Toys that give an indoor cat something to hunt
An indoor cat has no hunting to do, so play has to supply the whole sequence: stalk, chase, pounce, catch. Miss any of it and you get a bored cat, and bored cats get overweight, wake you at 3am or ambush ankles. A wand toy for shared play is the single best purchase; self-play toys cover the hours you are out, and rotating them weekly keeps them interesting.
Wand toys: the one purchase that matters most
A wand toy lets you move the lure like prey: slow, hesitant, darting away, hiding behind a chair leg. That is what triggers the stalk and pounce. The Feather Cat Teaser Wand with Bell is the simple version; the Retractable Cat Teaser Wand Set with Feather Refills adds reach and spare lures for when the first one is shredded.
End every session with a catch. Let the cat get the feather, then give a treat or their dinner. A hunt that never ends in a kill leaves a cat wound up rather than satisfied, which International Cat Care note is why some cats seem more agitated after play. Ten to fifteen minutes, twice a day, beats one long session.
Self-play toys for when you are out
A few toys keep a cat occupied through an empty afternoon. Track toys like the Multi-Level Cat Track Ball Tower Toy work because the ball moves unpredictably but cannot be lost under the sofa. The Crinkle Mylar Ball Cat Toy is the cheap, noisy classic many cats bat around on their own.
Motorised toys go a step further. The Rechargeable Self-Rolling Cat Ball with Feather Tail moves off by itself and turns when it hits something; the Electric Scurrying Mouse Cat Toy does the same at floor level; the Door-Mounted Automatic Cat Teaser Wand jiggles a lure from a door frame at random. Run them in short bursts; the novelty is the point.
Catnip, silvervine and why some cats shrug
Catnip response is genetic, and roughly a third of cats do not react at all. If yours sniffs a Rosewood Naturals Catnip Ball and walks off, that is not a faulty toy. Silvervine works on many of the cats that ignore catnip, so try it before giving up on scented toys.
For cats that do respond, catnip mice such as the Ruff 'N' Tumble Catnip Mice 4 Piece are ideal for a solo kick-and-bite session. The effect wears off after ten minutes or so and the cat needs a break before it works again, so put scented toys away between uses.
Make dinner take longer
A bowl of food disappears in ninety seconds. A puzzle feeder turns the same meal into ten minutes of batting and nudging, the problem-solving an indoor cat is missing. The Catit Treat Ball is the easy start: fill it with dry food and let the cat roll pieces out.
Begin with the opening wide so the cat learns the game, then make it harder. The Cat Tumbler Wobble Toy with Feather Teaser is a similar idea, weighted at the bottom so it rights itself when knocked. Feeding part of the daily ration this way is the simplest way to slow a cat that is gaining weight.
Rotate, check and put away
Toys that are always on the floor stop being toys and become furniture. Keep a few out and the rest in a drawer, and swap them every week or so. A toy that has been out of sight for a fortnight is new again.
Safety is mostly about string and feathers. Put wand toys away after play, because a cat left alone with a string can swallow it, and a swallowed string is an emergency. Check toys regularly and bin anything with loose feathers, split seams or an exposed bell. A cat that chews through everything is worth a word with a vet.
Signs your cat is bored
Night zoomies are the obvious one: a cat that tears round the house at 3am has energy it has not used. Over-grooming, particularly bald patches on the belly, can be boredom or stress, and so can ambushing ankles, scratching furniture more than usual, or crying for attention every evening.
The fix is usually more play, not more toys. Two proper wand sessions a day, one puzzle feeder and a rotation of self-play toys settle most bored cats within a fortnight. If over-grooming or toileting outside the tray continues, get a vet to rule out a medical cause first.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Catit Groovy Fish Blue
A motion-activated, USB-C rechargeable cat toy with a refillable catnip pocket
£12.99
Catit Treat Ball
A rolling cat treat ball that dispenses rewards or closes for ordinary ball play
£7.49
Hemm & Boo Fish & Feather Cat Teaser
A fish-shaped teaser stick with feathers and catnip, in a choice of three colours
£3.99
Paw-Shaped Flying Disc Launcher Cat Toy
A fun paw-shaped launcher that fires soft flying discs across the room for cats and kittens to chase. Rechargeable and easy to load, it turns hunting instincts into active indoor play.
£10.99
Catit Groovy Gecko Green
A motion-activated cat toy that reacts to a paw tap, with catnip included
£12.99
Rosewood Naturals Willow & Catnip Marbles Ball
A willow ball filled with 100% natural catnip, for cats that respond to scent over squeak
£4.50
Smart Choice Butterfly Cat Teaser
Three Smart Choice plush cat teasers with catnip, feathers and jingle
£5.99
Foldable Outdoor Mesh Cat Tunnel
Collapsible mesh cat tunnel with attached dome shelters for hours of chasing, hiding and pouncing fun. The breathable mesh suits indoor or outdoor play and folds flat for easy storage.
£24.99
Giant Catnip Cotton Swab Cat Kicker Toys
A set of oversized cotton-swab cat toys with catnip-infused, teething-friendly handles. Cats love to bite, kick and wrestle them, giving great exercise and boredom relief while the soft tips help soothe gums.
£9.99
Smart Choice Bumble Bee Spring Swatter Cat
A spring-mounted plush bee toy on a stable base, for cats that hunt by batting and pouncing
£3.99
Electric Scurrying Mouse Cat Toy
A motorised plush mouse that scurries around on unpredictable routes, triggering your cat's chase and hunt instincts for hours of active, independent play.
From£7.99
Fuzzy Worm Cat Wand Refills with Bells (10 Pack)
Ten fuzzy worm refills with jingle bells that clip onto a cat teaser wand.
£11.99
Common questions
- How much play does an indoor cat need each day?
- Two sessions of ten to fifteen minutes with a wand toy is a good baseline for most adult cats, and young or active cats will happily take more. Short and frequent beats one long session, because cats hunt in bursts. Finish each session with a catch and a treat.
- Why does my cat ignore catnip?
- The response to catnip is inherited, and a good proportion of cats simply do not have it. Kittens under about six months rarely react either. Try silvervine instead, which many catnip-immune cats respond to, or skip scented toys and lean on movement-based play with a wand.
- Are laser pointers bad for cats?
- Not harmful, but frustrating on their own, because the cat can never catch the dot. If you use one, finish by landing the dot on a physical toy or a treat the cat can grab, and never shine it near their eyes. A wand toy gives the same chase with a real catch.
- Can I leave toys out when I go to work?
- Yes for balls, track toys, catnip mice and puzzle feeders, which are designed for solo play. No for anything with string, elastic, ribbon or a loose feather, because a swallowed string can need surgery. Keep wand toys in a drawer for the sessions you are present for.
Related
Sources
Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.