The title is a genuine question I’d love you to answer for me in the comments: have you ever bought your cats a remote control mouse? How did they like it?
Buying one of these for Avery has been on my mind for quite a long time. Pretty much the only cat toys he’s ever engaged with have been ones that are interactive in nature – either with me making the toy move or with the toy moving by itself. There’s nothing I’ve ever found that he’s properly played with on his own that’s still in nature. Not balls, not springs (although he loved those at one point, I had to throw them to keep his attention on them for more than a minute), and definitely not those adorable little catnip toys I’m obsessed with. It’s quite a shame, but what can you do?
I’m happy when Avery spends 2-3 seconds batting an aluminum foil pancake across the room. If he hits it more than twice, that’s a pretty great day in terms of him playing by himself in my books. I’m sure I could find a few still toys that he’d be happy to bat around once or twice by himself, but in the meantime, I’d rather invest my money in cat toys I know will have a better shot of engaging him, and that means trying out more interactive cat toys and fewer “still” cat toys. At least until I have a few well-liked interactive toys in his toy drawer.
Recently, I bought the Petsafe Frolicat Interactive Laser Toy (reviewed here), and I honestly wasn’t expecting Avery to play with it at all. There are a number of reviews saying some cats aren’t the biggest fans of these since they’re predictable. Considering Avery’s a fairly intelligent and lazy cat who used to just stare at me when I tried to play with lasers with him as a kitten (as if to say, “I know you’re making that light move, so I’m not going after it!”), I thought there was no way he’d like this toy much. But at under $20 for a toy I could set and forget, it was worth a shot on the up chance he might use it even once in a blue moon. And you know what, it was worth the shot, because he actually plays with it pretty regularly, though it’s not his favourite toy in the world (an award that currently goes to the Interpet Feather Wand that’s reviewed here). It’s encouraged me to keep trying other interactive toys on the market to see where things go from there.
Remote Control Mouse Cat Toys That Don’t Have Terrible Reviews
Problem with this whole wanting-a-remote-control-mouse-to-try business is that I can’t seem to find all that many options available, and the ones that I do find don’t tend to have a lot of positive reviews. I have no problem spending extra money ($20-30 even) if it’s on something a cat’s almost guaranteed to love, and something that will be durable, but it just doesn’t look like there’s much out there to choose from to begin with.
There are some exceptions, however. And due to how inexpensive they are, I’d like to get my hands on at least some of them to try them out. These exceptions (the best remote control mice I could personally find) are as follows:
1. Hexbug Mouse Robotic Cat Toy
At just over 200 reviews, this is currently the most reviewed remote control cat toy on Amazon. That’s not a lot of reviews, but at the same time, a lot of them do seem to be positive. Well, enough of them for me to be willing to give this mouse a shot – especially at that price point. Even if Avery doesn’t like the toy, it’s no loss. I definitely know of a couple cats (my mums & my brother’s) who would love this toy regardless, since they even like the “still” alternatives.
2. Petlinks Electronic Motion Cat Toy
Deceptively looks like it’s the most reviewed (600+) remote control mouse you can find on Amazon, but it’s pretty much only because Petlinks listed a bunch of cat toys under one listing. It’s hard to find the reviews specifically for this product since there are around 10 cat toys all listed together, but either way, I’m game for trying it since it’s at least from a company I recognize.
3. EocuSun Electric Remote Control Mouse
Over 100 reviews and currently at 3 stars. I’d say this one is definitely worth a shot, especially since Avery’s only ever liked one “plushie” toy in the past, and that was the most realistic looking rat toy I could find – the Jeepers Creepers Catnip Rat (reviewed here & sans catnip since he’s not too interested in anything besides eating that and doesn’t react to catnip as most other cats do). I feel like if I got all three of these toy mice I’ve mentioned so far that I wouldn’t do much damage too my wallet and I’d know for sure if Avery’s interested in toys like this.
4. Spot Ethical Pet Remote Control Micro Mouse
These come from the same company that makes the cat springs Avery used to love, and have a 3 star rating as well, but I’d rather test out the first three toys than this one, since I think the others are more unique. Cute that this remote control mouse is so little, though, but definitely think I’d rather try #1 or #2 if I’m going for a smaller remote control mouse. They just look like they’d be a little more enticing for a cat, though who knows, I could be wrong!
Toy Mouse with Microchip Squeak and Catnip – ZooPlus.co.uk / eBay
Potentially Better Alternatives? Robotic Cat Toys That Might Be Better
Okay, so while I was looking for these, I found some similar toys that weren’t quite remote control mice, but were similar enough that if you’re looking for that kind of thing, these might work out better anyway.
1. HEXBUG Nano Robotic Cat Toy
A remote control fluff that looks like what you’d find on the end of a feather toy/bird toy on an interactive cat wand. This cat toy has some seriously good reviews, and if you don’t care that the “mouse” is actually a mouse, it’s 100% a toy to try – even before the toys listed above. I actually think I might skip remote control mice altogether and get this, since it looks so similar to some of the cat wands Avery’s took liking to in the past.
