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A friend of mine recently got a kitten, and she was now going through the teething stage. Little Nala was biting everything from the remote control to wires, and my friend asked for my help.
I went through a similar thing when I was a first-time cat owner with my cat, so I really sympathized and suggested a cat teething toy to start – like the Petstages Catnip and Dental Health Cat Toy.
It’s cheap, durable, and my kitten really liked chewing on it during that time!
- Food safe non-toxic rubber
- Variety of chewable textures
- Durable
- Cleans teeth
- Catnip oil keeps the cat interested and engaged
But the best kitten teething toy for my cat may not be the best for yours. Maybe your kitten is not affected by catnip, or likes to bite on different materials, like a harder plastic.
Which is why I listed other great teething toys in many other categories. At the end you’ll find a buyers guide and practical advice for how to help feline friends through their teething stage.
These are the products we review in this article (not all shown):
- Bright novelty designs are fun for owners and pets alike
- Mesh fabric exterior provides gentle dental cleaning
- Stuffed with dried catnip so will be endlessly entertaining
Leaps & Bounds Little Paws Teething Mouse
- Several textures and consistencies for varied interest
- Hard plastic ears great for cats who prefer a firmer surface
- Large, soft body works well for cuddling and kicking.
Pet Craft Supply Cactus Chew Toy
- Easy to clean, dishwasher safe
- Bright colors and unique shape will engage cat’s interest
- Removable catnip bags
Togudot Cat Toys Ball Chew Toy
- Brightly colored, ball design will pique your cat’s interest
- High quality latex is easy to clean
- Ten pieces to one order
WoLover Natural Matatabi Silvervine Sticks
- More potent that catnip
- Wood texture works well for cats who like a harder surface to chew on
- Twenty pieces to a bundle lasts a long time
YEOWWW! DuckyWorld 100% ORGANIC CATNIP Leaf & Flower Cat Toy BANANA 3 PACK
- Loaded with leaf and flower-top catnip
- 3-pack order keeps toy on hand
- 6-inch-long design is easy for cats to hold
- Overall Best Cat Teething Toy
- Best Dental Chew Toy
- Awesome Toy for Cats That Like to Chew Plastic
- Best Rubber Teething Toy for Kittens
- Best Ball Style Cat Teething Toy
- Best Cat Chew Sticks
- Catnip Overload Teething Toy for Kittens
- Also Great Cat Teething Toy
- All You Need to Know About Kittens and Teething
- Signs of Teething
- How to Choose Good Kitten Teething Toys
- Maintaining Interest in Toys
- Homemade Cat Teething Toys
- Frequently Asked Questions
Overall Best Cat Teething Toy
- Food safe non-toxic rubber
- Variety of chewable textures
- Durable
- Cleans teeth
- Catnip oil keeps the cat interested and engaged
The Petstages Chew Wheel is my selection for the overall best teething toy for kittens. This great toy is comprised of a food safe rubber and fabric streamers, providing different surfaces and textures for your cat to enjoy.
The spokes and ridges of the rubber wheel help to clean your cat’s teeth, assisting in their dental health while also providing enriching play. This toy is also infused with catnip oil, which will help redirect your teething cat’s attention away from surfaces they should not chew.
Instead, they will delight in the energizing thrill of the catnip oil and quickly make this one of their favorite cat teething toys. Current owners rave about how much their kittens love to bat around this toy, providing hours of entertainment.
It is small and light enough for small kittens to carry around in their mouth, while still being large enough to not be easily lost. The Petstages Chew Wheel would be a great toy to start any collection of toys for your beloved kitten.
What We Liked:
- Food safe non-toxic rubber
- Variety of chewable textures
- Durable enough
- Cleans teeth
- Catnip oil keeps the cat interested and engaged
What We Didn’t Like:
- Small size could be too little as cats grow
- Not indestructible
Best Dental Chew Toy
- Bright novelty designs are fun for owners and pets alike
- Mesh fabric exterior provides gentle dental cleaning
- Stuffed with dried catnip so will be endlessly entertaining
The Petstages Catnip Foodies Toys provide cute, effective options to help not only your teething kitten, but any cat that could use gentle teeth cleaning. The soft, mesh material on the outside of these kitten chew toys will clean off plaque and tartar from your pets’ teeth as they enjoy the sensation on their gums.
