If you have a cat-obsessed child in the house like I do, you’ll know how passionate these kids can get about their furry feline friends.
I’ve spent many years sifting through the best and worst of cat toys, games, and crafts for kids. I have a headstart when it comes to choosing the best cat toys for kids. To save you the time and effort of sifting through the endless options, I’ll share my carefully collected knowledge.
- It responds to touch
- Extremely lifelike
- Cat has brushable fur
- Helps teach coding
- Works as a playset
- Comes with an enjoyable book
- Has art activity & cat figures
- Can be used with washable marker
- Provides endless coloring opportunities
- Easy to learn
- There are minimal rules
- Game is educational
- 12-in-1 mini puzzles
- Has fun, humorous images
- Intermediate difficulty level
- Pre-programmed songs and phrases
- Encourages motor skills
- Educational
- Teaches how to clean up after pets
- Includes leash system
- Comes with pouch of plastic treats
- Compatible with other schleich toys
- Realistic-looking figurines
- Conform to strict international safety standards
- More than 200 interactive activities
- Enhances critical thinking skills
- Suitable for kids 5 years & up
- Includes a plush cat
- Everything stores inside the carrier
- Licensed product
Review Methodology: At Mom Loves Best, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the best kids cat toys. We use our extensive experience and hands-on testing to evaluate the toys based on a range of criteria, including safety, durability, and entertainment value. Our research includes comparing different brands, tracking their performance, and ranking them based on their results. We provide the facts and evidence to help you make an informed decision. We understand what sets each product apart from its competitors and we score them based on key decision-making factors such as design choices and their effect on your child’s enjoyment. Our goal is to ensure you find the best toy for your child and their feline friend.
The Best Kids Cat Toys of 2023
Here are our picks for the 15 best cat toys for kids.
Hasbro Joy For All Cat
Best Interactive Cat Toy for Kids
Made by Hasbro, this interactive cat toy gives the pleasure of cat ownership without the responsibilities or ongoing costs of having a pet.
Sensors in the cat’s body allow the cat to respond to touch. So, when you stroke this lifelike cat, it will open its eyes, move, and even purr with pleasure. Not only that, when they purr the Joy For All cat’s body vibrates gently just like a real feline friend.
These cats are so realistic they are also marketed as companion animals for elders who want company but can’t have a real animal. Young kids with cat allergies or those who are scared of real cats with claws and teeth may like this option.
Pros
- It responds to touch.
- It’s extremely lifelike.
- The cat has brushable fur.
Cons
- Not the most affordable option.
Our Ratings
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Coding Critters Scamper & Sneaker
Best STEM Cat Toy for Kids
Coding Critters is a playset, book, and robotic cat that teaches computer coding basics without a screen.
Read through the storybook with your toddler and enjoy the adventures of Scamper and Sneaker, the two playful kittens. Lay out the fun pawprints in any shape you like. Then press the direction buttons on your cat to program a movement sequence and watch it follow the pawprints.
Alternatively, you can set the cats to play mode and play with them just like any other playset.
The set includes a slide to climb, a cat toy to chase, and more.
Pros
- It helps teach coding.
- It works as a playset.
- The set comes with an enjoyable book.
Cons
- It requires batteries.
Our Ratings
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Fuzzikins Cozy Cats Playset
Best Cat Craft Set For Kids
This set from Fuzzikins provides plenty of opportunity for an art activity and a trio of cat figures to play with, all in one. There are three cats in the box, each with their own sleeping bag and eye-mask, three markers, and a sheet of stickers.
Color the Fuzzikins and create cats with fur colors and patterns of your own design. Then wash the colors off and start over, as many times as you like.
If your child doesn’t feel like coloring, they can play with the cat figures or settle them down for a nap in the sleeping bags.
Pros
- The set is an excellent value.
- You can use it with any washable marker.
- It provides endless coloring opportunities.
Cons
- The markers in the box are tiny.
Our Ratings
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Sequence Cats Board Game
Best Cat Themed Board Game for Kids
Sequence Cats is a simple game to learn, but it is enjoyable for adults who may have to play.
Each player is dealt a hand of cards. Cards have a cat picture and information about the breed. When it’s your turn, you place a token on one of the squares on the board, matching a cat in your hand.
