The Best Toys For Bengal Cats [2022]

It’s playtime.

When searching for Bengal cat products, toys will be high on the list.

This article looks at the best toys for Bengal cats (and cats in general).

Those with a Bengal will already know how inquisitive, playful and energetic they are.

Those preparing to get a Bengal will soon find out how inquisitive, playful and energetic they are.

It is vital that your cat’s needs are met through play if it is to be happy and if you want to keep wallpaper from being torn off your wall (it can happen…) or your slippers being violated.

What You Will Discover

1. Why play is so important for cats
2. The best toys for Bengal cats from different toy categories with comments on those I have used myself
3. Some suggestions on free toys

Before all that, let’s take a look at the types of toy Bengals like…

What Toys Do Bengal Cats Like?

These fit broadly into two categories- Interactive and Independent.

-it’s worth noting here that my definition (and those of other cat owners) of interactive seems to differ from some of those used by toy sellers- you will see interactive meaning a toy that cats interact with on their own.

However, there can be an overlap.

Interactive toys require human input, that is, you actively using the cat toy to play with your cat. The most obvious of these are the wand and fishing rod style toys.

Interactive cat toys provide your cat with the most variety and as you’re involved, it’s where the bit about bonding comes in.

Independent toys usually require no human input other than perhaps being switched on if they are electronic.

They are usually on the pricier side, and cats can get bored of them fairly quickly if they are too repetitive, but they are convenient as they can entertain your cat if you’re busy or simply not around.

Interactive and Independent toys are those that can be thrown for your Bengal cat to chase, pounce on and ‘kill’.

If left, a Bengal will also play with these on their own.

Toys that fall into this category are stuffed toys, those with catnip and other ‘throwables’ like springs.

How I did My Research or ‘Method’

Before looking at the list of best toys for Bengal cats, just a brief word about the method I’ve used to select them.

I’ve only looked at products rated 4 stars and above, and any that had the same rating, I opted for the one with the most reviews (the ‘wisdom of the crowd‘ theory).

I’ve used Amazon as the standard as this usually provides the most reviews and greater range of products.

However, if the same item is available from other well-known retailers, I’ve linked to these too.

Summarised are key features listed by the seller or manufacturer- but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re entirely accurate of course.

Now let’s get the toys out…

Best Interactive Cat Toys For Bengal Cats

These are toys you and your cat play with together- mainly you moving something so your cat chases it.

They tend to tap into your Bengal cat’s need to hunt.

The most popular are wand toys- and this list features two of them. 

Rainbow Cat Charmer

4.8/5 from 19,584 ratings

Key Features:

• Made in the USA
• 65 inches (165 cm)
• Unbreakable (seller’s claim remember…)
• Colourfast fabric and a nontoxic polycarbonate wand

Notes: The mainstay of interactive cat play and arguably the best toys for Bengal cats. Lots of types of these toys are available, but this was well rated by cat owners.

Interactive Cat Pointer Pen

4.6/5 from 569 ratings

Key Features:

• USB chargeable- fully charged in about 2 hours
• Multi-functional- can also be a UV light and torch/flashlight
• Wrist strap
• Several laser patterns
• Comes with a ‘feather mouse toy’

Notes: I can vouch for the effectiveness of the laser pointer as an interactive toy.

Never have I seen my Bengal cat so worn out after chasing nothing more than a red dot she’s never going to catch.

But therein lies a potential problem.

She looked kind of dejected afterwards, perhaps as there was no satisfaction in getting a ‘kill’. Maybe use sparingly and in combination with something your Bengal can get its claws and teeth into.

Laser pointers or pens are also helpful at getting cats off furniture or anywhere else you don’t want them to be.

Go Cat Cat Catcher Teaser Wand with Mouse Cat Toy

4.4/5 from 17,674 ratings

Key Features:

• Features an automatic cat toy which emits an electronic, bird chirping sound when batted
• Toy contains catnip
• 18 inches (46 cm) long

Notes: The second highest rated wand toy, but this one comes with an electronic feathered mouse on the end. There are numerous cat toys available from this brand- some similar to this.

Best Independent Play Cat Toys For Bengal Cats

The sort of toys you get out and let your cat get on with playing. It’s often best to be around/supervise, just in case.

Petstages Cat Tracks Cat Toy

4.6/5 from 55,560 ratings

Key Features:

• 4 levels of tracks
• 4 colourful spinning balls
• For chasing and swatting
• Sturdy plastic construction
• Non-slip base
• Ideal  for one or more cats
• Provides mental and physical exercise

Notes: Numerous styles are available at different price points. Multi-layered with multiple balls would probably be better for those with more than one cat. There are videos on Amazon showing it in use.

