Toy Suggestions for Physical Activity

Hello all!

I'm wondering what type of toys you can all recommend for an active kitten / adolescent cat...

My little guy loves Da Bird...but seems to be getting a little bored of it. He absolutely loves the laser pointer, which I do use when I want to tire him out. It's just a little sad because he can never actually catch it. So I switch from it to a toy he can physically hunt down before I finish play when using the laser pointer.

Other than that, the little mouse toys filled with catnip are a hit for maybe 1-2 days before he's like...."meh...whatevs"...

I want to keep him active and healthy. Indoor cats tend to gain weight easily when physical activity and play time are ignored. That's the last thing I want. Just not sure what else to keep him motivated.

What do you guys use?

Dudley loves thundering after these balls that I ping down my long corridor for him to chase:


They're made from a foam type stuff and can be picked up in the mouth and carted about. They're about 3.5cm in diameter.  They're very easy to get hold of online. 

Cat Dancer 101 and Cat Dancer 301 are a lot of fun. The same company that makes Da Bird makes a lot of other fun toys as well such as Da Bee. You can also purchase "refill attachments" for Da Bird (meaning you take the "bird" off and refit it wth another toy). My Charlie loves the mouse attachment. I can drag it on the floor and he chases it nonstop! I'm also a fan of "kibble hunts" (i.e., placing kibble on high perches for your cat to retrieve). You can also make a home-made version of the no bowl feeding system buy cutting holes in a water or Gatorade bottle, putting your cat's food inside, then as your cat rolls it around, the kibble will come out. Also, make your home environment stimulating for activity. Get cat trees to encourage your cat to jump and climb. Put catnip mice in various places for your cat to practice stalking and pouncing. Let me know what you think of this and if you have any questions!

Haha oh the kid's dart blower toy sounds like an awesome idea. I didn't think of that...kids toys!

Adyeb. I want to try Da Bee as well! I have a tall cat tree for him which he uses as a scratching post and sleeps on. He will play on it only occasionally though. He's very attached to me and is usually where I am...which is the living room and kitchen. The cat try for him is in one of our bedrooms which is sunny and has a large window. Obviously, he could care less about the view lol.

I got my Da Bee at my local pet supply store. It really is great fun for my Charlie. You'll have to let me know what your kitty thinks if it! Great to hear that you have a big cat tree. Those really are a lot of fun for kitties.

You can get different attachments for Da Bird. My cats go crazy over the little mouse more than the original feathers that come with it.

I was looking online for the mouse. They don't seem to sell it in store often...mostly the feathers. What is it made of? It looks almost straw like in the photos.

Our cats love The Cat Dancer and the Play N Squeak mouse. They have fun throwing it up in air and carrying it around. We also use the balls Brian007 mentioned.

yogakitty said:

I was looking online for the mouse. They don't seem to sell it in store often...mostly the feathers. What is it made of? It looks almost straw like in the photos.

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I don't even know what it's made of. It feels like straw, but finer and softer. Whatever it is, kitties go crazy over it!

Before you go to spend $$$ on cat toys why dont you try giving her bottle caps (mine loves to chase them) and paper or aluminium foil loosely made into a ball?

Also any strings like bra strings, gift wrapper kind of strings work great. 

I spent a lot of money buying toys for my kitten who ignored them all! She is crazy about bottle caps and aluminium balls though

Also, you can leave a carton/paper bag or box around and theyll absolutely love playing with it.

matea said:

 
Before you go to spend $$$ on cat toys why dont you try giving her bottle caps (mine loves to chase them) and paper or aluminium foil loosely made into a ball?

Also any strings like bra strings, gift wrapper kind of strings work great. 

I spent a lot of money buying toys for my kitten who ignored them all! She is crazy about bottle caps and aluminium balls though

Also, you can leave a carton/paper bag or box around and theyll absolutely love playing with it.

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I second @matea

I cut few lenghts of hemp rope (spare rope from whatever packing or new one, is cheap enough and very useful at home anyway) - wonderful toy for my cat!

Balls from paper, old socks - anything I can find.

Nevertheless, I still keep the old toy he used to play as kitten, months ago. It is still his favorite toy, although looks a bit... predated :-).

I never use a laser pointer or similar, because could stress my cat (any predator wants to catch prey, once in a while, to claw and bite it - than cannot be done to a light spot).

yogakitty said:

................. It's just a little sad because he can never actually catch it.

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I've stopped using the laser pointer to play with my boy for a long time already after like what you said, I found it sad too that he can't get his paws on them and bite it. And I don't like to use it also because sometimes the light gets into his eyes accidentally while playing and I think it's no good for him. Same as if we have the light shone in our eyes and we get blinded for awhile. So I totally stopped the laser pointer.

