We independently evaluate all of our recommendations. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Shopping Pet Products These Are the 17 Very Best Cat Toys of 2024, Tested by Our Picky Cats Engage your feline friend with the top puzzles, lasers, wands, and more By Cai Cramer Cai Cramer Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE.com with 2 years’ experience in journalism and digital media. She regularly tests the best and buzziest products in the beauty and lifestyle spaces and has researched and written about moisturizers, blow dryers, clothing, and luggage, among many other popular products. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on September 11, 2024 05:28PM EDT In This Article View All In This Article Our Top Picks Reviews Things to Consider Behind the Scenes FAQ Why Trust PEOPLE? What Is People Tested? Photo: People / Elizabeth Theriot I’ll do just about anything to get my sweet, stubborn rescue cat to play with me. Usually, after five minutes of waving around a feather toy like a matador, my cat looks downright bored. Finding the right toys to keep my feline friend engaged, curious, and playful was almost as challenging as finding the right cat food brand. While I was writing this story, based on the meticulous testing results from our PEOPLE-tested labs, I decided to try out some of the top-performing toys with my own cat. And oh boy, did they perform. The best toys from our testing lab were a hit with my own cat, and I’ve never seen her play more excitedly (she goes especially wild over the Cat Dancer toy), proving, in my own micro test, that the type of toy really does affect the way they play. Experts Say “I’m a big fan of work-to-eat toys,” Dr. Jennifer Chu tells PEOPLE. “Cats need mental stimulation and exercise, so work-to-eat toys allow them to exercise while using their brains.” Our favorite work-to-eat toy we've tested is the Catstages Buggin' Out puzzle. We consulted cat behavior specialists and veterinarians to make a comprehensive guide to the very best toys for our best friends. These are the best cat toys, feeder puzzles, scratchers, and lasers that are PEOPLE-cat-approved. Our Top Picks Best Teaser Toy: Cat Dancer Products Interactive Cat Toy at Amazon $9 Jump to Review Best for Kittens: SALE Cat Dancer Cat Charmer at Amazon $12 $10 Jump to Review Best Scratcher Toy: Catify by Best Pet Supplies Cardboard Scratcher at Amazon $45 Jump to Review Best for Multiple Cats: Catit Super Roller Circuit Toy at Amazon $39 Jump to Review Best Circuit Toy: Catit Play Massager Circuit Ball Cat Toy at Amazon $22 Jump to Review Best Dental Toy: Catstages Straw-Babies Catnip Toy at Amazon $5 Jump to Review Best Toy for Self-Play: SALE Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy at Amazon $11 $9 Jump to Review Best Mouse Toy: Ethical Spot Rainbow Mice Toy with Catnip at Amazon $10 Jump to Review Best Wand Toy: Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip at Chewy $5 Jump to Review Best Catnip Toy: Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with Catnip at Chewy $6 Jump to Review Best Teaser Toy Cat Dancer Products Interactive Cat Toy PHOTO: Petco $9 at Amazon View on PETCO View on Catdancer.com Star Qualities Every cat we’ve introduced to this toy has instantly loved it Relatively inexpensive compared to others on the market Comes in a pack of 2 Red Flags Paper tubes began to unravel after a month Sometimes, the simplest things are the best. Why do cats seem to be instantly obsessed over this basic toy? We can’t say for sure — all we know is that every cat that we’ve presented with the Cat Dancer toy has preferred it over any other fancy toy we’ve given them. Whenever we break out this toy, our cats jump for joy (literally) and start to do a little cat dance that’s just as cute as you'd imagine. At its core, the Cat Dancer toy is just a piece of wire with a few paper tubes strung on the end. But, when you pick the toy up and dangle it in front of your feline friend, the toy moves in an enticing way that seems to captivate our cats’ attention more than other wand toys. The design is basic, and after a month or two, the paper tubes begin to rip off the wire. But you get two of the toys for just $10, so we don’t mind having to replace the toy more often — especially considering how crazy our cats go for it. Type: Wand | Materials: Wire, paper tubes | Cleaning Instructions: None listed PHOTO: People / Melanie Fincher PHOTO: People / Melanie Fincher Best for Kittens Cat Dancer Cat Charmer