The 9 Best Laser Pointer Toys to Activate Your Cat's Hunting Instincts

Best Overall

TBTeek Rechargeable Cat Laser Pointer

$8 at Amazon

This laser pointer has all the features you look for in a good laser pointer (and more). While many laser pointers for cats require you to press and hold a button, this one has a switch, so when you turn it on, it stays on. It also has a little flashlight and a UV blacklight, which can help you track down cat stains (though it's much weaker than dedicated blacklights). The red laser itself also has five selectable patterns in addition to the classic red dot, so you can project a smiley face, a butterfly, or a mouse.

The laser pointer is rechargeable via USB, which means you don’t have to worry about buying the little watch batteries found in so many other small laser pointers. Just pop off the cap at the butt of the pointer and plug it into any USB charger or port, no separate USB cable needed. The only downside is that the little cap is easy to lose.

_{Dimensions: 4.7 x 1.8 inches | Power Source: USB rechargeable | Laser Color: Red}

Best Interactive

Valonii Motion Activated Laser Toy

$25 at Amazon

There are a dizzying array of automatic laser toys out there, but the Valonii Rechargeable Motion Activated Cat Laser Toy is simple to use, fully featured, and rechargeable. Its marquee feature is its motion sensor, which allows the laser to activate itself when your cat comes to investigate the toy. Each activation lasts for a 15-minute play session, and it can only be activated once every two hours, which will keep your cats from getting bored or over-stimulated.

The Valonii Cat Laser Toy recharges via USB and can charge fully in two and a half hours, then hold a charge for up to two days of play. The laser toy features a separate base, which makes it easy to angle the laser “head” to best project its beam from wherever you have it set up. This versatility allows you to place the Valonii in an elevated position or directly on the floor—plus you can also set the roving laser to move at two different speeds.

_{Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.4 x 6.3 inches | Power Source: USB rechargeable | Laser Color: Red}

A Plug-in Interactive

Umosis Automatic Cat Laser Toy Interactive Cat Toys

$20 at Amazon

If you like the idea of the Valonii laser toy but want something you can plug in, the Umosis Automatic Cat Laser is a solid alternative. This model has two power modes: It can run on four AA batteries, or it can be plugged into a power source via a USB cable. To be clear, though it has a USB cable, it does not have a rechargeable battery, but instead the USB provides a constant power supply from a wall socket or USB hub.

The Umosis has variable choices for laser speed and angle, though if you want pure randomness, some other options better provide that. It is roughly the same size as the Valonii laser, with a bit of a narrower base, and a little bit taller.

_{Dimensions: 3 x 3 x 7.5 inches | Power Source: Wall socket/USB plug-in, AA batteries | Laser Color: Red}

Best Wand with Laser

Potaroma 4in1 Automatic Rechargeable Kitten Toy

View on Amazon View on Potaroma.com

We all know the great pitfall of cat toys is how fickle and easily bored cats can get, so what’s nice about Potaroma’s 4-in-1 toy is right there in the name—you get multiple different toys built in. It features a spinning butterfly on a wand, a laser, and a feather on the rim, all of which get more chaotic and fun when the entire toy starts moving across your floor in irregular patterns. Unfortunately, you’ll need a hard surface, because the Potaroma 4-in-1 struggles to move on carpet or uneven surfaces.

It is touch-activated and will go into rest mode after a five-minute play session and shut down entirely to save power if it goes untouched for two hours. You have options to have all features working simultaneously, or to just have the butterfly, or the movement and laser without the butterfly. You can also buy butterfly and feather replacements in packs of three.

_{Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 1.9 inches | Power Source: USB rechargeable | Laser Color: Red}

Best for Multiple Cats

ORSDA 2-in-1, Automatic Laser Pointer Cat Toy, 8 Holes Mice Whack A Mole

$40 at Amazon View on Orsda.com

This toy combines a semi-random laser with an eight-hole whack-a-mole game—especially fun for multiple cats as they can each post up around different holes for parallel play. The laser system features two lasers which allows for complicated patterns. It also has a solid build and is more stable than some other automated laser options, which is nice if your cat knocks over other toys.

The ORSDA is touch activated, but in a neat feature, it can also activate based on your cat’s nearby meows. It can charge in about two hours and operate for a few days of play on a single charge. In another nice touch, it automatically turns off at night to prevent your cat from activating it when you’re in bed.

_{Dimensions: 6.77 x 6.77 x 5.2 inches | Power Source: USB rechargeable | Laser Color: Red}

Best for Roomba-Obsessed Cats

PetSafe Laser Tail Automatic Laser Light

$25 at Amazon $25 at Chewy View on Petco

If your cat is obsessed with the Roomba, then the PetSafe Laser Tail Automatic Laser Light is going to absolutely blow their mind. Rather than the laser moving in random patterns, the whole device moves across your floor, changing directions at random, so your cat won’t be able to decide whether to bat at the Laser Tail itself or at the laser it projects ahead. It's also easy to use: simply press the button on the top and it operates automatically for 10 minutes. 

There are substantial downsides that make the Laser Tail more of a novelty than your one-stop laser cat toy solution. It uses AAA batteries, isn’t rechargeable, is a little noisy, and is unable to directly reverse, which makes it prone to getting trapped in corners. Still, if you’ve seen the grip an automatic vacuum can have on your cat’s attention, then the Laser Tail may be irresistible to them.

_{Dimensions: 5.91 x 2.36 x 7.28 inches | Power Source: AAA batteries | Laser Color: Red}

Best Pet Camera With Laser

PetCube Play 2

$60 at Amazon

If you travel a lot and want a way to entertain your pet while you’re away, the Petcube Play 2 combines a powerful pet cam with a laser toy. The camera features a wide 160-degree field of view and the ability to zoom up to 8x, as well as a night vision feature.

It’s controllable from your phone and features a two-way speaker so you can have little chats with your pets while you’re away. The laser pointer is also controllable from your phone, but you can set it up to autoplay too. It also syncs with other Petcube products, like their pet camera with a built-in feeder.

_{Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 3.2 inches | Power Source: Wall socket | Laser Color: Red}

Best Self-Balancing

MayMaw Bubble Laser Cat Toy

$38

$30 at Amazon View on Maymaw.com

The MayMaw Cat Laser Toy is one of the cutest laser toys available. Available in white or pale green, the toy is in a wobbly cup design with the laser at the end of what looks like a straw coming out of the cup that rotates, causing the cup to wobble and giving it an unpredictable movement pattern. It also means it will be hard for your cat to knock over as it’s built to wobble.

The Bubble Laser Cat Toy is touch-activated and will automatically shut off after eight minutes of play. There is a slot where you can insert catnip to help draw your cat to it, though in our opinion lasers alone do a better job. It’s powered by a rechargeable battery that charges in one hour and can provide five hours of active play on a single charge, or remain on standby mode for a week.

_{Dimensions: 3.35 x 3.35 x 4 inches | Power Source: USB rechargeable | Laser Color: Red}

Best Multi-Sensory

Kong Laser Chirps Bird Cat Toy

$10 at Chewy

This charming blue bird-shaped cat toy from Kong combines a laser pointer with bird chirping noises to add another layer of intrigue for your cat. The multi-sensory experience helps boost interactive play and exercise. Its interface is easy to use: click once to turn on the laser pointer, click twice to turn on the chirping sound, and click three times to turn the toy off.

We like that the batteries are included. However, unlike some other Kong toys, this one is not as well-made and has a relatively short lifespan.

_{Dimensions: 1.5 x 1.75 x 4.25 inches | Power Source: Batteries | Laser Color: Red}