Cat toy gift ideas

We don't sell pet treats, toys or accessories - we make cards, pin badges and prints in the UK. Nothing below is us selling you a chew toy.

Cats don't want more toys, they want the right kind of movement. Anything that mimics prey - small, quick, low to the ground - beats a basket of fluff.

Buy one good wand toy over five cheap ones, and rotate what's out so nothing goes stale.

Toys most cats actually use

• A sturdy wand toy with feather or fabric lures, and spare lures in the box.
• Small kickers the cat can grab with the front paws and rabbit-kick.
• Crinkle balls and spring coils, which are cheap, light and endlessly chased.
• A cardboard tunnel or hide, which gets used more than anything expensive.

For indoor and bored cats

• Puzzle feeders that make dinner take fifteen minutes instead of thirty seconds.
• Treat balls the cat has to roll and nudge across the floor.
• A window perch or a scratching post with a platform, so the cat can watch the street.
• Rotate toys weekly - three out, the rest in a box, and everything feels new again.

Catnip and silvervine

• Around a third of cats don't react to catnip, so silvervine is the useful backup.
• Refillable catnip toys last far longer than a sealed one that fades.
• Loose catnip sprinkled on a scratching post redirects a cat off the sofa.
• Keep catnip sessions short; most cats reset after ten minutes.

What to avoid

• Loose string, tinsel, ribbon and hair ties - swallowed strands cause serious gut injuries.
• Wand toys left out unsupervised, because the string is the danger, not the feather.
• Small bells or plastic eyes that can be chewed off.
• Laser pointers as the only play - always finish on a physical toy the cat can catch.

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How to write it so it lands

• One good wand toy beats a bag of cheap ones.
• Rotate toys weekly rather than buying more.
• Never leave string-based toys out unsupervised.

Where to shop next

• Safe treats to give as a pet gift
• Dog toy gift ideas
• Dog accessory gift ideas
• Cat accessory gift ideas
• Pet gifts to avoid
• New pet gift ideas
• Pet safe birthday cake and treats
• Gotcha day ideas
• Pet guides
• All guides
• Planning the party? Birthday party ideas
• How to make a balloon arch
• Photo booth prop ideas
• Pin badges

Frequently asked questions

What toy do cats like best?

A wand toy used by a human. The movement is what cats respond to, which is why toys left on the floor get ignored.

Is string safe for cats?

No. Swallowed string, tinsel and ribbon can cause life-threatening gut injuries. Keep wand toys put away between sessions.

Does catnip work on every cat?

No, roughly a third don't respond. Silvervine or valerian often works on the cats catnip does nothing for.