The Best Toys for Kittens in 2024

Adopting a new kitten can come with a pretty steep learning curve — for both you and your cat. But, between teaching your cat to use the litter box and to be obsessed with you, there’s another subject your kitten needs to be schooled in: play. 

Play is just as important for a cat’s development as it is for their quality of life. The right toys will keep your kitten’s mind and body active. in addition to being important tools in building your kitten’s life skills such as hunting, prowling, climbing and more.

To learn more, we spoke with cat behaviorist Mikel Delgado about the importance of play for a kitten’s development. 

How do kittens play? 

Kittens draw on their instincts when it comes to learning how to play, and those moments of play help turn instincts into skills. 

“Play gives kittens the ability to safely practice skills they will ‘need’ in the future — skills that are very much related to the instincts of cats, for example to hunt, protect themselves from predators, and interact with other members of their species,” Delgado says.

Kittens first learn how to play socially, often with their mom or members of their litter. These crucial first moments of play teach kittens social cues and boundaries that they will use throughout their lives. As kittens get older, they will begin to play with objects, such as toys.

Why is play important to a kitten’s development?

“There are different types of play (such as object play and social play) that all cats use to gain skills related to hunting, fighting, exploring, climbing, and so on!” Dr. Delgado says. “Even though many of our house cats are kept indoors and won’t necessarily need these skills, their bodies and brains have evolved to still practice these behaviors!” 

In addition to skill-building, playtime is enriching for your cat. The proper outlet for play, such as with toys or jungle gyms, will greatly reduce destructive and depressive tendencies in your cat. 

How do you choose the best toys for your kitten?

Like their grown-up counterparts, kittens enjoy playing with toys that stimulate their natural instincts. “Kittens, just like cats, respond well to toys that look like prey animals. That is because to cats, hunting and play are very similar!” Dr. Delgado adds. And, because kittens are still learning and testing boundaries, safety is key to ensuring playtime is as safe as it is fun, especially when you’re not around. 

“The most important thing about toys you will leave for your kitten to play with alone is that they aren't small enough to be a choking hazard,” Dr. Delgado advises. “This also means looking for small parts that could be chewed off and swallowed, such as the eyes or nose on a little mouse toy.”

Aside from safety, kitten parents should aim to provide a variety of toys that allow cats to build the different skills Dr. Delgado mentions — the big ones being hunting, prowling, and climbing.

The best toys for cats who like to hunt

Here’s a hard/weird truth about your little precious baby kitten: They definitely want to kill something and rip its guts out. Sorry, but that’s why we evolved to keep cats in the first place! Cats have played an integral role in fending off disease and infestation by hunting and killing rodents, bugs, and other vermin that find their way into our homes.

And, as a treat, our cats want to rip it to shreds and claim evolutionary victory over their prey. But if your home lacks the necessary vermin for your kitten to practice their hunting skills on, toys that resemble the movement or look of prey can work in a pinch. 

Kittio Hidey Mouse

$25

From an early age, your kitten will realize that hunting isn’t a one-player game. That’s why this is perfect for giving your kitten a taste of the major leagues. Designed to simulate the movements and noises of a real mouse, this toy can engage your kitten for hours at a time — all while building their most important skill. 

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$25 at Kittio

ORSDA Electric Mice Toy

$24

If you’re looking for a hunting toy that doesn’t include the death of a fake mouse, look no further than this best selling ball and feather toy. This toy works on two levels, literally. The first level contains a ball on a track, while the second level operates as a feather whack-a-mole.

This toy, and its five different play modes, is designed to sharpen your kitten’s hunting skills by keeping them alert and engaged. Luckily, the toy was also designed for cat parents and features a night timer that will keep your kitten’s hunting lessons contained to business hours.

$24 at Amazon

Best toys for prowlers

Prowling is a closely related skill to hunting, though cats will prowl without any prey in their midst. Prowling is simply your cat’s desire to explore, hide, and engage with interesting or new spaces. When it comes to kittens, choose size-appropriate prowling toys that challenge, rather than overwhelm, your kitten. 

Paopo Cat Tunnel

$40

Similar to their jungle counterparts, cats like to prowl through different terrains, textures, and habitats. For kittens, however, it’s important to choose prowling toys that build their confidence. That’s why this tunnel toy is perfect; it provides twists and turns while being small enough not to make your prowling kitten feel lost or panicked. The toys on the entrances of the tunnel also provide a perfect target for some post-prowl pouncing. 

