There’s no denying that cats are lovable creatures! Any cat owner will agree with the sentiment. Hence, why it is crucial you get the best cat toys for indoor cats possible.
House cats are generally safer from harm compared to their feral counterparts, but they are often in greater danger of both under-activity and obesity.
It’s easy to see why— after all, they do not get to practice their hunting skills while being fed safely at home.
Moreover, let’s not forget that they don’t have to run away from predators like their outdoor counterparts.
So what should you do in order to solve these problems?
It’s actually quite simple: provide them with the appropriate cat toys for indoor cats and implement the proper rules!
Exercise is essential for all living creatures—felines are no exception to the rule.
It is vital for both their mental and physical wellbeing.
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Why your cat need exercise
We have listed reasons to provide cat toys and encourage exercise for your feline below.
Relieves them of boredom and stress
When you have nothing to do, don’t you feel like you’re going to go out of your mind?
It is the same for your pets! They no longer need to hunt or run away from predators, so what can they do?
If you don’t provide them with any forms of amusement, they will likely sleep the hours away day after day.
It can also affect their disposition negatively.
Therefore, it is important to give them something to do to reduce both physical and mental impairments.
Builds muscle tone
Like humans, felines will greatly benefit from regular exercise.
This will ensure that they have ample muscle tone to reach higher altitudes, build immunity to certain conditions, and prevent accidents of any form!
Reduce behavioral issues
While humans might have successfully domesticated felines thousands of years ago, they still have natural instincts that are deeply embedded in their DNA.
Like their bigger cousins, they will have the urge to scratch and bite.
If you don’t provide them with the best toys these impulses, they will likely turn to whatever is available to them.
That means furniture and clothing! Unless you wish to have scratches on your tables and tears on your draperies, it is imperative to give them the best cat toys.
Types of kitty toys
Now that you understand why it is important to give your pets something to do, let’s look at the best cat toys for indoor cats available in the market.
This is important before you head out to the physical or online market.
Not only will it save you a lot of time and effort, it will also allow you to look for something that will be perfect for your feline friend!
Ball Toys
We know that house pets are generally attracted to balls.
Rolling a ball across the floor is highly similar to the scampering movement made by prey animals.
This then triggers your pet’s predator tendencies and they will run after the ball!
For an added bonus, why not insert treats into the ball so that they will be rewarded for playing?
These are the best cat toys for lazy cats if you want to try to stimulate them.
Wand Toys
A wand toy is basically just a stick that has a string or ribbon attached to it.
Feel free to wave, circle, and flutter it around for your pet! The secret here is that it looks and behaves similarly to insects or other smaller prey animals.
There is usually something attached to the end of the plastic, wire, or wood for maximum entertainment.
What’s so great about this product is that you will not risk getting scratched by your pet.
Food-Dispensing Toys
There are plenty of people who allow their pets full freedom to access food whenever they want.
These kinds of toys are particularly popular with busy pet parents. Food-dispensing products often require the pet to work in some way to get the treats.
This is great for their mind and it also satisfies their hunting instincts.
However, there is a downside to these products: it might lead to obesity for kitties with self-control problems!
Activity Toys
This is a broader category of toys— the name generally applies to anything that will make kitties want to engage in play and physical activity!
This includes motion toys, kicker toys, cardboard scratchers, play tents, and rotating teaser toys.
It might not be all-encompassing, but it should give you a general idea of what the available offerings are like.
Similarly, don’t forget that these types are not mutually exclusive and that they sometimes overlap with each other.
On the other hand, we purposely refrained from including lasers, as this has been determined to be harmful to your fur baby!
Guidelines for Playing
While it is important they are having fun, it is also your responsibility to keep them safe and healthy.
Keep these things in mind in order to maximize the safety and enjoyment of your housecat.
The Do’s
Let your feline friend set the pace. It would be nice if you can provide different kinds of toys so that you can figure out the preference of your pet.
This will help you establish the style of playing your pet likes best.
Kittens, especially younger ones, have a tendency to get overexcited.
When this happens, they will likely redirect their energy to you or other animals!
Encourage it, but always cut it off whenever it is too rough. Let them rest for a little while so that they can calm down.
When playing with your pet, it is important that it is conducted in a place your pet is both secure and free from distractions.
Refrain from using sharp objects to entertain your pet!
Similarly, you should avoid playing in an area where there are things like paper clips, plastic bags, and rubber bands.
These all pose a danger to your pets.
Supervise whenever you can! This will help avoid choking hazards and other harmful incidents that could be detrimental to your feline.