PHOTO: Amazon $12 $10 at Amazon $14 at Target $13 at Chewy Star Qualities Cats of all ages enjoyed it Sturdy wand feels sturdy and high quality Rip-resistant ribbon Red Flags May not capture some cats’ attention as well as a prey-like lure toy Wand toys are a favorite amongst cats of all ages, and our tester kittens especially loved the Cat Dancer Rainbow Cat Charmer. The colorful ribbon that dangles off the handheld stick is less intimidating than some other wire wand toys, making it a great choice for cats and kittens who may be more nervous around prey-like lures. The wand toy’s handle is rated to hold up to 30 pounds, so it can stand up to rough play without snapping. It feels more durable than most other wand toys we’ve tried, thanks to a thick, stretchy fleece ribbon that allows our cats to claw into it without ripping. The rainbow ribbon might not be as long-term engaging as a wand toy with prey-like feather lures on the end, but if you’re looking for a sturdy wand toy that works for cats of all ages, we recommend the Cat Dancer Rainbow Cat Charmer. Type: Wand | Materials: Polycarbonate, fleece | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Andrew Whalen PHOTO: People / Andrew Whalen Best Scratcher Toy Catify by Best Pet Supplies Cardboard Scratcher PHOTO: Amazon $45 at Amazon Star Qualities Multi-use toy is a scratcher, cat perch, and ball toy all in one Lighter weight and smaller than most other scratching posts Multiple cats can play with it at the same time Red Flags So lightweight that it can tip over when cats sit on top Cat scratcher toys can help minimize furniture scratching, and of all the cat scratching toys we’ve tried, this one from Best Pet Supplies Stores is our (and our kitty’s) favorite. It offers more than the basic scratching board, with an inner compartment that holds whiffle balls that your cat can bat around and a ledge on top that our tester kitties liked to perch on. In our two-cat testing household, we found that both cats liked to play with the toy together, thanks to the multiple play options. The toy was strong enough to hold our 20-pound cat when he sat on top of it, though he did once tip it over during one of his perching sessions. This scratcher toy is smaller and lighter in weight than most of the standard scratching posts we’ve tried, which makes it a great option for smaller spaces or for anyone who wants to move the toy from room to room. Type: Scratcher | Materials: Cardboard | Cleaning Instructions: None listed PHOTO: People / Johanna Neeson PHOTO: People / Johanna Neeson PHOTO: People / Johanna Neeson Best for Multiple Cats Catit Super Roller Circuit Toy PHOTO: Chewy $39 at Amazon $33 at Chewy $32 at PetSmart Star Qualities Encourages independent play Sturdy track pieces click together easily Option to order more track pieces online Red Flags Not as intuitive as some simpler toys For any cat that likes to bat objects off of countertops, this circuit roller toy gives them the same sensation (without strewing your things on the ground). The toy is easy to set up, and the pieces click together like a toy train’s tracks. Once assembled, the tracks are locked in and sturdy enough for us to move the toy from room to room in one piece. After we showed the cats how the toy worked by pushing the light-up ball around the track ourselves, both cats were intrigued and began to play with it both together and by themselves. In fact, it seemed like the cats only grew to like the toy more throughout the testing period, and we’d often find them playing with it by themselves without any prompting. We’d recommend this toy for anyone trying to introduce their cats to independent play. And, if your cat loves it as much as ours did, you can order more track pieces to create a custom track. Type: Circuit | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Wash with soap and water PHOTO: People / Elise Wang PHOTO: People / Elise Wang PHOTO: People / Elise Wang Best Circuit Toy Catit Play Massager Circuit Ball Cat Toy PHOTO: Chewy $22 at Amazon $22 at Chewy Star Qualities Multi-functional device is a circuit toy, massager, and batting toy all in one More durable than other circuit toys we’ve had in the past Includes catnip to encourage rubbing against the massing nubs Red Flags Ball rolling around the track makes a little bit of noise The Catit Play Massager is more than just a circuit toy — it’s also a massager, batting toy, and catnip toy all in one. The setup process took us less than 30 seconds, and our cat