| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Cat Dancer Original Cat Toy |
| Best Retractable | BINGPET Retractable Cat Toy |
| Best Feathered Toy | KONG Active Feather Teaser Cat Toy |
| Best Premium Cat Pole | PET FIT FOR LIFE Robotic Floppy Fish & Wand |
Cats are natural-born hunters that need to chase, swat, stalk, and pounce. It’s in their nature! If you are a cat owner, you might know, all too well, the pain of having your cat stalk and attack your ankles at every given opportunity. Most times, when cats are not given healthy outlets to express their predatory instincts, they may begin to engage them in other not-so-pleasant ways like climbing your curtains, biting, and attacking your innocent ankles.
Having an indoor cat requires that you provide them with some form of stimulation of the outdoor hunt. As such, species-appropriate play and toys come in to save the day. Cat fishing poles are one of the most fun and most rewarding toys you can give your cat to help them lead a happy and fulfilled life. To help you and your cat become a better duo, we have tested and reviewed the best cat fishing pole toys. Here are the results of our best finds.
Check Chewy Check Amazon- Simple design provides hours of entertainment
- Incredibly popular with high ratings
- Interactive playtime provides mental and physical fitness for cats
- Affordable price point
Check Chewy- Realistic floppy fish motion
- 30-inch wand for maximum reach
- Includes feather and worm attachments
- Charge the fish via USB cable
A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for the Best Cat Fishing Pole Toy
#1 Best Overall: Cat Dancer 101 Interactive Cat Toy
In our review, the best cat fishing pole toy is the Cat Dancer 101 Interactive Cat Toy. The concept of this extremely affordable, interactive cat toy is deceptively basic. It looks like a springy wire linked to unexciting tiny cardboard rolls. You might think there’s not much to it, but you just watch your cat go crazy with excitement!
The toy’s design makes it look and act like an insect — and if you know cats, you know how much they enjoy chasing insects. This simple design is one of the most captivating and intriguing in the cat toy world. According to the toy’s records, more than eight million cats worldwide have tried this toy, and unsurprisingly, most cat owners say that their kitties have absolutely loved it.
The Cat Dancer 101 toy is an excellent choice for your cat if they need some interactive playtime, but you do not enjoy walking around too much. This cat fishing pole is very springy, meaning you can sit in place or walk around a little and give your cat the best play stimulation. Even if you’re sitting in a chair, you can still provide a thrilling play experience for your cat.
A few reviewers reported that their cats weren’t interested in this toy.
Pros and Cons of the Cat Dancer 101 Interactive Cat Toy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This simple toy moves like a real insect. | There’s no handle, so it’s hard to hold for a long time. |
| It’s extremely inexpensive. | A few pet parents said that their cats wouldn’t play with it. |
| You can sit comfortably in a chair while you hold the toy for your cat to play with. |
- Simple design provides hours of entertainment
- Incredibly popular with high ratings
- Interactive playtime provides mental and physical fitness for cats
- Affordable price point
2. Best Retractable Pole: BINGPET Retractable Cat Teaser Wand Toy
The BINGPET Retractable Cat Teaser Wand Toy is a unique telescopic cat fishing pole toy that provides better control for various distances while playing with your cat. This brilliant toy has a manual reel design, just like a real fishing pole, that allows you to adjust the length of the line smoothly. A switch behind the pulley can then keep the retracted line at the desired length.
This cat fishing pole toy is impressive and easy to operate with a comfortable sponge fishing rod grip for endless fun play sessions with your kitty. The fishing rod is attached to feathered play objects at the other end, such as a feather toy with a bell, a bird, fish, and a caterpillar. You and your cat are in for the most rewarding and mentally stimulating play sessions to build trust between you.
Several reviewers said that it wasn’t well made.
Pros and Cons of the BINGPET Retractable Cat Teaser Wand Toy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This cat fishing pole is highly interactive and stimulating. | Some reviewers reported that it wasn’t well made. |
| It features an excellent retractable fishing rod design. | |
| It’s fun for cats and cat parents alike. | |
| It includes four featured objects that you can attach to the end of the line for your cat to chase. |
3. Best Feathered: KONG Active Feather Teaser Catnip Toy
The KONG Active Feather Teaser Catnip Toy is a wonderfully interactive feathered pole toy for your cat to play with. The pole that you receive will have one of the following brightly colored, feathered “characters” attached to the end — flamingo, bluebird, or bumblebee — selected at random. Your can will happily chase, hunt, and catch the character as prey.
This toy is structured in two parts: a sturdy fishing rod you can hold and a flexible string-like portion from which the feathered character hangs. The string measures about 18.5 inches and can stretch, retract, and easily swing around to catch your kitty’s attention.