The Don’ts
Now let us talk about the things you should avoid when initiating playtime with your feline friend.
Don’t be surprised if your kitty ends up biting toys. This is perfectly normal behavior.
However, it is your duty as the pet owner to discourage them from biting humans while they are kittens.
It is for this reason that you might want to avoid using toys that require you to wear mittens or gloves!
Moreover, laser lights might be one of the most famous toys for your pets, but avoid using them!
Your pet might get frustrated because they can never get the tiny little dot.
Encourage them by using a toy that they can actually grab and bite! The mere act of getting the toy is its own reward for them.
As much as possible, avoid ending the game abruptly. Who loves being interrupted while in the middle of having fun?
It is important to wind down towards the end so that there can be a cool-down period for your pet.
Don’t forget to clear the play area of any sharp objects!
A secure space will be better, especially if you plan on leaving your pets alone without supervision for a long period of time.
Factors to Consider
Being aware of the following will help you choose the perfect item to take home to your pet.
Health
This is a key factor when choosing the toy. Inspect your pet or better yet, consider a veterinarian!
Assess if your kitty is overweight, normal, or underweight.
This will determine the amount and kind of exercise that your pet requires.
In turn, the knowledge you obtain from the evaluation will let you know the kind of toy you should buy.
Age
Similarly, you need to know how old your pet is. Kittens will likely have more energy than their older counterparts!
Take this into account so that they will not have to redirect the excess energy elsewhere if the toy does not satisfy them.
They will usually require accessories or products that involve more action.
Older pets, meanwhile, might have a difficult time using any kind of toy that requires a high level of energy.
Personality
Let’s face it— our pets are like humans in the sense that they have their own set of quirks and behavioral patterns.
This is more applicable for older ones, but this will also be useful if you are observant with your kitten.
Doing so will ensure that you find something that they will not get easily bored with.
Buying cat toys for smart cats is a different endeavor from purchasing the best cat toys for bored cats.
Other conditions
Sometimes, pets are born with natural impairments that limit the use of their senses.
Occasionally, such disabilities are borne out of accidents and even fights with other ones.
You need to be able to address such issues so that they can have a good time using the toy.
For example, if you have a partially blind kitty, it would be better to get a toy in a bright color.
Amount of space
Aside from the characteristics and qualities of your pet, don’t forget to consider the space!
You might have found a toy that you are certain your feline friend will like.
However, it will basically be useless if you can’t set it up due to spacial constraints!
Aesthetic
This might not be an issue for some people, but it can be a deal breaker for others.
A lot of thought usually goes into designing pet toys.
However, the scheme might differ completely from the way you decorated your place!
This can mean that the shape, color, or pattern of the product is not in line with the way you originally designed your home.
This aspect is certainly something worth considering if you value the physical harmony of your living space.
Material
A lot of humans have allergies. Did you know that felines can develop allergies as well?
It’s true! For this reason, it is important to always check the material used to create the product.
Find something that will not irritate you, your household members, and your pets.
Budget
If only we had the luxury to purchase anything we want, regardless of how much it could possibly cost!
Sadly, that’s not the case – for most of us, it is important to consider the price tag on the product before we buy it.
While we may love our feline friends very much, it is important to stick to a budget you set before going out shopping.
It is not true that more expensive products are necessarily better quality.
With thorough research, you should be able to find a great product that is within your desired price range.
Don’t think too much about it— you don’t actually need to have a technical checklist for this.
As long as you have a rough idea of the product you want, you should be good to go shopping for a gift for your feline friend.
The Best Products in the Market
We know that you are a busy person.
Don’t worry, we have your back. For your ultimate convenience, we have compiled a list of the best cat toys for indoor cats in the market for you!
Best cat toys for indoor cats: Amazing Treat Maze & Puzzle Feeder
Features and Specs
This product from Cat Amazing is an interactive toy, which means it will give your pet full stimulation that will keep them occupied for hours.
Cat Amazing is an innovative new company in the market. The company is a fresh new face in a saturated market.
The innovative toy is their trademark product and it is, in fact, the only product that they offer at the moment.
Nonetheless, we can see why it is one of the best cat toys for indoor cats in the market right now.
Pros
There are three various levels to choose from, with a bonus level on top of that.
Cons
Recommendations
This is definitely one of the greatest cat toys for smart cats! It is simple but brilliant.
It is a great way to entertain and feed your pet at the same time.
Unlike other food-dispensing toys, this requires a fair amount of physical exercise so you can rest assured that your pet is safe from the dangers of inactivity and obesity!
We can’t imagine a better way to simultaneously keep your feline friend both healthy and entertained.
