Cats are hunters and benefit from not only the exercise playtime provides, but acting out their hunting instincts, which is great for their confidence and emotional well being. There's no replacement for interactive playtime with your cat where you're moving a wand toy for your cat to stalk, chase and pounce on. However, electronic toys are great to supplement interactive play.
Why Electronic Cat Toys?
Sometimes your time is limited, or your cat has a lot of energy, or you need a distraction for your cat. This is where electronic toys can be hugely beneficial. These toys mimic the movements of small prey, stimulating your cat's hunting instinct and providing mental stimulation that inanimate toys may not provide.
Electronic Toy Recommendations
Finding your cat's preferred toys is important. Here are some ideas for electronic toys that have been successful with my 5 cats.
This has been my cat's favorite for years. To increase interest, I add packing or tissue paper on top which makes it more challenging and creates crinkling sounds.
Pros
Fast moving
Changes directions
Shuts off after 30 minutes
Cons
May be too fast for some cats
Requires batteries - cannot wait for the rechargeable version
Mdupw Rechargeable Electric Cat Toy - this is similar to the one above, but you can recharge it
There's a moving lighted ball within a cover. My cats really enjoyed pouncing on this.
Pros
Really fun game to go after the moving lighted ball
Ball starts moving on it's own which is also a con when your cat is sleeping
Rechargeable, but requires frequent recharging
Cons
Battery wears out after a day
It comes on frequently, too frequently for long cat naps
My cats love these moving bugs. They can get lost under furniture, so you might keep an eye on it, or put one in the bathtub, or in a box with holes so your cat can poke their paw inside.
Pros
This can get the attention of all 5 of my cats at once - nothing does that other than treats
Cute design, almost too realistic
Cons
They get stuck under furniture or if your floors are uneven
Labor intensive to replace battery, wish they were rechargeable, but they do last a long time
This lizard is touch activated and chirps and flaps it's tail, then it stops for a few moments and resumes chirping and tail thrashing more gently before it stops and waits to be activated again. I was surprised by how much my cats loved this toy.
At first, I was hanging it on the wall and the cats loved grabbing it and knocking it down. Once that got old, I started putting it in cat tunnels and under blankets. Lightly touching it starts the lizard moving and vocalizing.
Pros
Touch activated
Moves and makes sound
Charge lasts for a very long time, I hardly ever have to charge it
Cons
Might be on the large side for some cats
Long tail might be dangerous - I cut off the extra stringy part
This toy creates a flutter sound as it moves around. This is another favorite in the rotation. The maker of this toy also has another great one, the Chirping Bird toy that you can hang in a doorway.
Pros
Toy makes cool flutter sound as it moves
Small toy with ribbon is enticing for cats
Also includes is a ball track, great for kittens
Cons
Not rechargeable, requires batteries
We have a handful of these small SmartyCat touch activated prey toys that have realistic sounds. I hide them around the apartment so the cats can find them.
Pros
Small, like prey
Realistic sounds
Cons
Battery is not replaceable, but it lasts for a very long time.
Introducing Electronic Toys To Your Cat
Once you've purchased your toy, slowly introduce it to your cat, if appropriate. For shy cats, it might be best to let them approach the toy when it's not activated. Even for confident cats, the movement might initially be scary. Use your best judgement when your cat is ready to have the toy turned on.
Rotate Toys
Electronic toys are definitely not the same as you playing with your cat and should not be used as a substitute for interactive play, at least on a regular basis. Cats can also get bored of seeing the same electronic toy every day, so one of the key components of making this work is to rotate a bunch of them. When my cats were younger, I had 4 that I would rotate on a daily basis so they would stay interested. Although I no longer need to supplement interactive play daily, I still like to test out new toys and continue using them in our enrichment rotation.
Set Up the Toy for Best Results
Electronic toys can seem odd from a hunter's perspective. If your cat doesn't respond to it, set the toy up in a way that peaks your cat's interest. Cats are ambush predators, so creating a situation where they can ambush the toy is helpful. For example, I'll put an electronic toy under a chair, then put a throw blanket over the chair so there's something moving, but your cat cannot quite see what it is and needs to investigate.
Have fun playing with your cat!
Check out my Favorite Products for more recommendations.
About the author: Jennifer Van de Kieft, CAFTP, FFCP, PNCC is located in Brooklyn, NY. She is certified in feline behavior and pet nutrition. She owns Cat Advocate, a feline behavior consulting company. She provides cat guardians with the strategies, tools and knowledge needed to address their cat's behavior issues. Jennifer provides virtual consultations throughout the United States.
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