I agree with what matea and Solomonar said, DIY toys. Not all toys appeal to the kitties. I too have bought toys for my boy but his favorites are cardboard boxes, paper bags with handles snipped of so that he doesn't get his neck entangled. I used cardboard boxes and make a maze for him and also got him cat tunnels and he loves it.

His all time favorite is a felt covered sponge ball that he played with since he was 3 weeks old and he's 14 months now and still playing with it. The other ball he likes is the ping pong balls but I stopped giving them to him because when he chases the ping pong ball, it bounces of the walls and floor which he loves it but I think my neighbor one floor below me doesn't like it because of the sound of the ball bouncing on his ceiling :lol3:

So now to get him active, I play football with him using the felt cover foam ball. I'm the striker and he's the goalkeeper :lol3: Totally no noise at all. And I play peekaboo or hide and seek with him too.

I have two cats, and I was wondering what kind of toys I could give them!
One is 3 years old and the other one is 2 years old. They both like to play, we already have a little house where they can "play with their nails" (I'm sorry, I know my english isn't the best).
Lately one cat is a bit depressed (I think she is), so this could help her...

There are many suggestions in this thread and hopefully more members will chime with even more. We also have these guides -
Beating Boredom - What Indoor Cat Owners Need To Know
8 Superb Automated Cat Toys That You're Going To Love!
Playing with Your Cat: 10 Things You Need To Know
How To Make Your Home Bigger (at Least For Your Cats)
Choosing the Right Cat Toy for Your Kitten

Missy likes to play with balls and retrieves paper lumps and small fluffy objects. Her (actual) favorite toy is a monkey, which is a baby toy (rattle); it has the right size to wrestle (see picture).



In the morning, before I go to work, I put all her toys (balls, mouses, paper lumps,…) on the different steps of the (open) stair in the living room (ground floor). She cannot resist the urge to sweep all the items off the steps. When I come home, most of the toys are down on the floor and I sometimes find paper lumps and mouses buried under the duvet in my bedroom (on the first floor).

She occasionally plays in the cat tunnel, but only when other toys (and humans) are involved.

yogakitty said:

Hello all!

I'm wondering what type of toys you can all recommend for an active kitten / adolescent cat...

My little guy loves Da Bird...but seems to be getting a little bored of it. He absolutely loves the laser pointer, which I do use when I want to tire him out. It's just a little sad because he can never actually catch it. So I switch from it to a toy he can physically hunt down before I finish play when using the laser pointer.

Other than that, the little mouse toys filled with catnip are a hit for maybe 1-2 days before he's like...."meh...whatevs"...

I want to keep him active and healthy. Indoor cats tend to gain weight easily when physical activity and play time are ignored. That's the last thing I want. Just not sure what else to keep him motivated.

What do you guys use?

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The ones you've mentioned are my guys' favorites. We like the super-strong catnip toys -- of whatever shape -- and I refresh them by putting them back in the plastic bag with others, or in the jar of catnip, bringing out fresh ones frequently. Da Bird is the paws-down favorite and they never tire of it. I love to get them airborne with this toy. We don't use the laser much, for the reason you've said. We don't care anything about the battery-powered toys, either -- hard plastic things that gyrate just bore us. We have some rubbery toys that look like "jacks" that they sometimes like if I spin them for them.

abyeb said:

I don't even know what it's made of. It feels like straw, but finer and softer. Whatever it is, kitties go crazy over it!

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I believe it is some sort of extruded plastic, and the "da bird mouse" toy is Freya's favorite, she'll play with it for hours ( or until I stop, which is usually more like 20 minutes )

I rotate toys LOTS of toys and toy types. The small furry ones I leave tupperware containers full of cat nip for a month or two, then pull one out. Hair rubber bands (on piece fabric kind replace often) are fetch favorites, balls, tennis balls, krinkle foil balls, cat wands, peacock feathers, leather cords braided, jingle tube things with feathers, and one my hyper cats all time favorites his plushie ball with furry tail. If you think you don't have enough toys buy some more You can tell the ones they love because they used the most/beat up the quickest. My guys never got into the puzzle box or treat puzzle though I tried. They did love the ball in a round track tube thing when they were hyper little kittens.

SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird-Sound Cat Toy (hide when you want to sleep)

This is my hyper cat's favorite :

KONG Wild Tails Cat Toy

My hyper cat exploring their toy collection. That is their old cat scratcher lounger, they have 3 and love them.
This a good toy for kittens just watch your hands since they can get a little grabby with the claws