Interactive cat Toys: Upsimples 10 Pieces
Features and Specs:
Here is a simple but foolproof way to keep your pet occupied.
This wand toy collection offers plenty of options in a single package!
The colorful nature of the product will definitely attract the attention of your pet.
The product comes from Upsimples, a store that formerly went by the name GDPet.
They don’t actually specialize in cat toys for indoor cats – or at the very least, not anymore.
They offer everything from water purifiers to children’s clothing!
Despite the variety in the products that they have, you can be sure that everything they have for sale are aesthetically pleasing, chic, and reasonably priced.
Pros
Cons
Recommendations
The Upsimple variety pack is a great collection of best toys for cats home alone.
If you are extremely short on time and shopping on a budget, we can’t think of a better product for your needs!
It is imperative to note that it is not made with the highest-quality materials available and that the items might fall apart after regular use.
However, when you consider the low price tag, it’s definitely worth buying again and again.
HARTZ Just For Cats Toy Variety Pack - 13 Piece
Features and specs
This package contains not just one but thirteen toys for your felines!
Among others, the collection includes plush mice toys, a wand toy, and plastic balls.
This is a simple product that will keep your pet happy and busy for a long time.
The colorful accessories are of a nice shade and are quite pleasant to look at.
Hartz is a well-established pet care company that caters to birds, cats, dogs, fish, reptiles, and other pet animals.
They offer treats, toys, health supplements, and accessories! Moreover, the company has been in operation for over 90 years now.
Pros
Cons
Recommendations
Similar to the item that came before this one, it is an excellent mixed bag of goodies for your feline friend!
However, this one has an edge in many aspects. It has a greater number of accessories at a lower price tag.
If you end up purchasing this set, we highly recommend segregating them so that you can separate the ones that carry more danger for your pet.
Though the quality is not the greatest there is in the market, you can’t beat this product from Hartz if you’re looking for the best bang for your buck.
Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy
Features and Specs:
You shouldn’t miss this one if you are comparing cat toys for indoor cats!
The bright color of the product will certainly get your attention from the very beginning.
We bet your pet would be able to develop sharper physical and mental skills once you bring this product home!
It is an activity toy that you will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else.
Petstages is an excellent brand that exists under Outward Hound family of pet items.
There are a total of five brands, but Petstages focuses on providing pet owners with a way to manage dogs and cats’ chewing, playing, and scratching problems.
By providing your pets with a different platform on which to express their natural instinct, you will be able to go to bed soundly without fearing for the longevity of your furniture and other items.
Pros
Cons
Recommendations:
This is a great product for felines that enjoy playing with balls and smaller objects!
There is no need to fear about obesity as this is one of the best cat toys for lazy cats.
Multiple feline owners rejoice! Unlike other cat toys for indoor cats, this is something that all of your kitties can play together.
Best toys for cats home alone: Youngever 20 options Kitten Assortments, 2 Way Tunnel
Features and Specs
The last product on our list is definitely not the least when you consider quality and value.
Like some of the aforementioned products in this buying guide, this is also a collection of various toys and accessories when it comes to cat toys for indoor cats.
However, the difference lies in the contents and level of quality.
Perhaps the most unusual inclusion in the package is the two-way tunnel.
Young ever is a women-owned business based in the United States. However, the company does not specialize in pet products.
Nonetheless, there are many cat toys for indoor cats in their product list as well as products for dogs.
Pros
Cons
Recommendations
The best cat toys for bored cats will come in the form of a collection much like this one here.
If you get this toy, we’re sure that the feline members of your family will be entertained for quite some time!
It’s a good mix of both new and old forms of cat toys. Like the others, it’s not exactly top-of-the-line quality, but it is affordable.
It seems inevitable for pet toys to undergo some form of damage, so the best course of action is often to get something cheap and easy to replace.
Conclusion
Of course, it would be far too naïve to simply declare a single product to come out on top of the best cat toys for indoor cats.
There are many things we have to consider, such as the amount of space that you can allocate for the setup, your pet’s personality, and the décor of your interior.
Since there is no perfect product in the world, you might have to weigh the advantages and disadvantages offered by what is available to you.
While it is important to find the best cat toys for indoor cats for your beloved pet, it is just as important to understand how to interact with your pet and ensure that they are healthy.
Regardless of what product you actually end up choosing, it seems like you are already on the right path to being a fur parent and getting the right cat toys for indoor cats.
It is also important to clean your cat toys every now and then to remove all the unwanted bacteria that could harm your kitties health.
For more buying guides and reviews try to check out Miauland. You may also to check out remote control for more options.
