We've all witnessed our cats ignore a toy they once loved, never to touch it again! Cats are naturally curious animals, but they’re quick to get bored when their environment stays the same. Rotating out their toys periodically—and regularly introducing new ones— maintains novelty and excitement about playtime.

Why do I need to rotate out my cat's toys?

In the wild, cats don’t encounter the same prey over and over again. Their environment is constantly changing, offering all kinds of sights, smells and tactile sensations. To satisfy their natural hunting instincts, indoor cats rely on their humans to recreate this stimuli at home through enriching toys and activities.

When the same toys are always immediately accessible to your cat, they lose their novelty. Rotating toys (putting them away, replacing them with other toys and reintroducing them later) helps reset your cat's interest. That feather wand or catnip plushie feels fresh and exciting again, triggering their innate prey drive.

How can I tell if my cat needs more enrichment?

Cats need more than food, water and a comfy bed to stay healthy and happy! As natural hunters, they need plenty of opportunities to stalk, pounce, climb and explore. If your cat is getting into more mischief than usual and has a clean bill of physical health, they are probably bored and lacking enrichment. 

Signs that your cat might need more enrichment include:

• Increased meowing
• Destructive or attention-seeking behaviours (e.g. scratching the sofa or eating houseplants)
• Over-grooming (excessively licking or biting their fur, sometimes leading to bald spots)
• Weight gain
• Lethargy
• Irritability or even aggression

You can easily create enrichment (step-by-step):

1. Regularly introduce fresh toys
Introduce toys with different scents, materials and interactive features (e.g. crinkle, feathers, catnip, rope or built-in scratchers)

2. Keep only a handful of toys accessible at a time
Keep only a few toys out at once so they stay interesting

3. Rotate toys out regularly
Rotate toys in and out to keep things feeling new

4. Offer treats with different textures and flavours
Offer treats with a mix of textures and flavours

5. Play with your cat
Encourage socialization and bonding through regular play

6. Hide toys and treats around the house
Or use treat puzzles to promote foraging skills

7. Provide a number of vantage points around the home
(e.g. cat towers, climbing shelves or bookcases they can jump onto)

8. Provide a variety of scratching surfaces around the house

9. Take your cat for walks with a leash and harness
Or build an enclosed catio space

Toys are the one of the best ways to provide your cat enrichment because they mimic the experience of hunting and catching prey. However, simply giving them toys is not enough; swapping out toys, offering a variety of toys that appeal to different senses, and regularly adding new toys to the rotation will prevent kitty from getting bored.

Frequently asked questions about toy rotation

How often should I rotate out my cat's toys?

You should rotate out your cat's toys about once a week. This will help maintain their interest in playtime and make old toys feel new again.

How often should I give my cat new toys?

Adding new toys into the rotation about once a month or every other month will create even more excitement and give your cat completely new opportunities to explore.

How many cat toys should I leave out?

Leaving out 5-7 cat toys at a time will offer your cat variety without overstimulating them.

What types of cat toys should I leave out?

Offer your cat variety by leaving out a selection of toys that encourage different hunting instincts and play styles. A good combination would be a chaser, wool toy, feather kicker, catnip plushie and scratcher toy, for example.

Should I put away my cat's toys at night?

No; in fact, the opposite! Cats often get late-night "zoomies" because they are crepuscular animals, meaning they (and their hunting instincts) are most active at dawn and dusk. Leaving out cat toys at night lets kitty release any pent-up energy without feeling the urge to pounce on your feet. Soft toys like plushies, kickers and felt catnip toys are ideal for night time play.

Keep playtime fresh 

Monthly or every other month cat subscription box, meowbox

Maintaining your cat's interest in toys and providing enrichment is easy when you have a steady flow of new and exciting goodies on hand. With adorable monthly themes, intentionally-designed toys and high-quality treats in every box, a meowbox subscription brings kitty's toy rotation to the next level. 

Try meowbox here!