Cats hunt in short bursts and then stop, which is why a toy that only moves when you move it stops working the moment you get bored before your cat does. A self-rolling ball keeps going without you. It changes direction at random, so the movement never becomes predictable, and unpredictability is precisely what triggers the stalk and the pounce in an indoor cat with nothing else to chase.

There is a chew rope attached to the ball, and that matters more than it sounds. A hard ball rolling away gives a cat nothing to finish the sequence on, and cats want to catch, bite and rabbit-kick something at the end of a chase. Built-in sounds add a second cue to follow. It charges over USB-C rather than eating batteries, and drops into standby between sessions, so a charge lasts across days rather than hours.

• Self-rolling ball that changes direction at random
• Attached chew rope to grab, bite and kick
• Built-in sounds
• USB-C rechargeable
• Standby mode between play sessions
• Choice of green or yellow

On expectations, and supervision. An automatic toy supplements your play rather than replacing it, because most cats lose interest in any moving object that never reacts to them. Use it for the hours you are out, not instead of a wand at teatime. Supervise the first few sessions too: a chew rope is a length of string, and a cat who eats string needs a vet rather than a toy.

Who it's for: Owners of indoor cats left alone during the day who need something that moves without a person on the other end of it.