$40 at Amazon

Happy & Polly Fish Adventure Cat Sniffing Mat Tunnel

$50

Kittens learn best when given new challenges, making this customizable adventure cat tunnel by Happy & Polly an endlessly fun option for your kitten. Design your cat’s tunnel in new and fun ways to help build their prowling skills and confidence. When they’re not on the prowl, your kitten can enjoy the fish head scratcher and fur rubber. 

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$50 at Happy & Polly

Best toys for climbers

Cats are pretty impressive climbers, but they still need to take baby steps when honing this skill. Kittens begin to climb at three to four weeks old when they’re still under the care of their mothers. On their own, kittens should be given climbing toys that take into account their size and ability. 

Vetreska Heartpurple Cat Climber

$80

This adorable tri-level cat climber by Vetreska provides your kitten with the perfect classroom for climbing 101. Small but mighty, this climber also features scratching posts and batting toy for your kitten to work on mixing their learned skills. The wide bases of this climber are also great for catching the little one in case of a fall, ensuring safety and climbing confidence.

$80 at Vetreska

Mau Modern Cat Tree Tower

$289

If your kitten is already starting to show gifted qualities in the area of bougie-ness, consider supporting their talents with this climbing tree by Mau. Styled with interchangeable cushions on each platform, this tree also features a cozy nook at the base, perfectly cavernous for curious kittens to explore. The other design features — such as the batting toys and scratching posts — make this climbing toy a perfect investment piece that will take your kitten well into cat-hood.

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$289 at Amazon

CatastrophiCreations Wall-Mounted Cat Tree Shelves

$199

If you’re looking for a climbing toy that doesn’t require sacrificing floor space, consider this wall module by CatastrophiCreations. Mounted flush to your wall, this climbing toy is customizable and buildable, meaning this toy can grow right alongside your kitten. This model in particular is a great base for your kitten because its ladder starts at the floor and allows your kitten to climb up at their own pace, building their confidence as they go. As they get older, you can build the shelves up and out with additions, like bridges and hammocks. 

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$199 at Amazon

Best toys for scratchers

Scratching is a normal and needed skill for all kittens to have because it maintains their claws and decreases their stress level. As a cat parent, you will want to direct this energy into proper outlets (not your Eames recliner) at an early age. 

Made4Pets Cat Scratching Post

$40

Scratching is an important skill for kittens because it builds muscle and helps ease stress. Avoid spiking your own stress level (and the distress level of your couch) by investing in a scratching toy for your kitten to hone their skills on. This combo climber/scratcher is a perfect starter scratcher for your kitten given the variety of different sized and shaped scratching posts. Plus, the wide base keeps your cat sturdy and steady during extra rigorous scratching sessions. 

$40 at Amazon

Happy & Polly Mushroom-Shaped Cat Scratcher

$27

This scratcher by Happy & Polly will blend seamlessly into any gallery wall, with the added benefit of keeping your cat away from the rest of your gallery wall. Crafted from eco-friendly materials, this scratcher is also lightweight enough to travel with, which is great when taking your cat somewhere with furniture they would otherwise shred to ribbons. 

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$27 at Happy & Polly

Newwie Cat-Scratch Furniture Protector

$33

For whatever reason, many cats and kittens alike cannot resist the siren call of introducing your couch to their tiny knife hands. If you’ve tried everything else, or you simply don’t want to risk it, consider this surprisingly stylish couch wrapper that doubles as a scratcher. That said, try directing your kitten towards more appropriate scratchers rather than using this as a primary toy; your back and butt cushions will thank you. 

$33 at Amazon

FAQs (People also ask):

How long should I play with my kitten? 

Depending on your cat’s interest levels, anywhere between 20 and 60 minutes of play a day should keep your kitten happy and healthy.  Split this time into segments to align with your kitten’s natural energy bursts.

What do kittens like to play with?

Kittens like the same types of toys that cats do, such as interactive wands and hunting toys, in addition to jungle gyms and scratchers. 

When do kittens start playing with toys?

Kittens begin playing with toys between seven to eight weeks. From seven to 14 weeks, your kitten might experience an increased interest in toy play as they discover their newfound skills. 

Why does my kitten play in the litter box?

Kittens play in the litter box for the same reason human toddlers play in the toilet; it seemed fun and no one was around to stop them. There’s no scientific reason for why kittens play in the litter box — but engaging with them in play outside of the litter box might help curb the behavior.