Last week we looked at dog toys that actually look cool, at least until they're all gummed up and gross. But we can't forget the cat people (including yours truly). Personally, I think cat toys are cuter than dog toys to begin with, maybe because they're smaller or maybe because they're less likely to be all slimy. But even among the vast variety of already cute cat toys, there are some standouts. Read on for some exceptionally cool-looking cat toys that range in price from accessible to outlandish.
• Adult Cat Tree House — Cat Palace $1,099
The ultimate aspirational toy for the cat one percent, this tree house is six feet tall and weighs nearly 90 pounds. If you have room in your house and your budget for this leafy fabulosity, congratulations! For the rest of us, perhaps some DIY is in our future.
• Van Gogh's Ear — The Modern Dog $8
For arty cats, this catnip toy is shaped like Van Gogh's ear (or maybe just any ear. I admit I don't know what Van Gogh's ear looked like and could not pick it out of a lineup of ears). Of course, it's organic.
• Cat's in Style Scratch Post — Marly Gommans $491.80.
Holy cats, this scratching post is almost $500! This post from Dutch designer Marly Gomman's Cat's In Style range is absolutely gorgeous, but probably just for fat cats.
• Ultimate Scratching Post — Smart Cat $46.64
Oh thank God, a more reasonably priced scratching post that still looks pretty good. Painting the base and top black gives this sleek post a more stylish look.
• DIY Menswear Mouse Toy — Martha Stewart
Leave it to Martha Stewart to DIY mouse toys out of fine menswear fabrics. A nice gabardine mousie is all the rage this season. Check out the instructions online for step-by-step photos and a downloadable pattern.
• Plaid Mice — Martha Stewart $3.99 for two
Don't want to make them yourself? These are full of catnip and you can buy a two-pack for less than five dollars.
• Maki Sushi Takeout Box — Jake and Micah $24.95
Jake and Micah make organic felt cat toys filled with catnip, like these delicious looking sushi rolls. They even have hand rolls!
• Cattino Kitty Condo — Cattino $149
This combination cat perch and scratcher is made in Cincinnati and has hammocks for two cats, but you know they'll both pile into one.
• Bacon! — The Modern Dog $8
Why do dogs have all the fun with their bacon strips? Nobody doesn't like bacon. This googly-eyed strip is cute fun and stuffed with organic catnip.
• Play-N-Squeak Mouse Hunter — Our Pets $4.97
I'm not going to lie, I actually hate realistic mouse toys because I'm invariably convinced the cat has caught a real mouse whenever I see them. (My cat is also a sadistic little jerk who likes to put them in my shoes). If you're more into realism, this squeaky mouse looks just the part.
(Images: 1. Cat Palace, 2. The Modern Dog, 3. Marly Gommans, 4. Smart Cat, 5. Martha Stewart, 6. Martha Stewart Pets, 7. Jake and Micah, 8. Cattino, 9. The Modern Dog, 10. Our Pets)
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Thanks for posting this! I'm actually in the market for a cat scratch post and the $50 looks perfect. For the record I agree that the $491 scratching post is lovely but hilariously overpriced, and looking at it I can't imagine it would be difficult to make.
Get yourself a big role of sisal, a heavy solid wood square for a base (the one shown will absolutely tip over), and thrift your way to an old decorative wood porch or stairway post. Wrap in sisal, screw to base, done!
We just got a cat and I was just complaining about how gross looking those giant "cat condos" are - all multi-tiered covered in brown carpet. Yuck.
I spent the last few days trying to find a simple cat scratch post so thanks!
I would like to say that I actually bought the SmartCat scratching post about 5 years ago for my two cats, and they love it (one a little more than the other, but still). And, while the base might seem less stable, it really isn't. Only time it wobbles is when a cat launches off from the top. One of my cats loves to climb up and hoist himself to sit on top and survey his domain. (They also now sell a wider top you can attach with a little cloth cover.) Ours still looks pretty good, too! Definitely recommended!
