Cat toys are Not created equal. Over the years our kittens have been our toy testers and here are some toys we have found to be very durable.
As you can see our kitty Whitetip has made made herself comfortable in a box of Kong Kickaroos. They are made from a soft material with a fuzzy tail and catnip (from the USA). The cats love to carry these around, bunny kick them, and some use it as a pillow to lay their head on. The two colors/styles we buy are the giraffe and cow print: They retail for just over $5 and at Christmas time they do go on sale.
Cow printhttps://www.chewy.com/kong-kickeroo-cow-pattern-cat-toy/dp/116454
Petstages Tower of Tracks Cat Toy provides hours of fun for our kittens. Even the older cats like to bat these balls around, I think it is a little more exciting than just one ball going around the track. It even works upside down and sideways. One of the features I like about this is the balls pop out and the entire toy can be submerged for a deep cleaning or can just be wiped off (I use vinegar) for a quick once-over. For added entertainment we snap in some other balls from Hartz (I know their products are not the best, but these balls have been very durable and they fit perfectly).
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This assortment of balls have little jingle bells inside that keep the kitties interested.
Here is one toy we have bought for years. The Cat Dancer Cat Charmer Ribbon Wand. We have it woven through the wire on our catio and when the wind blows, the fun begins.
Our cats can be laying there sunning themselves, when all of a sudden the ribbon becomes air borne in the breeze. The kitties spring into action; chasing and pulling the ribbon. With all this action you would think the toy would be worn out-nope. This one has been used for almost two years now. Click on wand photo for more details
Another wand toy we discovered is the PURRfect Leather Bouncer Wand Cat Toy. This wand is awesome! I had four-15 lb cats playing at one time with this. I was sure it was going to come apart because one had the leather strips in his teeth walking backwards, another had the pom-pom in his teeth, and two were biting and pulling on the cord. It survived; just to be played with again. Another feature that I love, is that this toy is made with all safe materials and is made in the USA. Click on photo for more details
Tunnels are always a big hit with cats. They can run through them, hide, or engage in a active game of chase (even our 15+ year old mama cat loved to play tag with her kittens). As I have found however, not all tunnels hold up to this level of rough play. I found this particular tunnel almost 12 years ago and we still have a few of the first ones purchased. To clean them: I like to run soapy water in a bucket and swish the tunnel up and down in the water-dump-repeat with rinse water a few more times-and air dry. I believe that routine cleaning helps them to last longer.
Click on photo for more detail
I used to buy this one from Petco and it was made by another company, however, they no longer make them. This is as close to the original one I have found and has held up just as well.
P.S. the tunnel in the photo of our kitties above is a very cheap one and has not held up.
Well there you have! Of course, these are just suggestions for toys and reviews of what we purchase and use. Always use your own judgement (you know your cat/s better than anyone) and always check for wear and tear-dispose of them promptly if items are damaged. I always say it is better to be safe than sorry.