9 Best Kicker Toys for Cats for 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Jackson Galaxy Ultimate Bunny Kicker

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The Petmate Jackson Galaxy Ultimate Bunny Kicker is one of the longer kickers we tested at 13.5 inches. It’s made of bright green canvas that’s thick and durable and showed barely any sign of wear after several aggressive play sessions. 

The design is unique among the other kickers we tested. A curved springy rod is sewn inside the length of the toy so that when a cat kicks it, the rod will bend backward in response and then spring back into place afterward. Cats seemed to love this feature that is meant to mimic natural prey. Although cats seemed to drool a lot while biting and playing, the canvas dried quickly without leaving noticeable stains.

We also noticed that one cat played so physically that they shed two claw layers while clawing the sturdy denim. A cat's claw has layers like an onion. As the claw grows out, the outer layer sheds periodically, making way for a stronger, sharper claw underneath. This kicker helped facilitate this normal, healthy process.

The only downside is that the catnip can’t be refilled. A little crinkling would have been nice too.

Price at time of publish: $12

_{Length: 13.5 inches | Colors: Green | Extras: Organic catnip sewn inside}

Best Budget

Multipet Katz Kickerz Cat Toy with Catnip

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As you’ll read below in the What to Look For section, cost is not really a clear indicator of whether your cat will like the toy nor how durable or lasting it will be. The cost of cat kickers ranged from about $3 to more than $25 each. Some of the best were also among the most affordable. So it’s possible to get a quality, durable toy for under $10. 

We liked this toy because it is among the longest kickers available, making it perfect for larger cats. This kicker also has the loudest crinkle of the 21 toys we tested. While that scared the more timid cats at first, they were able to get past it and eventually were spurred on by the responsiveness of the noise. 

The Multipet Katz Kickerz is quite fluffy, so cats loved grabbing and hanging on and played with this toy for extended periods of time. Although they absolutely loved the feathers on each end, they were virtually destroyed after the first couple of uses (they are securely attached and did not come off during play).

The Katz Kickerz come in a bunch of fun animal skin patterns—zebra, giraffe, leopard, and jaguar—but there’s no way to select a preference when ordering online.

Price at time of publish: $6

_{Length: 17 inches | Colors: Four safari prints—leopard, zebra, giraffe, and jaguar | Extras: Catnip sewn inside}

Best Interactive

Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish

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Cats couldn’t resist this flopping fish. It triggered their instincts to pin it down to stop the flop. The Potaroma Electric Flopping Fish is an excellent choice for older and more picky cats that won’t play with just any toy. This kicker was a close runner-up for Best Overall for a number of reasons. 

The Potaroma Flopping Fish has a rechargeable electronic unit inside a zippered pouch. You turn on the switch and the fish flops like a real fish. Cats returned to this toy often and played for longer periods of time because they just couldn’t resist grabbing and pinning the interactive flopping tail. Some cats played with it on and off for more than 40 minutes at a time before needing a nap. Even after taking breaks cats returned to chew the tail and face. They rubbed and marked the catnip in the convenient zippered pocket. 

Even older cats who showed no interest in other toys enjoyed this realistic-looking fish. They just had to "stop the flop." The toy showed no signs of wear despite several aggressive play sessions. While the internal electronics appear to be low end, they recharged quickly and performed reliably.

The external cover is made of soft yet durable plush that protects your cats as they nibble and struggle with the fish. The electronics and catnip can be removed so the fish can be hand-washed if needed. 

While cats love the flopping fish, it is a little noisy, so you’re likely to get sick of it before your cat does.

Price at time of publish: $14

_{Length: 11.3 inches | Styles: Rainbow trout, clownfish, crucian carp, grass carp, red carp, and salmon | Extras: Comes with recharging USB cable and catnip}

Best Animals

Kong Kickeroo Cat Toy

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While your cat isn’t likely to notice, we couldn’t resist the cute animal design of the Kong Kickeroo toys. Our favorite is the kangaroo toy—which includes a joey pouch for extra catnip and a fluffy red tail—but each Kickeroo is packed with premium catnip and crinkles on contact. Some of the Kickeroos come with little accessories, like the seasonal witch.

We liked the soft, yet strong polyester fabric that showed almost no signs of wear after play. The Kong Kickeroo is a nice size because it’s long enough to kick and claw but also lightweight enough for some cats to carry around. And while we were less than impressed with the construction of the ears, tails, and other features, the toy held up well to roughhousing throughout our testing period.

