Best Cat Chew Toys to Fulfill Your Cat’s Playtime Needs

Last Updated: 3 months ago

Are you wondering which the best chew toys for cats are to stop your cat from biting?

After all, it’s not pleasant when your kitty sinks their teeth in your arm or leaves bite marks all over the house.

Fortunately, cat chew toys are an easy way to redirect inappropriate biting, as long as you pick the right ones.

So, don’t worry, because we’re here with 10 toys for cats that like to chew.

Cat Chew Toys Top Picks at a Glance

• Winner: Petstages Fresh Breath Mint Stick Cat Chew Toy
• Best for Kittens: KONG Kitten Teddy Bear Cat Toy
• Best for Dental Health:  Petstages Dental Health Cat Toys
• Best Budget-Friendly: Catstages Dental Kitty Chew Toy
• Best for Teething Pain: Pioneer Pet Nip Nibblers Catnip Toy

10 Best Chew Toys For Cats

Why does my cat want to chew on everything? As a cat behaviorist explains, “Cats’ instinctual feeding and exploratory behaviors are tied to chewing.

When there’s no prey to disembody, cats bite wood, rubber, and other strange items. Teething kittens also tend to gnaw on things to relieve the uncomfortable itching of emerging teeth.

So, do cats need to chew toys? Yes, they do, unless you want your cat to develop unhealthy behaviors or bad oral hygiene. We’re here with our top 10 picks for the best chew toys for cats.

#1 Winner: Petstages Fresh Breath Mint Stick Cat Chew Toy

Petstages is one of the leading cat toy companies, and they’ve got the best cat chew toy to keep young and adult cats entertained for hours.

Physical Attributes

• Made from polyester and filled with dried mint
• Unique crinkle texture to appeal to your cats’ senses and entice them to bat and bite.
• It’s also light so that your cat can carry it around the house, so it’s a great toy to redirect chewing and teach your cat not to bite.
• A unique shape that is bound to appeal to kittens, adults, and seniors alike.

Quantitative Measurements

• It measures 6.5 x 3.5 x 0.8 inches with a weight of 0.8 ounces
• Suitable for kittens over six months

Benefits

• Lightweight and easy to carry for your cat.
• Can withstand excessive chewing without breaking apart.
• These sticks are filled with real dried mint leaves to freshen your cat’s breath. The netting also helps to remove plaque and tartar from the teeth.
• Chewing on the toy also stimulates saliva production, which cleanses your cat’s mouth from bacteria and leftover food.
• Pet owners also highly rate this toy and report that their cats like its crunchy fabric and are obsessed with the taste.

Drawbacks

• Very small, so not the best choice for large cat breeds.
• Owners say that the mint smell isn’t as strong as expected.
• The price is just a smidge high for a single small cat toy.

How It Compares to Others

• Unique shape
• Freshly dried mint leaves instead of catnip for fresh breath
• Netting material for optimal dental health and tartar removal

How the Product Evolved

• Petstages has several dental chews for cats, and they’re constantly improving their designs to ensure maximum client satisfaction.

Expert Tips

• If your cat has a chronic condition, you should consult with your vet to ensure this mint toy is safe for them.

#2 Best for Kittens: KONG Kitten Teddy Bear Cat Toy

Kittens often nibble on cords and wires, but kitten chew toys, such as this Kong teddy bear, can save your chargers.

Physical Attributes

• Made from polyester
• Various colors
• North American catnip

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 4.5 x 1.2 x 3.8 inches

Benefits

• Designed to entertain kittens and fulfill their natural need to chase, hunt, and “kill” prey
• Catnip scent to entice your kitten to play and burn off energy
• Most kittens like to cuddle with this toy
• Soft fabric, great for biting, kicking, and playing
• Great customers’ reviews

Drawbacks

• You can’t choose the color
• These kitten chew toys aren’t refillable

How It Compares to Others

• Cute colors
• A bit smaller than other KONG cuddly toys

How the Product Evolved

• Kong has several animal toy designs to suit a wide range of cat’s tastes.

Expert Tips

• Check Kong’s store to find refillable chew toys for cats.