The aim, which is simple enough for younger kids to understand, is to get five tokens in a row on the board.
Some people complain they have difficulty telling which cat is which, but this is not a problem we have had in our home.
Pros
- It’s easy to learn.
- There are minimal rules.
- The game is educational.
Cons
- It’s not a quick game.
Our Ratings
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Funny Cats 1000-Piece Puzzle
Best Cat Jigsaw For Kids
This puzzle is almost like 12 mini puzzles all rolled into one. The painting is of a dozen rectangles, each featuring its own cat. The cats are dressed in a variety of quirky outfits, and each is set against a different background.
This makes the puzzle tricky enough to be a challenge, but not so hard you want to sweep it off the table.
The finished puzzle is 19.25 inches by 26.5 inches, so you will need a decent-sized tabletop to put this one together.
Pros
- It’s a fun, humorous image that should appeal to kids.
- It provides hours of fun.
- The puzzle is just difficult enough without being overwhelming for older kids.
Cons
- It isn’t suited for younger puzzlers.
Our Ratings
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Fisher-Price Cat on a Vac
Best Clean-up Cat Toy For Kids
This interactive musical cat toy vacuum from Fisher-Price is a good way to encourage your little one to harness there gross motor skill.
A pseudo-vacuum toy will absolutely encourage your baby into crawling and walking as it play some songs or phrases. Additionally, it teaches your child numbers, colors, and shapes.
Pros
- Gives endless minutes of fun and pleasure for your tot.
- Pre-programmed songs and phrases.
- Encourages motor skills.
Cons
- Will only work on hard floors.
Our Ratings
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FurReal Poopalots
Best Walking Cat Toy For Kids
If your child wants a cat toy that can walk, Poopalots from FurReal will be a hit.
The cat comes with a pouch of plastic treats that you can feed to it. Then when the furry feline goes for a walk, Poopsalot does precisely what its name implies. It poops a lot.
As you might expect, this is hilarious to kids who enjoy a good bodily function joke.
The treat holder then acts as a pooper-scooper for your child to clean up after their cat.
Pros
- This toy teaches how to clean up after a pet.
- The leash system is included.
- Younger kids will love the humorous aspect.
Cons
- You can’t buy replacements for lost poops, so you might spend a fair amount of time tracking down doo-doo.
Our Ratings
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Schleich Farm World Playtime for Cute Cats
Best Cat Toy Set for Kids
Approved by open-ended play expert Dr. Sandra Stone, the Schleich line of figures provides the kind of creative play opportunities crucial to a child’s development.
This cute playset includes one adult cat and two kittens, as well as a cat tree, cat bed, feeding bowl, and twine ball.
Your child can feed their cats, have them play on the cat tree, or hide in the shelter at the tree’s base.
Pros
- This set is compatible with other Schleich toys.
- They are realistic-looking figurines.
- They conform to the strictest international safety standards.
Cons
- You can purchase additional sets to expand the play value.
Community Feedback
Educational Insights Hot Dots Jr. I Love Kindergarten Pete The Cat
Best Educational Cat Toy
The classic learning workbook gets more interactive with the addition of an interactive pen, thus a modern toy for learning toddlers. With over 200 activities covering subjects from reading, math, science, and social studies, this is indeed a full package!
One thing to consider though is that you have to purchase separate two triple-A batteries that are to be used in the pen.
Pros
- Over 200 interactive activities.
- Enhances critical thinking skills.
- It’s a cat toy that is suitable for kids aged 5 years and up.
Cons
- Batteries not included.
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Doc McStuffins Toy Hospital On-The-Go
Best Toy Cat Vet Set For Kids
Toy vet sets are easy to find, but many of them have flimsy instruments that break or bend easily. Your child shouldn’t have that problem with this toy doctor kit featuring Doc McStuffins On-The-Go toy hospital.
A sturdy pet carrier does double duty as the mini hospital and a place for storing your cat and vets instruments. Your child will get a stethoscope to listen to their cat’s heart, lungs, and belly, as well as an otoscope to check your cat’s ears.
It also comes with a pet hairbrush, a food bowl, and a skirt for your cat.
Pros
- The plush cat is included.