immediately began to bat the ball around the circuit, rub up against the massaging nubs, and chew on the spring-mounted bee (and he didn’t stop playing with the toy for two hours straight!). One of our kitties figured out how to remove the ball from the circuit track, but we were able to locate the ball easily on our apartment floor. The Catit Play Massager has immediately become our cat’s favorite toy, and we can hear him rolling the ball around the track during all hours of the day and night — though, if you’re looking for a silent toy, this one isn’t it. But we found that we enjoyed hearing the sound of the ball whirling around its track because we knew that our cat was playing and happy. Type: Circuit | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Wash with soap and water PHOTO: People / John Somerall PHOTO: People / John Somerall Best Dental Toy Catstages Straw-Babies Catnip Toy PHOTO: Chewy $5 at Amazon $5 at Chewy Star Qualities Cleans teeth with an internal mesh that helps to remove plaque Crinkles and jingles Just $5 for a pack of three Stuffed with catnip Red Flags Some of the feathers fell out during testing Engage your kitty in play while polishing their teeth with the Catstages Straw-Babies dental toy. The toy comes with three adorable catnip-filled strawberry plushies with feathery tops to attract your pet’s attention. The strawberries also make crinkle noises when chewed on, which makes our test cats go crazy with excitement. Soft fabric toys help remove plaque from cats' teeth while they chew, which is good for their oral health. Chewing toys can also help to promote positive chewing behavior in cats because they encourage them to gnaw down on toys rather than household objects. We were shocked at how inexpensive a pack of three runs compared to other similar toys. We did notice that the feathers began to fall out after a few play sessions, but since it comes in a pack of three for less than $5, a few shedding feathers didn’t change our high opinion of the toy. Type: Plushy | Materials: Mesh, synthetic fabric, catnip | Cleaning instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Jordan Provost PHOTO: People / Jordan Provost PHOTO: People / Jordan Provost The 6 Best Cat Litters of 2024 to Keep Your Home Smelling Fresh Best Toy for Self-Play Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy PHOTO: Amazon $11 $9 at Amazon $20 $14 at Walmart $12 at Chewy Star Qualities Encourages self play Sturdy construction looked as good as new, even after weeks of play Ready to use right out of the package Red Flags Color is very bright, might clash with your decor We can’t always be around to engage with our feline friends, so toys that encourage alone-time play, like the Catstages Tower of Tracks, are game changers for keeping your kitty from getting bored. This engaging toy has three levels with six brightly-hued balls that they can bat around the tracks for hours on end. The toy is ready to use right out of the package with no assembly acquired, and we found that every cat that we presented with the Tower of Tracks toy was instantly interested in it. After weeks of play, the toy showed no signs of wear. None of the balls came out of the sturdy structure, and our cats seemed to enjoy the toy throughout our whole testing process. There wasn’t much that we didn’t love about the Tower of Tracks toy, but if we had to get nit-picky, we’d say that the neon orange exterior isn’t the most appealing to the human eye. But hey, if our cats love it, then so do we. Type: Circuit | Materials: Plastic, polypropylene | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Cassidy Walter PHOTO: People / Cassidy Walter Best Mouse Toy Ethical Spot Rainbow Mice Toy with Catnip PHOTO: Chewy $10 at Amazon $11 at Chewy Star Qualities Engages cats' animal instincts with a rattling noise Bright colors ensure you don’t mistake the toy mice for the real thing Held up through chewing, clawing, and being dunked in water Stuffed with catnip Red Flags Exterior fabric will eventually start to wear away We all know the classic trope: cats love to chase mice. That’s why we love these catnip-packed toy rodents that engage their animal instincts without hurting any other living animals in the process. The brightly colored mouse toys make a rattling noise and come with 12 in a pack, which feels like a great deal for how well each mouse toy held up during our testing. We also love that nine of the included toys are brightly colored, which means we won’t mistake them for