The 14 Best Catnip Toy

Save

A good catnip toy must be durable and doused in the delicious herb your cat craves, and the aptly named Chi-CAT-a-Banana Catnip Toy from Yeowww offers all of that and more inside a yellow banana package. The exterior of the durable toy is constructed from cotton twill fabric, stuffed with organic catnip, and offers seven inches of chewing, nuzzling, and bunny kicking fun. Watching a cat play with this toy has us saying, “I’ll have what they’re having.”

Made in the United States, the Chi-CAT-a-Banana features a bright yellow color, created by using plant-based dyes. Each catnip toy from Yeowww is stuffed by hand using only the leaves and flower tops of organic catnip raised without pesticides. The entire toy is free of filler material and made without any plastic pieces, so your cat can play without restraint and without choking hazards. The potency of the catnip is designed for extended appeal, but once the intoxicating components are all used up, this toy cannot be refilled.

^{Dimensions: 7 x 1 x 3 inches | Materials: Cotton fabric, organic catnip}

Save

To catch your cat’s attention, Potaroma’s Sandpiper Flapping Bird Cat Toy mimics the wing movement of a real bird. The rechargeable cat toy comes with a USB cable and a built-in motion sensor to trigger flapping when your cat is ready to play. There are three settings for the wing movement—gentle, normal, and active—but it won’t take off in flight. To add to the life-like appeal, the toy also emits bird sounds and chirps, emulating a real bird.

A pouch of catnip is included in the belly of the bird, and it can easily be refilled by removing the plush fabric. The exterior is suitable for hand-washing and easily connects back into place with hook-and-loop straps. The flapping movement might be too much for some cats, and others are likely to treat it as prey, so be sure to monitor your cat while they play.

^{Dimensions: 4 x 8 x 0.7 inches | Materials: Plush. plastic, catnip}

Save

The chime of a bell, the draw of catnip, and the perfect shape for bunny kicks all come together with the Kitty Kick Stix cat toy. These affordable, heavy-duty catnip toys are ideal for any cat who loves to kick their toys around. Simply imagine how much fun your kick-loving cat will have with a kicker toy infused with catnip.

The Original Kitty Kick Stix is made in two lengths (11 and 15 inches) by a family-owned company based in California. The toys are packed with locally grown organic catnip and a tiny bell, then covered in a wide range of colorful cotton fabrics. The toys are double-stitched for durability, but that also means they cannot be refilled with catnip.

^{Dimensions: 11 x 2.5 inches (medium) | Materials: Cotton, organic catnip, metal bell}

Save

With a Dental Catnip Chew Toy from Castages, the allure of catnip will also help reduce buildup on your cat’s teeth. This oral-care assortment of catnip toys is made with a unique dental mesh that works like floss as your cat chomps away. Catstages offers many styles and shapes, including avocados, pickles, pretzels, bananas, mice, and shrimp.

Each Dental Catnip Chew Toy contains potent catnip inside an intriguing shape with a variety of textures and frills to delight a cat. The toy itself shouldn’t be used unsupervised, as some of the ropes and fabrics can come undone, leading to potential health problems or choking hazards.

^{Dimensions: 6.5 x 2.2 inches (pickle) | Materials: Dental mesh, polyester, catnip}

Save

Delivering catnip through a toy is only one way for them to get the most out of the feline-centric herbal experience. Temptations, one of the biggest brands in cat treats, makes its signature MixUp treats with catnip powder inside, along with chicken and cheddar.

Each MixUps Catnip Fever treat is under two calories and has a crunchy shell, revealing a delicious and nutritious goo inside. It has no artificial flavors and is packed with nutrients, like vitamin B12, vitamin D3, biotin, and folic acid. Perfect for cats 1 year or older, it’s a unique way to give your cat some catnip relaxation. 

^{Dimensions: 3, 6, 8, 16, and 30 ounces | Materials: Not applicable}

Save

Potaroma has created an addictive, yet simple catnip toy that’s appealing to felines. The Catnip Crinkle Kicker Plush Toy mimics a fuzzy tail and will keep any kitten comfortable, while the crinkled paper creates an added noise to create excitement.

There’s organic catnip inside that’s covered in a soft plush material and cotton. Since kittens love to pounce and play to mimic their hunting instincts, the toy is durable and big enough to be attacked without falling apart. 

^{Dimensions: 10.6 x 2.1 inches | Materials: Cotton, catnip, crinkle paper}

Save

Frisco offers an exciting wand toy with catnip designed to give your cat a great time for a reasonable price. The 18.5-inch rod has a 22-inch string off the top that has a nine-inch bird hanging off of it.

The bird toy has a smaller amount of catnip, but it should still be enough to keep a cat engaged. If the herb doesn’t do it, there are also feathers and crinkly materials flowing off the bird to keep them entertained. A wand toy does require practice to get your cat’s utmost attention, but once you have a rhythm down, they’ll be ducking and diving in no time.

