Usually, when we think of a cat, we think of a lazy creature that sleeps all day long. But some cats will be more active than others. This energy can be misdirected into destructive behaviors, or it may disrupt your sleep schedule. Remember those times your poor toes became prey in the early hours of the morning! As their owner, you will notice if and when your cat is particularly crazy.

A range of different cat toys on the market can be a great way to direct all this pent-up cat energy. We’ve compiled a list of our top picks of toys for active cats. Each toy is designed to mentally and physically stimulate your cat to use up all that energy in a productive way. In addition, all our picks are chosen from genuine customer reviews.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2024

The 10 Best Cat Toys for Active Cats

1. Hepper Catnip Stick Toy – Best Overall

If you’ve got a cat that is in desperate need of some excitement and play, this Hepper Catnip Stick Toy is an excellent option to consider. Filled with 100% organic catnip and 0% fillers, this toy is sure to get your cat moving. Catnip is enjoyed by most of our furry friends because the nepetalactone that is released from the herb when played with makes them experience a type of euphoria.

Cats with too much energy tend to be destructive, but with the appeal these toys have, your cat will be less interested in your furniture and more interested in the catnip.

It’s no secret that cat toys aren’t indestructible, but this product has been handmade in the USA, double-bagged, and designed to withstand hours of playtime—even with plenty of biting, kicking, and clawing.

This toy is easy to clean with a cloth when needed. Unlike many other vibrant and bold-colored cat toys, the Hepper Catnip Stick is available in pastel colors to accommodate your home décor. This toy is not refillable.

It’s easy to understand why this product is our pick for the best overall cat toy for active cats!

At PetKeen.com we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest, so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!

• 100% organic catnip
• Encourages play
• Handmade in the USA
• Durable and long-lasting
• Available in various pastel colors

• Not refillable

2. Frisco Cat Tracks Butterfly Cat Toy – Budget Buy

This ball-and-track butterfly cat toy from Frisco is our budget buy pick for the best cat toy for active cats. It offers an excellent toy for an affordable price. It showcases 3-tiers of tracks, each with a ball of its own. The rolling balls capture and hold the attention of the most active cats. Past customers love that the design is slimmer than others, meaning the ball will roll around faster and keep their cat’s attention longer.

In addition to the rolling balls, it has the added feature of a butterfly toy on a bouncing wand. While this also attracts cats, it’s reviewed not to be as durable as the rest of the toy. This is one of the top-rated and reviewed products on our list and is a massive hit for highly active cats.

• Non-slip footing
• Multiple attracting features
• Affordable
• Durable design

• Butterflies on top are easily broken
• A little bit loud

3. Penn-Plax Spin Kitty Cat Wheel Toy

When we think of exercise wheels, we usually envision a hamster wheel, right? Well, this product is just like that but designed for cats. The Penn-Plax Spin Kitty Cat Wheel Toy will only be enjoyed by specific cats but is a great choice for highly active cats who are kept exclusively indoors.

A wheel can be a great way to burn energy and provide healthy exercise. This particular wheel does come disassembled but is reviewed to be simple to put together. It’s made of solid wood, so it’s durable for cats up to 15 pounds in weight. It also has a carpet-like interior and a fibrous outside covering for your cat to scratch on.

• Promotes exercise
• Acts as a scratching post
• Durable
• Great for indoor cats

• Requires assembly
• Expensive
• Not for every cat

4. Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy

The Catit Design Senses Circuit Cat Toy is our favorite pick for active kittens for multiple reasons. Firstly, the design features an expandable track, so the size of the toy can be adjusted as your kitten ages. Multiple cats can use this toy at once, so if your kitten is joining a household with existing cats, it can promote bonding between them.

The design is safe for cats of all ages. The openings are suitable for the small size of a kitten’s paws, and there is no risk of them getting stuck in any of these spaces. The light-up ball will attract their attention as they learn to explore their instincts and play behaviors.