real creatures. Our tester kitten was instantly enamored with the catnip-filled toy and enjoyed carrying it around, playing catch with it, and dunking it in her water bowl. Even through all that rough-housing, the mouse toy looked as good as new at the end of the testing period. And, though we suspect the outer fabric will eventually wear down after extended play, we still think the quality and price make it a great deal. Type: Plushy | Materials: Polyester, plastic, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Heddy Hunt PHOTO: People / Heddy Hunt PHOTO: People / Heddy Hunt Best Wand Toy Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand Cat Toy with Catnip PHOTO: Chewy $5 at Chewy Star Qualities Durable, looked as good as new after hours of play Cats of all ages loved this toy Crinkly feathered bird lure is stuffed with catnip Red Flags Wand toys require you to hold them, so aren't good for independent play The Frisco Bird wand toy was a hit with our tester cats of all ages, from a three-year-old cat to a 15-year-old senior. Our cats loved this toy so much that they’d drag it around the house and meow for us to play with them — and, even through all the hours of dragging and playing by multiple cats, the toy proved durable. At the end of our testing period, this wand toy looked as good as new. The plush bird at the end of the string is stuffed with cat nip and crinkly material to entice your furry friend. We loved how sturdy this wand toy felt and were impressed that no piece fell off the end of the toy after hours of rough play, which is what we’ve often experienced with other wand toys. It’s also less expensive than most other wand toys we’ve seen. Type: Wand | Materials: Polyester, plastic, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Chrissy Tassin PHOTO: People / Chrissy Tassin The 10 Best Cat Carriers of 2024, Tested by Our Cats Best Catnip Toy Frisco Squirrel Plush Cat Toy with Catnip PHOTO: Chewy $6 at Chewy Star Qualities Can be filled with catnip to entice cats to play Comes with catnip refills The toy was soft and furry, as well as durable Red Flags Toy felt a bit crusty by the end of the testing period from the licking If your cat goes crazy over catnip, then a toy filled with the natural cat stimulant is the ultimate treat. This plushy squirrel toy can be filled and refilled with catnip to keep your feline entertained. It’s easy to set up and comes with instructions on how to put the catnip inside the toy. The exterior is soft and furry, and our tester kitty loved to cuddle up to the toy whenever we brought it out. Because our cat cuddled and licked at the catnip toy, the fuzzy exterior did feel a little crusty by the time our testing period was complete, but none of the toy’s fur appeared to come off in the process. Type: Plushy | Materials: Polyester, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Remove catnip and machine wash PHOTO: People / Danielle Yersin PHOTO: People / Danielle Yersin Best Bird Toy Leo’s Paw Bird Simulation Cat Toy Set PHOTO: Leoâs Paw $35 at Amazon View on Leospaw.com Star Qualities Suction-mounted allows for independent play Comes with five realistic bird options and a suction replacement Red Flags One of the more expensive toys on our list This bird toy is a more innovative take on the classic wand toy. It comes with a self-holding base that suctions onto floors and windows and five realistic bird lures that attach to the end of a flexible pole and bounce around enticingly when swatted at. We tested the toy on both our windows and the floor and found it to be sturdy and well-liked by our cats when mounted on any surface. After our testing, the Bird Simulation Cat Toy still looked as good as it did right out of the package. And, though this set is a little more expensive than some most of the other toys on our list, it also comes with five different bird toy options and multiple replacement stickies for the suction cups, which we think makes it feel like a good value for the price. Type: Wand | Materials: Not listed | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Heddy Hunt PHOTO: People / Heddy Hunt Best Puzzle Toy Nina Ottosson Buggin' Out Puzzle & Play Cat Puzzle Game PHOTO: Chewy $19 $18 at Amazon $22 $18 at PETCO $22 $20 at Kohls.com Star Qualities Encourages cats to solve mind-stimulating puzzles Made from sturdy, food-safe materials Can help slow down fast eaters Red Flags You may need something more advanced to keep your cat engaged if they’re already used to playing