Cat Dancer -The Original Interactive Cat and Kitten Toy Size:Pack of 3

I first saw one of these about twenty years ago, and quickly formed the opinion that this is the best cat toy I have ever seen. It’s just little bits of cardboard on either end of a coiled wire, but when you move or twist it, the cardboard on the end flutters like a moth. (We call it “Mothie”.) Every cat I have tried it with is instantly fascinated, even cats that turn their noses up at catnip mice, feather toys, things on strings, and laser toys. Every day, my partner’s cat walks over to where it is and looks at me as though to say “OK, let’s play Mothie”, and other toys are just no substitute. Her previous cat was hard to get to play, but went crazy going after any flying insects that got into the house. When I got her one of these, her eyes immediately lit up and suddenly she wanted to play. The tension in the wire seems just right to allow different types of movement depending on how you hold it – bobbing up and down, swishing from side to side, or (if you twist it just right) fluttering like a real flying insect. I think that’s what makes cats’ eyes light up when they see it: it seems like a real insect that needs to be caught. For a piece of wire and a bit of cardboard, it is surprisingly durable. It will last for months of daily play. I thought a cat would quickly chew the cardboard to bits, but it seems to be remarkably tough. Eventually, the wire will lose some of its bounce or the cardboard bits will separate and slide up the string and it won’t seem alive anymore. But it’s cheap to replace, and can be bought in a 3-pack. I would be cautious about how you whip it around. You don’t NEED to thrash it about hard to get the cat’s attention, and the wire is stiff enough to sting the cat if you accidentally slap it with the wire. The motion of the curved wire is also a bit unpredictable, and I’ve hit both myself and the cat in the face with it a few times, and try to make sure I don’t hit either of us in the eye. And if the cat has it in its claws or mouth, don’t yank it, because it’s wire, not soft string or yarn. Experiment with different motions – little twists with the fingers, and holding the curve of the wire at different angles – to find what generates the realistic motions that your cat responds to. It’s hard to predict exactly how it’s going to move, but with a little practice you’ll learn how to produce different felitropic motions. This is a “chase and catch” toy, and if your cat likes to play at chewing or tearing at its “catch”, you’ll want to have another toy ready for that, as there’s not much to bite and it’s too small to grab with all fours. But the cat I use it with is happy to stalk off to the other side of the room and get ready for another running pounce. Really, if you know a cat that has lost interest in its toys, you really need to try this one

My adult kitties absolutely love the Cat Dancer and will play until they are out of breath. It's very interactive and allows me to play actively with them. The cardboard twisty bits tend to come loose and move around, but they do get chewed on quite a bit in my household. The steel dances wildly and not one of my adult kitties can resist the toy! We've been playing with them together for many years and I just bought this pack to have some more. They don't really "wear out" but it's nice to have a new one every now and then.

The best cat toys ever!

Cats love this simple toy!

My CAT looks for these, she goes crazy in play.

My cat loves these things. Hours and hours of fun for him, and they're pretty inexpensive so that's all good. My only concern is that the quality control is sketchy. Often the wire ends are left very sharp. I really wish they would spend the time to file those edges down. Cats have these toys waving around in front of their eyes, and the toy is meant for them to bite. It really needs to have zero sharp edges.

We've had 3 generations of 6 cats who have absolutely adored this toy! Our current 2 kitties look forward to their Cat Dancer playtime every evening. In fact, they now race into our family room when my husband turns on the TV because they know that's when he'll bring out the Cat Dancer toys! It is my mission in life to spoil my kitties, and I have bought them many, many cat toys over the years at all price points. But I would have to say that this toy remains #1 on their play list! There are no batteries, cords, or lights and sounds to think about with this toy. There is no assembly to worry about, and it takes up very little space. We replenish our supply of Cat Dancers a few times a year, after our kitties have played with them extensively. I HIGHLY recommend this toy for felines and feline lovers everywhere!

Honestly I cannot believe and would love to meet the genius that came up with the idea to make a toy for cats by putting a few pieces of cardboard on the end of a long piece of wire. It's got to be the most simple, ridiculous brilliant toy ever and the only thing upsetting about it is that it wasn't me who figured it out first!!!!!!! Oh... that and she won't play alone!!! Bravo!!!!!!!!! Tap those fingers as fast as you can to get this; I promise you won't be sorry. No, nobody paid me to endorse this product. Missy's a rescue who is afraid of boxes and a sneeze will still send her running under the bed for a few minutes....but she LOVES this toy! I just don't get it........

This is *the best* laser alternative if you have a cat with a laser "addiction" - way more tactile and stimulating for the cat. For whatever reason, my cat is obsessed. This 3 pack is the only pack that has value for money as of writing this review. As great as the toy is, any price over $5/toy is egregious. It really is just cardboard and wire. Excellent toy and lasts a long time, but not actually worth over paying for.

Works well; I only wish my cat didn’t suss out that I’m at the other end of it so quickly and disengage. 😞

Overpriced. Worried about using wire with cat. Made me wonder why I didn’t just make something like this and charge $25 for it…

Je recommande ce produit de très bonne qualité et très bien étudié. J'ai offert son 1er cat-dancer il y a 6 mois à une amie pour son chat du Bengal. Il se régale avec, autant quand on y joue avec lui en l'agitant devant et derrière lui (que ce soit au sol, dans les airs) et le chat vire-volte, saute, bondit etc... comme après un animal au sol ou un insecte dans les airs. Son chat du Bengal est capable d'y jour 15 mn d'affilée quand c'est un humain qui joue avec (après il faut qu'il souffle tellement il se dépense, mais il adore ça et peut y jouer plusieurs fois dans la journée, il fait parfaitement le faire comprendre à sa maitresse); mais le plus amusant à voir c'est ... qu'il retourne y jouer TOUT SEUL quand personne n'a le temps d'y jouer avec lui ou que tout le monde dort. Et ouf, c'est un jeu qui ne fait pas de bruit la nuit. Bonne idée pour offrir en cadeau.

I've been purchasing this toy for over 30 years and it is no fail fun. It's inexpensive, fairly durable (it takes them a long time to completely destroy), and their leaping and lunging is hilarious. Skip the fancy toys. Cat Dancer is inexpensive interactive fun with your cat ... did I mention hilarious?