Last Updated: 02/06/2025
Best Indoor Cat Toys in Australia
Find the best toys for your indoor cat with our vet’s top picks for hunters, climbers, & more!
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 22 minutes - medium read
Last Updated: 02/06/2025
Find the best toys for your indoor cat with our vet’s top picks for hunters, climbers, & more!
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 22 minutes - medium read
The cat is a special and unique animal. On one hand, they are a keen, swift, hunting machine with fine-tuned killer instincts. But on the other hand, they are more than happy to live a cushy indoor life, lounging on the couch and waited on day and night by their 'human slaves'. For such an efficiently evolved hunter, they sure can adapt quickly to the 'couch potato' lifestyle.
If you've grown up with outdoor cats, you might find the idea of keeping a cat indoors all the time hard to swallow. The truth is, it's completely fine to keep your cat indoors - in fact, most vets recommend it. Cats are 'territory' creatures, which means that they are happy and content so long as they have an established territory for themselves. An indoor territory can keep them just as happy as an outdoor territory.
Not only does an indoor life keep your cat safe from predators, parasites, illnesses, and cat fights, but it protects our native wildlife too.
However, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
Indoor cats are at risk of getting bored. This is easy enough to understand; I'm sure if you were stuck indoors all day without TV, books, or other forms of entertainment, you'd be bored too! And unfortunately boredom in our feline friends can lead to depression (yes - cats get depressed just like us!).
Indoor cats are at risk of obesity and health issues. This is also easy to relate to; we all know that a stagnant, lazy lifestyle will eventually make you fat! And it's no laughing matter. Obesity in cats can very quickly lead to issues like diabetes, and can exacerbate urinary issues, respiratory problems, and skin issues too.
So how do we avoid these issues? The key is plenty of mental stimulation and exercise. However, it's not like you can take your cat out for a daily walk like you can for dogs. Instead, playtime is the most important form of exercise for indoor cats, and toys play an important part in this.
So here we have it; just how many cat toys do you need to stop an indoor cat from getting bored, overweight, and unhealthy?
In my opinion, no matter how crazy a cat lady it makes me sound, I believe you can neverhave too many cat toys. However, as a general guide, I have compiled the following checklist.
To keep your indoor cat happy, you should provide: (per cat)
1. At least one scratcher
2. A 'cat playground'(tunnels / cat trees / hidey-hole beds are all great for making a 'cat playground')
3. 1-2 toys for interacting with you
4. 1-2 toys for playing by themselves
5. 1-2 toys that encourage exercise
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Just like children, every cat will have a preference for a certain type of toy. Some cats enjoy chasing and jumping for small object like cat ball toys, some go grazy for noise-making crinkle toys, some really like feathers, some like long snake-like objects... the list goes on. My cat Smudge, for example, has a special affinity for anything with feathers (she holds them in her paws and grooms them like a baby. It's adorable).
It's always important to find out what type of toy your cat likes best. Try providing a bit of a smorgasbord and see what they like to play with. And never assume that your cat simply doesn't like to play - you just might not have found the right toy for them yet!
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
Roller Circuit toys are perfect for indoor cats as they will keep your kitty entertained for hours. The design is relatively simple: usually consisting of a covered track and a ball inside, playful little cat paws can reach through the cover to bat at the ball, but can't remove it.
The Catit Senses Super Circuit is designed with a ball enclosed in an undulating roller circuit. The undulations of the track keep the ball rocking and moving around under the cover, similar to a prey animal running, hiding and appearing. The whole thing just never fails to endlessly entertain cats.
Why we love it:This is perfect for indoor cats. Not only does this toy encourage exercise - as your cat will run around the track batting excitedly at the ball - but it is an excellent toy for home alone cats. The rocking movements of the ball on the hilly track means that just one bat of the ball creates a lot of responsive movements. The best part about this is that it manages to be so responsive and interactive without the use of electronics. Unlike other interactive toys which require electronics to respond to your cat's movements, this toy only uses the simple physics of momentum.
I personally bought one of these for my fussy cat years ago, and she still plays with it every day. She usually gets bored with toys, but this one has truly stood the test of time. Most reviews from cat owners report equally pleasing results with this toy.
As indoor cats can prone to loneliness, it's important that you dedicate time each day to interact and bond with your cat. Cats can feel neglected if they aren't given adequate attention each day.
Teaser toys consist of a wand and a string or tail, and they are the perfect toy for bonding with your cat. They provide hours of engaging interactive playtime with your cat.
Why we love it: This fun wand from Fuzzyard has a plush mini raccoon on the end which contains Catnip and also features a crinkly texture and bell for extra excitement.
