Target's Adorable Corn Cat Toy Looks Straight From a Tiny Farmers Market
Cats have a way of becoming deeply obsessed with the most random objects imaginable. Expensive electronic toy? Ignored. Fancy climbing structure? Maybe later. But a weirdly textured plush object shaped like produce? Suddenly, it is the most important thing in the house.
That may explain why food-themed cat toys have continued to dominate pet aisles. They combine novelty with textures cats already enjoy batting, kicking and chasing around the house. Many of them also double as genuinely funny decor pieces left sitting on the floor between play sessions. Target's latest cat toy fits perfectly into that trend with a plush corn-shaped design that honestly looks like it belongs at a miniature farmers market.
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Boots & Barkley Corn Kicker Plush Cat Toy, $4.99 at Target
The Boots & Barkley Corn Kicker Plush Cat Toy from Target is designed with textured yellow fabric, soft green husks and crinkly material intended to keep cats engaged during play. The toy also includes catnip inside to encourage kicking, chasing and batting behavior.
The shape itself works especially well for kicker-style play. Many cats instinctively grab elongated toys with their front paws before bunny-kicking them dramatically with their back legs like tiny professional wrestlers. And honestly, the fluffy corn silk detail at the top somehow makes the whole thing even funnier.
Food-inspired pet toys have become increasingly popular because they tap into two trends at once. Pet parents love playful novelty designs, while cats often respond strongly to mixed textures and lightweight shapes they can easily toss around. The crinkly surface on this toy helps add extra sensory stimulation without relying on electronics or loud noises.
Related: Target's Cooling Dog Bed Might Be Summer's Smartest Pet Buy
The design also feels very aligned with the current cottagecore and farmers market aesthetic that keeps showing up across home and lifestyle products. It is the kind of toy people leave sitting out because it actually looks cute.
Cats continue finding entertainment in the weirdest everyday objects, too. We recently covered a hilariously stubborn feline in its story about a cat playing King of the Mountain with a dog and lamb toy, proving once again that cats can emotionally attach themselves to basically anything.
And for pet parents leaning into more coordinated home decor overall, stylish pet accessories have become increasingly common. Even multifunctional pieces like this small round side end table with a hideout for your cat reflect how much people now want pet products that blend into their aesthetic.
At under $5, this corn toy feels like one of those easy impulse buys people grab during a Target run and immediately regret not buying sooner once their cat starts carrying it around the house like prized produce.
Related: Target's Tiny Lounge Chair Cat Bed Is Giving Luxury Vacation Energy
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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 1:30 PM.