Price at time of publish: $7

_{Length: 16 inches, although tail is not rigid | Styles: Kangaroo, frog, raccoon, bear, witch | Extras: Catnip sewn in}

Best Novelty

Twin Critters Kittilush Refillable Plush Organic Silvervine Toys

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A zipper pocket on a toy allows you to remove stale catnip and replace it with fresh catnip so that your cat will have renewed interest in it. This also enables you to remove the catnip for hand- or machine-washing if needed. Those without pockets tend to have a shorter life because cats can lose interest in the toy.

Our favorite cat toys with zippered pouches are the Twin Critters Refillable Plush Organic Silvervine Toys, which use powdered silvervine instead of catnip. Silvervine is a species of kiwifruit that has a similar effect on cats as catnip and will often work with cats that don’t respond to catnip. Since not all cats respond strongly to catnip, the addition of silvervine fruit ensures your cat will go wild for this toy.

Of course, with the zippered pouch on each Twin Critters Refillable Toy, you can always switch to catnip. 

These toys are available in a wide range of designs, including fish, cigars, and branded coffee cups, but our favorites are the “Kittilush” line, which includes kicker wine, liquor, and beer bottles. The vice-based designs make for great photos and are an excellent gift for the cat owner in your life with a sense of humor. The zipper is sturdy and sewn in well. The soft plush polyester-blend fabric is durable and can be hand- or machine-washed if necessary once you remove the catnip or silvervine.

Price at time of publish: $21

_{Length: 12 inches | Styles: Packs of two—wine bottles, beer bottles, coffee cups, liquor bottles, cigars, sardines, unicorns, and vegetables | Extras: Catnip and silvervine blend}

Best for Kittens

Mad Cat Cactus Kicker

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For about the first year of their life, feisty kittens love to grab and kick and are often more responsive to catnip and silvervine. Although full-grown adult cats tend to prefer kickers that are at least 10 inches long, kittens and smaller cats find a lot of joy in grabbing and kicking toys that are shorter than 10 inches. 

We liked this crinkly, well-made cactus-shaped kicker. Young cats were immediately interested in the pure and pesticide-free catnip and silvervine blend. Even after extensive kicking, the toy showed no signs of wear. The cats liked the crinkle sound and enjoyed biting the cactus spines, which are simple yet sturdily bound strings. The craftsmanship of this toy was superb compared to many others, with high-quality stitching, embroidered eyes and flower, and soft, plush fabric.

While our favorite is the Cactus Kicker, there were several similar toys that our cats loved just as much. The Petco Leaps & Bounds Little Thrills Bunny Kicker and Kong Wrangler Cactus Cat Toy were strong runners-up in the kitten category. 

Price at time of publish: $7

_{Length: 10 inches | Styles: Cactus | Extras: Catnip and silvervine sewn inside}

Best Fish-Shaped Kicker

SPOT Hug'n Kick Gone Fishin' Cat Toy

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It’s hard to say if your cat is more enticed by a cat toy that looks like a fish than other toy types, but a number of realistic cat kickers are shaped and printed to look like a fish. 

We liked this fish because it had a satisfying crinkle when grabbed, and its polyester fabric was quite sturdy and securely sewn. Although it had a felt fin that was less tough than the other fabric, it held up to play and biting. The cats we tested it with responded quickly to the catnip and loved rolling on it and marking it. They especially enjoyed chewing the realistic-looking tail fins. Cats also liked that this toy was lightweight enough to be carried around. 

Price at time of publish: $8

_{Length: 10 to 14 inches | Styles: Three different types of fish | Extras: Catnip already sewn inside}

Best Durable

Jackson Galaxy Hunting Instincts Kicker Cat Toy

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This dumbbell-shaped toy is made of enduring orange canvas with a thick felt midsection. Perfect for cats who like to kick, this unique design features a subtle ripping sound that gives cats a satisfying sensation while they kick, which triggers their predatory instincts. The organic catnip keeps them coming back for more sustained play. 

The Best Overall Petmate Jackson Galaxy Ultimate Bunny Kicker was longer and slightly more durable because it lacks the softer felt midsection, but cats loved this product's chunky ends and ripping response.   

Price at time of publish: $11

_{Length: 11 inches | Colors: Orange | Extras: Catnip sewn in}