This $4 Cat Toy Is 'Worth Its Weight In Gold' And Behaviorists Say There's A Reason

HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently selected by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change. The experts consulted for this story do not necessarily endorse the products ahead unless otherwise noted.

There is an iconic reviewer photo that any shopping writer who covers pets is probably familiar with. It shows a reviewers cat leaping , paws-out, into the air with the gusto youd think only happens in cartoons.

Not so. The culprit? The Cat Dancer , a cult-favorite cat toy that reviewers call the greatest cat toy ever and worth its weight in gold .

On first glance, the toy may not look like much: a springy piece of steel wire with cardboard rolls at the end. But its simplicity is part of its genius, according to an expert, and its design is more thoughtful and cat-informed than you might think.

The Cat Dancer toy brilliantly taps into a cats hunting instincts, Stephanie Merlin , a certified feline behavior specialist and cat wellbeing educator , told HuffPost. Domestic cats still possess the natural drive to chase and capture prey [and] the quick, erratic movements of the cardboard [mimic] the behavior of small prey.

Plus, as opposed to the colorful fabric wands often associated with cats, The wire is nearly invisible to cats , especially since their eyesight is better at a distance, Merlin explained. As a result, your cat can focus on the cardboards prey-like movement, getting into the proverbial zone for hunting and playing.

The Cat Dancers ingenuity also lies in its stimulation of your cats taste and auditory senses. Many of us associate dogs with a love of chewing and licking, but cats enjoy doing so, too. The cardboard is satisfying to bite, Merlin added, [and the] auditory element when shuffled across the floor or moved through the air increas[es] the excitement.

All in all, a stimulating and interactive toy like the Cat Dancer can help keep your kittys mind sharp and help combat boredom and stress, according to Merlin. Itll also help your cat channel those wild instincts safely, Merlin noted, instead of acting out or damaging your belongings. Plus, playing with an interactive toy like the Cat Dancer will help strengthen your bond with your feline, according to Merlin.

I concur with 29,000 other 5-star ratings on Amazon : My cat goes absolutely nuts for this toy. She loves stalking it, leaping dramatically in the air (and sometimes catching it!) before settling down and gnawing blissfully on its cardboard ends. I also love how much enjoyable exercise it gives her: Shes noticeably satisfied and tuckered out after a session with this. Plus, she sleeps better at night meaning I dont get woken up early in the morning.

Im convinced that the Cat Dancer is a true no-brainer addition to any cat owners toy arsenal, a mainstay thats more than earned its place. It neednt replace all your other toys its good to have different options for your kitty to play with but the Dancer is one of a kind for its stimulation of cats natural instincts, its hardiness and its versatility.

Thats not even to mention its incredible affordability, costing less than $5 for a toy thats more than worth its salt. If you use it so much that you do have to replace it, no problem thats the beauty of it being $4 and so clearly beloved. Reviewers report that they usually replace theirs with a fresh one every four to five months.

Grab a Cat Dancer toy for your cat from Amazon now , or read on for what reviewers have to say:

Who knew that a small piece of rolled up brown paper at the end of a length of wire would be so compelling to the feline brain? Our cats lose their minds when this toy comes out and go full predator. Its got to be the springy movement. Ive secured one end to the top of a wicker hamper and kept them (and myself) entertained for days. Scenic Ways

Ive never seen my cats go crazier with a toy! They are also a little bit older and its hard to get them jazzed about playing and this toy instantly intrigues them and gets them going. Its also so cheap and you barely have to move your arm when playing which I love. Going to buy this for every cat I know! Cherise Alexander

Weve bought my cat other expensive highly rated toys. Battery operated birds. Catnip pillows, toy mice, etc. Nothing piques his interest EXCEPT THIS. My 12 year old, neutered, overweight cat actually swats at this thing and pounces on it like the cats in the picture. Its nice to see him energetic and enthusiastic about something. Worth every penny. Rigby

I bought this cat toy based on a recommendation from a friend. Based on the looks of it, I didnt have high expectations but figured for the price, why not try it. Now I recommend this to every cat owner I know. My cat is older and would hibernate all winter. This toy actually brings her out of hibernation and gets her active again. She wants to play with it all of the time. For something so simple, it is one of my best Amazon purchases! A. Sloan

My cats absolutely adore this toy. Its super worth it. They chase after it vigorously the best toy to capture silly pictures and videos of your cats with. Your cats will thank you after you play with this! wileyone