Potaroma Flopping Fish

4.1/5 from 35,024 ratings

Key Features:

• Automatic built-in motion sensor kicks causes the fish to wiggle when touched
• Looks and moves like a fish
• Increased battery capacity provides a longer charge and standby feature to save battery power when pets leave it alone
• Gift packaging (apparently)
• Made from soft durable plush allowing your cat to chew and wrestle
• Catnip pouch included
• USB re-chargeable and comes with USB cable
• Chargeable motor is detachable for convenient cleaning
• Charge indicator light

Notes: We have one, albeit from a different brand (there are plenty available). Our Bengal didn’t really know what to make of it at first- pawing at it and dashing away before finally plucking up the courage to ‘go in for the kill.’ I’ve found toys like this are best used sparingly to maintain a novelty value.

Cat Dancer 101 Interactive Cat Toy     

4.6/5 from 28,746 ratings

Key Features:

• Made in the USA
• The original interactive cat toy from Cat Dancer
• Spring steel wire and rolled cardboard
• Home-tested by over 8 million cats

Notes: Although the product states it can be used for interactive play- this would make the cat dancer a ‘wand’ type toy, so it’s included soley in the independent play category.

The bulk of the reviews, including some videos, demonstrate the lone play element.

A decent price for something your cat should enjoy. You can also buy in a three pack here

Whilst putting together the orginal article in 2021, I decided to by one myself (albeit this wall mounted version ). We don’t tend to use it in the mount as Hazel our Bengal, seems to more or less ignore it.

This could be simply due to location, as when we put the wire elsewhere or use it as a wand, she is more likely to happily play with or ‘hunt’ it.

Best Interactive and Independent Play Cat Toys for Bengal Cats

These are toys that allow you to get involved with play (perhaps with a game of fetch), or your Bengal will happily play with on their own.

Many will contain catnip.

SmartyKat Skitter Critter Mice Catnip Toys

4.7/5 from 30,180 ratings

Key Features:

• 3 toy set
• Good size to chase, bat, and carry. By your cat that is…
• Ideal for a multi-cat household
• Filled with catnip
• Free from pesticides

Notes: Your Bengal cat will happily bat these about and crazily roll around trying to ‘kill’ them. Additionally, they’ll run after them if you throw them and maybe even bring them back to you.

There are a host of these types of toys on Amazon but these were the pick of the bunch.

What is Catnip? Catnip is herb of the mint family which contains an active compound that can temporarily alter behaviour in some cats. It may make some more relaxed and ‘happy’; others more energetic and playful.  

SPOT Colorful Springs Cat Toy

4.7/5 from 17,142 ratings

Key Features:

• Colourful springs
• Bounce randomly and encourage chasing
• Extra wide springs for stronger bouncing

Notes: Springs? Cats? Are you mad? I would never have guessed it either, but our Bengal loves these.

She happily bats them across the tiled floor and they zip along like a hockey puck on ice. She’ll even spontaneously bring them to us for a game of fetch.

A multipack might be a good idea as they tend to get lost fairly readily.

Lots of different brands are available with different prices containing different numbers of springs.

SmartyKat Chickadee Chirp Electronic Bird

4.5/5 from 14,278 ratings

Key Features:

• Electronically mimics real bird sounds and is touch activated
• Contains cat organic cat nip which can be refilled
• Filling made from 100% post-consumer recycled materials

Notes: Another popular toy from the SmartyKat range. We have a toy similar to this and it can be quite satisfying hearing the electronic beeping from another room indicating your cat’s playing with it (or it’s just been kicked by a human member of the family). There are videos on Amazon of the toy being played with.

Best Cat Toy Set for Bengal Cats

Youngever 24 Cat Toy Assortment

4.6/5 from 36,263 ratings

Key Features:

• 24 piece cat toy set
• Collapsible cat tunnel
• Cat teaser wand
• Interactive feather toy
• Fluffy mouse
• Crinkle balls
• Cat springs

Notes: A little bit of everything here, with many of the ‘essentials’. A good way to determine which type of toy your cat is into- although I’m sure your cat’s breeder can help with that too.

Toys We Use (in addition to those already mentioned)

Bojafa Cat Catnip Chew Toys

Key Features:

• Durable cotton linen
• Stuffed with soft PP cotton and natural catnip

Notes: Our Bengal Hazel (who we assume is typical of other Bengal kittens) went crazy for these cat toys- furiously rolling around, biting and bunny kicking them.