The bright colors and unique shapes will provide hours of entertainment for your cat as they scratch, tackle, and pounce on their new toy. The Catnip Foodies Toys come stuffed with dried catnip, creating another incentive for your kitten to learn positive chewing behavior and encouragement to leave your furniture and fingers alone!
Several of the style options for the Catnip Foodies Toys also include a crinkle effect, so your cat will have several senses stimulated while playing with just one toy. Several owners mentioned that this toy was a favorite of not only their teething kitten, but older cats, small dogs – even a hedgehog!
What We Liked:
- Bright novelty designs are fun for owners and pets alike
- Mesh fabric exterior provides gentle dental cleaning
- Stuffed with dried catnip so will be endlessly entertaining
What We Didn’t Like:
- Dried catnip can be too weak for some cats to be affected
- Aggressive chewers may be able to tear toy
Awesome Toy for Cats That Like to Chew Plastic
- Several textures and consistencies for varied interest
- Hard plastic ears great for cats who prefer a firmer surface
- Large, soft body works well for cuddling and kicking.
The Leaps & Bounds Little Paws Teething Mouse is an awesome toy for cats who like to chew hard plastic. This uniquely designed kitten teething toy provides an endearing mouse stuffie with durable plastic ears.
These sturdy ears will be perfect for your kitten who likes to have a unique but tough surface to gnaw on. The large, soft body works well for cats who like to grip toys in their paws while chewing or can act as a great kicker toy!
In addition, the torso of this mouse toy features netting, giving yet another surface for your kitten to explore. Kittens who aren’t satisfied with simple fabric toys may find the multiple distinctive textures to be exciting enough to keep them engaged.
If your pet enjoys a harder plastic with nubs, the ears on this toy are firmer than many rubber or soft plastic toys. Owners find the cute mouse shape to be a fun addition to their stash of engaging teething toys for cats.
What We Liked:
- Several textures and consistencies for varied interest
- Hard plastic ears great for cats who prefer a firmer surface
- Large, soft body works well for cuddling and kicking.
What We Didn’t Like:
- No noise effect may affect continued interest
- Aggressive chewers may be able to tear apart
Best Rubber Teething Toy for Kittens
Pet Craft Supply Cactus Cat Chew Toy
The Pet Craft Supply Interactive Cat Chew Toy will excite any teething kitten who prefers the consistency of rubber toys. Designed in a fun cactus shape, this toy is made of non-toxic, safe, and 100% natural rubber.
The durable construction and irregular nubs help clean your cat’s teeth, eliminating odor, plaque, and tartar. The bright color will attract the attention of your teething cat and will be easy for you to find as well!
A removable catnip bag is included, creating more options for engaging your cat. Even better, this kitten chew toy is dishwasher safe, ensuring ease to sanitize this kitten teething toy.
Reviewers love the novel design, the rubber surface and the ease of cleaning.
What We Liked:
- Easy to clean, dishwasher safe
- Bright colors and unique shape will engage cat’s interest
- Removable catnip bags
What We Didn’t Like:
- Aggressive chewers may be able to tear apart
[amazon box=”B088VYSRMC” image_size=”small” title=”Pet Craft Supply Cactus Cat Chew Toy” description=”none”]
Best Ball Style Cat Teething Toy
- Brightly colored, ball design will pique your cat’s interest
- High quality latex is easy to clean
- Ten pieces to one order
The Togudot Cat Toys Ball Chew Toy comes with several toy balls in one order! These brightly colored, non-toxic balls are made out of a high-quality latex material that your cat will love to chew on.