• Triggers hunting instinct
• Flashing ball
• Usable by multiple cats at once
• Expandable track

• Takes up a lot of space

5. SereneLife Automatic Laser Cat Toy

All owners of high-energy cats will tell you that lasers are a great way to get lots of activity and exercise from your cat. The SereneLife Automatic Laser Cat Toy – Best Overall is another great cat toy for active cats, as it provides 30 minutes of unpredictable laser movement. The automatic feature is a great pick if your cat has much more energy to play than you do, as you can set it up for play and leave them to it.

The design is sleek, not bulky like many other automatic laser designs. Its geometric shape is designed to sit on any flat surface and is adjustable to put the laser anywhere in the room.

The laser light is strong and can project a long way, enticing your cat to run, jump, and chase the red light across the room. It does, however, require batteries. We consider investing in the rechargeable kind to save you money on battery repurchasing costs.

• Automatic shut-down
• Unpredictable laser path
• Usable on any flat surface
• Simple use

• Requires batteries

6. Frisco Peek-a-Boo Cat Chute Cat Toy

The Frisco Peek-a-Boo Cat Chute Cat Toy is great for cats who are highly active and love to run and chase. The dangling toys in the tunnel provide an incentive to engage, but everything around them will become stimulating once in the tunnel. Looking down the tunnel stimulates an instinct, and many find their cats will run and dive into the tunnel at high speed, burning a lot of energy.

While it does take up a lot of space, the design of the supports is made to fold down to be stored away easily. But many owners will leave this toy out as their cats like to play with it and find it a cozy place to sleep.

• Dangling toys to entice
• Three-pronged tunnel
• Easily stored

• Middle part flimsy

7. TRIXIE Activity Fun Board 5-in-1 Cat Toy

Many cats will take no notice of an enriching treat-dispensing item like the TRIXIE Activity Fun Board 5-in-1 Cat Toy. The average cat will prefer to be fed directly and burn energy other ways. But, for a very active cat, you may find this product intrigues them.

While it doesn’t offer a physical outlet, it will mentally stimulate them to work out mild puzzles to receive treats. This kind of stimulation can be beneficial for a very active cat. The product has five different puzzles in one, so in addition to using various treats, you can ensure your cat does not get bored by constantly mixing it up for them.

• Great mental stimulation
• Good for food-motivated cats
• 5-in-1 puzzles

• Doesn’t burn a lot of physical energy

8. SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Toy

If your active cat is the type to get under the sheets while you make the bed or mess with your basket of laundry while you try to fold it, then the SnugglyCat Ripple Rug Cat Toy might be the one for them! Mind you, when you think of a cat toy, you don’t usually imagine a glorified rug, but you will be surprised just how this attracted a high-energy cat!

Essentially a double-layered rug, this design encourages your cat to dig, nest, and play in the folds between the top and bottom layers. It is excellent for active cats looking to burn energy independently. Once playtime is over, this toy also tends to make a nice place for a nap.

However, some owners said their nervous cats would not approach it, so it is best left to the brave cats. You can adjust the size of the holes to match your cat’s size. In addition, you may wish to use it under supervision as some larger cats have become caught in the holes.

• Makes a cozy bed
• Encourages natural digging behaviors
• Holes for safety

• Should be used under supervision
• Some cats may be fearful

9. SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy

The SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Electronic Concealed Motion Cat Toy is designed to resemble the movement of hiding prey. Think of the times your hand or foot moves under the covers of your bed, and it drives your cat wild; this is just like that! The mechanical arm moves under the fabric cover, setting off the same hunting instincts in cats.

While most cats adore this toy, the speed of the attachment is not very quick (even at the highest speed), so it may not be much of a challenge to catch. A few owners also state that despite this being an automatic toy, it needs human help as the arm gets caught in the sheet easily and requires readjustment.

• Variable speeds
• Interchangeable attachments
• Resembles hiding prey

• Noisy motor
• Not very fast

10. Cat Amazing Interactive Treat Maze & Puzzle Cat Toy

The Cat Amazing Interactive Treat Maze & Puzzle Cat Toy may not seem suited for a highly active cat, but cats will be drawn to this toy by the allure of food, the challenge of getting the food will keep them occupied and slow them down from their usual high-energy activity.

