Enrichment

Calm confidence through the right kind of play.

A tabby cat peering closely at a small gray toy mouse on a light floor

Doc & Phoebe's Indoor Hunting Feeder review: turning one bowl into three hidden hunts

We looked at what hiding three fabric mice around a room gets right that a single rolling or stationary feeder can't, and where filling them by hand gets old.

A brown and black tabby cat gripping and biting a plush toy

SmartyKat Chitter Critter review: a kicker toy built for the bunny-kick, not the chase

We looked at what a plush, sound-triggered kicker toy does differently from a self-propelled mouse or a wand toy, and why the full-body kick matters.

A black and white cat standing upright on top of a tall scratching post tower

SmartCat Ultimate Scratching Post review: a plain sisal tower built for one job

We looked at what actually keeps a scratching post standing through a full-body stretch, and why this one skips the platforms and toys most cat trees bundle in.

A black and white cat rubbing its cheek against the corner of a low wall

Catit Senses 2.0 Self Groomer review: a corner brush that also works flat against a wall

Most self-groomers only grip an inside corner. We looked at whether Catit's flat-or-corner mounting and washable brush head are worth it over the cheaper multi-packs, and who should just buy two of a bigger pack instead.

A tabby kitten looking up intently at a green feather toy

Go Cat Da Bird Single Pole Teaser review: why a plain feather wand still out-hunts most electronic toys

We looked at what makes this decades-old feather wand still out-perform newer electronic toys, and where a person holding the rod still matters more than the toy itself.

A grey cat biting down on a small mouse-shaped toy on the floor

Cheerble Wicked Mouse review: what a motion-sensing toy can and can't replace

We looked at what a motion-sensing robot mouse actually does differently from a wand toy, and where it tends to disappoint.

A black cat exploring a garden bed full of catmint and greenery

Best catio kits and outdoor enclosures for cats who need fresh air without the risk

An open door isn't the only way to give a cat outdoor air. These five range from a pack-away mesh tent to a walk-in structure with its own cat door, sorted by how much of your home they actually need to modify.

A grey cat grooming itself by licking its own paw

Best self-grooming corner brushes for cats who ask for touch on their own schedule

A wall-mounted brush a cat can rub against whenever it wants isn't a replacement for being petted, but it fills the gap between visits when nobody's around to scratch that spot under the chin. Mounting style, bristle material, and whether it moves on its own are the real differences between them.

An orange tabby cat sniffing a green leafed plant

Best catnip and silvervine toys for cats who ignore regular catnip

A cat that shrugs at a catnip mouse isn't broken, it may just be one of the roughly one in three cats missing the gene that makes catnip work at all. Silvervine reaches most of those cats instead, and format (toy, stick, powder, spray) changes who responds too.

A cat sitting in front of a window, looking out at the sky

Best window perches for cats who'd rather watch than climb

Not every cat wants a puzzle to solve or a wand to chase. Some just want a warm, elevated spot to watch the world go by, and that's its own kind of enrichment, not a lesser one.

An orange cat lying on its back reaching a paw up toward a pink pom-pom toy

Best wand and teaser toys for completing the predatory play sequence

Puzzle feeders and tunnels give a cat something to work at alone. A wand toy is the one category that puts a person on the other end, running the full stalk-chase-pounce-catch sequence instead of just one piece of it.

A black and white cat pawing at a textured rug on a wooden floor

The best snuffle mats, lick mats, and grazing kits for cats bored of puzzle feeders

Mechanical puzzle feeders aren't the only route to mental work. These use scent, texture, and grazing instead of a lever or a dial, and they're worth adding once the plastic puzzles stop holding a cat's attention.

A tabby kitten peeking out of an open cardboard box on a wood floor

Best cat tunnels for hide-and-pounce enrichment

A tunnel does double duty for a bored cat: something to duck into, something to burst out of, and instant cover between one pounce and the next. These five cover collapsible, spiral, and connector styles.

A gray and white shorthair cat caught mid-jump

Best cat exercise wheels for high-energy indoor cats

Toys and puzzle feeders help, but some cats have more energy than either one can burn off. A running wheel gives that energy somewhere to go, if you pick a size and build a cat will actually use.

A Bengal cat resting its chin on the carpeted platform of a cat tree, paws draped over the edge next to a sisal-wrapped post

The best scratching posts and pads for cats that scratch everything else

A cat that's shredding the couch arm isn't being spiteful, it's scratching something, just not the thing you'd pick. These posts and pads give that instinct somewhere better to go.

A cat lying on its back chewing on a feather wand toy

Best interactive toys for cats that spend the day home alone

A cat home alone all day needs toys that don't need you in the room. These give a solo cat something to chase, chew, or watch without a human holding the other end.

A tabby cat lying on the floor pawing at a small toy, with a second cat blurred in the background

PetSafe SlimCat Puzzle Feeder review: the cheapest way to slow down a fast eater

We compared the SlimCat's rolling mechanic against stationary puzzle boards, including a downside that depends entirely on your flooring.

TRIXIE XXL Fun Board review: the puzzle feeder that grows with your cat

We looked at whether five modules on one board actually hold a cat's interest longer than a one-trick feeder, and who should buy a cheap ball feeder first instead.

The best puzzle feeders for bored, understimulated cats

Boredom shows up as stress in cats too. These feeders slow down eating and give an indoor cat something to work for.