Gimmick or Gold?: 16 Cat Products That Promised Purrfection and Delivered

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Jul 22, 2026 11:00 AM EDT

Between tiktok and temu it can feel rather overwhelming to find the purrfect toy to treat your cat child to. So we went out and did the leg work for you to find out which cat toys are just gimmicks and which are pure playtime gold.

Of course we got these recommendations from the pawrents in Reddit's r/CatAdvice subreddit who have spent their hard earned cash to get these toys and let their feline fur babies play with them for quite a while before giving us their impressions of them. After all, you cannot judge a cat's interest in an object until a decent amount of time has passed and they are still into using said object. You see, cats can change their likes, dislikes and interests on a whim, all too happy to keep things moving along like the changing styles of fashion. So when you stand to shell out a significant amount of money to make them happy you had better be teaching them something worthwhile.

Thankfully, the pawrents of the cat community came together to tell us about the best things they have bought their cat kids that initially appeared to be a little too hyped up. It just goes to show, in a way that you do not usually get to see, that you can never judge a book, or cat toy, by its cover. 
 

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  • 01
    "Cat stroller. It actually encourages me to walk more, and help alleviate my boy's curiousity for the world with less stress."
    via Community_TuftandPaw

    Cat playing in large paper bag

    Cat represented by model

  • 02
    Lehmit-Cat Those little spring things. I thought there was no way my cats would be interested. Well all three of them love those things.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 03
    lavendergaia Catnip banana. Bought one on a whim and now we have four because the cats fight over them.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 04
    jemison-gem Cat tunnels! I'd see ones for every holiday at Petco and thought they were silly at first. Now my cats have a bunch that we cycle through for the holidays lol and I'm always hunting for new cool ones!
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 05
    Bay_de_Noc Stainless steel litter pans.. should have got those things decades ago.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 06
    Spock-1701 Water fountain. Both my boys use it and I don't have to worry.
    via Community_TuftandPaw

  • Now this one I can most certainly get behind. Most of the time when a cat toy or device is electronic I will snub my nose at it, calling it a cheap way to repurpose a hooman child’s toy that nobody wanted to buy. But when it comes to waterfountains I am all in. cats can be so tricky when it comes to their water drinking habits. Some will literally never drink unless it is from a fresh and moving source. So with a fountain you essentially sole two problems in one, how to get a picky cat to drink and how to hardly ever need to add more water instead of every day. 
     

  • 07
    Alarming Yak7956 A thundershirt I thought ppl were ridiculous for putting clothes on their animals. But my cat can avoid prescription medication bc the thundervest comforts her so much. She wears it when shes extra stressed.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 08
    Cheezburger Image 10647962624
    via ggandava
  • 09
    mort-or-amour My cat feeder. Big automatic one that holds a week of food for 8 cats. I thought it was just a gimmick but liked the idea of being able to stay out late and not worry about my cats getting fed on time. But it's incredible.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 10
    Reason_Training Enzyme cleaner. I thought other products did a good enough job until I got one when I took in a new cat and the rescue gave me a bottle. Now it's part of my arsenal.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 11
    Omgkimwtf It's a toy I got on Chewy- looks like bits of cardboard attached to thick wire. Honestlyt looks just above garbage, but I hold that thing up (don't even wiggle it, just HOLD it) and my cats go bonkers for it.
    via Community_TuftandPaw

  • Now this one I am conflicted by. On the one hand it is wonderful that this cat is able to enjoy such a seemingly simple product with such intensity. Giving their pawrent vindication for having to shell out the money. On the other hand this sounds like it is literally made out of a cardboard box and a clothes hanger. So the question is why would you not build it yourself at home? Much in the same way that some pawrents opt to tie feathers to shoelaces rather than buy the ready made toy version.
     

  • 12
    Cheezburger Image 10647962112
    via ggandava
  • 13
    muffinmania An "automatic" elastic toy you stick on the door frame. It was probably my only Temu order ever, but the cats absolutely adore it and jump up and down for hours.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 14
    LuckPushedMeFirst That 'flies like a real bird' wand toy - I have never seen my geriatric rescue move like that before!
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 15
    Walmart Save money. Live better.
    via ggandava
  • 16
    actuallywaffles Cat stroller. Thought it'd be a fun, novelty thing. It actually encourages me to walk more, and helps alleviate my boy's curiosity for the world with less stress.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 17
    BackElectronic7219 Those stupid flopping fish. I thought it was a waste of money and power, he cries to have it turned on so it can slap him in the belly while he pretends he's a Roman crusader
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 18
    quicktime_harch Churus. They are cra k and will get your cat to do whatever you want.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 19
    Cheezburger Image 10647962880
    via ggandava
  • 20
    kaeferkat Ball slow feeder. My cat used to scarf up his kibble and pke it back up within a few minutes. With the ball it takes him close to 30 minutes to eat a half a cup.
    via Community_TuftandPaw
  • 21
    mesosuchus a third cat
    via Community_TuftandPaw

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purrfection cat promise gold products cat photos reddit thread Absurd Parenting Product cat advice delivery
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