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Automatic cat toy

Also called Electronic cat toy, Motion-activated cat toy, Battery-operated cat toy

Updated

What is an automatic cat toy?

An automatic cat toy is a battery-powered or rechargeable toy that moves without a person moving it: it flops when touched, rolls across the floor or swings a lure on a motor. VCA suggests a battery-operated toy for times you cannot play with your cat. Many have a timer or switch off on their own.

How does an automatic cat toy start and stop?

Most start in one of three ways: a button you press, a motion or touch sensor that wakes the toy when a cat paws it, or a schedule that runs short sessions through the day. Many then stop on their own, after a set number of minutes, when the cat walks away, or by resting between bursts of play. That matches how cats play. VCA notes that cats tend to play in short bursts followed by longer rests, and suggests several 10-minute play sessions a day for most cats.

Which automatic toys are safe to leave out?

Toys with no string, cord, ribbon or wand are the lower-risk ones. VCA says never to leave a cat alone with wand or fishing-pole toys, because a cat can get tangled or swallow the string, and many automatic toys swing exactly that kind of lure.

The battery matters too. Pet Poison Helpline warns that button and disc batteries can burn the mouth, throat or gut if swallowed, and that chewed alkaline batteries leak corrosive contents. A battery door that needs a screwdriver is harder for a cat to open.

What to look for

  • An auto shut-off, timer or rest cycle
  • A battery door that screws shut, or a sealed rechargeable battery
  • No string, ribbon or wand if it will be left out

Leaving a string or wand toy running on its own

A motor does not make a wand toy safe to leave out. VCA warns that a cat left alone with a string or wand toy can get tangled or swallow the string, so those toys are for when you are home.

Questions about automatic cat toy

What should I do if my cat chews a toy's battery?

Call your vet or an animal poison line straight away, even if your cat seems fine. Pet Poison Helpline says not to make a pet vomit after swallowing a battery, because the contents can cause more damage on the way back up.

Are electronic cat toys and automatic cat toys the same thing?

Electronic cat toys and automatic cat toys are usually the same thing. Both names describe toys with a motor and a battery that move by themselves. Motion-activated toys are a kind of automatic toy that starts when a cat touches or walks past it.

Where this comes up

Sources