Measuring at 1.5 inches, these balls will be small enough for your cat to comfortably chew, while not becoming a choking hazard. The easy to clean latex surface is perfect for both indoor and outdoor pets, so if your kitty likes to play in your backyard, you can easily allow them to take these with them.
With ten balls in one order, these will entertain your pet throughout their entire play area. Each ball can bounce against hard surfaces, so your cat will enjoy chasing this toy throughout the house!
It offers opportunities not only to soothe and comfort teething kittens, but entertainment that will continue throughout your cat’s life.
What We Liked:
- Brightly colored, ball design will pique your cat’s interest
- High quality latex is easy to clean
- Ten pieces to one order
What We Didn’t Like:
- Small size could get lost under furniture
- Some owners complain of an initial chemical smell
Best Cat Chew Sticks
- More potent that catnip
- Wood texture works well for cats who like a harder surface to chew on
- Twenty pieces to a bundle lasts a long time
Silvervine is a cat friendly, safe and non-toxic plant that cats enjoy like catnip! The WoLover Natural Matatabi Silvervine Sticks provide an unusual wood texture for your kitten to teeth on.
These unprocessed sticks are ideal for the household that doesn’t like to use synthetic materials, and with twenty pieces to a package, one bunch will provide long lasting relief.
The high potency level of this silvervine will produce delightful results from your feline friend, including purring, rolling and licking – it is several times more potent than catnip!
The texture of the silvervine sticks will exfoliate your cat’s mouth, giving a great deep clean. You will need to cut off the outer layer before giving to your cat, but their enjoyment will make the extra effort more than worth it.
Multiple owners mentioned that their cardboard loving cats were especially interested in the silvervine sticks, so keep in mind for your cardboard loving cat.
What We Liked:
- More potent that catnip
- Wood texture works well for cats who like a harder surface to chew on
- Twenty pieces to a bundle lasts a long time
What We Didn’t Like:
- You will need to cut away the bark so your cat can access the wood
- Some cats may not enjoy the high potency of the silvervine
Catnip Overload Teething Toy for Kittens
- Loaded with leaf and flower-top catnip
- 3-pack order keeps toy on hand
- 6-inch-long design is easy for cats to hold
The YEOWWW DuckyWorld Banana Cat Toy 3-pack is wonderful for cats who greatly enjoy their catnip. Stuffed with leaf and flower-top catnip, this is an entertaining, soft chew toy for your teething kitten.
The 3-pack ensures that you can keep one on hand at any time for your teething kitten. Measuring around 6 inches long, this chew toy also works well as a cuddle buddy or kicker toy.
The banana shape is easy for cats to grab ahold of and carry throughout their territory. The abundance of catnip will help to keep your cat enthralled with this distinctly designed teething toy.
Over 89% of 2,250 online reviews rate this teething toy with 5/5 stars. Owners describe their cats as “obsessed with this toy”, “crazy for this banana”, and “absolutely in love”.
What We Liked:
- Loaded with leaf and flower-top catnip
- 3-pack order keeps toy on hand
- 6-inch-long design is easy for cats to hold
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not fit for aggressive chewers
Also Great Cat Teething Toy
The Potaroma Flopping Fish is a hilarious and effective cat teething toy that will amuse you and your pet. This 10.5” long, flopping fish design has an automatic, built-in motion detector that will trigger this fish into a flopping action.
This activity is sure to enthrall your kitten as they practice their hunting and pouncing skills. The handy motion sensor ensures that the charge won’t be run down by non-stop flopping motions, and the toy does not move unless triggered.
Not only will your cat fulfill their teething needs on the soft plush, but the flopping fish will encourage interactive exercise and play. This flopping fish toy has no need for disposable batteries, as it comes with a convenient USB charging motor.
That motor also can be conveniently removed, so this fish toy can be safely cleaned. The enclosed catnip has also been vacuum-sealed, ensuring freshness when this enchanting teething toy arrives.
