The 15 Best Kitten Toys To Occupy Your New Little Beastie

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Your new kitten has lots of love to give, but they also have a sharp mind—and even sharper claws. That’s why having lots of engaging kitten toys on hand can help you both out. Active playtime is one of the best ways to meet your kitten’s instinctual needs and tire them out, so they don’t get into trouble during the day or keep you up all night.

From chew toys to plushies and scratchers, having an assortment of toys on hand will give your kitten ample ways to work off any excess energy without destroying your furniture or belongings. The right toys will also give your kitten healthy opportunities to engage in natural behaviors—like pouncing, playing, scratching, and chewing—all while still exercising their mind.

We’ve rounded up the best kitten toys so your kitty can develop an enriching, active lifestyle right from the start.

Best Puzzle Toy for Kittens: PetSafe Egg-Cercizer Kitten Treat Toy

Treat dispensers are excellent entertainment for food-motivated kittens who are willing to work for kibble or high-value treats. This little puzzle feeder toy rocks as your kitten plays with it, dispensing treats or dry food through three one-inch holes.

You can adjust the hole sizes to alter the difficulty as your young friend learns the ropes, and the whole egg can hold up to a half cup of kibble—which makes it a good choice for a slow-feeder if your kitty eats too quickly. Best of all, it’s easy to clean: just unscrew the top and pop it in the dishwasher.

You and your kitten will love:

• Entices kittens to hunt and play
• Can be used as a slow feeder
• Encourages exercise and mental engagement

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• Kittens who aren’t food-motivated may have little interest

Best Interactive Kitten Toy: Petlibro Automatic Cat Toy (Verified Review)

This electronic cat toy is a strong choice for high-energy kittens and pet parents who need a second to catch their breath (kitty rearing is no joke). It combines erratic self-propelled movement with wild light shows and attention-catching spins—and it can hold up to kitten pounces and kicks. Charge it via USB cable, then watch it run in 15-minute bursts for an hour or more before it needs a fresh charge.

Our testers found it worked best on hard surfaces and very low-pile carpet—anything thicker would stop the mouse in its tracks.

You and your kitten will love:

• Erratic movements keep your kitten guessing
• Rechargeable battery
• Obstacle-detection sensors keep the game going

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• May get stuck under furniture
• Some users report the wheels fall off after a few months

Best Kitten Chew Toy: Petstages Fresh Breath Mint Stick Cat Chew Toy

Got a teething kitty on your hands? Redirect them to these curiously textured mint sticks that help freshen your kitten’s breath while also satisfying their need to chew. Lightweight but durable, this toy is filled with sweet-smelling mint and made with a mesh material that helps clean and massage your kitty’s teeth and gums.

You and your kitten will like:

• Crinkle ends appeal to cat senses
• Mint helps freshen breath
• Mesh material helps massage and clean teeth

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Soft materials may shred over time

Best Budget-Friendly Kitten Toy: Ethical Pet Colorful Springs

As new cat parents are bound to discover, it isn’t always the pricey or complicated toys that win a cat’s heart. These simple, heavy-gauge springs drive kittens wild with their unpredictable bounce patterns. Soft coatings are safe for kittens, and bright colors make these easy for humans in the household to keep track of underfoot. (Though nothing will keep these from disappearing under furniture.) If they do go missing, these springs are so reasonably priced that you can easily replace a pack or two.

You and your kitten will love:

• Bounces erratically to entice your cat
• Affordably priced
• Comes in an assortment of colors

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• Small enough to get stuck under furniture
• Ends may be sharp

Best Catnip Toy for Kittens: Yeowww! Yellow Catnip Banana Toy

Loved by thousands of cats and their pet parents, this catnip-stuffed banana has mysterious feline appeal. The elongated shape is perfect for grabbing, nuzzling, and bunny-kicking. Plus, it’s stuffed with organic catnip that some pet parents say is so strong that their kitties can smell it through the box! Just keep an eye on play, since it can get messy if your kitten tears it open.

It’s also worth noting that catnip doesn’t always have an effect on the youngest kittens—it can take around six months for a kitty to mature enough for the herb to appeal.

You and your kitten will love:

• Banana shape is perfect for bunny kicking
• Filled with premium dried catnip
• Hand-sewn in the USA

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• Plush materials may tear or shred over time
• Can get messy if it breaks open

Best Kitten Cuddle Toy: Petstages Cuddle Pal Sloth Plush Toy

Perfect for cuddling, this soft little polyester sloth comes with a removable microwavable pouch. Just heat it for 30 seconds on high, then tuck it in the toy and let your kitten snuggle. If it gets dirty, simply remove the buckwheat pouch and throw the toy in the washing machine on gentle cycle.

Heated toys can be especially soothing for young animals, who instinctually seek the warmth of littermates and a mother when they sleep. If your kitty is having trouble adjusting to a new home, try a kitten-safe heated toy—but don’t substitute human warming devices, which can be too powerful for tiny cat bodies.

You and your kitten will love:

• Soft material perfect for cuddling
• Microwavable buckwheat pouch
• Machine-washable

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• May not withstand chewing or scratching
• Some kittens may chew on the hair

Best Wand Toy for Kittens: KONG Active Feather Teaser

Wand toys are great for playtime with a kitten—they burn extra kitty energy and help you start to build your bond together. This KONG teaser is especially tempting to cats with its bright feathers and crinkle paper, which makes each bat and catch rewarding. The shorter wand also works well with kittens, who haven’t developed the reflexes or the reach of adult cats.

The toy comes in three characters: butterfly, bluebird, and flamingo. But they’re chosen at random, so both you and your kitty will be surprised by what you end up with.

