breeds and examined in opposition to 45 genetic health tests to salvage insights and blood kind identification. Getting knowledge on my cats’ genetic make-up and blood kind used to be not handiest difficult, nonetheless can serve me if there is ever an emergency. (Read my overview right here.)

Owala Pet Bowl for $30: We adore this not recent nonetheless reliable stainless-steel bowl from even handed one of our popular reusable water bottle brands, Owala. Chrome steel is a lot more hygienic than plastic, which would per chance with out problems harbor wicked bacteria and reason complications admire cat acne. (I’m peaceful a fan of stainless-steel fountains.)

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