What We Liked:
- Large size works for kittens or for cats
- Interactive flopping motion encourages exercise as well as teething
- Hilarious design is entertaining for the whole family
What We Didn’t Like:
- Needs to be charged in order for flopping motion to work
- Motion can intimidate or confuse some cats
All You Need to Know About Kittens and Teething
One of the most adorable wonders this world has to offer is a kitten. The playfulness, adventurousness and curiosity of a young cat can bring untold joy to their paw-rent.
That cute, cuddly kitten will grow up to be a lifelong friend and companion. However, along with the fluffier features of a kitten, they also come are known for their razor-sharp teeth and claws.
These teeth come hard earned by your pet, as they first will get a set of baby teeth, then a set of adult teeth. This process is similar to a human child teething and can cause your kitten a great deal of pain and irritation.
The first set of baby teeth are well known for being razor sharp but are not strong enough for the needs of your adult cat. These baby teeth will fall out as they are being replaced by the more durable adult teeth.
When?
The first stage of teething will occur around two weeks old, when your kitten is getting their first baby teeth. This process will continue until about eight weeks of age, when your kitten should have all 26 of his or her baby teeth.
You and your cat will have a brief respite here, until those baby teeth start falling out around twelve weeks of age. The adult incisors will begin erupting between three and four months of age, followed by the canine teeth at five months.
At six months of age, your cat’s premolars and molars will start descending. Your cat should have all 30 of their adult teeth by around eight months of age.
How Long?
If you adopted your kitten around the recommended twelve weeks of age, the teething process should begin soon after bringing your kitty home.
It will take about five additional months for the full cycle of growing adult teeth to finish. As you can see, teething is quite the ordeal!
Signs of Teething
Most people associate kittens teething with gnawing on the curtains, furniture, electrical cables, or even their owners’ hands.
However, there are many indicators that the teething cycle has begun. If your kitten is struggling with the pain and irritation of teething, they may act like they are unwell.
They may not show interest in food, reduce their grooming frequency, or flinch away from pets on their head or face.
Your kitten may begin to rub their face on various surfaces, trying to find pressure that reduces the pain. Once those teeth have started to break through the gums, the telltale chewing behavior will follow.
How to Help
It is difficult to watch our beloved animals in pain. Thankfully, there are several ways that you can help your kitten get through the difficult teething times.
- Find a variety of cat chew toys for teething, and make sure they are accessible in all of your cats’ favorite locations throughout the house. Leave them out especially when they are home alone.
- Teething toys for kittens not only help soothe the frustration of teething, but offers opportunities for important, meaningful play with your tiny companion early in life.
- Have at least one made out of rubber, as it is soft enough for the worst teething days.
- Practicing veterinarian Deb M. Eldredge, DVM recommends freezing a washcloth or toy soaked in broth to create a kitten pacifier. This will help to numb their gums and take away some of their pain.
How to Choose Good Kitten Teething Toys
When picking a toy, always keep these factors in mind.
Materials
The materials that make up your kitten teething toys are crucial. They want something soft enough to not cause pain to their sensitive gums, but that is still firm enough for them to bite down on.
Check that the toys are made from safe, non-toxic materials that are safe for your young cat to have in their mouth. Different kittens have different preferences, so try out a few different materials.
Rubber, wood, and soft plastic are great for the kitten who likes to sink their teeth in. Stuffed toys made from thick, durable fabric may be best for the kitten who doesn’t want much resistance.
Construction
Keep in mind that kittens don’t know the limits of their own strength! The world is new to them, as well as the incoming teeth. Look for a toy that is well constructed and will hold up against the rigors of a playful cat.
Avoid small pieces that can break off, creating sharp and uncomfortable edges. Avoid stuffed toys that seem to be glued together and opt for quality stitching.
My cat is a Maine Coon so she had big paws and plays hard, so I keep build quality top of mind when choosing her toys.
Safety
Your teething pet is, after all, a baby! Just like a parent who is mindful of potential hazards for a crawling infant, cat owners are mindful of the hazards available to their kittens.
