iPad games for cats

What are the best iPad games for cats?

The most popular cat apps are Games for Cats!, Cat Games, Cat Games for Cats: Fishing, Mouse for Cats and Cat Alone. All are free to download, and most show ads.

Here is how the top cat apps compare. We pulled these details straight from each App Store listing on October 20, 2026. Prices and features change, so check the listing before you buy an upgrade.

Are there iPad games for cats with no ads?

Very few free ones. Most cat apps show ads or sell an upgrade to remove them. Free browser games with no ads are the easiest way around that.

Ads matter more in a cat game than in most apps. A cat tapping the screen can easily open an ad, leave the game or land on a store page. A sudden loud ad can also startle a calm cat.

From our own testing: before we built this site, we tried a lot of the free cat games out there. Our cats played them, but ads kept popping up, and many of the games felt old and hard to use. That’s why every game here is free with no ads, and the full screen mode is paw-proof, so a stray tap can’t open anything.

Cat apps vs. free browser games

Cat apps need a download and usually show ads. Browser games open from a link, work on any device, and can’t fill your iPad with notifications.

To play ours on an iPad, open the fish game in Safari, tap Play, then Start full screen. It works the same way on Android tablets.

What happened to the Friskies cat fishing app?

When we checked in October 2026, Friskies Cat Fishing 2 no longer showed up in the US App Store, and the Friskies cat games page did not load for us.

Cat Fishing was one of the first famous games for cats, so a lot of people still search for it. If you’re after the same idea, a slow pond with fish to tap, our fish game for cats is free and plays in the browser.

Games for cats on a phone or tablet

Phones work, but the small screen means small prey. A tablet is easier for most cats to hit, and a TV is best for just watching.

• Tablet: the sweet spot. Big enough to paw, light enough to lay flat on the floor.
• Phone: fine for a quick game. Keep the brightness up and lay it flat so it can’t slide.
• TV: great for watching. Try Cat TV on a smart TV or a laptop plugged into one.

How to set up an iPad for your cat

Lay the iPad flat on the floor, turn the brightness up, lock the screen to the game, and stay nearby. Keep sessions short.

1. Lay it flat on a rug or the floor, so it can’t be knocked off a table.
2. Lock it to one app. Apple’s Guided Access keeps your cat inside the game. Turn it on in Settings › Accessibility › Guided Access, then triple-click the top button (or the Home button on older iPads) to start it.
3. Protect the screen. A screen protector and trimmed nails help prevent scratches.
4. Stay close and watch for frustration, like nonstop pawing or crying.
5. End with a real catch. Finish with a wand toy or a treat. Our guide to laser pointers explains why the catch matters.

Do cats actually like iPad games?

Many do. Cats react to prey-like movement on a screen, especially fish, bugs and mice in colors they see well, like yellow and blue.

Some cats pounce right away. Others watch for a while first, and some never care. All of those are normal. Our guide Can cats see TV and phone screens? explains what your cat actually sees.