If you have ever watched your cat spend a day wreaking havoc in your home, you already know indoor cats face a battle with boredom. One instance saw a cat named Tux cause a Zoom meeting to be abruptly cut short when he discovered a new pastime: hooking his paw through the handles of coffee mugs that sat in an open cabinet and shattering them on the countertop below.
“Things like knocking items off tables, scratching furniture, chewing on objects, or persistently seeking attention can all be a cat’s way of saying, ‘I’m bored and I need more to do,’” said Stephanie Merlin, certified cat behavior specialist and founder of The Fulfilled Feline, a private practice offering behavioral consultations for cat owners. Excessive sleeping, she adds, is just as telling: “We have a lot of preconceived ideas about cats being low-energy, aloof or independent, and those assumptions can lead us to misread what’s really going on.”
Health Risks of Boredom
The stakes are higher than most owners realize. “Cats can develop health issues such as obesity that can lead to diabetes if not getting the proper amount of exercise through enrichment and play,” said Dr Amy Smith, a veterinarian at Bentley Veterinary Services in Franklin, Tennessee. According to a paper published in Preventive Veterinary Medicine in 2025, 40% of cats seen at primary practices in the US had overweight or obese body condition as young adults.
Bring the Outdoors In
For cats who must remain indoors, Moss suggested finding simple ways to introduce outdoor elements: “Bring in items like sticks and leaves and dirt – even your junkmail – to let them sniff and explore.” Five experts recommended setting up a window perch or cat tower with a view of an outdoor bird feeder, giving your cat a front-row seat to live wildlife. “If you put a cat-friendly element in all of the windows in your home … the end result is enrichment of their lives,” said Galaxy.
Mimic the Wild with Water and Food
Setting your cat up with a hydration station is a worthwhile investment. “Cats are drawn to moving water because it’s less likely to be contaminated,” said Campbell, who recommends choosing a fountain made from stainless steel or ceramic. Puzzle feeders are a natural companion to the water fountain. Merlin likes them because they “tap into both movement and problem-solving”, which is “something a lot of cats are missing when food is just placed in a bowl”. For dry food, her top picks are Cat Amazing, a cardboard puzzle with cutouts that cats can paw through to fish out food pellets, and Melon Madness, a plastic puzzle with flippers they can nudge and swivel to uncover treats. For wet food, she recommends The Lickimat, a BPA-free rubber mat with a textured surface that encourages slow feeding.
Solo Play Success
Screen time was a surprisingly common recommendation from our panel. YouTube offers hours of videos made specifically for cats, which feature birds, squirrels and fish moving across the screen. Ashraf particularly recommends it for senior cats and cats with respiratory issues, for whom it provides meaningful mental enrichment without physical exertion. For solo playtime, the Bergan Turbo Scratcher is our top pick: Smith describes its movement and repetition as “hypnotic”, and Marvets reported that many of the 350+ residents of Furball Farm will spend hours on circular track toys just like it.
Prey Toys for Playtime
“Cats need to express their hunting instinct,” said Galaxy, emphasizing that it is indeed a need rather than a luxury. Nagelschneider is partial to GoCat’s Da Bird. “It really looks and sounds like a bird flapping its wings. I can’t imagine a cat owner not having this toy,” she said. For cats who enjoy a surprise attack, Merlin recommends Sheer Fun for Cats, a durable polyester fabric with sewn-in crinkle paper, and the versatile Ripple Rug, which can be reshaped into different tunnel formations. Kicker toys are designed to trigger the bunny-kicking response. “I’ve had cats completely ignore other toys but immediately latch onto a good kicker and go full bunny kick mode,” said Campbell, who recommends Second Wind Send, made from recycled fabric and filled with organic catnip, silvervine and valerian root.
