SmartyKat
SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Mice
Pack of 3 catnip-filled plush mice that rattle and crinkle. Made with pure, potent catnip.
View on AmazonLast updated: 2026-04-01
How we researched this: we compared the manufacturer's specifications and label claims, published guidance and reported owner experience. We have not tested this product ourselves, and nothing here is veterinary advice. Editorial policy
Strengths
- Very affordable
- Catnip-filled
- Crinkle and rattle
- Pure catnip filling
Drawbacks
- Destroyed quickly
- Catnip fades
- Small pieces can come off
SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Mice: In-Depth Research
Editorial analysis by the FurReviews team, based on manufacturer specifications, published guidance and reported owner experience. We have not tested this product ourselves.
Catnip: how it works and who it works on
Catnip contains nepetalactone, which binds to receptors in a cat's nasal tissue and triggers a response that typically lasts about ten minutes, followed by a refractory period of an hour or more during which the cat will not respond again.
Two things owners regularly get wrong:
Catnip is not a drug in any harmful sense. Cats do not become addicted to it, it is not toxic, and a cat that over-indulges simply stops responding for a while.
If catnip does nothing, try these
Two alternatives work on many cats that ignore catnip, and they are the reason not to conclude your cat "doesn't play":
Between catnip, silvervine and valerian, the great majority of cats respond to at least one.
Potency fades, and how to bring it back
Nepetalactone is volatile. A catnip toy left out on the floor for a month has lost most of its punch, and the cat's indifference is about the toy rather than the cat.
Why small plush mice work so well
The shape is not incidental. A mouse-sized, lightweight, slightly irregular object is something a cat can carry in its mouth, bat across a floor, bunny-kick with the back legs, and throw.
That bunny-kick — grabbing with the front paws and raking with the back — is the killing-bite part of the hunting sequence, and a toy the cat can hold and rake is one of the few things that lets a cat complete it alone. A hard ball does not. That is why a cheap plush mouse often gets more use than an expensive toy.
The rattle and crinkle add a prey-like sound cue, which matters for cats that hunt by ear.
Safety, and what to inspect
Small plush toys are generally safe, with three things to check:
Inspect toys periodically and replace rather than repair.
How to use them well
Who should look elsewhere
If your cat does not respond to catnip, try silvervine before concluding it does not play. If your cat disembowels plush toys and eats the filling, use solid rubber or fabric toys without stuffing. And whatever toys you own, the daily wand session with a catch at the end does more for a cat than all of them.
SmartyKat Skitter Critters Catnip Mice: Common Questions
Why doesn't my cat react to catnip?
Roughly a third of cats do not respond at all — the trait is inherited — and kittens under about six months usually do not respond even if they will as adults. Try silvervine, which works on many catnip non-responders, or valerian root. Between the three, the great majority of cats respond to something.
Why has my cat lost interest in its catnip toy?
The catnip has faded. Nepetalactone is volatile, and a toy left on the floor for a month has lost most of its potency. Store catnip toys in a sealed jar between sessions and rotate them — a toy sealed away for a week is genuinely new again.
Is catnip safe for cats?
Yes. It is not toxic and cats do not become addicted. The response lasts about ten minutes and is followed by a refractory period of an hour or more, during which a cat simply will not respond again however much you offer.
Are plush mice safe to leave with my cat?
Mostly, with three checks. Cut off plastic eyes, noses and bells for a determined chewer, bin any toy chewed open so the filling cannot be eaten, and remove string or ribbon tails — swallowed string is a linear foreign body and a serious surgical emergency in cats.
Why do cats like small mouse toys so much?
Because they can hold one in the front paws and rake it with the back legs — the bunny-kick — which is the killing-bite part of the hunting sequence. A toy a cat can grab and rake lets it complete the hunt alone in a way a hard ball cannot.
Where to Buy
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