with puzzles Puzzle toys are a great way to engage your cat’s mind while you feed them, and the Petstages Buggin’ Out toy is our favorite puzzle toy that we’ve tried. We introduced the toy to two cats who didn’t have prior experience with puzzles and were surprised at how quickly they became obsessed with it. Once they got the hang of it, our cats would bat at the toy throughout the day for us to fill it with treats for them to discover. It took about 10 minutes for our cats to get all of the treats out, which also helped to slow down their eating time and create sustained play sessions. The Petstages Buggin’ Out puzzle toy is made from food-safe materials, so we washed it by hand weekly and found that it stayed in perfect condition through multiple play sessions and washings. Because our tester cats caught on to how the toy worked pretty quickly, we think we’ll soon need to provide them with a more advanced puzzle to keep them entertained. But, especially for cats who aren’t used to puzzle toys, we think this is a great starter option. Type: Puzzle | Materials: Wood | Cleaning Instructions: Wash by hand with warm water and mild soap PHOTO: People / Alexandra Domrongchai PHOTO: People / Alexandra Domrongchai Best Electronic Toy SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy PHOTO: Chewy $15 at Amazon $16 at Chewy Star Qualities Battery-operated base and does the hard work for yo Two different speed options Auto-shutoff feature Engages cats' feline instincts by allowing them to pounce and track the lure Red Flags It takes 3 AA batteries, which will need to be replaced after prolonged use Wand came unscrewed a few times during our testing The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit toy allows your cat to engage in healthy play without the need for you to wave it around. The electronic toy does the work for you, with an internal motor that spins a wand around in circles to activate the feline hunting instinct. It offers two different speeds that can be controlled by the button on the base and an auto shut-off at 12 minutes, so you can walk away from the toy without worrying about running the battery out. We found the setup to be easy: screw on the wand, put three AA batteries in the base, and drape the round blue mat over top. Our cat loved pouncing on the spinning feather lure so much that he began standing over the toy and meowing for us to turn it on when he was in the mood to play. Our only qualm was that the wand came unscrewed a few times during testing, probably due to the toy’s spinning motion combined with our cat’s pouncing, but it was simple enough to screw the wand back in and continue play. Type: Electronic | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Bridget Annear PHOTO: People / Bridget Annear The 10 Best Automatic Litter Boxes of 2024, Tested by Our Cats Best Value SmartyKat Skitter Slices Plush Cat Toy with Catnip PHOTO: Chewy $5 at Amazon $5 at Chewy Star Qualities Catnip-filled toys were enticing for our two tester cats Simple design kept its shape through hours of play Cats enjoyed batting at the mice, rolling around with them, and carrying them in their mouths Red Flags Fabric colors faded a little after our cats licked at them often over two weeks These cute little catnip toys are a great value, coming out to about $1 per mouse, especially considering how much enjoyment our tester cats got from them. Our cats loved to roll around with the Skitter Slices plus toys, and even picked them up in their mouths and carried the mice around with them. The toys seem to be pretty durable, maintaining their shape after hours of play, although the fabric’s colors did fade a little due to our cats’ excessive licking. Overall, the Skitter Slices mice are a simple and well-priced pack of toys that are great for alone play. Type: Plushy | Materials: Polyester, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Spot clean with warm water PHOTO: People / Joe McGinn PHOTO: People / Joe McGinn Best Activity Center Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center PHOTO: Amazon $19 at Amazon $19 at Chewy $25 at PetSmart Star Qualities Multiple puzzle options hold food and treats Engages the brain and is great for cats who overeat or eat too quickly Made of a sturdy plastic that is very durable rEd Flags Plain gray color isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing We didn’t expect our three tester cats to enjoy the Trixie 5-in-1 Activity Center as much as they did — these cats generally