Enhance Toys with Catnip or Silvervine
A small pinch of catnip can breathe life back into a toy your cat has grown bored of, and for cats who don’t respond strongly to it, silvervine, a similar plant that more cats react to, is worth trying. Moss recommends Dezi & Roo’s Cloud Nine Silvervine. For a catnip toy that delivers an immersive play session, Merlin recommends Yeowww’s line, stuffed generously with catnip and made with sturdy, vegetable-dyed cotton twill.
The Way You Play Matters
Every cat has a preferred prey type, and it’s worth identifying your cat’s taste before giving up on a toy entirely. “Some cats prefer ‘hunting’ prey that crawls along the ground, some prefer jumping for prey flying through the air, and some prefer zig-zagging bugs,” said Bell. “Most of the time, it’s not about needing a completely different toy, it’s about changing how the toy is being used,” said Merlin. Campbell agreed: “Cats are ambush hunters, so if we’re just waving a toy in their face, it doesn’t feel enticing to them.” Both recommend using motions that mimic natural prey: darting, fluttering, pausing, jumping.
If your cat isn’t attacking the toy, don’t assume you’re doing something wrong. “Play doesn’t always have to look like constant chasing or attacking. That buildup of watching, waiting, and timing is a really important part of how cats naturally interact with prey,” said Merlin. “Let them catch the toy and kick it and bite it,” said Moss, “if you never won a game, you probably wouldn’t want to keep playing either.” Campbell recommends tapering movements as if the toy is losing the fight, then following with a treat or meal, mimicking the hunt-kill-eat sequence. Rotating toys regularly helps maintain interest. Campbell has worked with cats who need multiple toy changes within a single play session. Galaxy recommends keeping toys out of sight when not in use so each reappearance feels fresh.
Age-Appropriate Play
The way you play with your cat should evolve with its age and physical abilities. “Kittens don’t need fancy, just motion,” said Smith. For the high-energy kitten stage, Morris swears by a basic fishing type rod for the jumping and leaping opportunities it provides. Ashraf’s pick is the Cat Dancer, a simple piece of semi-rigid wire with crinkly cardboard at the end. For older cats, slower ground-based play is the method of choice. “For senior cats, you might drag the toy a little slower along the ground,” said Bell. “You just really want to tap into the hunter at any age.”
Laser Pointers: A Divided Opinion
On the question of laser pointers, our experts were divided. Marvets would ban them outright: “It is a no-win for the cat.” Those who gave laser pointers the okay specified that cats should be rewarded when they “catch” the laser to avoid feelings of frustration. “I always make sure to end playtime by giving them something they can actually capture so they don’t feel frustrated,” said Bell. For cats who have become overly fixated on laser pointers, Campbell suggests a weaning period that combines a laser pointer and a tactile toy used in the same play session.
The Magic of Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes drew praise across the board, valued for their comfort as an enclosed space that holds a cat’s scent. Merlin suggested turning them into foraging opportunities by adding ping pong balls, crumpled paper, or catnip inside. “How often do we buy our cats something pricey, only for them to ignore it and sit in the box it came in instead?” said Campbell. “Cats don’t need luxury; they need opportunities to feel like cats.”
Outdoor Time, Done Carefully
Cat enclosures, or “catios”, have been gaining traction in recent years, and Smith considers them the best way to allow a cat to spend time outside without the risk of anxiety, trauma, or disease. For those without space for a catio, a stroller beats a backpack, but both come with risks. “Strollers can be less scary for some cats,” said Smith. However, “they have a higher chance of getting loose”. To minimize the risk of escape, Ashraf recommends using a stroller with a harness attachment, and suggests cat owners seek out low-stress outdoor spaces. The success of leash walking depends on an owner’s risk tolerance and a cat’s personal preferences. “The key is gradual acclimation and making sure the cat feels safe and comfortable, not rushed into it,” said Merlin. Burns recommends a harness with a snug fit and advises staying on top of monthly flea, tick, and heartworm preventative medications. A breakaway collar is non-negotiable for any cat who goes outside.
