Are there safe alternatives to catnip toys?

My old tabby, Max, had a sensitive stomach, so I avoided catnip altogether. At first, I worried he’d be bored. But then I introduced crinkle balls and soft plush mice. The moment he batted the crinkle ball across the floor, his ears perked up and he chased it like it was alive. His happy “chirps” filled the room. For him, the sound and unpredictability replaced the excitement other cats got from catnip. Safe alternatives don’t just mean avoiding catnip—they mean finding what sparks your cat’s natural hunting instincts. For Max, those little crackly sounds became his greatest joy, and my living room turned into his jungle.