You and your kitten will like:

• Design for interactive play and building a pond
• Available in three toy shapes (picked at random)
• Toy is filled with catnip and crinkle material

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Some kittens may chew on the feathers

Best Laser Toy for Kittens: Ethical Pet Laser Exerciser Original 2-in-1 Toy

Laser toys are a fun way to burn off all that young kitten energy. And this laser toy by Ethical Pet gets high marks for having a reliable light that can reach across the room—so reliable that it actually doubles as a small LED flashlight. Just take it slow and be mindful of your kitten’s behavior, as lasers can sometimes frustrate kitties new to the game. Experts recommend ending the play session with a wand toy or something catchable to resolve the hunt happily.

While this laser toy isn’t rechargeable, it does come with a set of batteries to get you started.

You and your kitten will like:

• Encourages hunting and chasing
• Doubles as an LED flashlight
• Can be hooked onto a keychain

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Limited battery life

Best Kitten Toy for Solo Play: Petstages Tower of Tracks Toy

A kitty classic, ball track toys are great for solo play and a staple of kitten playpens everywhere. Highly rated, this popular track tower is sturdy enough to withstand aggressive batting and joint play sessions in multi-cat households. Non-skid pads on the bottom also keep the toy securely in place.

Recently upgraded, this toy now features two balls to each of its three levels—doubling the fun.

You and your kitten will like:

• Captive balls encourage active play
• Non-skid pads prevent toy from sliding
• Sturdy design for rowdy kittens

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Cat tracks are hit or miss; some kittens love them, and some tire of them quickly

Best Scratcher Kitten Toy: Bergan Star Chaser Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy

Scratching is a natural behavior for cats, so it’s a big ask to expect your new kitten to keep from scratching entirely. But not all hope (and furniture) is lost. The best option is to redirect your kitten to a more appropriate outlet, like this Turbo Scratcher. This two-in-one toy offers a textured cardboard scratcher in the center and a racetrack that runs along the edges. A packet of catnip and a ball that spins and lights up add even more stimulation.

You and your kitten will like:

• Scratchpad and racetrack all in one
• Light-up ball spins and encourages play
• Catnip to attract your kitten’s interest

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Cardboard scratcher may make a mess (but can be replaced)

Best Kitten Toy with Sound: SmartyKat Chirping Bird Toy

Cats are natural-born hunters, and this battery-powered SmartyKat chickadee toy is built to appeal to a cat’s instincts. With every bat, it makes life-like chirping sounds. It’s stuffed with replaceable organic catnip, and at just 1.5 inches long, it’s a good size for young kitties to manage.

If you’re sensitive to sound, you may want to only give this toy to your kitten when you’re out of the room; some reviewers have found the chirping noise to be a little too much for their liking.

You and your kitten will like:

• Bird-like sounds entice your kitten
• Stuffed with dried catnip
• Small, kitten-compatible size for fetch or carrying

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Soft materials may tear
• Some find the chirping sound annoying

Best Ribbon Toy for Kittens: Cat Dancer Products Rainbow Cat Charmer

This brightly colored toy takes traditional ribbons and strings to a whole new different level. Pet parents like that the handle is incredibly strong for withstanding wild kitty antics. A fantastic exercise outlet, this ribbon toy helps to motivate your kitten to move while they pounce and bounce trying to catch it.

You and your kitten will like:

• Nearly indestructible handle
• Long and soft ribbon
• Vibrant bright colors

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Not a toy to leave unsupervised with your cat

Best Tunnel Toy for Kittens: SmartyKat Crackle Chute Collapsible Tunnel

Whether you’re entertaining one kitten or a whole litter, a tunnel toy can provide both entertainment and a safe space for them to rest. With its spring-wire frame, this tunnel collapses flat for easy storage, while the crackling nylon material provides sensory stimulation for your kitty. For interactive play, the large side opening is perfect for a game of hide-and-seek.

You and your kitten will like:

• Crinkling sounds stimulate your cat
• Spring-wire frame collapses for storage
• Side opening for hide-and-seek

You and your kitten may NOT like:

• Material can tear and expose the wire

Best Ball for Kittens: Frisco Moppy Ball Toy

Coming in a two-pack, these plush moppy balls stimulate your kitten’s hunting instincts and are ideal for batting, chasing, and tossing around the house. For an added challenge, you can even use them to teach your kitten to play fetch.

Cats like the snuggly material, while pet parents appreciate that the slightly bigger size of these toys keeps them from getting lost behind furniture.

You and your kitten will love:

• Lightweight and easy to bat around
• Moppy texture is appealing to many kittens
• Affordably priced under $3

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• May not stand up to heavy chewing

Best Mouse Toy for Kittens: SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Toys

Available in sets of three, 10, or 20, these mouse-shaped toys are soft and lightweight, making them easy to carry and a gentle choice for small kitty mouths. The felt ears and dangling tails add a realistic feel, helping your kitten tap into their natural hunting instincts. The catnip inside can also encourage play.

You and your kitten will love:

• Affordably priced in packs of two, 10, or 20
• Catnip inside for extra enticement
• Lightweight and multi-textured design

You and your kitten may NOT love:

• Kittens may lose interest when the catnip dries out

How We Chose

The kitten toys featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized kitten toys designed to stimulate the senses and accommodate natural feline behaviors. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated cats, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading:

• Healthy Kitten Treats Your Little Furball Will Pounce On
• 6 Questions You’re Asking Yourself About Your Six-Month-Old Kitten
• 8 Clever Cat Puzzle Toys to Challenge Your Savvy Feline