- Everything stores inside the carrier.
- It’s a licensed product.
Cons
- The carrier can be tricky for little hands to open.
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Pete the Cat Learn To Dress
Best Pete the Cat Toy for Kids
In our home, Pete the Cat has been rocking in his school shoes for several years. We have Groovy, Pizza, Bedtime, and “naked” Petes. We can recite the books from memory, and now our youngest son can practice tying his own shoes with this Learn To Dress Pete the Cat.
Emerging dressers can learn to tackle buttons, master zippers, and conquer poppers on their favorite groovy, cool cat.
At 14.5 inches, this Pete is big enough to cuddle but compact enough to take to show and tell.
If your child isn’t a Pete fan or prefers a female kitty, there are other options out there that use the learn to dress concept.
Pros
- It helps develop fine motor skills.
- This Pete is machine washable.
- It’s a good size.
Cons
- This toy may lose his appeal when kids get older.
Community Feedback
Prextex Plush Cat
Best Stuffed Cat Toy for Kids
Kids are obsessed with baby animals, and this set delivers more than one. Prextex comes with six adorable kittens. They are as soft and each one has a different color combo.
Each cat measures six inches tall and is very cuddly.
They are all extremely well made and durable. We’ve had ours for over three years and it’s still as good as new, despite being a little grubby.
Pros
- Can be enjoyed by a lot of kids.
- It encourages nurturing play.
- The quality is top-notch.
Cons
- Others find the fur colors such as pink a bit weird.
Community Feedback
FurReal Friends Bootsie
Best Robot Cat Toy for Kids
When you’re too afraid to give your child the bigger responsibility of owning a real pet yet, why not try Bootsie. Bootsie is a hard-bodied robocat encased in soft, brushable, and safe fake fur.
Wave her cat toy and she will respond, thanks to its light sensor. By tapping her mouth twice, her mood changes and she becomes cranky and irritated. To cope with this, you may give her a sushi treat to lighten her mood again.
After playtime, Daisy will pad her paws on your lap and meow just like a real cat.
Pros
- The toy is interactive.
- It offers cute sounds and movements
- Younger kids may get super attached to this cat, just like they would a real pet.
Cons
- No volume control, which may drive parents crazy.
- Others find it difficult to turn on the play mode.
Community Feedback
Brickheadz Lucky Cat
Best Cat LEGO Toy for Kids
LEGO has plenty of sets that include cats, especially in the LEGO Friends line, but in most of these, the cat is an accessory rather than the star.
That’s why the Brickheadz Lucky Cat is a great pick for cat lovers. This Japanese Maneki Neko style cat is the only focus of this set.
Once built, your child’s Brickheadz will not only look good on display, but they can play with it. By toggling the lever on the cat’s back up and down, the kitty will wave its paw up and down, just like the traditional Maneki Neko.
Pros
- It’s fun to build and display.
- Since it’s LEGO, you know it’s high quality.
- It has unique screen-printed pieces.
Cons
- It’s not a challenging build so hardcore LEGO enthusiasts may not find it interesting.
Community Feedback
Sentosphere Aquarellum Cats Magic Art Canvases
Best Cat Art Set For Kids
An excellent choice for beginners, the Cats Magic set from Sentosphere Aquarellum has everything your budding artist needs to create three cat paintings.
There are nine watercolor paints, a plastic palette, and a paintbrush. It also includes a trio of pre-printed cat pictures on cards.
Each card is embossed, and the different areas of the cats are outlines in relief. This prevents the colors from running and makes it more difficult for a young painter to go past the lines.
Pros
- It includes everything your child will need.
- The bright colors are appealing.
- The washable paint means your child won’t make a mess that can’t be cleaned up.
Cons
- Limited playtime.
Community Feedback
How To Choose The Best Cat Toys For Kids
Before I get to the recommendations, I’ll share my criteria for choosing the best children’s cat toys.
The Cat That Got The Cream
A child who likes cats can be easily overrun with basic stuffed animals that are nice to cuddle. These have their place, but it’s also fun to have some cat-themed toys that inject something a little different into the day’s play.
Our list of the best cat toys for kids is curated to provide fun for feline fans of all interests and ages. Maybe even a few adult cat fans might find something on this list, too.