A Buyer’s Guide to Electronic Cat Toys

Electronic cat toys offer cats an opportunity to play on their own or with each other and simultaneously hone their instinctive needs to pounce and hunt. There is a fabulous selection to choose from to keep felines in play mode for spurts of 10 to 15 minutes at a time. They beep, blink and make sounds that mimic birds, mice and other critters. Some even have motion sensors to reactivate themselves when some feline stalks by and sets them in motion all over again. So, stock up on batteries and get shopping!

PetSafe® Pounce™

This automatic cat toy features an electronic mouse that zips around a circular track, zooming forward, reversing, hiding under obstacles, and occasionally twitching back and forth. The unpredictable movements stimulate a cat’s natural instinct to hunt, chase and pounce on prey. The game has four speed settings and turns off automatically after 10 minutes, or manually with an on/off button. Cats can even be taught how to activate it—my Ziggy taught himself. Petsafe.net

 

Petlinks Mystery Motion

This battery-operated toy has a mouse-tail that peeps out from under a plastic cover. It shoots erratically around in different directions, recreating the idea that there is a critter hiding under the covers. Consequently, this toy replicates a cat’s instinct to patiently watch and observe before jumping into hunt mode. It’s excellent for enticing older cats out of snooze mode. It has four different speeds and is ideal for single cats as well as multi-cat households. Petlinkssystem.com

 

 

PetSafe Cheese

This “chunk” of Swiss cheese has holes on both sides that allow peek-a-boo mice to pop out on either side. Cats love the surprise and anticipation! The Cheese has a timer that automatically turns the toy off after 10 to 15 minutes. There is also a play-while-you-are-away mode which allows for sessions to be programmed to keep cats engaged throughout the day. Petsafe.net

 

 

PetSafe Laser Tail

This interactive laser toy moves by itself across the floor in random patterns and in all directions. The laser is on the back of the toy so the laser light is always rolling away from the cat, encouraging the chase.  Sensors help the toy find its way out of corners or out from under furniture. It automatically shuts off after 10-minutes of play. It works well on all kinds of floor surfaces such as wood, tile and short-tufted carpets. While such toys utilize low-powered lasers such as 5mW 3R class lasers that are certified safe around pets and people, laser beams must never be shone directly at a pet (or a person). Laser toys should always be used under supervision. Petsafe.net

 

 

Petlinks Pure Commotion™

This spinning wand toy from Petlinks is a fun, interactive toy that simulates a bird in flight. The feather attachment spins and whips through the air in erratic flight patterns to entice your cat to catch it. The speed can be altered by turning a knob on the base from slow, medium, fast and random. There’s a timer that can be set at 15-minute intervals all the way up to a full two hours of uninterrupted fun. Petlinkssystem.com

 

 

Petlinks Stir Crazy™

The Stir Crazy from Petlinks is an electronic cat toy with a furry tail that pushes a ball around an electronic track and is spurred on when cats poke their paws through the sides of the track to attempt to catch it.  It offers four different play speeds. The ball can be filled with catnip to add to the fun and frenzy. The on-off button is on the top flat surface of the toy so clever cats can be taught to operate it themselves. Petlinkssystem.com

 

 

Roaming Runners™

These tiny little battery-operated toys mimic the movements of real prey encouraging cats to chase them, pounce and leap about. There are a variety of shapes – bird, mouse, caterpillar, a cute ladybug. They are small enough for cats to pick up with their paws and fling around. Once back on the ground, they set off on their own again. Petlinkssystem.com