Best catnip toys for indoor cats: what to buy, and what to skip
Quick answer
The best catnip toys for indoor cats give them something to do: a kicker to wrestle, something to chase, a wand that ends in a catch, and somewhere to scratch. Catnip works best rubbed or sprayed onto toys you can refresh, rather than pre-filled toys that go flat in a few weeks.
An indoor cat has the same instincts as one that goes out: stalk, chase, catch, kick, scratch. Without somewhere to put them, they end up on your ankles at 5am or down the side of the sofa. The right toys give those instincts a job, and catnip makes the toys worth coming back to.
This guide is organised by job rather than by brand, because the job is what matters.
First, how catnip fits in
A toy is only a catnip toy while it smells of catnip. Pre-filled toys are scented once and go flat in a few weeks, and there's no way to top them up. A plain toy you scent yourself, with a crushed pinch rubbed into the fabric or two mists of catnip spray, can be brought back as often as you like.
So the rule is simple: buy good toys, and add the catnip yourself.
1. Something to kick: kicker toys
The toy a cat grabs with its front paws and kicks with its back ones. It's how cats deal with prey, and it's the most reliable catnip toy there is.
Look for: long enough to hug and kick, soft enough to grip, stitched seams and features, nothing glued on.
2. Something to chase: balls and mice
Crinkle balls and small toy mice, light enough to skitter across a hard floor. Buy several; they end up under the sofa. A pinch rubbed into a fabric mouse makes it the toy of the day.
Look for: light, small, no bells or plastic eyes.
3. Something to hunt: a wand toy
The one toy that needs you. Ten minutes of wand play in the evening, ending with a catch, does more for a restless indoor cat than anything else on this list. A feathered mouse on the end is the classic.
Look for: a flexible wand and a lure the cat can actually catch. Put it away after each session; a wand left out goes stale and the string is a chewing risk.
If you'd rather have it all in one box, the Chew & Chase Play Set has three kicker toys in three designs, a feathered-mouse wand, a corrugated scratch board and a 60ml catnip spray, £21.99, in a gift box. None of the toys are pre-filled; the spray is how you add the catnip, and add it again when it fades. It's the set of catnip toys we'd choose for an indoor cat.
4. Somewhere to scratch: a board or a post
Indoor cats need to scratch, and they'll choose somewhere if you don't. Some cats scratch flat, some scratch upright; most do both. A corrugated board on the floor covers the first, a tall, heavy sisal post the second.
Catnip: a pinch or two mists on day one, then every few days until the cat has claimed it.
Photo by Ihnatsi Yfull on Unsplash
5. Somewhere to hide: tunnels and boxes
A crinkle tunnel, or a cardboard box with a cat-sized hole cut in the side. A pinch of catnip inside turns either into a den. The box is free and often the most-used thing in the house.
6. Something to watch: a window perch
Not a toy, but the best enrichment an indoor cat can have. A perch on a sunny window, ideally with a bird feeder outside. No catnip needed.
Worth a look this year
| Image | Toy | Type | Price | Where sold | Our verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Yeowww! Catnip Banana | Kicker (pre-filled) | £9.00 | Pets at Home | Heavy cotton twill and a proper hug-and-kick shape, but it's stuffed with catnip that fades and can't be topped up; a good first kicker, not a lasting one |
 |
KONG Feather Mouse with Catnip | Chaser (refillable) | £4.09 | Zooplus | Plush mouse that comes with a tin of catnip to refill it, so it doesn't go flat for good; the feathers will wear, so check it now and then |
 |
Pets at Home Woollen Ball | Chaser | £2.30 | Pets at Home | Sold singly, colour varies. Plain wool with no bell, so you can rub in a pinch or mist it and renew it when it fades; the shop says it isn't for kittens |
 |
Pets at Home Rattling Catnip Ball & Bell | Chaser (bell, pre-filled) | £1.00 | Pets at Home | Sold singly, colour varies. Has a bell, the first thing on our skip list, and the catnip inside can't be topped up; one to pass on |
 |
Go Cat Da Bird Teaser | Wand | £8.00 | Pets at Home | Long fibreglass rod, no bells, and the feather head is replaceable; the nylon string is the bit to watch, so put it away after each session |
 |
Catit Senses Oval Scratcher | Scratcher (board) | £6.50 | Pets at Home | Corrugated cardboard board with some catnip included; lie-down scratching sorted for the price, and it takes a fresh pinch when the scent fades |
 |
Pets at Home Teddy Tall Scratch Post | Scratcher (post) | £24.00 | Pets at Home | Extra-tall sisal post (92cm) for a full stretch; plain sisal, so it takes a pinch or a mist; worth having if your cat likes to scratch upright |
 |
Trixie Cat Play Tunnel with 4 Entrances | Tunnel | £12.75 | HugglePets | Polyester with a sewn-in rustle layer and no attached toys or bells; roomy at 115cm, and you can scent it by rubbing a pinch in or misting it |
Prices checked on 6 October 2026; Pets at Home prices are standard prices, and Pets Club members may pay less. We have no arrangement with any of these brands or retailers.
What to skip
- Toys with bells, glued-on eyes or loose ribbon. They come off and get swallowed.
- A laser pointer as the only toy. It's a hunt with nothing to catch. If you use one, finish on a real toy.
- Battery toys that move on their own. Some cats love them; plenty watch once and walk away.
- Big bags of identical toys. Ten of the same thing is one toy.
Keeping toys interesting
Rotation does most of the work: two toys out, the rest in a drawer, swapped weekly. When a toy goes quiet, rub in a fresh pinch or give it a mist. And keep the spares in a bag with a pinch of catnip, so they come out already scented.
Kittens, and cats that don't respond
Kittens can have all of these toys, as long as the features are stitched and there are no small parts. The catnip can wait: most kittens don't react to it until around eight months.
A lot of adult cats don't respond to catnip at all; it's genetic. The toys still work as toys, and the wand and the scratch board don't depend on catnip. Our money-back cat guarantee covers our catnip rather than the play set, so if you're not sure your cat responds, try the pouch first.
Related guides: How to use catnip · How long does catnip last? · Is my cat bored? · Gifts for cats · The Catnip Guide
Questions cat owners ask
What are the best catnip toys for indoor cats?
A kicker toy to wrestle, a ball or toy mouse to chase, a wand toy for play with you, and a scratch board or post. Add catnip to them yourself, so you can refresh it when it fades.
Are pre-filled catnip toys worth it?
For a few weeks. The catnip inside fades and can't be topped up, so the toy goes quiet for good. A plain toy you scent with a crushed pinch or a mist of spray can be brought back as often as you like.
How do I turn a toy into a catnip toy?
Crush a pinch of dried catnip between your fingers and rub it into the fabric, or give it two mists of catnip spray. Do it again when the cat loses interest.
Are catnip toys safe for kittens?
The toys, yes, as long as they have stitched features and no small parts. Most kittens don't react to catnip until around eight months, so the catnip can wait.
How many toys does an indoor cat need?
A handful, rotated. Two out at a time, the rest in a drawer, swapped weekly. A toy that's been away for a while comes back interesting.
