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If Your Cat Simply Cannot Fathom That You Have A Life Outside Of Playtime, Here Are 27 Things To Entertain Them
Because they don’t understand what 9–5 means.
1. A feather teaser toy to ignite the hunter spirit within them. Whether they chase this toy around the house, or cuddle with it during a cat nap, your cat will appreciate you for this one.
2. An interactive toy maze for the cat who scoffs at mere toy mice. This treat toy is great for keeping your cats engaged and stimulated while you do other things, like tick off chores from your daily to-do list.
3. A slow feeder puzzle that’s essentially like a maze, but for your cat’s food. This’ll help tap into their hunting instincts while helping quick eaters take their time with dinner.
4. A catnip-filled fortune cookie will keep them entertained for HOURS while telling them exactly what they want to hear… (HINT: the toy says, “You will catch the mouse.”)
5. A catnip-filled toy is sure to be a treat every time. Simply stuff the toy with catnip and watch the chaos ensue — away from your couch — as your cat tries to dig the catnip from inside this toy.
6. An interactive laser pointer, because playtime is not just about having fun — it’s important for keeping your cat active and maintaining their cognitive health, too.
7. A Catit interactive roller circuit that will preoccupy your cat while you try to get some typing done. (Why is it that cats always want your attention while you’re typing?!)
8. An interactive cat toy — it comes equipped with a running mouse to keep your kitty on their toes…or paws. This toy comes with a toy mouse that “scurries” under and over the holes at the top of this toy.
9. A grass scratcher toy to keep your cat busy as they scratch, chase, and lounge on this toy. I have this scratcher, and I love watching my cats chase roller toys between the slits in the surface. I also love that my cats have something other than my brand-new rug to claw at!
10. A PetSafe feeder ball that’ll keep mealtime fun, while simultaneously stimulating your cat’s mind with play.
11. A fuzzy cat tree so that they can have something other than your couch to scratch during their free time. This tree has a hammock, too, which is perfect for midday cat naps, and fluffy balls they can play with while they’re bored.
12. A roller ball toy with a teaser mouse attached to keep your needy kitty preoccupied as you take care of cleaning, laundry, and other daily tasks.
13. A hangable scratch pad, because some cats really love to have something to scratch at when they have the zoomies! You can hang this on your wall next to your WFH station so that they can feel like they’re interacting with you as you’re neck-deep in a spreadsheet.
14. A cat dancing toy that features rolled cardboard on a steel wire with just enough movement that causes the toy to “dance.” And while the toy ~dances,~ your cat does, too!
15. An interactive roller cat toy, because playing isn’t just for kittens! Playtime is vital to ensuring that your cat can maintain their physical health and mental awareness throughout their life. I have this toy, and my two cats play with it for hours on end.
16. An interactive tunnel, is essentially like the cat version of a ball pit: once inside, your cat will never want to get out. This tunnel has three entrances for ultimate hide-ability, plus a teaser wand to help invoke their jungle cat instincts in even the most hard-to-please kitties!
17. An electronic motion teaser wand, because it basically plays with your cat for you! This whips around at different speeds to entertain your cat while you do other things, like work on some emails or catch up on your chore list. You might even be able to sneak out for a bit if you time it just right… 😏
18. An exercise wheel, since sometimes, cats just need to get their energy out, and they’ll do anything it takes to say, “Hey! play with me,” which includes scratching at things they know they’re not supposed to. This will help them release their desire to play while being a great workout!
19. An interactive roller cat toy, because your cats will *almost* forget about bothering you during your WFH day — they’ll be too busy trying to push, catch, and “chase” the balls in this toy.
20. A fruit tart bed, since cats can sometimes snag at cozy couches when they’re making biscuits, preparing to get ready for a nap. Your cat can use this bed to make all the biscuits they want during their nth slumber of the day, while having lemon-, kiwi-, strawberry-, and blueberry-shaped cushions to play with when they wake up!
21. A set of wall shelves because your cat deserves a spot other than your couch to rest their tired eyes. This is perfect for cats who like to traverse far and wide — and it’s especially great if your cat prefers to chill in high places! Plus, it comes with a bunch of add-ons that your cat can play on, like chase-worthy bridges and steps.
22. A Petstages treat-dispensing puzzle that’ll help your kitty slow down if they seem to eat as quickly as you serve them their food.
23. A set of soft catnip-infused felt balls, because your cat loves to chase balls around the house — but soft felt balls with catnip inside?! Fuggedaboutit. They’ll play with this for hours on end.
Simply B Vermont / Etsy
Simply B Vermont is a small business located in, you guessed it, Vermont. They make adorable pet accessories and toys for cats and dogs.
Promising review: “Fast shipping, super thoughtful and attentive seller, and most importantly, our kitties are obsessed with these balls! Even my shy one is running around with these and having an absolute blast without my tossing them around. It’s also wearing her out, which is quite hard to do. Highly recommend!” —Ketti Schulenberg
Get a set from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $9.75+ (available in three styles and with refills).
24. A tent activity center if your cat *wants* to play, but also wants to chill. This activity center has a plush base that’ll be a cozy spot for them to sit as they reach for the toys hanging from above.
25. A Cat Dancer string toy because your shoelaces deserve to be left alone. Consider gifting this toy to your cat to keep them engaged in play for hours.
26. A scratch ‘n’ hunt cat puzzle for the feline who cannot stop scratching the rugs in your apartment. I, for one, have cats who refuse to scratch at anything vertical — they’re all about getting down low to file their claws. This works for cats like mine, and will totally entice any cat to use it with its cool ball-chasing holes!
27. And an activity playmat with hide-y holes and a felt texture that your cat will surely love playing (or lounging) in! It’s also totally machine washable, which is all anyone wants to hear when it comes to a fabric that their cat will be playing with all day long.
Reviews have been edited for length and/or clarity.