Indoor cats hunt whether or not there is anything to hunt, and a toy that does nothing at all until it is batted is closer to real prey than one whirring about the room under its own power. This bird lies silent in the corner until a paw lands on it, and then chirps, which is precisely the sequence a cat is built to find worth investigating a second time.

It is a plush body finished with real feathers, and the feathers do more work than they look like they should. They move unpredictably in a draught, they catch on claws in a satisfying way, and they feel and smell far less like fabric than the printed polyester alternative does. The toy is light enough to skid across a floor when swiped and small enough to be carried off, which most cats will do.

• Touch-activated chirp
• Plush body with real feather detail
• Lightweight for batting, carrying and pouncing
• Small enough for floors, rugs and cat trees
• Supplied as a single version, no size options

Two things worth knowing. Some listings for this toy describe automatic flapping and hours of self-play. Ours is the touch-activated chirping version, so it will not entertain a cat without a cat. And feathers are a consumable: supervise enthusiastic players, check the toy over regularly, and retire it once feathers start coming loose rather than letting them be swallowed.

Who it's for: Indoor cats who need a reason to pounce, particularly the ones who ignore anything mechanical but wake up for something that squeaks back.