#3 Best for Dental Health: Petstages Dental Health Cat Toys

Petstages has one of the best cat-biting toys for entertaining your furry friend at night and cleaning their teeth.

Physical Attributes

• Stick shape
• Natural catnip

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 3.7″ x 0.4″
• Weighs 0.3 pounds
• A pack of three

Benefits

• The stick shape entices your cat’s natural desire to bite and gnaw on things
• The soft fabric scrapes the teeth clean from plaque and tartar and stimulates saliva production to cleanse bacteria
• Reduces destructive behaviors and soothes teething pain
• It is great for multi-cat households since it comes in a pack of three

Drawbacks

• Not the best choice for heavy chewers
• Not refillable

How It Compares to Others

• A unique design to entice the cat’s senses and entertain your cat at night without waking you up
• Very affordable for a pack of three

How the Product Evolved

• Customers report different packaging than the original

Expert Tips

• Check the edges to ensure that they aren’t sharp enough to damage your cat’s mouth.

#4 Best Budget-Friendly: Catstages Dental Kitty Chew Toy

This dental kitty chew wheel is a great choice if you’re looking for something fun for your cat but cheap.

Physical Attributes

• Made safe thermoplastic rubber
• Catnip oil

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 5.5″ x 2.2″

Benefits

• Made from safe materials that are gentle on the teeth and which cats like to bite
• Rubber spokes improve oral hygiene and reduce teething pain
• Infused with catnip oil to make your cat more active
• Most pet owners report that cats like the texture

Drawbacks

• Not the best choice for an aggressive chewer
• It doesn’t appeal to all cats

How It Compares to Others

• Unique spoke design to promote better dental health
• The ring shape is great for exercising and strengthening your cat’s jaw muscles

How the Product Evolved

• No information, but we’d like to see improved material for greater durability.

Expert Tips

• Check the toy for damage after each play session.

#5 Best for Teething Pain: Pioneer Pet Nip Nibblers Catnip Toy

If your teething kitten is driving you crazy, these cat chew toys by Pioneer can be an affordable lifesaver.

Physical Attributes

• Made from nylon
• Catnip

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 5 x 0.5 x 0.1 inches
• A pack of three

Benefits

• Soft materials and squeeze-release mesh to entice biting and soothe teething pain
• Small enough to fit in your cat’s mouth and scratch the back of his baby teeth
• Light enough for cats to toss, chance, and carry
• Cats absolutely love the design

Drawbacks

• A couple of cat owners say that the edges are too sharp
• Catnip can fall out, so it’s a bit messy

How It Compares to Others

• Durable enough to withstand frequent chewing
• Made in the USA

How the Product Evolved

• Available in a pack of nine

Expert Tips

• While not refillable, you can use a catnip spray to redirect your cat’s attention to the toy.

#6 Best For Oral Hygiene: Pet Craft Supply Cactus Chew Toy

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Pet Craft has an excellent selection of safe toys for cats to chew on, but their cactus chew toy is the best.

Physical Attributes

• Cactus-like design
• Made from natural rubber
• Catnip and silver vine bags

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 6.77 x 4.72 x 0.94 inches

Benefits

• Cactus nibs massage gums, scratch the itch and keep teeth healthy
• It comes with bonus catnip and silvervine bags
• You can clean the toy in the dishwasher
• Provides mental stimulation and soothes anxiety in cats

Drawbacks

• Cats can pull the bags from the cactus
• No replaceable bags

How It Compares to Others

• Easy to clean
• Great for preventing gum disease and strong chewers

How the Product Evolved

• There is no information about upgrades, but we’d like to see replaceable catnip bags available.

Expert Tips

• If you have multiple cats, you’ll have to buy more than one.

#7 Best Durable: Yeowww! Catnip Yellow Banana Cat Toy

This yellow banana cat toy is an excellent choice if your cat is an active chewer and bites through rubber toys.

Physical Attributes

• Made from cotton twill
• Organic catnip
• Hand-sewn

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 7 x 1 x 3 inches

Benefits

• Hand-sewn and made from all-natural cotton twill for maximum durability and safety
• No dangerous filling or pieces that cats can swallow easily
• Aromatic catnip for maximum cat attraction
• This catnip-filled banana chew toy can withstand vigorous biting, scratching, and kicking.

