What Types of Cat Toys Are Popular for Cats?

It is no secret that cats love to play as it is in their nature after all. With a whole host of various cat toys available on the market, there is no shortage of options to keep them active and entertained.

From moving balls to plush toys and interactive puzzles, it begs the question – what types of cat toys are popular for cats?

To answer this, we have to get into the mind of a cat, or ask them if that can bear fruit. Jokes aside, let’s explore which toys are most adored by cats so you can know what to get your furry little baby the next time you shop for cat toys.

Most Popular Types of Cat Toys

Each cat has its own personality and because of this, they may like one set of toys, but dislike another completely. This means that popular cat toys may vary widely, and it is important to first understand your furry baby and what it likes to play with before buying any type of toy.

With that in mind, there are some toys that are really popular for almost any cat, and the best thing about them is, they’re all different from each other. What this means for your cat is that they’ll never get bored of playing, especially if you introduce all of these at various stages.

Here are the 5 most popular types of cat toys you should consider for your cat:

1. Interactive Cat Toys

These types of toys are designed to keep both the cat and its purr-ent engaged and bonding together. Interactive cat toys require human interaction, like wand toys for example.

This is also one of our favorite types of toys as our Kiki loves to play around, jump, and catch the feathery toy. What is even funnier is that sometimes when she catches the wand, she takes it someplace else and plays with it there for a bit, only to return and ask for more.

Other similar interactive toys you can introduce to your cat are puzzles and treat-dispensing toys as these have become quite popular among purr-ents. When you engage in interactive play with your little furry baby, they’ll stay physically active and you’ll strengthen the bond between the two of you. For these reasons, it’s really important for you to play with your cat as often as you can.

2. Soft Plush Cat Toys

Soft plush cat toys are especially appealing for cats as they offer comfort and companionship during solo playtime.

These types of toys are designed to have cuddly textures and are made with gentle materials. This allows cats to snuggle, chew, and jump on them with maximum safety and security.

Many cats also enjoy carrying these plush toys around and engage in quiet play sessions that would relax and soothe them. This is because the softness of these toys mimics the real feel of a companion, which makes them an excellent comforting companion for cats, especially if their purr-ent is away.

3. Laser Cat Toys

Laser toys are incredibly popular for their ability to make cats go crazy, to say the least. Jokes aside, these toys emit a small, focused beam of light that cats just loooove to chase as it mimics the thrill of hunting prey.

These types of toys encourage cats to run, jump, pounce, and try to catch that red dot, which provides fantastic physical exercise, keeping them active and healthy.

Many cats find these laser cat toys highly stimulating and entertaining, making them a fantastic option, especially for indoor cats who don’t spend their excess energy like outdoor cats do.

However, when you play with a laser, always have a secondary toy in hand to make sure the cat catches that secondary toy. This works as a reward for the cat as cats like to catch things, not just chase them, so they may end up discouraged if they can’t catch the red dot. After all, you don’t want your cat to lose interest and stop playing with toys.

So to avoid frustration or confusion, always make sure your cat catches something after playing with a laser toy. Additionally, communicate happily to stimulate further encouragement in your cat.

4. Electronic & Motorized Cat Toys

Electronic and motorized cat toys bring in a whole new level of engagement and excitement to cats. These battery-operated toys use lights, sounds, motion sensors to capture a cat’s attention, stimulating their natural hunting instincts in the process.

Robotic mice, moving balls, or automatic feather wands encourage cats to pounce, chase, and hunt these toys. This provides a much needed physical and mental stimulation.

Moreover, depending on the toy, there are some that offer unpredictable patterns or movements, making cats’ hunting activities more challenging. It’s safe to say that we adore these types of toys and our Kiki does as well.

The only downside with these is that they need battery replacement or recharging often, and some may even break down, forcing you to replace your cat toys frequently, depending on how the cat plays with them.

5. Feathered & Scented Cat Toys

These types of toys are designed to trigger a cat’s natural instincts, their hunting skills, and scent recognition abilities.

Feathered-type toys mimic movements of birds or small animals, which may stimulate your kitty to stalk, play, and pounce on them.

Scented toys, on the other hand, when infused with catnip provide an extra level of excitement, as it attracts cats and encourages interactive playtime.

Both types of these toys are physically and mentally stimulating for our furry babies and provide an essential exercise. When you use feathered and scented toys, you’ll satisfy your cat and its instincts all while in a safe and stimulating environment.

Wrapping Up What Types of Cat Toys Are Popular Today

There are many popular cat toys out there that would capture our cats’ attention and increase their interest in frequent playtime.

Interactive cat toys, such as feather wands or treat-dispensing toys are an incredible way to bond with your cat and enjoy their playtime. Soft plush toys add a different level of comfort, while laser pointers may elevate your cat’s natural instincts to new heights, especially for indoor cats.

Electronic and motorized cat toys are perfect to stimulate the cat while you’re away or if you’re too busy to manually interact with your furry baby. Lastly, feathered and scented toys are also an excellent choice since these can stimulate your cat physically and mentally, providing a much needed energy outlet.

Ultimately, the choice comes down to you and your preference for your furry baby, while the popularity of these toys also rests on the ability to engage cats’ natural behaviors.