Fur, rather than fabric, is what makes this work. A cat who ignores a felt mouse will often carry a fur-covered ball around the house for weeks, because the texture in the mouth is closer to the real thing and the catnip inside gives them a reason to pick it up in the first place. The two together do more than either would alone.

They are light enough to send skidding across a wooden floor with one paw, small enough to vanish under the sofa and get batted back out again, and washable, which matters more than it sounds. A well-loved catnip toy ends up damp, dusty and eventually ignored, and a wash restores some of the appeal. Buy them singly or in packs of three or six, though most people who start with one come back for the six.

• Faux rabbit-fur covering over a catnip filling
• Encourages batting, chasing and pouncing during solo play
• Light enough to flick across hard floors
• Washable, so they can be freshened up
• Sold as 1, 3 or 6 balls
• Brown

On catnip, and on wear. Not every cat responds to catnip, a fair number simply do not, and kittens generally show no reaction at all until they are a few months old. If yours is unmoved by the scent, the fur texture alone still carries the toy for many cats. Check the balls regularly and bin any where the covering has come loose, since strands of fur are not something you want swallowed.

What the options mean. Sold as 3pcs at £7.99, or 6pcs at £9.99.

Who it's for: Indoor cats who play alone during the day, and owners who would rather buy a handful of small toys than one expensive one that gets ignored.