Safe cat toys are made with natural materials like wool, hemp, fur, and cotton.
Unfortunately, no cat toy is 100% safe. Cats swallow things and get tangled easily.
So you should always monitor play sessions.
I’ve included the best safety tips for cat toys below.
Here are 8 safe cat toys:
- Ripple Rug
- Minky wand
- Wool chase balls
- Rabbit fur balls
- Kitty Whip wand
- Matatabi chew stick
- Catnip toys
- Mice jingle toys
- BONUS: Safety tips from a cat pro
Check out these safe cat toys today or pin the image below to your Cat Toys board on Pinterest.
Disclaimer: I earn a commission if you purchase through affiliate links below. No additional cost to you.
1. Ripple Rug
The Ripple Rug is a versatile activity center that has many uses.
Why you’ll love it:
- Made from recycled bottles
- Cats can rest, scratch, hunt, play, and hide
- Waterproof and spot-clean easily
- Machine washable
- Hide toys and treats for hunting
This play rug will provide lots of enrichment and mental stimulation.
Jericho and I play on his Ripple Rug daily.
Buy the Ripple Rug on Chewy and Amazon.
Beware of fakes on Amazon. For international shipping and various colors buy directly from Ripple Rug website.
Tip: Check out more puzzle rugs for cats.
The Ripple Rug is a safe cat toy because it’s made with recycled materials and has no dyes or chemicals.
2. Minky wand
The Minky wand attracts cats because it mimics mama’s tail.
Why you’ll love it:
- Made with wood and Minky fabric
- Minky is detachable and washable
- Handmade with love
Buy the Minky wand on Etsy.
The Minky wand is a safe cat toy because it’s plastic-free, and it’s washable.
3. Wool chase balls
Cats love wool chase balls because they are made with natural materials.
Why you’ll love it:
- Made with organic cotton and wool
- Perfect size for chasing and playing
- 3% of proceeds are donated to animal charities
Jericho loves to catch and chase these across the apartment.
Buy the wool chase balls on Etsy.
Wool chase balls are safe cat toys because they’re made with organic materials.
4. Rabbit fur balls
Rabbit fur balls attract cats because rabbits are natural prey.
Why you’ll love it:
- Made with real rabbit fur and deerskin leather
- Cats love it immediately
- Nurtures the cat’s wild side
These toys are super soft, and cats love to bite and bat at them.
Buy rabbit fur balls on Etsy.
Rabbit fur balls are safe for cats because they are made with natural materials found in the wild.
5. Kitty Whip wand
The Kitty Whip wand is made with upcycled and recycled materials.
Why you’ll love it:
- Handmade with wood and cotton
- Recycled materials better for the environment
- Cats love to chase and bite wands
Jericho loves gliding around the apartment chasing after this thing.
He also plays a bit lazy on top of the table pawing and biting at it.
Buy the Kitty Whip on Etsy.
The Kitty Whip wand is a great toy because it’s 100% recycled.
6. Matatabi chew sticks
79% of cats react to Matatabi (Silvervine) versus 68% to catnip.
Why you’ll love it:
- Natural Silvervine root
- Safe for chewing
- Fun to chase around
This is Jericho’s absolute favorite toy.
I tap the stick on the floor a few times then slide it across the apartment.
Jericho goes crazy chasing for it and loves to catch it in the air.
Buy Matatabi chew sticks Etsy.
Matatabi chew sticks are safe cat toys because they are natural and designed for chewing.
7. Catnip toys
Catnip makes cats feel happy and joyful.
Why you’ll love it:
- Made with organic materials
- Perfect for bunny kicking
- Choose from adorable food-related toys
Buy catnip toys on Etsy from Feline Fun, Purrfect Play, and Miss Lulu Crafts.
These catnip toys are safe cat toys because they use certified organic catnip.
Need a centralized place to keep track of everything related to your cat? Grab my Cat Care Binder Bundle!
8. Mice jingle toys
Sound toys are fun for cats because they love a good jingle.
Why you’ll love it:
- Hand-crocheted with yarn
- Jingle and catnip make cats play more
- All proceeds benefit Almost Home Kitty Rescue
Buy mice jingle toys on Etsy.
These mice jingle toys are a great choice because they help homeless cats and kittens.
Grab my PDF toolkit with all of these tips in one place!
9. BONUS: Safety tips from a cat pro
1. Put cat toys away after playtime
Lots of cat toys have bells and little pieces attached to them.
Cats will find a way to entertain themselves when we aren’t home so we need to take every precaution.
- Cats like to bite and chew
- They swallow things easily
- Cats get tangled on strings easily
- Things come off toys easily
Cats love to roll around when they play. They can get tangled in things easily.
We need to put toys away after playtime to keep our cats safe.
2. Keep toys in one area
Playing with multiple toys is crucial to keep cats engaged.
Make sure all toys are accounted for at all times.
- Toys get lost easily
- Cats will find these toys when we aren’t home
- Put toys on top of a flat surface
- I use the scratching post
Now, all your toys are in one spot and accounted for.
Putting cat toys in one spot keeps things organized and makes cleanup easier too.
3. Donβt run too close to your cat
Cats love to run around while they play.
Cats are rambunctious.
- Jericho and I run around like crazy
- One time, he smashed his face into my shin
- He yelled at me for a while
Keep a safe distance if your furball is high energy.
4. Keep corners away from the play area
Cats can be rambunctious in play mode, especially when it comes to chasing wand toys.
Make sure any hard surfaces and furniture corners are out of reach.
- Cats pay more attention to toys than surroundings
- Move furniture out of play areas
Cats are clumsy and rambunctious. Keep a safe eye out for them.
5. Play on soft surfaces
Cats jump high so make sure they have a safe place to land.
- Play on the Ripple Rug
- Play on your bed
I’ve had many cat clients that enjoy zipping around on the bed.
Just make sure you don’t go too close to the edge of the bed.
A soft play surface is a safe play surface.
6. Inspect toys before playtime
Most toys have bells and strings that can come off easily.
Make sure everything is secure before you play.
If your cat toy is coming apart it might be time to replace it.
Cats swallow things very quickly. You donβt want playtime to turn into an emergency vet visit.
7. Clean cat toys regularly
Cleaning cat toys regularly will prevent bacteria buildup.
- Toys roll around on the floor collecting dust
- They are in and out of your cat’s mouth
I wash hard surfaces at least once weekly, and I toss stuffed animals in with the laundry once weekly as well.
Washing toys regularly will prevent bacteria buildup and will help make the toys last longer.
8. Replace toys regularly
Even with regular cleaning, some toys arenβt meant to last forever.
Check toys regularly to make sure they are up to code.
For the safest playtimes, any toys that are not washable should be replaced every few weeks or as soon as they start coming apart.
Cats are finicky so getting new toys every few weeks is a good thing!
Replacing toys regularly will help keep your cat safe.
Final thoughts on safe cat toys
Only buy from companies that you trust.
Support family businesses that use organic, cat-safe materials.
Clean and inspect toys regularly for safety. Replace toys that cannot be cleaned frequently.
You’ll be playing with your cat safely and keeping playtime fresh.
It’s always best to keep toys on rotation to provide some variety.
Each toy provides stimulation. The more the better.
Jericho gets bored with toys quickly so replacing toys works in my favor.
Need a centralized place to keep track of everything related to your cat? Grab my Cat Care Binder Bundle!