Drawbacks

• Non-refillable
• Not all cats are affected by the catnip

How It Compares to Others

• Made in the USA
• A top choice amongst cat owners and raving customers’ reviews

How the Product Evolved

• Available in other shapes

Expert Tips

• Clean with a damp cloth to remove dirt. Do not machine-wash.

#8 Best for Mental Stimulation: Pet Craft Supply Shimmy Shark Chew Toy

Pet Craft has another great cat chew toy to keep your kitty’s engaged and reduce unwanted biting.

Physical Attributes

• Plush
• Motion sensor
• Natural catnip and silver vane

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 12.36 x 5.55 x 2.4 inches

Benefits

• It moves, makes noises, and wiggles to attract a cat’s attention and encourage pouncing and biting
• Great for reducing boredom, anxiety, and stress
• Contain premium catnip
• USA chargeable

Drawbacks

• Too noisy for timid cats

How It Compares to Others

• Rechargeable
• Built-in motion sensor

How the Product Evolved

• Available in two styles: shark and pickle

Expert Tips

• Handwash with warm water to clean off dirt

#9 Best Interactive: Potaroma Flopping Fish Chew Toy

Cat fish toys are an excellent choice if you’re looking to get your lazy cat moving and redirect inappropriate biting.

Physical Attributes

• This flippity fish cat toy made from plush and cotton
• A touch sensor
• Catnip

Quantitative Measurements

• Measures 11.18 x 6.69 x 1.85 inches

Benefits

• 3D technology for a realistic fish design
• It makes noises and wiggles to entice cats to bite and pounce
• Friendly customer support
• USB rechargeable

Drawbacks

• Requires frequent recharging

How It Compares to Others

• Light indicator
• Removable catnip and motor

How the Product Evolved

• Available in several styles

Expert Tips

• It takes one hour for the toy to recharge.

#10 Best For Multiple Cats: maxin 6 Pcs Chew Toy

Maxin has just the thing for multi-pet households to keep boredom away and provide a biting outlet.

Physical Attributes

• Made from cotton
• Various colors
• Catnip

Quantitative Measurements

• A pack of six
• Measures 8.27 x 7.48 x 1.03 inches

Benefits

• Durable enough to withstand frequent biting
• Suitable for multi-pet households
• Great for relieving stress, teething pain, and boredom

Drawbacks

• It doesn’t smell like catnip, according to pet owners

How It Compares to Others

• Slightly bigger than similar toys
• Bite-resistant
• Cute facial expressions

How the Product Evolved

• There’s no information about upgrades, but we’d like to see them in a refillable variant

Expert Tips

• These toys are best suited for kittens and might be too small for adult cats.

What Should You Consider for the Best Cat Teething Toys?

When you’re shopping for the best chew toys for cats, you should keep a couple of features in mind to make the best choice.

Material

Choose cat chew toys made from durable materials to withstand frequent biting, kicking, ripping, and scratching without coming apart. The material should also appeal to your cat’s senses.

But what do cats like to chew on? In general, rubber, nylon, and cotton are great choices.

Size

To do their job, cat teething toys should be the right size. If it’s too big or too small, your cat or kitten will lose interest. So, take into account your cat’s size and how heavy they chew.

Safety

Ensure that the kitten chew toys don’t have any sharp edges and that they’re made from natural, non-toxic materials for cats. 

Cat’s Temperament

Finally, consider your cats’ preferences and what they like in a toy—feathers, crinkle sounds, movement, DIY cat toys, etc.

FAQs

Final Word

Cats need something to satisfy their predatory instincts and exercise their jaws.

So, getting your cat some chew toys is the smartest thing you can do to prevent unwanted biting attacks and teach your kitten some manners.

However, if you notice that your cat is chewing on strange things, you should consult with your vet. Such behavior can have serious complications.

Among these 10 chew toys for cats, there’s one that we highly recommend due to its sturdy construction, dental benefits, and crinkly fabrics.

We’re talking about Petstages cat chew toy. It’s affordable and well-made, and most cats are attracted by its minty smell.

What do you think about these chew toys for cats? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments.

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API