Safe toys for kittens

How kittens learn through play

Play is how kittens practise hunting. Around weaning, they move on from wrestling with littermates to chasing and stalking moving objects, and that play builds the skills and coordination they'll use as adults.^[2]

Good play lets a kitten run through the whole hunt: search, stalk, chase, pounce, catch, and play with the prey.^[1]

• Short and often. A kitten's play may only last a few minutes before they get bored or tired. Aim for several short sessions a day, of up to about 10 minutes each.^[1],[3]
• Let them catch it. Toys that let a kitten chase and capture, like small stuffed mice, crinkle balls, and ping pong balls, suit their instincts.^[3],[7]
• Wind down with food. End a game slowly, then turn your kitten's attention to something else, such as a meal. This helps stop them getting frustrated.^[1]
• Keep a few out, and swap them. Four or five toys at a time is plenty. Swap them every few days to once a week so they stay interesting.^[3],[1]

Teach toys, not hands

Wiggling fingers for a tiny kitten to pounce on is tempting. Don't. A kitten who learns that hands and feet are prey keeps treating them that way, and bites and scratches that don't hurt now can cause real injuries from a grown cat.^[1],[4],[2]

• Swap your hand for a toy. If your kitten goes for your hands, draw them away with a toy: dangle the lure of a wand toy or toss a small fleece toy for them to chase.^[4]
• Use a wand to keep some distance. Wand and fishing-rod toys put space between you and your kitten, which helps prevent accidental scratches and bites.^[1]
• Get everyone on the same page. A kitten gets confused if one person discourages biting and another encourages it. Agree on the rules as a household.^[4]

What's not safe for a small kitten

Kittens will play with almost anything small, and may swallow it. Skip toys, and household items, that could be swallowed or pulled apart.^[2],[8]

• String, ribbon, yarn, and wool. Avoid toys made of ribbon or string, and balls of wool. If swallowed, they can bunch up the intestines. String, yarn, and tinsel are common causes of this kind of blockage, which usually needs surgery.^[1],[6]
• Hair ties and rubber bands. Kittens love to play with them and can swallow them. The same goes for coins, plastic bags, and anything else small enough to fit in their mouths.^[8],[3]
• Small parts and loose feathers. Avoid toys with small pieces or strand-like parts, such as feathers and string, that can come off, especially when chewed, and be swallowed.^[7],[2]
• Pipe cleaner toys. These are on International Cat Care's list of toys to avoid for kittens.^[1]
• Anything with a cord. Keep electrical cords out of reach. Kittens chew them and can get a shock.^[5],[7]

Wand play with you, solo toys on their own

Most kitten play should be with you. Wands with a toy mouse, worm, or fabric lure on the end are especially attractive to kittens: move the lure across the floor at different speeds, and pull it through a box or tunnel to make the hunt more exciting.^[1]

• Wands are for supervised play only. Never leave a wand or fishing-pole toy out when you're not there. A kitten can get tangled in the string, swallow it, or inhale or swallow feathers, which can be deadly. Put it away after every session.^[3],[1]
• Watch new toys at first. Keep an eye on your kitten while they play, to make sure they don't swallow anything they shouldn't.^[3]
• Solo toys: nothing to chew off. For time on their own, choose toys without string or small parts. Crinkle or ping pong balls, puzzle feeders, scratching posts, and cat trees are all good kitten picks.^[3],[7]
• Puzzle feeders from 12 weeks. Kittens can start using a puzzle feeder from about 12 weeks. It gives them an interesting new way to get their food.^[1]

Kitten-proof before playtime

Get down to your kitten's level and look around. Anything they can reach, they'll probably try to play with.^[8]

• Cords of all kinds. Unplug or tuck away loose electrical cords, and tie up or trim blind and curtain cords, which are a strangling risk.^[5],[8],[9]
• Sewing and craft kits. Put away thread, yarn, rubber bands, and similar things. They're dangerous, even life-threatening, if swallowed.^[5]
• Warm, dark hiding spots. Kittens love to curl up in cabinets, dryers, laundry baskets, and drawers. Keep washer and dryer doors closed when not in use, and use child locks on cabinets or store cleaners up high.^[8],[5]
• Medicines and breakables. Store medicines in a secure cabinet and move fragile things up high.^[9],[5]
• Doors and windows. Make sure doors and windows latch properly so a kitten can't push them open.^[5]
• Clear the play area. Make sure nothing heavy can fall on your kitten during a wild game, and that there's nowhere they could fall from while distracted.^[7]