Surprisingly durable for a product made from cardboard, it may not be suited for more aggressive cats who may chew or rip at the toy. The ink used is metal-free, so it is safe if your cat does chew on this toy.

• Provides mental stimulation
• Three tiers of difficulty
• Offers food motivation

• Not durable for destructive cats
• No physical energy needed

Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Cat Toys for Active Cats

Important Consideration in Cat Toys

Play is an essential part of a cat’s life. Play behaviors support good physical and mental health in felines. It also provides a healthy outlet for energy to reduce the effects of destructive behaviors. Playtime can also be a time to strengthen bonds. Play between you and your cats can build your relationship, but two cats can also improve their friendship through play.

Cat toys make a great place to start for this vital play! The differing cat toys can offer different benefits, so take some of the below into consideration when picking out cat toys.

Type of Play

Consider the design of a cat toy and what kind of behavior it will illicit. Natural cat behaviors in play include:

• Chasing
• Jumping
• Stalking
• Running
• Chewing

You’ll notice that these behaviors are all things wild cats do when hunting prey. That’s essentially what play is for your pet cat, a chance to be their wild selves and let their instincts take over.

Value

The value of the item is a balance of the item’s quality and its cost. A thing of poor value will be costly, but poor quality and an item of good value will be a reasonable price for the quality and features. In cat toys, consider the cost of the item compared to the reviews that they have the product’s features. Rest assured the products that we review are of good value!

Interaction

As solitary animals, most cats are more than content to engage in solo play. They will often hunt alone, so they like to play alone also. Most cat toys are designed, so they are easily enjoyed alone. Automatic toys could be a good pick for cats that spend a lot of time alone.

Some cat toys will also be designed so that multiple cats can use them at once. This feature could be beneficial in a multi-cat house. The time to play together can help bond to form. We cat owners all know that forcing friendship between two cats doesn’t always go well.

Don’t forget the most important of interactions between your cat and you! While you may not be able to keep up with the play demands of a very active cat, your participation in their play behaviors will help you form and keep a close bond.

Fun

Now, this one may seem obvious, but it’s worth mentioning. You could research and pick out the perfect toys for your cat, and once you present them to them, they can be met with utter disinterest.

There’s no point in having a fancy toy if your cat won’t touch it! Get to know your cat and what drives their playful behaviors. If they love to chase your hands under the bed covers, perhaps a tunnel toy would suit. If they like to chase flying bugs around the house, they may like a wand-based toy.

Tips for Managing an Active Cat

A highly active cat that you just can’t seem to tire out may become a problem for you. They may redirect their energy into destructive behaviors around the house, they may be aggressive or annoying to other pets in the home, or they may disrupt your sleep schedule with activity during the night.

Here are our tips for keeping an active cat happy and keeping you, their owner, sane.

• Playtime: Lots of playtime can burn energy and keep an active cat busy and satisfied!
• Good diet: Excess energy can come from a diet too high in poor quality fats and sugar. These will cause a big burst in energy, usually followed by a crash. A great diet made up of high-quality proteins and fats will keep your busy cat’s energy levels balanced.
• Socialization: While many cats are antisocial, a high-energy cat may benefit from another feline friend with a similar energy level. Kittens will often enjoy the company of other kittens. This social interaction can also come from humans. Spending time with your cat will help to manage their energy.
• Sleep schedule: Even the most active cats sure like to sleep a lot! But their sleep schedule will be dramatically different from yours. They may sleep more in the day and be busy at night, keeping you awake with their activity! Don’t let them sleep all day long. Wake them up for play sessions throughout the day to get them to sleep more at night.
• Safe outdoor time: A high-energy cat may benefit from outdoor time to burn off that extra energy. Harness training and outdoor enclosures are great ways for your cat to get some safe and confined time outside.

Conclusion

Our top pick for cat toys for active cats is Hepper Catnip Stick Toy. We loved this product because it combines a classic catnip toy, a popular choice for many active cats, with a modern design.

Our budget buy pick is Frisco Cat Tracks Butterfly Cat Toy. This product is affordable and comes with barrel loads of great reviews from real customers.

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Featured Image Credit: ANURAK PONGPATIMET, Shutterstock