2. Cat’s Meow Undercover Mouse Interactive Cat Toy
It’s technically a mouse toy (made to look like the tail of a mouse “under a cover”), and it’s definitely interactive, but it’s an interactive mouse toy you definitely don’t remote control or have much control over at all (besides being able to change speeds from slow, medium, fast, to random). This one’s not for Avery, as I’ve tried buying it for him before and he didn’t care much at all to play with it. That being said, his cousin (my mum’s cat Walker) is a huge fan. Whenever we put this on for Walker, he plays with it for a healthy chunk of time, which is wonderful from a busy pet parent’s point of view. Especially since it’s a cat toy that isn’t ever going to be lost, unlike all those bouncy balls and catnip mice we give Walker and end up losing under the sofas.
3. Westminster Weazel Ball
Yet another not-a-mouse cat toy (just like #1), but this one’s little less “remote controlled” as well (like #2). So why did I bother to list it here if it’s neither a remote control toy nor a mouse toy? It’s a ferret on a ball that moves by itself, so if you’re looking for an interactive cat toy that’s in heart the same as a remote control mouse, but that’s on paper not at all that, this toy is game. I only bothered to list it because of the ridiculous amount of reviews it has. Yes, it’s 3 stars, so that means that not every cat is likely going to be a big fan of it, but to me, it’s worth as much a shot as the interactive laser toy was that Avery took to – set it and forget it toys my cat might like? Yes please! If only he liked the Cat’s Meow toy from #2 in this section as well, I’d be up 3 set-and-forget interactive cat toys and playtime would be easy as pie! *Sigh, a girl can dream…
What Does Your Cat Think of Remote Control Mice?
Which brings me back to the original question: what does your cat think of remote control mice, if you’ve ever tried them with him/her before. Does your cat take to interactive toys like that in general? Do you think remote control mice are a good or bad idea? And do you think I’m better off buying one of the “alternatives” or one of the remote control mice proper to try first?
I have a feeling if Avery likes remote control mice at all, it’d make playtime a lot more fun for both him and I. That being said, I that’s true if he loves pretty much anything remote controlled, so the Hexbug Nano might be the perfect cross hybrid to test first since that blue fluffy stuff is already something he associates with “cat toy!”
On the other hand, since some of the remote control mice look a lot more “realistic” as far as mice go, maybe he’ll get a bigger kick out of them. And I’ve always felt he had a thing for small “prey” when chancing, so that Hexbug Robotic Mouse looks good to me. Maybe I’ll just buy both and call it a day. Along with that weasel ball that has great reviews. Not quite sure.
What would you do? What do you think would strike your own cats’ fancy best? Love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
My 2shelter cats only want to play if I do the work. I have bought so many cat toys it isn’t even funny. I came across that big remote mouse and bought it immediately.
Pd almost $32. With shipping as it said it would work on carpets. Well it DOES NOT.
And even using it in the bathroom tile floor was a flop. Won’t work after a few minutes and jams with any floor that isn’t completely flat…
do your self a favor and save your $ until someone can come up with remote cat toy thT actually works and on carpets.
That sucks so much. Hate it when toys don’t work as intended.
Avery was definitely like that – he was a stray and when we took him in and for years would not play on his own. Until cat springs + long hallways and hardwood floors. Now he’s rarely ever asking me to play, will go those jumpy toys on his own.
Needless to say I’m relieved! I find it really frustrating how many cat toys I had to go through to find something he liked, but I’m still so glad we hit the mark with something.
Not keen on the auto laser thing, you have no control of it shining straight into the cats eyes, ours was given away immediately.
We also have the Cats Meow toy which, again, our cat bored of so it only comes out occasionally.
That’s true, but my cat only really looks at the ground when it’s on, so I feel ok having it.
Tried Cat’s Meow, too. Avery was a fan of it for about 3 days, then nothing. I think it can be really hard to find automated cat toys that cats actually *like.* Let me know if you find any!
We have a hexbug that the cats like.
The one that looks like a mouse, or the blue fluff? Just curious! 🙂
We haven’t tried anything like these in a good long while!
I think it’s nice to try out new toys! But I definitely wouldn’t be doing it so often if Avery was an easier kitty to engage.
We’ve tried the Frolicat laser and the mouse under the mat. Walker likes the laser, but both of our kitties have gotten bored with the mouse under the mat 🙁 Boo!
Walker got sick of the mouse under the mat, too? Drat! Though I do wonder if I stole it back and had Avery try it, if he’d play with it for even a little bit now. Since it’s been so long!
The “Bolt” above is actually made by Frolicat and is also distributed by Petmate. My cat has it and LOVES it. I have something similar to the Hexbug Mouse (also distributed by Petmate) and it is AWFUL! My cat wanted nothing to do with it and it’s creepy, glowing red eyes! lol
I always thought it was called the Frolicat, but I couldn’t figure out just where Petmate came into the picture! The Amazon listing leads you to believe it’s made by Petmate. This clears things up SO much thank you, Caren! 🙂
Good to know about the Hexbug Mouse-like toy you have not striking your Cody’s fancy. Maybe I’ll hold off on trying, or go with my gut and try the Nano instead of a “mouse” remote control toy.