While cats can be notoriously hard to please, kittens haven’t yet become so aloof and they can’t hide their joy at playtime! Kittens can have fun and play with even thin air (just watch them bounding along, swatting at something invisible to the human eye).
But it’s also great to gift them specially-designed toys.
From wand toys that encourage bonding time between cat and human, to squeaky toys that will bring out a kitten’s hunting instinct, there are a range of kitten toys to choose from. Here are some of our favourites:
Cat Tunnels
Tunnels are one of the best kitten play toys you can pick – not only do they provide hours of fun for your kitty, but they can also help them feel secure. One of my cats took to sleeping in the tunnel when he was as a kitten, taking refuge in the quiet and private space … that is until he got a sibling, with our newest kitten having a blast jumping on the tunnel and launching surprise play attacks!
The tunnel toy remains a big hit in our household. Its crunchy texture and dangling ball toys provide lots of stimulation for kittens as they dart in, out, around and on top of the tunnel.
Wands
I’ve never met a kitten who could resist swatting at a wand toy. Whether the wand is dangled in front of their noses, dragged across the floor or flitted over furniture, they find this interactive play irresistible.
With brightly coloured feathers, fabric or a toy at the end, wands encourage your kitten to hunt and run around as they bat. As you’re the one making the wand move, this playtime between you and your kitten is valuable bonding time (not to mention super cute!).
Mice Toys
Even if your kitten isn’t much of a hunter, they’re sure to love a pack of mice toys. From catnip-infused fabric mice to fuzzy mice with long feather tails to squeaky plastic mice, your kitten is sure to go wild.
Throw these toys for your kitten to pounce on, hide them in their tunnel or position them with their tails sticking out behind furniture and watch your kitten stalk and play with their prey (pain-free for all involved).
If a human in your household is mice-phobic, opt for brightly coloured mice toys to prevent them from mistaking the fake for the real thing!