[Cat Toy Review] We gave them an automatic mouse toy... How did our beloved cats react?

Living with cats, I've come to realize that playing with them can be quite a workout. Waving a cat toy around, trying to match the incredible agility of my feline overlords, really takes a lot of energy.

That's why, on busy days, I sometimes have to beg my cats for forgiveness, saying, "I can't play today!" That's where automatic cat toys come in handy. This time, I'll share my honest experience with a toy called "Wicked Mouse," which I bought on Amazon, and my cats' reactions to it.

What is "Wicked Mouse," the automatic moving mouse toy?

"Wicked Mouse" is a mouse-shaped toy that looks a bit like a mini car. It charges via USB, so no batteries are needed. To turn it on and off, you press and hold the mouse's nose.

The mouse's tail glows brightly, making it fun to play with in a dark room. A subtle but welcome feature is that the battery level can be seen by how the tail lights up.

When switched on, the mouse zooms around the room with its tail glowing, stimulating the cat's hunting instincts.

Cats are intelligent creatures, so they quickly get bored with automatic toys that move in predictable patterns, thinking "this is boring..." However, this toy has an obstacle avoidance sensor. When it hits a wall or furniture, it backs up or changes direction. This makes its movements unpredictable, keeping cats engaged longer.

Incidentally, if the toy is left on and the cats don't play with it for a while, it automatically goes into sleep mode. This saves you the minor stress of the toy continuously running even when your cats aren't playing with it.

First encounter with an automatic moving mouse: How did my cats react?

It was probably the first time my cats had ever seen a mouse. And for that first mouse to be not a real one, but an automatically moving toy, well, that's very modern and high-tech.

First, I placed the mouse toy near my cats without turning it on. My cats were immediately intrigued. They rubbed against the toy, meowed as if to say, "Let us play!" Each cat showed their unique way of begging.

Responding to their cute requests, I switched it on, and the mouse zoomed around the room at top speed! My cats reacted in three different ways.

My late cat, Jiji, was generally fearless and would challenge anything, but she seemed overwhelmed by the mouse's speed. Every time it zipped close to her, she'd run under the table, showing little interest.

ネズミに負ける猫。 pic.twitter.com/omUuU7CjFq

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) March 15, 2024

Jiji was always a bit slow, even with regular cat wands; if I swung them too fast, she couldn't follow them with her eyes. So, this high-speed toy might have seemed scary to her.

However, my cats Kotaro and Leon seemed to have their hunting instincts fully awakened by the fast-moving mouse toy. They chased the mouse as it ran into blind spots, delivering cat punches.

ネズミに勝てる猫。 pic.twitter.com/MaQePILHiw

— ゆあ ｜ ライター🖊 (@yunc24291) March 15, 2024

Having learned that "this thing moves!", Kotaro and Leon would even punch the mouse even when it wasn't switched on.

Jiji, on the other hand, developed her own unique game: whenever the toy was switched on, she would dash in a straight line from the living room to the washroom with her tail raised. I wonder if she felt like she was a mouse, playing a game of mouse chase herself...

What I liked and didn't like after using it

What I liked

• It automatically avoids obstacles and corrects its posture, which is convenient.
• It worked even on carpet.
• The glowing tail made it easy to find if it went missing during play.
• The tail is made of a soft material that can be easily bent by hand. I didn't have to worry about my cats getting injured.

What I didn't like

• It moves at such high speed that I worried if it might hurt my cats when it bumped into them.
• It also bumps forcefully into walls and furniture, which might be a concern for renters.
• When it tried to avoid obstacles and right itself, it sometimes couldn't back up properly and would just spin its wheels, getting stuck. Some intervention was occasionally needed.
• I wish the tail was detachable to prevent accidental ingestion.
• When it enters sleep mode and then powers off, it becomes difficult to find if it goes missing.
• I wish it had a timer function.

Even with these suggested improvements, I personally think this toy is a winner. It has been quite helpful on days when I'm exhausted.

However, since the mouse runs at high speed, it might be necessary to consider senior cats by using it for shorter periods or placing carpets to reduce strain on their joints.

Also, as is often the case with automatic toys, if your cat plays with this toy every day, they might get bored. So, it's recommended to introduce other automatic toys, and also play with a regular cat wand yourself, using this toy in moderation.

I introduced this toy a while ago, and I gave this one to my cats. But it seems a type with adjustable speed is also available now.

The new model emits a sound if it stops for a long time, which should help alleviate the minor stress of the toy going missing.

I'm sure there are many cat owners who feel guilty about not having enough time to play with their cats amidst their busy lives. I hope this review can be a small step towards realizing that there are ways to play without having to blame yourself.