The character is not only covered with bright, attention-grabbing colors and feathers, but it also has some filling in it, which makes a crinkling sound when you swing it around to entice your cat. This toy is filled with premium catnip, which will make the toy even more irresistible to your cat!
Some reviewers said that this toy breaks too easily.
Pros and Cons of the KONG Active Feather Teaser Catnip Toy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| You will receive one of the following “characters” attached to the string: flamingo, bluebird, bumblebee. (Chosen randomly by the seller.) | Some reviewers said that this toy breaks too easily. |
| The fishing rod is sturdy so you can hold it while your cat chases the feathered character. | |
| The string measures 18.5 inches and can stretch, retract, and swing around. | |
| The characters are stuffed with a material that makes a crinkling sound to attract your cat. | |
| It’s also filled with catnip to make it even more irresistible to your kitty. |
4. Best Premium: Pet Fit For Life Robotic Floppy Fish & Wand Cat Toy
You can charge the fish via USB as the toy comes with a provided USB charging cable. If you’re looking to make your cat’s playtime experience even more fun, you may add a dash of catnip. If you worry about keeping this toy clean for your cat, it’s easy to maintain since the fish’s outer cover is detachable and machine-washable.
Some pet parents said that the toy didn’t work after they charged it.
Pros and Cons of the Pet Fit For Life Robotic Floppy Fish & Wand Cat Toy
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This cat toy has a 30-inch teaser wand with a lobster-claw clasp that you can attach a motion-activated floppy fish. | Some reviewers said that the fish didn’t work after they charged it. |
| The following attachments (not robotic) are also included to keep the toy interesting: feather and “worm.” | |
| A USB charging cable is included to charge the fish. | |
| The fish has a removable, machine-washable outer cover. |
- Realistic floppy fish motion
- 30-inch wand for maximum reach
- Includes feather and worm attachments
- Charge the fish via USB cable
Choosing the Best Cat Fishing Pole Toys: What to Look For
Your feline friend deserves the most satisfying lifestyle you can provide for them, and toys are a big part of that. Before you finally decide what cat fishing pole toy to buy, consider a few factors.
Safety
Before purchasing a cat fishing pole toy, ensure that it is as safe as possible for your cat. Toys with dangling bits or feathers, baubles, and other similar features may be dangerous if swallowed or chewed on. These toys will often require you to supervise your cat’s playtime closely.
Reach
Consider how much reach a cat fishing pole toy will give you. While some can be long enough for you to sit while playing or play from afar, others are not. Decide how interactive you want the playing to be and consider the reach of each toy option.
Catnip or No Catnip
Cat fishing pole toys with cat-nip-filled objects usually make the kitties go wild. If you’re looking to give your feline companion a little more excitement, you may purchase a cat fishing pole that features catnip. Cat fishing pole toys without catnip are also good if you want a less rowdy playtime session for you and your cat.
Retractability
Cat fishing pole toys may come as simple as a pole with a string stuck to one end, and sometimes they have a much more complex design that will allow you to retract the storing portion like a fishing rod. Consider your budget, your cat’s preferences, and what’s good for your comfort, and decide if you’ll purchase a retractable fishing pole for your cat or not.
Up Next
- The Best Electronic Cat Toys that Move — Reviewed and Ranked — Electronic cat toys that move can keep your kitty entertained when you’re not home.
- The Absolute Best Wet Cat Food — We’ve rounded up and reviewed wet cat food that even the most finicky cat won’t be able to so “no” to.
- Check Out the Best Cat Window Perch: Ranked — A window perch will let your cat sit in the window and watch birds and squirrels to their heart’s content.
| Best for | Product |
|---|---|
| Best Overall | Cat Dancer Original Cat Toy |
| Best Retractable | BINGPET Retractable Cat Toy |
| Best Feathered Toy | KONG Active Feather Teaser Cat Toy |
| Best Premium Cat Pole | PET FIT FOR LIFE Robotic Floppy Fish & Wand |
The Best Cat Fishing Pole Toys: Ranked and Reviewed FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
What are the best cat toys?
The best cat toys mimic insects, rodents, or birds and allow your cat to chase and simulate hunting. These include electronic mice, fishing poles with objects dangling from them, and many others.
Do cats like fishing pole toys?
Cats enjoy toys that stimulate their predator instincts. Fishing pole toys do precisely that, making them one of the most popularly purchased cat toys out there.
Are fishing pole toys safe for cats?
While most cat fishing pole toys are safe for your kitty, keeping them closely supervised is still important. Some of these toys have easily detachable parts that your cat could swallow.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.
