Chirping Cat Ball with Touch Sound and Catnip Chamber

Cats that bat a ball across the floor get an extra reward with this one: it makes an animal sound every time a paw touches it lightly. A built-in, sensitive sound generator does the work, so there are no switches to flip and nothing for you to set up. The sounds are meant to mimic the noises of small prey, which gets a cat's attention and encourages stalking, pouncing and chasing.

Each color has its own sound, shown on the boxes: the blue ball makes a frog sound, the red one a bird sound and the yellow one a cricket sound. The ball has a soft, fuzzy finish rather than hard plastic, and a small lid on its surface opens so you can put in catnip, which you supply. Open the lid, add a pinch and press it closed again.

It is a light, single toy, packed at about 4.9 ounces (140 g) in its box, and it suits a smooth floor, where it rolls freely when batted. Remember that a sound toy has a small electronic part inside, so check the surface regularly and stop play if the ball splits or the lid comes loose. The cover can be spot cleaned with a damp cloth; do not soak it. Order one color or pick a few to mix up the sounds around the house.