prefer wrestling with each other over playing with a toy — but they all went gaga over this puzzle toy. This puzzle-style toy is excellent for food-motivated cats and forces cats to slow down and think as they eat, which can be good for felines who usually eat too quickly. The activity center is large enough for all three of our cats to play with simultaneously. It is made from a sturdy plastic that looked as good as new after two weeks of testing and some heavy play. The only thing we’d change about the board is the color — we’d love some more options than the basic grey, but that’s not as important to us as our cats’ enjoyment, so we’ll overlook it. Type: Puzzle | Materials: BPA-free plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Dishwasher-safe PHOTO: People / Elizabeth Theriot PHOTO: People / Elizabeth Theriot Best Laser Toy Valonii Motion Activated Laser Toy PHOTO: Amazon $25 at Amazon Star Qualities Activates the feline instant to hunt Motion-activated toy and USB-rechargeable Gives our cat a great workout Three different speed modes Red Flags Laser toys can be a little frustrating for some cats because they can never actually “catch” the laser. Our tester cats went wild for this laser toy. It was ready to use right out of the package, much to our cat’s delight, and instantly engaged our feline bestie’s predatory instincts as he pounced after the laser for ten minutes straight. He did seem to tire of the game after about 10 minutes, and it’s possible that he felt frustrated that he could never actually “catch” the laser as he could a physical wand toy, though this toy did inspire much more movement and exercise than a wand toy would. The Valonii toy also seems very sturdy — we knocked it off the table a few times to test its durability, and it didn’t scratch or dent at all. We also love that the toy is rechargeable and comes with a USB charging cord. It also has a variety of modes that move the laser at varying speeds and has a motion-activated sensor to engage your pet in play even when you’re not around to turn it on for them. Type: Laser | Materials: Plastic | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer PHOTO: People / Jeanne Geer Best Kicker Toy Yeowww Catnip Banana PHOTO: Amazon $9 at Amazon $10 at Walmart $8 at Chewy Star Qualities Great for bunny-kicking, tossing, and cuddling Filled with enticing catnip Red Flags Canvas fabric showed some bite marks after two weeks of rough play Does your cat ever get into kickboxing mode? If your feline friend has a habit of grabbing your feet and speed-kicking at them like they’re trying to take down an opponent, gently nudging them towards this catnip toy can be a big pain relief. Our cat instantly fawned over the Yeowww banana toy and began bunny-kicking away at it to his heart’s content. He also enjoyed through the toy in the air and catching it, which did leave a few bite marks in the canvas, but otherwise, it seemed to be pretty sturdy with no rips or tears at the end of our two-week testing period. Type: Plushy | Materials: Cotton, catnip | Cleaning Instructions: Not listed PHOTO: People / Cara Milhaven PHOTO: People / Cara Milhaven Things to Consider When Buying Cat Toys Activity Type and Engagement There are many different ways that your cat can engage with toys, whether it’s through puzzles that stimulate their minds or chase-type toys that trigger their hunting instincts. “For cats, play is generally predatory behavior,” says Stephen Quandt, a certified feline training and behavior specialist. Engaging in that kind of play can be great exercise. To spark up the hunt-and-chase kind of play, feather toys that mimic the movement of real animals, like the Leo’s Paw Interactive Bird Toy, are a great option. Mental stimulation is also important for a cat’s happiness and health, and puzzle feeders like the Buggin’ Out Puzzle & Play have the added benefit of engaging your cat’s problem-solving skills while forcing them to slow down while they eat. Materials and Safety Whether a toy is made from plastic, fabric, catnip, or any other commonly used material, the most important thing to consider is your cat’s safety. Ensure that there are no external parts that your cat can chew off and swallow and for toys that have cords or strings, Quandt says “you might not even want to leave unattended with the cat because it could become a hazard.” Some materials might engage your cat’s natural instincts more than others. “Feathers are a good source of material because they are the real