“Interactive” is doing a lot of work on cat-toy packaging these days. Strictly, it means a toy the cat plays with rather than just on: something that moves, hides a reward, makes a noise, or needs a paw, a nose or a human on the other end. For an indoor cat that is most of the point of a toy at all. A plush mouse that sits where it fell is furniture after ten minutes. A toy that does something back gets played with again tomorrow.
This is a list of the types that actually earn their place, with the ones we stock, honest notes on who they suit, and a couple of picks we don't sell because you probably already own them. Prices are correct at the time of writing; the delivery time is shown on every product page.
1. A motion toy that plays when you can't: FlapFrenzy
The one toy we can genuinely say Ruby and Rosie have tested, because it lives in our hallway. The FlapFrenzy Interactive Bird Toy is a plush bird on a charge that flaps and chirps when touched, then goes quiet until the next nudge. That start-stop rhythm is what makes it work: cats stalk the stillness, pounce on the movement, and come back ten minutes later to check it is still “alive”. It is rechargeable, the cover washes, and there is a catnip pouch inside for the cats who need persuading. At £24.99 it is the most expensive thing on this list and the one that gets used most in our house. Ruby's approach is a full-body ambush; Rosie prefers to watch it from a distance and bat it once, decisively, when it stops.
Best for: cats home alone during the day, high-energy young cats, anyone whose cat has stopped bothering with wand toys. Skip if: your cat is nervous of sudden noise; introduce it switched off first.
2. A ball track they can run for themselves
Ball tracks are the quiet workhorses of interactive toys: a ball in a channel the cat can bat but never quite catch. No batteries, no supervision, no noise at 3 a.m. except the ball. Two we stock:
- The Accordion Cat Scratcher with Ball Track (2 pack, £16.99) wraps a cardboard scratcher around the track, so the cat gets a scratch and a chase in the same spot. Cardboard is a consumable; buying two at once is the sensible way round that.
- The 5-in-1 Scratch Post with Ball Track & Feather (£16.99) stacks a small sisal post, a ball track and a sprung feather into one footprint. It is a kitten-and-small-cat toy rather than a big-cat scratch post, so judge it on the toy part.
Best for: solo play, small flats, cats who like to “hunt” in short bursts between naps.
3. A puzzle feeder, because dinner is the best toy they own
Most cats would rather work for food than for a toy, which is the whole idea of a puzzle feeder: dry food or treats go into compartments and the cat has to paw, nose and flip to get them out. It slows down fast eaters and gives a bored cat a job. The Christmas Tree Cat Puzzle Feeder (£17.99) is a multi-level version with sliding and lifting parts; the festive shape is cosmetic, it works in July. For a gentler start, the Felt Peek-a-Boo Cat Puzzle Box (£9.99) is a soft box with holes to fish treats and small toys out of, and it is quiet enough to leave out on the sofa.
Best for: cats who inhale their food, cats on a diet, rainy days. Tip: start easy. If the first go is too hard they walk away and remember.
4. A tunnel with something in it
A plain tunnel is a good hiding place. A tunnel with a dangling mouse and a feather at the entrance is an ambush site, which is a far better use of a cat's afternoon. The Mouse & Feather Cat Tunnel Toy (£10.99) is the straightforward version: crinkly fabric, a toy at each end, folds flat when the novelty wears off. Two cats and one tunnel is an especially good combination; one goes in, the other waits at the exit, and you get the whole drama for a tenner.
5. Something to fight: the punching bag
Some cats don't want to chase, they want to box. The Cat Punching Bag Toy with Boxing Gloves (£12.99) hangs or stands so the bag swings back when hit, which is the “interactive” part. It is daft, it is also the kind of toy that gets a reaction from a cat who ignores everything else. Pair it with the Crinkle Catnip Plush Snake (£6.99) for the kick-and-bunny-kick crowd: long enough to grab with the front paws and kick with the back ones, which is what that behaviour is for.
6. A scratcher that is also a game: SqueezeBox
Strictly a scratcher, but the SqueezeBox Shape-Shifting Scratcher (£24.99) folds into different shapes (a tunnel, a wave, a flat pad) so you can change the “terrain” every few weeks. Cats notice when a thing has moved; a scratcher that becomes a tunnel is a new object as far as they are concerned, and new objects get investigated. If scratching the sofa is the problem you are actually trying to solve, start with our guide to redirecting it.
Two interactive “toys” you already own
- A wand toy. Any £3 feather on a stick is still the best interactive toy ever made, because the interactive part is you. Ten minutes a day, let them catch it at the end, put it away so it stays exciting. We don't currently sell one; buy whichever is nearest.
- A cardboard box with a hole cut in it. Drop a ball or a treat inside. Genuinely rivals anything on this page for the first week.
One honest caution: laser pointers are great for exercise and poor as a stand-alone toy, because the cat can never catch the dot. If you use one, end the session on something they can actually grab.
How to pick for your cat
Match the toy to the hunting style. Chasers want the ball track and the tunnel. Stalkers want FlapFrenzy and anything that moves then stops. Wrestlers want the punching bag and the snake. Food-motivated cats want the puzzle feeder and nothing else matters. If in doubt, rotate: three toys out, the rest in a cupboard, swap weekly. A toy that has been away for a fortnight is a new toy.
All the toys above are in the Play collection. For the wider enrichment picture, including beds, shelves and feeders, see 10 Ways to Entertain an Indoor Cat. The quality-control department (Ruby, red bow; Rosie, pink bow) would like it noted that they have only personally signed off the FlapFrenzy, and that the rest are offered on their merits.