International Cat Day: Celebrate Your Kitty With Brand New Toys

International Cat Day is here! Meow!

This Friday 8th August 2025, celebrate your furry friend with some extra fun and playtime. Whether your cat is a playful kitten or a laid-back adult, adding new toys to their collection is a fantastic way to keep them entertained and engaged.

Toys don’t just provide endless amusement—they’re also a great way for you to bond and interact with your cat, strengthening your special connection. From feather wands to interactive puzzles, there’s something to delight every feline personality.

Introducing New Toys to Your Cat or Kitten

Providing your cat or kitten with toys is essential for encouraging play and helping them get plenty of exercise all at once. It’s also important for cats to play for mental stimulation and fostering their natural instincts.

To help them understand when it’s ‘play time,’ there are a few simple tricks you can try. Cats have a natural hunting instinct, so acting out a little chase can be very engaging for them. Pick a toy and slowly move it along the floor, just like a small animal trying to escape. Your cat or kitten will likely respond by chasing and pouncing on their “prey.”

Be sure to let them catch and hold onto the toy—it makes the game more satisfying for them. You can repeat this as often as you like but pay attention to their behaviour. If play starts to get too rough or they begin using their claws or seem overexcited, it’s a good idea to pause and give them a break before resuming.

B&M Top Tip: Don't forget to include cat treats for extra enjoyment! This can activate your cat's natural instincts and hunting behaviour.

How do I Know if Toys are Suitable (and Safe)?

There are plenty of toys designed for cats and kittens that are perfectly safe for chewing, clawing and scratching, and won’t have any adverse effects on your little feline’s health. Make sure the toys you buy have the following features:

• Hard-wearing – cats like to use their claws to scratch and it is in their nature to do so. Therefore getting toys that are hard-wearing and can be chewed, scratched or otherwise is always a good idea
• Texture – whilst most hard-wearing materials will do, it is in your best interest to choose toys with a texture that is different from any furniture in the house. If they start associating the couch as a scratching post you will soon realise why!
• Small enough to bat around – there are many different types of toys that cats or kittens can be at play with but to hold their interest it’s preferable to keep them small so your cat or kitten can chase them, pounce on them and generally pretend to hunt
• Avoid sharp edges – since your cat or kitten will do a lot of chewing it’s best you check all toys for sharp edges and any damage before purchase
• Avoid hazardous filling – check the packaging of any toys you purchase to make sure the filling used (if it's a soft toy), isn’t harmful to your cat or kitten, just in case they decide to chew it

B&M Top Tip: if your kitty needs somewhere comfy to sleep, check out our Pet Bedding! They come in lots of different colours to suit your cat's personality!

What Types of Toys are Available?

There are so many different types of toys available for cats and kittens that it can be tricky to decide what to choose—especially when you just want to get them all! Soft toys are often a favourite, but don’t forget about larger items like scratching posts and activity centres. These give your cat or kitten space to explore and play, while helping keep their claws off your furniture.

Here are a few types of toys that are great starting points, but remember, there are plenty more to discover:

• Small balls or rattling toys that encourage chasing and batting
• Catnip-filled toys that tap into their natural hunting instincts
• Scratching posts to satisfy their need to scratch and stretch
• Multi-level play centres or climbing structures to keep them active and entertained

With so many options, you’re sure to find the perfect toys to keep your feline friend happy and engaged.

Share your beloved feline friends on International Cat Day with the B&M community on Facebook, X or Instagram!