April 8, 2025, 9:08 am | Read time: 5 minutes
There are many cat toys, but which ones are truly recommendable and engage the pet appropriately? PETBOOK editor and cat owner Louisa Stoeffler presents her favorite products.
Do you often find yourself standing in front of the shelf at the pet store or browsing online for toys that can encourage your cat to move and engage naturally? Because we’ve learned: A happy cat plays and expresses its instincts. However, many cat toys seem to break just by looking at them or become uninteresting to the pet after the second use. Therefore, I am giving you some recommendations and tips on products that my playful cat Remo loves and that I would buy for him again in good conscience. Or that I already own in several versions…
Cat Dancer Rainbow Cat Charmer
If you can say that cats feel love, then one thing is clear: Remo loves this wand toy! I bought it even before I brought him home because I learned from the foster home that he loved playing with shoelaces.
Maybe it’s because this was Remo’s first personal toy, but he has a special bond with this wand. He now plays with it occasionally, but he brings it to me every evening with a loud meow because he wants to share this resource with me. More about this curious behavior of my cat can be found here: Why does my cat constantly bring me toys even though it doesn’t want to play?
There’s also much to say about the toy’s durability: I brought Remo home in August 2019, and we still have his first rainbow wand. Unlike many wand toys, the stick is relatively flexible and doesn’t break immediately. However, fearing that Remo’s wand might eventually break, we now have two of them. Because of his fondness for the wand, which he can see particularly well due to the bright colors, he has earned the nickname “Rainbow.”
Trixie Knobby Balls
Even though it’s more commonly associated with dogs: Cats also love chasing balls. These bouncy balls with knobs are especially popular with my cat because you can never predict which direction they’ll bounce. If he’s stressed or needs to blow off steam before bed, I throw his bouncy balls.
Since they tend to disappear under the sofa, I’ve bought or received three to four packs of these knobby balls. Their durability is also quite good. Although Remo sometimes likes to use his teeth when playing with the ball, some show signs of wear, but I haven’t had to discard any of his balls yet.
Trixie Interactive Cat Toy Cat Activity Fun Board
This discovery is relatively new for us, but already a favorite. The activity board combines many different techniques that cats need to use to become more skilled at hunting for food–and it also slows down their eating through the toy.
There are four different areas here that cats can use with their paws or even their tongues. The waves are actually the easiest and can be used well by older animals with limited mobility. The indentations on the tunnel are best suited for licking pastes, while you can fish out chew sticks from the tunnel below.
The most challenging part for Remo was getting the treats out of the balls. Cats don’t see very well at close range, so he has to rely entirely on his sense of smell and motor skills. After three attempts, he mastered the balls, even though he always saves the treats in them for last.
A tip for owners: Don’t give in if the cat sits in front of the board and seems clueless! The animals will figure it out after a while, but not if the treats are immediately taken out by the owner.
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Aumüller Catnip Unicorn Pillow
We’ve even invented a name for this pillow: the Stinky Unicorn. Because the smell of the substances inside isn’t particularly pleasant for human noses, but Remo loves this toy. I had to sew his first Stinky Unicorn once because he played with it so enthusiastically with his teeth and all four paws.
Stinky Unicorn is therefore a sensible toy for cats that I would buy again and again. We now have two, which I present every few weeks, and they cause great excitement. Before each play session, however, it should be checked if it’s torn, as cats shouldn’t eat the contents. I’ve now started storing the unicorn in a zip-lock bag due to its enticing scent when it’s not in use.
4cats Cuddle Pillow Valerian Pillow
These valerian pillows are also a hit with Remo. They have a similar stimulating effect as the Stinky Unicorn, but less intense, as they are smaller and contain almost exclusively valerian. After a play session, the effect wears off immediately, so there’s no risk of addiction!
The reinforced seams also withstand quite a bit of treatment with claws and teeth without breaking. Remo uses these pillows for at least a year before we get new ones. He usually receives them in his advent calendar.