^{Dimensions: 18.5 inches (rod), 22 inches (string), 9 x 2 inches (bird) | Materials: Plastic, feathers, string, crinkle material}

Save

These adorable little Straw-Babies from CatStages are designed for kittens who just want to chew on everything they can, with the added appeal of catnip to drive them wild.

Each set comes with three plush strawberry-shaped toys constructed with mesh dental on one side. This netted fabric removes buildup on teeth and encourages healthy chewing habits as a kitten’s adult teeth come in. There’s also a plumage on top that your kitten can bat around, mimicking small prey. The toys are not refillable, so we recommend introducing one strawberry at a time to your kitten. You should also supervise them while they play for safety.

^{Dimensions: 5 x 1 inches | Materials: Catnip, dental mesh, polyester}

Save

For cats who are naturally intrigued by the silhouette of a fish, Potaroma offers a soft plush cotton fish filled with catnip that’s built to be bite- and rip-resistant. The seams are neatly sewn, making sure that no loose threads can cause your cat harm or allow the toy to unravel. Filled with catnip and crinkle paper, it’s sure to keep your cat’s attention while bunny-kicking, nuzzling, pouncing, and chewing.

Available in three different colors—green, yellow, and orange—you’ll be able to find the nine-inch toy in any of your cat’s growing toy piles. The toys are sold in sets of three, but they cannot be refilled once the potency of the catnip expires.

^{Dimensions: 9.4 x 1.9 x 1.6 inches | Materials: Cotton, catnip}

Save

The Scratch & Roll Scratcher Catnip Toy from Frisco offers various elements to engage a kitten. The cardboard center is great for scratching and napping, and a packet of catnip is included to be sprinkled on top for extra appeal.

Around the cardboard circle is a lightweight ball on a wheel. The movement is enough for most kittens to expend their energy as they bat away at the prey-like object. Though it is incredibly simple, it’s enough of a toy to keep any kitten—and most adult cats—fully engaged. You can opt to reapply catnip, but once the cardboard is scratched up, you’ll need to replace the entire toy. We also found that some very determined adult cats are capable of setting the ball free from the wheel.

^{Dimensions: 16 x 16 x 2 inches | Materials: Cardboard, plastic, catnip}

Save

Yeowww My Cat Balls are sold in packs of three, and these multicolored balls come stuffed with Yeowww’s own brand of organically grown catnip. The balls, made in the United States, are covered in canvas, which allows for a durable toy that can handle plenty of playtime.

It’s an incredibly simple toy that your cat can rub all over to enjoy the effects of catnip. The balls are a bit small, around 2 inches wide, so they will likely get lost under something at some point. But all your cat has to do is follow their nose to get the ball back on the court. 

_{Dimensions: 2-inch diameter | Materials: Canvas, catnip}

Save

SmartyKat Skitter Critters are perfect for a cat that loves mice and also happens to lose more expensive toys. These small but durable plush mice are packed with catnip, enticing any feline.

Each 2-inch mouse is also packed with features, including burlap, felt, feathers, faux fur, and ribbons. There aren’t any gimmicks or fancy features; it’s just a small plaything that your cat can bop around with without you worrying that they will hurt themselves. You can buy them in packs of three, 10, or 20, with each one costing less than $1.

^{Dimensions: 2 x 1 inches | Materials: Burlap, felt, feathers, faux fur, ribbons}

Save

This catnip-infused scratcher is aptly named The Original Scratch Lounge, and it is designed to invite a cat inside to hang out, play, and fall asleep.

The irresistible lounger—made from 100 percent recycled cardboard in the United States—provides ample hammock-like space where a cat of any size, even larger felines, can rest, flanked by two walls on opposite ends measuring 5 inches in height.

To redirect a cat and their claws away from furniture and toward the cardboard, the Original Scratch Lounge comes with a packet of catnip to be sprinkled on top. Unlike traditional scratch pads, this one has three sides for cats to delve their nails into and scratch to their heart’s content. Plus, the base of the scratcher (the Scratch Floor)—where your cat will lie and claw—is made of dense honeycomb cardboard that can endure for a longer duration than other toys. It is also replaceable, so you can swap in a fresh base and sprinkle on new catnip without having to purchase the entire lounger again.

^{Dimensions: 22 x 13 x 5 inches | Materials: Recycled cardboard, catnip}

Save

Twin Critters Silvervine Plush Wine Bottles are a great alternative toy for cats who don’t respond to catnip. These toys are filled with organic silvervine, an herb that contains the olfactory attractants actinidine and dihydroactinidiolide, which are known to produce a euphoric effect in cats. Shoppers report their cats responded to the plush toys by rolling, jumping, vocalizing, and licking.

This two-pack makes a great gag gift for cats and their wine-loving owners, as each plush wine bottle features a “Dom Purringnon” graphic and a zipper pouch that holds the silvervine. Once the herb loses its potency, simply discard the spent contents and refill it with Twin Critters Kittikrack refillable pouches. Twin Critters uses only wild-growing silvervine fruit, free of additives and preservatives, for your cat’s safety.

_{Dimensions: 2.9 x 2.9 x 1.7 inches | Materials: Plush, wild-growing silvervine}