Cats will play will almost anything that moves, rolls, or has anything that resembles a tail. Toys for cats are not really any different from toys for kittens, although they may be a little larger. There are many choices if you go to buy toys for cats and it can be difficult to choose the correct one. Many a cat owner has spent good money on toys for cats and then discovered that their favourite kitty was not interested at all in their new toy.
The most important thing of all is that toys for cats should be totally safe for your pet to play with. Watching your cat as it plays will show you exactly what it likes to play with, and is interested in, so spend a little while watching and find out what your particular cat enjoys most. Some cats, for example will leap up and down at things that dangle down, like a piece of string, but others like to be able to paw and chase a small ball.
Anything that rattles, bounces, rolls around or dangles like a tail will usually amuse a cat, although there are exceptions and cats do tend to differ slightly. If you actually want to get your cat used to the idea of playing with you, a piece of string with feathers attached which you pull along the floor will usually get a reaction and you will find your cat playing at hunting as you move the feathers. Wind up mice and even electronically controlled toys can be a lot of fun but be careful what you buy these because a cat is not very gentle when it plays and a fragile, remote controlled toy is likely to be set upon and flung into the air very quickly. You think you are playing with your cat but he, or she is actually practising hunting skills. Toys for cats need to be strong to stand up to that kind of treatment.
Bought toys for cats can be fun but there are also a number that you can make yourself. Try an empty spool from a reel of thread, a ping pong ball, crumpled up newspaper, or a large paper bag and you will find that you cat makes its own game. Anything that resembles hunting, hiding and stalking prey is a fun game to a cat.
Catnip is a herb that makes even the oldest cats behave like kittens and a little catnip on the floor, or toys for cats which are stuffed with catnip will get your cat excited. Nobody knows why but kittens and adult cats love toys for cats which smell of catnip.
Make sure that your cat plays safely and do not give it anything small enough to swallow, as a toy. Toys for cats need to be carefully chosen where safety is concerned. String or thread may cause choking or get tangled around toes, so anything that involves playing with string should be very carefully supervised.