Motorized cat toys offer both cats and kittens alike hours of playtime and interaction. Providing your cat with motorized cat toys can be beneficial for their mental stimulation. Not only do these types of toys encourage your cat to play for hours, but it also replicates their instincts and encourage them to use them effectively, both when you are away for the day or staying home. Cats are naturally attracted to moving objects and motorized cat toys are a great way to encourage your cat to play and stay active.
We have carefully researched and looked through various types of motorized cat toys available on the market. With this information in mind, we have created a list of our top picks that are known to be safe and interesting for both kittens and cats.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites of 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Cat Toy
Long-lasting
Interaction cat toy
Encourages a cat’s natural prey-drive
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Best Value
Flurff Interactive butterfly Cat Toy
Includes replacements
Scratch-proof material
Motion-activated
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Premium Choice
UPSKY Cat Roller Cat Toy
High-quality material
Eases boredom
Safe for multiple cats
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Best for Kittens
YOFUN Smart Interactive Cat Toy
No batteries required
Ideal for kittens
Lightweight and durable
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Potaroma Flopping Fish Cat Toy
Motion-activated
Includes refillable catnip pouch
Easy to clean
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The 10 Best Motorized Cat Toys
SmartyKat has created a fascinating and entertaining motorized cat toy that replicates the movements of hidden prey with the addition of moving lights. It is for this reason that the SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Cat Toy with Lights is our best overall product in this category. This motion cat toy features an adjustable speed so that you can customize the motion of the toy according to your cat’s preference. It comes in two different colors (blue and purple) and has a moving feather which is the main entertainment factor of this product. This motorized cat toy is battery-operated but long-lasting. Once the toy has been turned on, the feather will move erratically which is guaranteed to entice all cats to interact with this toy. The lights will flash to further engage your cat’s interest and your cat will try to get beneath the toy to catch the moving feather.
Operation type: 3 AA batteries
Type: Concealed motion toy with feather
Product Size: 22.51 × 22.51 × 2.99 inches
Material: Lightweight material covering and plastic
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If the feather happens to get broken or worn from your cat’s constant playing, then you can get a feather replacement from the same manufacturer for an affordable price.
Long-lasting
Interaction cat toy
Encourages a cat’s natural prey-drive
Replacement feathers are available
- Long-lasting
- Interaction cat toy
- Encourages a cat’s natural prey-drive
- Replacement feathers are available
Noisy
- Noisy
The Flurff Interactive Toy Butterfly for Cats is the best product for its value of money. This is a motorized cat teaser that is ideal for both kittens and adult cats alike. This type of interactive cat toy moves in a circular motion and the three butterflies that are included with the main product move and vibrate from the motion. In addition, the butterflies also glow in the dark at night which makes it ideal for your cat to play with at all hours of the night. The base is heavy and sturdy which stops your cat from moving the toy around, while the butterflies are mobile enough for your cat to comfortably play with and try to catch.
Operation type: 3 AA batteries
Type: Rotating cat toy
Product Size: 7.8 × 7.8 × 3 inches
Material: Metal and plastic
This cat toy also includes two replacement butterflies so you will not have to buy replacements separately. The entire product is scratch-resistant, which is beneficial since cats scratch and claw at the toy while they are trying to catch the butterflies.
Includes replacements
Scratch-proof material
Motion-activated
Butterflies glow in the dark
- Includes replacements
- Scratch-proof material
- Motion-activated
- Butterflies glow in the dark
Butterflies are delicate
Batteries not included
- Butterflies are delicate
- Batteries not included
Our premium choice is the UPSKY 3 Level Motion Cat Roller Toy due to its high-quality material and its ability to stimulate a cat’s instincts, which encourage them to play and make use of this product. This cat toy is made of strong and tear-resistant plastic that can withstand scratching cats. The layers can also detach for easy cleaning and each ball can be replaced if they get lost or broken. Each layer contains two matching colorful balls to attract your cat’s attention while being safe for multiple cats to play with at the same time. Your cat will then try to catch the moving balls once the product has been turned on.
Operation type: 3 AA batteries
Type: 3 level ball cat toy
Product Size: 12 × 10 × 8 inches
Material: Plastic
The spinning ball rack stimulates a cat’s hunting instincts while providing them with hours of entertainment to help prevent boredom. The product is easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean which adds to the product’s quality. If your cat is on the heavier side, they may be able to detach a level from the product.
