Fabric Cat Toys
Fabric cat toys — plush mice, catnip-filled shapes, fabric teasers on a wand — are the soft, throwable end of the toy range, built around a cat's instinct to pounce and bite rather than chase something hard across the floor. Which one lands with an individual cat varies more than most owners expect, and cheap does not mean unpopular.
Why fabric and catnip toys work
A soft toy that mimics prey in size and give, like a Hemm & Boo Fish & Feather teaser or a Ruff 'N' Tumble catnip mouse, appeals to a cat's instinct to grab and bite down on something, which a hard plastic toy does not satisfy in the same way. Catnip filling is a bonus rather than a requirement — plenty of cats play happily with a plain plush toy and show little interest in catnip at all.
Wand-style teasers, moved by a person rather than left for a cat to bat alone, tend to hold interest longer because they mimic the unpredictable movement of real prey. A toy that just sits on the floor, however good the fabric, will get investigated once and then largely ignored.
Rotating toys rather than buying more
Cats habituate to toys fast, and a fabric mouse that was fascinating on day one often becomes invisible within a week of being left out permanently. Keeping two or three toys out at a time and swapping in others from a small stash every so often tends to get more genuine play out of the same handful of toys than leaving everything out at once.
This matters more than the price of the toy itself — a cheap catnip toy that gets rotated in and out will usually outperform an expensive one left on the floor permanently, simply because novelty is doing a lot of the work in getting a cat interested.
Keeping fabric toys clean and safe
Check stitching and any small attached parts, like bells or feathers, periodically on toys that get chewed as well as batted — a cat that manages to work a small piece loose can swallow it, and that is worth treating as a replace-it signal rather than something to tape back on. Most plush and fabric toys can be hand-washed occasionally, which is worth doing for anything that gets carried around the house and dropped in less clean corners.
If a cat loses interest in every toy you offer, it is not necessarily the toys — some cats are simply less playful than others, and that is worth mentioning to your vet only if it comes with other changes in behaviour or appetite, rather than as a concern on its own.
In this section
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Sensor Cat Water Fountain 2.5L
A 2.5L cat fountain that flows when your cat approaches, keeping water fresh and tempting. A clear level window shows when to refill, and the generous tank meets one cat's needs for several days.
From£43.99
Scratch-Resistant Stretch Sofa Cushion Cover
A stretchy jacquard-knit cover that hugs individual sofa cushions to protect them from cat claws and fur. The non-slip, all-season fabric fits most seats and is machine washable for easy care. Sold per cushion size.
From£12.99
Leucillin Antiseptic Skincare Spray for Cats & Dogs
A versatile, alcohol-free antiseptic spray that cleans, soothes, and helps protect your pet's skin from bacteria, viruses, and fungi.
From£16.49
Pressure-Activated Pet Cooling Mat
Press down, feel the cool — this pressure-activated mat absorbs body heat and stays up to 10°C cooler than the room, with no freezing required.
From£34.99
Multi-Layered Felt Cat Cave Bed for All Seasons, Coffee or Beige
A cave bed built up in layers of dense felt, which insulates through winter and breathes rather than trapping heat in summer, offered in coffee brown or beige.
£27.99
Interactive Activity Ball Dog Toy with Cover
A bouncy activity ball in a tough zip-on cover that keeps dogs chasing, nudging and herding for hours.
From£23.99
Scratch-Resistant Jacquard Sofa Throw
A woven bohemian-pattern sofa throw that drapes over your settee to shield it from cat claws, fur and everyday wear. Tasselled edges and a tightly knit jacquard weave add a decorative, cosy finish. Machine washable.
From£23.99
Window-Mounted Sisal Cat Scratching Post
A suction-mounted pair of sisal columns that gives a cat a proper vertical scratch and stretch on a window or smooth wall, with no drilling and no floor space used.
From£52.99
Self-Moving Chew-Resistant Dog Ball
A USB-C rechargeable ball that moves on its own to keep dogs busy and active. Tough E-TPU construction stands up to chewing during supervised play, and the splash-resistant build suits indoor or outdoor use.
£15.99
Absorbent Cotton Gauze Swabs for Pets – Pack of 100
Highly absorbent, low-lint cotton gauze swabs produced in clean conditions — a practical first-aid essential available in three size and ply combinations.
From£4.49
Smart App-Controlled Automatic Pet Feeder
A smart automatic feeder with a clear food hopper, removable stainless steel bowl and app control. Schedule timed portions, record feeding plans and check in remotely, keeping mealtimes steady while you are away.
From£56.99
Palm Tree Cat Tree With Sisal Post And Bowl Bed
A playful palm-tree cat tree with a sisal scratching trunk, dangling teaser pompoms and a clear space-capsule bowl bed below. Compact at around 44cm wide, it gives cats a spot to scratch, perch and snooze.
From£7.99
Common questions
- Why does my cat ignore expensive toys but love a cheap one?
- Novelty and how a toy moves matter far more to most cats than price or build quality. A simple fabric mouse that gets rotated in and out of a small stash of toys often holds a cat's interest better than an expensive toy left out permanently and quickly habituated to.
- Do all cats like catnip toys?
- No. Sensitivity to catnip is partly genetic, and a meaningful proportion of cats show little or no reaction to it at all. A plain plush or fabric toy without catnip is just as valid a choice, and a cat's interest usually comes down more to how a toy moves than what it is filled with.
- How often should I replace my cat's fabric toys?
- Check stitching and any small attached parts like bells or feathers regularly on toys that are chewed as well as batted, and replace anything showing loose threads or working parts free, since a swallowed piece is a genuine risk. Otherwise, toys can stay in rotation as long as they hold together.
- Can I wash my cat's fabric toys?
- Most plush and fabric cat toys can be hand-washed occasionally, which is worth doing for anything that gets carried around and dropped in less clean spots. Let them dry fully before putting them back in play, particularly if there is any catnip filling inside.
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Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.