Just wanted to put in a good word for the "Ultimate Scratching Post." I've had cats all my life and I've gone through multiple scratching posts. I currently have three cats and they've been using the Ultimate Scratching Post for the last two years. It's super sturdy and has held up really well so I don't plan on replacing it anytime soon. It also comes with an optional "post perch" that you can purchase separately so your cats can sleep on top of it. My cats love this thing! Never considered painting it before but I just might give that a try.
And I love the cat sushi. It's one of cutest cat toys I've ever seen and I'm going to have to get some.
The sushi toys alone are enough to make me want to get a cat.
I'd also like to recommend the "Ultimate Scratching Post". That thing has saved my furniture from my bratty cat Buckley. Not only is it very sturdy, but he can stretch up full length and put his whole weight into it when he scratches. He loves that thing!
I agree those cat trees with the carpet are super ugly! I've been trying to find something that wasn't so horrifying... this site has some cute options. A little pricy, though.
I love the look of the $1000 cat tree but for that price, no thanks. I have a great scratching post that my first cat walked by every day but my current cat loves. Its still under $50 on the website. I have alot of wood in my home but she only scratches this post and its base.
http://www.naturalscratch.com/cedarpost.html
Its still hard to find cat trees without carpet and for a reasonable price. I'm glad designers are coming up with alternatives to using carpet. I doubt that anyone really likes those things.
The cat tree is a cool idea. But it would be more awesome if it was a real tree!
My cat loves the Play-N-Squeak Mouse Hunter - it gives off a little squeak on contact and it's so adorable hearing it squeak around the house. I really think she loves the sound of it and gets a great work out batting it around the entire house. She's had hers for a year now, still squeaks (I think it has a little battery in it). Highly recommend.
I'd also highly recommend the Ultimate Scratching Post by Smart Cat. I have three Maine Coons, and they absolutely LOVE their post. The only time I've seen it really wobble is when my biggest (~20lbs) actually hangs his entire body off it, after slamming into it at a dead run from the stairs. Hasn't tipped over yet! I will actually be buying another one they love it SO much.
I second the squeaky mouse. My cat (a Bengal) goes through them pretty regularly, so we always have one or two around the house. She usually brings them to me when I'm lying in bed at night so i often end up surrounded by a cat and several squeaky mice!
I loved the Ultimate Scratching Post while we had it. After a couple of years, our cats destroyed the sisal (of course), but after seeing that it was not practical to replace the sisal alone, I'm hesitant to buy another. I hated throwing the whole thing away (even at my local salvage shop). It just seems like such a waste. I've reluctantly gone over to the crappy cardboard alternatives because at least they're compostable and less resource-intensive in their construction.
Yes, I want it all--affordability, style, and responsibility.
My cat loves and has gone through two of these, and you can find them in a few different colors. Plus, she looks adorable sitting on it.
http://www.amazon.com/Petlinks-System-Dream-Two-Surface-Scratcher/dp/B001HS4B7W/
There are some companies that do make bare wood cat trees. Mountain Cat Trees is one. I remember seeing a show on Animal Planet that featured a man who makes bare wood cat trees using non-toxic fallen trees and branches from his yard. He leaves the bark on to appeal to a cat's natural instinct to claw at trees. Etsy.com has bare wood cat trees pretty often. Bare wood trees are pricey but worth the price since they last longer than a carpeted tree. I've heard of people making their own bare wood cat trees for pretty cheap.
A cardboard box makes a great toy for most cats :) You can make your own "tree" with a couple of large sturdy boxes, cutting out entry/exit holes and windows and securing the boxes together with glue or other method.
Re: Martha Stewart cat toys - Many ARE NOT SAFE for cats to play with!! ALL of the mouse toys with bells attached to the tail are unsafe. The small bell is attached by a simple overhand knot which a cat can quickly unknot and potentially ingest the bell. For your cat's safety, you MUST remove the bell.The wicker balls with the bell inside also poses a safety hazard. The small bell can easily slip through the wicker strands and be ingeseted. The felt details on many of the MS toys are simply glued on and are not even on securely. They easily come off and can be ingested by a cat.