Cat Toys

If you aren’t around to play, puzzle feeders and ball tracks are the top choices for keeping a cat’s brain engaged. Indoor cats can get bored easily, which often leads to “redecorating” your curtains. A toy that requires them to bat a ball around a circular track or fish a treat out of a hidden compartment provides hours of independent entertainment. These “solitary” cat toys are a great way to prevent separation anxiety and keep their minds sharp while you’re at work. Just be sure to rotate them every few days so the challenge stays fresh and exciting.

Catnip is a completely natural herb from the mint family, and it is perfectly safe for most adult cats to enjoy. It isn’t addictive, and there’s no such thing as an “overdose”—the worst that usually happens is a very sleepy cat after the initial high wears off. Interestingly, about one-third of cats don’t have the “catnip gene” and won’t react to it at all. If yours is in that group, don’t worry; they aren’t broken, they just won’t find those stuffed mice particularly interesting. For the rest, it’s a fun, harmless way to spice up their afternoon.

Most cats are suckers for anything that flutters, zips, or mimics the movement of prey. They tend to gravitate toward toys that offer different textures—think crinkly plastic, soft feathers, or rough sisal. A simple “crinkle ball” can be a massive hit because the sound mimics the rustling of leaves or grass where a mouse might hide. The key is finding what captures your cat’s specific “prey drive.” Some are “birders” who love things in the air, while others are “mousers” who prefer things that stay low and move quickly across the floor.