High-quality material
Eases boredom
Safe for multiple cats
Stimulates cats hunting instinct
- High-quality material
- Eases boredom
- Safe for multiple cats
- Stimulates cats hunting instinct
4. YOFUN Smart Interactive Cat Toy – Best for Kittens
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Operation type: Rechargeable
Type: Rotating ball
Product Size: 2.72 × 2.72 × 2.64 inches
Material: Plastic
The YOFUN Smart Interactive Cat Toy features a rotating ball with a USB charger and a built-in spinning LED light for your cat’s entertainment. The small size makes it ideal for kittens and small adult cats while being lightweight and safe. The ball can last for four hours after a full charge, which takes up to an hour and a half. Once the product has been turned on, the ball will do a full 360-degree rotation and will move throughout the house so that your cat can chase it. The red light will flash continuously to further entice your cat and replicate its natural prey instinct. The ball will automatically change its direction if it collides with a wall or solid surface, and it only needs to be turned on and off by you. No replacements are required, and the ball will automatically turn off after it has been rolling for more than 40 minutes so you do not have to worry about the ball rolling around when you are not around to control it.
No batteries required
Ideal for kittens
Lightweight and durable
Automatically moves
- No batteries required
- Ideal for kittens
- Lightweight and durable
- Automatically moves
Does not work on thick carpet
Turns off after 40 minutes
- Does not work on thick carpet
- Turns off after 40 minutes
5. Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish Cat Toy
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Operation type: Lithium-ion battery
Type: Flopping fish
Product Size: 9.25 × 3.9 × 1.26 inches
Material: Plastic and plush covering
The Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish Cat Toy has an automatic motion-activated sensor that moves the toy when your cat touches it. The fish toy will then wiggle and flop around to intrigue your cat and encourage them to play and catch the fish. It has a realistic simulation of a vividly moving fish toy to alleviate your cat’s boredom. Furthermore, this product also includes a catnip pouch that can be refilled. It has been constructed of a safe and durable material that is non-toxic to cats if chewed. It is a rechargeable toy and includes a USB cable and lithium-ion battery, making this product long-lasting. The motor is detachable for a convenient cleaning and an indicating light turns on during charging and goes out when the toy has been fully charged.
Motion-activated
Includes refillable catnip pouch
Easy to clean
Rechargeable
- Motion-activated
- Includes refillable catnip pouch
- Easy to clean
- Rechargeable
Noisy
Delicate material
- Noisy
- Delicate material
The HEXBUG Robotic Mouse Cat Toy features a realistic moving mouse that cats and kittens will love to play with. It stops and pauses to enhance the natural movements of a real mouse which will intrigue your cat’s curiosity and encourage them to chase the mouse. This product automatically navigates its way around objects and can find its way out of corners by flipping over, which prevents the toy from getting stuck. There are two main operation modes; paw mode which is designed for docile cats and chase mode for active cats and kittens. The tail also moves around to mimic the movements of a mouse and stimulate your cat’s natural drive to chase and catch prey. Due to the way the product’s motor runs, it will not work on carpets or grass. You are only able to use this product on hard floorings such as tiles or wood.
Operation type: 2 LR44 batteries (included)
Type: Moving the mouse
Product Size: 4.5 × 1.5 × 1.28 inches
Material: Plush and plastic
Realistic moving mouse toy
Intrigues curiosity
Automatic navigation
Two operation modes
- Realistic moving mouse toy
- Intrigues curiosity
- Automatic navigation
- Two operation modes
Only works on hard surfaces
- Only works on hard surfaces
7. Moody Pet Fling AMA-String Cat Toy
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Operation type: 3 AA batteries
Type: Moving string toy
Product Size: 29.49 × 2 × 5.2 inches
Material: Soft, flat elastic
The Moody Pet Fling AMA-String Cat Toy is a battery-operated string flinging cat toy that offers your cat hours of entertainment during playtime. Cats are attracted to the fast and delicate movements of the string which will encourage your cat to try and catch it. No assembly is required with this product, and it is easy and convenient to use. Both cats and kittens can use this product as some adjustments to the string’s height can be made. This product hangs from a standard doorknob and the brightly colored string will move and sway from the conveyer belt when the button is turned on. Your cat or kitten can then bite, pull, and claw at the string until it stops. Once your cat lets the string go, it will turn on again and move to engage your cat’s interest once again.
