Crinkle Mylar Ball Cat Toy

Cats hunt small, light, unpredictable things, and almost nothing else about a toy matters. Weight is what gives most cat toys away, because anything that sits still when batted reads as dead and a cat loses interest within seconds. A mylar ball weighs next to nothing, so a single paw sends it skidding and bouncing off the skirting board in a direction neither of you predicted.

The crinkle is the second half of it. Mylar rustles at a high, dry pitch close to the sound of something moving through dry leaves, which is why it pulls a cat's ears round before the eyes have even found it. The iridescent surface flickers as the ball rolls, so it keeps catching light and movement at once. Buy them as a single ball or a pair, and expect to lose a few under the sofa.

• Lightweight mylar construction
• Crinkles audibly on contact
• Iridescent surface that catches the light
• Rolls and skitters from the lightest touch
• Available as one ball or two
• Suits solo play when you are not free to join in

On supervision. Mylar is thin, and a determined cat will eventually shred one. Loose foil strands are not something you want swallowed, so check them over now and then and bin any ball that has started to come apart. They are best kept for play you are in the room for rather than left down all day.

Who it's for: Cats who chase rather than wrestle, and owners who want cheap toys they can scatter and replace without a second thought.