Automatic cat laser pointers are almost like a treadmill for your kitty. Simply set them up, turn them on, and watch your cat run rampant after the red dot. You would think your cat would eventually figure out that a laser spot is simply uncatchable, but alas they continue to chase endlessly... perhaps thinking 'maybe today is the day I'll catch that darn red bug...' We can only admire their persistence, can't we?
Why we love it:Not only does the this toy encourage activity in indoor cats - making it perfect for pudgy kitties - but it takes the work out for you. Simply place it on a flat surface, turn it on, and watch your kitty pounce, chase, and frolic. The laser point patterns are random and designed to mimic the movements of prey. It also has a 'play all day' mode, triggering 15 minute play sessions every 2 hours to keep your cat engaged.
Please note that use of laser pointers in young dogs can predispose them to light chasing compulsive habits. Always use in short periods with dogs, and do not encourage compulsive behaviour.
Ahh, technology. If you think kids have a lot of electronic toy options these days, you should check out what's available for cats. Never before have there been so many different types of electronic interactive cat toys to choose from. Electronic toys are great as they simulate hunting and encourage your cat's instincts. This is perfect for indoor cats as they don't have access to real prey oustide. On average, outdoor cats spend 2-3 hours each day stalking and hunting prey, so it's important to provide an indoor cat with an alternative outlet.
Why we love it: The Catit Pixi Spinner is a spinning feather toy activated by your cat's touch. It has a fabric cover which your cat can grab onto, and also randomly drops treats or kibble to reward play.
Puzzle toys will keep your cat's mind busy and occupied. They are great for indoor cats who could always benefit from a little extra mental stimulation.
Puzzle toys typically contain a chamber with a variety of objects inside, and a number of small holes. They encourage cats to remove the objects from the holes, and can also be used with tasty treats for food-motivated cats. The whole concept plays on the cat's instinct for hunting a small prey animal from a hiding place (ie, a mouse from a mouse hole!)
Why we love it: the Nina Ottosson Buggin Out cat puzzle is designed to stimulate foraging behaviour in cats. With adjustable difficulty levels, your cat must learn to move the pegs and leaves to gain access to treats. It holds up to one quarter of a cup of dry food and has 8 hidden treat components making it ideal for extended play sessions.
Who doesn't love the idea of a playground for your cat? Cat playgrounds are a whole lot of fun, and they can greatly benefit your cat's wellbeing too.
The perfect cat playground:Whether you choose to combine a scratcher and a tunnel, or just purchase one multi-purpose item of cat furniture, the ideal 'cat playground' should include at least one hiding place, one scratching surface, and different levels for your cat to explore and perch up high.
Why we love it: the Catsentials Scratch and Rest Station contains everything you need for the perfect cat playground - a hidey hole, plenty of scratching surfaces, a pom pom ball for playing, and plenty of levels to explore. It's also reasonably priced, especially considering its height (85cm tall)
Have you ever tried catnip for your cat? Many joke that catnip is like 'kitty weed' or 'cat marijuana'. This is a surprisingly accurate comparison; the scent and ingestion of this herb can create a short-lasting 'loopy' high. Rolling, rubbing, sniffing, drooling and excessive vocalisation are common as the brain responds to an oil called Nepatalactone in the plant's leaves and stem. Nepatalactone activates the brain similarly to mating pheromones, which may explain the almost sexual nature to some exhibited behaviours.
Approximately 20-30% of cats do not respond to this special herb; however I still recommend giving it a try. Catnip is cheap, harmless, and worth a shot.
Why we love it: this toy is infused with premium Canadian catnip to whip your cat into a playful frenzy. The shape and size of the carrot is ideal for holding, licking, kicking and biting. All For Pets 'Green Rush' catnip toys are highly rated by pet parents, with many finding their cats react differently to these than other similar toys.
Treat- or food-dispensing toys are perfect for indoor cats, particularly if they are food-motivated or overweight. Any toy that encourages your cat to forage, complete a puzzle, or hunt for their food will really help keep their mind busy. Working for a meal is a natural behaviour in cats, as they would naturally need to hunt in order to eat.
Why we love it:The Catit Senses Food Tree contains different levels, allowing cats to move their treat or bits of kibble through the maze. By pawing through the specially placed openings, your cat is forced to think and work in order to get the kibble down to the bottom where it is accessible.
When it comes to spoiling your cat, the Petcube range takes the cake.
The Petcube Bites Pet Camera and Treat Dispenser is without a doubt my favourite from the Petcube range. This super cool cat camera is a webcam, treat dispenser, and means of audio communication.
Why we love it:The Petcube Bites Pet Camera and Treat Dispenser allows you to watch, talk to, and play with your pet, all from a remote location (like when you're at work). Have you ever thought 'I wish I could text my cat when I'm at work...' (I know I can't be the only one!) Well, this gadget is probably the closest you can get to messaging or communicating with your cat when you're away.