Make sure that your kitten only has access to surfaces that would be safe for them to chew. Secure electrical cords and cables out of reach of your kitten, as chewing through such cords can be very dangerous.
Keep plants out of your home that could be poisonous to your pet, especially if they are toxic when ingested.
Design and Interest
Look at the design of available kitten teething toys and select those that will keep the interest of your kitten. Do they like feathers? Bells? Catnip?
Try to find a number of toys with different designs, so your cat has the opportunity to try out options and find the toy that fits their needs.
Ease of Cleaning
Just like most pet products, you want to find products that are easy to clean! Our furry loved ones can create quite a mess, and it’s imperative that their favorite toys can be quickly cleaned and put back into rotation.
Teething kittens can sometime bleed from their gums, so their teething toys may end up bloody. This will not only help keep your house clean, but also keep your pet healthy.
Maintaining Interest in Toys
We all know cats are finicky, and as a kitten paw-rent, you’ll learn soon too! Just wait until Fluffy chooses to play with the box a toy came in rather than the toy itself! That being said, how do keep the toys we have stimulating?
Rotate Toys
Young cats are very curious and daring, regularly seeking out new experiences and adventures.
Make sure that you have an arsenal of toys for your teething cat, so that you can rotate out which toys are available for them to play with.
Don’t let boredom with available toys keep your kitten from finding relief of their teething symptoms.
Catnip or Catnip Spray
Catnip is not necessary for teething toys but can certainly be an added benefit! Catnip toys will often keep the attention and devotion of your kitten longer than non-infused toys.
Several teething kitten toys will come with catnip within the toy, often in a stuffed fabric toy design. Another option available is to acquire catnip spray, so that you can liven up a regular toy with the appeal of catnip.
Variety of Toys
While your kitten may seem to favor one type of toy or another, keep expanding their horizons by providing a variety of toys. Fabric toys can be easily batted around while also providing a soft surface to chew on.
Many harder plastic toys will have nubs or textured surfaces, which can be especially satisfying for a teething kitten.
Flossing toys can be extra useful for getting up close to those teething gums and comforting the area around the erupting teeth. Try to pick a broad range of toys with diverse materials and designs, to give your kitten plentiful choices.
Homemade Cat Teething Toys
While there are thousands of options available to purchase teething toys for kittens, there are also alternatives for homemade solutions.
Frozen Washcloth
Wet down a clean washcloth and place it in the freezer. Once the washcloth has frozen, give it to your kitten to play with. Make sure the washcloth is sturdy so that your kitten does not tear a piece off to be accidentally swallowed.
Sock Toys
Utilize some of your lone socks whose partners have long been lost to the laundry.
Stuff a sock with another rolled up sock. Tie a knot in the outer sock, or close with a knot of yarn. Leaving long tails of yarn can help add to your kitten’s interest in the toy.
Upcycling Cardboard
Using old cardboard tubes from toilet paper or paper towels can make great and inexpensive cat toys. Use non-toxic glue or cotton yarn to attach bells, feathers or other decorations.
Make sure all of your additions are securely attached and monitor any kitten playing with a homemade toy, in case it comes apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do cats need teething toys?
Cats do not “need” toys like they need food and water, but they are certainly an extra bonus. Teething kittens will greatly benefit from the pain relief of kitten chew toys.
How long does teething last for cats?
Teething lasts for cats from two weeks to eight months, with a little break in between baby teeth and adult teeth.
What can teething cats chew on?
Teething cats can chew on cat teething toys, frozen washcloths, handmade teething toys, or other safe surfaces. Make sure that your teething kitten is not chewing on anything that could be hazardous to their health.
I’m Gary Hu, a proud cat dad to a 15 lb Maine Coon. Have taken care of outdoor and indoor cats for over 10 years, and learned tons on behavior, habits, health, and products. I help new Maine Coon (or any other cat) parents with common questions and issues based on real, practical experience.