thing,” Quandt says. He also recommends trying toys with a fuzzy texture that mimics the feeling of a mouse, which can excite cats. We like the Ethical Pet Spot Rainbow Plush Rattling Mice Cat Toy because they feel like real mice without looking like them and potentially frightening unassuming humans. Cleaning and Care Think about how your cat tends to play with its existing toys and the level of wear and tear that they go through. If your cat tends to bring their toys outside or into the litter box rather than leaving them in their cat bed or cat tree, then you may want to consider opting for a toy that’s machine-washable or easy to toss in the dishwasher. Some toys are not able to be thoroughly cleaned, so they may be a better choice for cats that engage in cleaner, more gentle play. People / Danielle Yersin Behind the Scenes To find out which cat toys will capture your feline pal’s heart, we tested 30 of the most popular cat toys on the market over two weeks. We sent out the cat toys for our PEOPLE Testing team to try with their own cats of all ages and provided them with a methodology to follow to get real-world results on the following factors: Setup: We started by taking each toy out of its package and following any included instructions for setting up. Some toys required batteries, while others were ready to go right out of the package. We took careful note of how easy each toy was to get started with and how long the entire process took from set up to playtime.Enjoyment: The most important (and adorable) part of our testing was introducing our cats to the toys and engaging them in play. We took note of how long our cats appeared interested in each toy and whether that differed from their usual reaction to toys. We noticed when our cats signaled that they wanted us to use the toy with them again, and after repeated use of each toy over two weeks, we could see how much enjoyment our cats got from each toy and whether they lost interest in it over time. Durability: The final thing we looked at was how well the toys stood up after two weeks of use. Did the toys fray or tear? Did any batteries die, or did plastic components fall off? We took careful note of how the toys looked straight out of the box and how they looked after our testing period was complete. People / Cara Milhaven Frequently Asked Questions What is the best toy for cats? “In many respects,” Quandt says, “the best toy for a cat is the toy that a cat likes, and it's not always easy to predict.” Depending on what excites your cat, they might prefer a toy that involves chasing, like a laser pointer or wand toy, or they might prefer a toy that allows for biting and pouncing, like a plush catnip-filled mouse. Should I leave toys out for my cat to play with? Playtime doesn’t have to stop when you leave the room — but make sure that any toy you leave out for your cat to play with when you’re not around is safe for them to use on their own. Toys that involve an electric component are generally safest to use with a human companion supervising. Quandt says you should also watch out for toys that have wire or string components because if left unattended, cats can get wrapped up in the strings and get stuck. How do I keep my cat entertained? If your cat becomes easily bored by toys, consider switching out the toys that you use periodically, and re-introducing them to the toy after some time spent away. Another option to get your cat excited about play is to introduce a toy that has a treat component, like a puzzle activity. Why Trust PEOPLE? Cai Cramer is a shopping writer at PEOPLE.com who writes about the best and buzziest new products across the home, beauty, and lifestyle spaces. Cai loves to write about pet products and uses her rescue cat, Miso, as a test subject to discover the best litter boxes, cat toys, cat beds, cat carriers, and more. For this story, Cai consulted insights from the PEOPLE Tested lab, which tested 30 of the most popular cat toys on cats of all ages. Cai also spoke with a veterinarian and used insights from cat experts. Meet Our Experts Stephen Quandt is a certified feline training and behavior specialist and founder of Cat Behavior Help. Dr. Jennifer Chu is the medical director at Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group in New York City. What Is People Tested? We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs. But we don’t stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square. In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.