No assembly necessary
Automatic motion response
Ideal for kittens and adult cats
- No assembly necessary
- Automatic motion response
- Ideal for kittens and adult cats
Hangs from a doorknob
Short battery operation period
- Hangs from a doorknob
- Short battery operation period
8. Weazel Ball Motorized Ball Cat Toy
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Operation type: AA alkaline 1.5V battery
Type: Moving the ball with weasel
Product Size: 8 × 4 × 4 inches
Material: Plastic and fluffy covering
The Weazel Ball Motorized Ball Cat Toy contains a motorized plastic ball with a figure of a weasel included. It moves around automatically to encourage your cat to chase and catch the toy and runs on batteries which must be purchased separately. The weasel will chase the ball and knock it around which can entertain multiple cats at a time. You can use this cat toy on a hard surface or low carpet; however, it works more effectively on hardwood floors. It has been designed to engage your cat’s interest and prey drive using two different moving objects. The material is fairly delicate, so it may not last very long with active cats who claw and chew at the product.
Can be used on low carpet
Engages interest
Unique operation
- Can be used on low carpet
- Engages interest
- Unique operation
Delicate material
Not ideal for cats who chew
- Delicate material
- Not ideal for cats who chew
9. Pet Craft Supply Wiggle Pickle Electric Cat Toys
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Operation type: Lithium-ion battery
Type: Moving pickle
Product Size: 12.01 × 6.26 × 2.87 inches
Material: Plastic and Velcro
The Pet Craft Supply Wiggle Pickle Electric Cat Toys is brightly colored and motorized with a fascinating design to attract cats. Once you have turned the product on, the built-in motion sensor will activate every time your cat touches it. The realistic movement of the toy encourages your cat to play with it while stimulating its hunting instincts to promote a natural form of exercise for your cat and help relieve your cat from boredom. It includes natural potent silvervine infused catnip which is included with the product. This cat toy is rechargeable and includes a USB cable that quickly charges the lithium-ion battery which is included.
Rechargeable
Includes premium catnip
Encourages natural hunting instincts
- Rechargeable
- Includes premium catnip
- Encourages natural hunting instincts
Material gathers dirt and hair
Difficult to clean
- Material gathers dirt and hair
- Difficult to clean
The PetSafe Bolt Laser Pointer Cat Toy uses a moving light to encourage your cat to chase and play with the product both during the day and at night. The laser moves randomly across the floor to appeal to a cat’s natural hunting and chase instinct and the adjustable mirror controls where the laser points. It is battery operated and the AA batteries are not included and must be purchased separately. We have placed this product last because although laser toys can be beneficial for a cat’s entertainment purpose, the light can damage your cat’s sensitive eyesight over time. This product is also not safe for humans to look at and not ideal to use around children for this reason. The motor automatically turns off after 15 minutes to prevent your cat from being over-stimulated.
Operation type: 4 AA batteries
Type: Laser cat toy
Product Size: 3 × 3 × 9 inches
Material: Plastic
Stimulating visual movement
Entertaining
- Stimulating visual movement
- Entertaining
The red laser can damage cats’ eyesight
Not safe for children
- The red laser can damage cats’ eyesight
- Not safe for children
Buyers Guide: Selecting The Best Motorized Cat Toy
Benefits of motorized toys for cats:
- Encourages your cat to play
- A natural source of exercise
- Encourages mental stimulation
- Interactive
- Stimulates a cat’s hunting instinct
- Entertaining and effective
Factors to consider before purchasing a motorized cat toy
Consider the overall price of the product to ensure that it is worth the toy’s quality and operation type. A higher-end product may be more expensive in comparison to other motorized cat toys, but the durability and convenience of the product make the price worth it.
The type of motorized cat toy should appeal to your cat and their behaviors during playtime. Some cats may find moving objects more entertaining, whereas other cats will enjoy wiggling toys.
Check if the product works by charging or batteries and if these items are included in the product. If you do not want to keep replacing batteries, then a motorized cat toy with a USB cable for charging may be the better option.
Regular play sessions can help your cat stay happy and healthy. Why not start the play with a fun toy like Hepper’s Catnip Stick Toy? These sturdy toys are double-bagged, bite-proof, and filled with 100% organic catnip. Choose your favorite pastel color and treat your cat to hours of fun!
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
At Pet Keen, we’ve admired Hepper for many years, and decided to take a controlling ownership interest so that we could benefit from the outstanding designs of this cool cat company!
Conclusion
Our top three picks out of all the motorized cat toys we have reviewed in this article are the SmartyKat Hot Pursuit Cat Toy for its high-quality material and effective use as a cat toy. Our second pick is the Upsky Cat Roller Toy because it is best suited to reduce a cat’s boredom and encourage its hunting instincts in a stimulating environment. Lastly, we recommend the Yofun Smart Interactive Cat Toy because it is suitable for kittens as well.
See also: 10 Best Cat Toys for Smart Cats – Reviews & Top Picks