After a while the first one we gave her had the stuffing quite literally knocked out of it.

The other two didn’t succumb to the same fate- either the novelty had worn off or the catnip had. Hiding them in cupboard for a while reintroduced that novelty value. For a short period at least.

They come in a pack of 3 or 5.

PetSafe SlimCat Food-Dispensing Cat Toy

Key Features:

• Holds up to 2/3 cup of dry cat food
• Adjustable openings for faster or slower feed
• Easy to clean- top rack dishwasher safe
• Fits most treat sizes

Notes: We don’t it use very often as she tends to play until she realises it’s empty and we only put in a handful of treats. It works well, though you will need a decently sized room to get the most out of it I think. We have the blue version but in comes in multiple colours.

Free Toys or Making Your Own

Cats aren’t entirely like children.

They won’t succumb to targeted advertising, the latest craze, or want what next door’s cat’s got (well maybe its food).

So this means cat owners DON’T HAVE TO spend lots of money on cat toys to keep their cat happy.

In fact, some of the best ways of entertaining a Bengal are pretty much free and may just require a touch of creativity.

We bought our Bengal kitten an expensive track and ball (see A Bengal Cat In The Bag).

After putting it together, it would get played with for around 5 minutes. i.e. less time that it took for us to set the thing up.

Turns out, she’d rather play with a piece of sturdy plastic or a twig.

And she’s not once asked about the track. Or the ball.

Sturdy cardboard boxes are also well loved.

The beauty here is you can in effect, make modular buildings, by adding new boxes of varying size, cutting holes in them and fitting them together in different ways.

When kitty gets board, you can just reconfigure them.

Why Do Bengal Cats Need To Play?

The Bengal cat breed was formed when a domestic cat was crossed with an Asian leopard cat.

Most pet Bengals are a few generations from this original cross, but can still retain in terms of appearance and behaviour, that ‘wild cat’ side to them that perhaps many other domestic breeds have lost.

All cats enjoy play and replicating ‘the hunt’, but because of their closer genetic ties to their wild ancestors, the requirement for play and stimulation for a Bengal cat may be that bit greater.

Play Improves and Maintains Physical Condition

Certain types of play will have your cat haring around, essentially chasing nothing more than fabric on a stick.

But running, climbing and jumping increase heart rate and burn off calories, helping to stave of obesity and subsequent disease.

Additionally a well exercised cat with a healthy body weight is likely to live longer (see How Long Do Bengal Cats Live? 12 Excellent Ways To Boost Life Expectancy).

Regular physical exercise is especially important for house cats that don’t get to experience stalking and chasing outside.

And don’t forget, certain types of play offer a workout for both you and kitty.

Play Prevents Poor Mental Health

We’ve all seen the sad sight of a big cat in a zoo pacing up and down in its cage or compound.

“Fit body, fit mind,” is as true for cats as it is humans.

Play and exercise that keep your Bengal in peak physical condition as a side effect, will keep it mentally sharp also.

Play prevents boredom (and the possibility of destructive behaviour around the home) and helps your kitten learn about itself and the world.

Additionally, there are toys and games you can buy specifically designed to test your feline’s cognitive ability.

Playing With Your Bengal Cat Helps You Bond

The advantages are mutual.

Your cat will see you as a source of fun and stimulation (or certainly the thing that’s attached to the source of stimulation), and you will gain its trust.

In return, you will share experiences and learn about your pet- this could come in beneficial if there is a sudden change of behaviour, which may signify some underlying problem.

Summary

Your Bengal cat (and Bengal kittens especially) will need to be entertained, probably more often than a regular domestic cat.

This list has highlighted the best toys for Bengal cats (at the time of writing) in each of the main categories, but by no means is comprehensive- there will be many others at varying price points that will do the job.

Finding out what cats love is a case of trial and error, and inevitably like us, they will get bored of playing with the same things.

Tip: Put toys away once your cat has finished playing with them. This will make them a little more ‘new’ when you bring them out again. Rotate those you leave out for your Bengal to play with to keep things fresh.

Injecting something new and exciting doesn’t have to be expensive as indeed there are plenty of ways you can entertain your cat cheaply or for free.

Further Reading:

Please note, Amazon links on this page are affiliate links from which I’ll receive a small percentage if you purchase at no extra cost to you. It all helps. Thanks.