Indoor cats hunt in short bursts and then lose interest, which is why the toy that works is rarely the expensive one. It is the one that moves back. A weighted base means every swipe sends this duck rocking away and then standing itself up again, so the cat gets a response without you being on the other end of a wand. Prey that rights itself is far more interesting than prey that lies still.

The self-righting action is the entire mechanism, and it needs no batteries and no charging, which also means there is nothing to break and nothing to remember. A feather wand clips on top and shakes as the body wobbles, adding movement at cat head height, which is exactly where a pouncing cat is looking. Three colourways are offered: yellow, white, and yellow and white together.

• Weighted base rights the toy after every swipe
• Clip-on feather wand for extra movement
• No batteries or charging needed
• Encourages solo pouncing and batting
• Compact enough for any room
• Three colour options

Feathers are the part to keep an eye on. Some listings say this toy needs no supervision at all, and we would not go that far. Feathers get chewed off and swallowed, and a cat who swallows a quill or a length of string can end up at the vet. Check the wand every week or so, and put the toy away rather than leaving it out if your cat chews as well as bats.

Who it's for: Kittens and indoor adult cats who want something to do at six in the morning, and owners who are asleep at that hour.