Pet Toys

If you have a pet, it’s more than likely that you’ll have a few (or more!) toys lying around your home. Toys are used for many things – as a bonding or play session between pets and owners, as a reward for the pet doing the right thing during a training session, and to keep pets entertained, especially when their owners are away or at work. Pet toys range from simple to sophisticated so you are sure to find one that your pet absolutely loves.

Types of Pet Toys

There is an astonishing array of toys on the market for all kinds of pets – dogs, cats, rats, mice, birds, rabbits, and more. Here are some of the types that you are likely to find:

• Squeaky toys - these toys squeak when the pet chomps on them, steps on them or otherwise. Many pets love these types of toys and they come in all different sizes and designs from a squeaky bone to squeaky animals and more.
• Chew toys - these can keep your pet occupied for hours and satisfy their urge to chew.
• Rope toys - these can be used for tossing to your pet, for playing tug of war, or even for your pet to carry around and chew as they like.
• Balls - one of the most popular and enduring of all pet toys, the humble ball is something that every type of pet loves. Pets love to bat and chase balls themselves or you can use a ball to help entertain and exercise your pet.
• Tunnels - pets love to race through tunnels and go exploring in them. Many also find them a safe place to go to sleep in.
• Boxes - the humble cardboard box is a loved toy as pets can jump in and out of them, hide in them, paw at them, and even chew them.
• Animal toys - this could be anything from the humble toy mouse to toys that look like giraffes, lions, and more.
• Homemade toys - do your pets destroy toys as soon as you buy them? Homemade toys will fit the bill and these include anything from wadded up paper, to pipe cleaners, to balls made from tinfoil, to old bits of rope, to insides of paper towel and toilet rolls and more.
• Simulated “prey” toys - these are toys that are designed to mimic your pet’s prey, and they can move, squeak, vibrate or otherwise simulate prey. Pets love to hunt and stalk these.
• Stuffed toys - pets absolutely love these and they will sleep with them, cuddle up to them, or just carry them around.
• Foraging toys - these encourage your pet to find food within the toy. Generally, you fill the toy with dry food or treats and then give it to your pet.

Choosing Pet Toys

One of the most important things that you need to take into consideration when choosing pet toys is the size. It needs to be large enough so that it is not a potential choking hazard but not so large that your pet is unable to carry it around. You also need to make sure that the toy is safe for your pet. It should be made out of durable materials that are unlikely to break, splinter, tear, or otherwise become damaged. If you do notice that the toy is damaged, you should immediately take it away before your pet has a chance to swallow part of the toy or otherwise injure themselves on it.

Think about what you want the toy to do. If you want your pet to be distracted or occupied by the toy, look for something that will keep their interest (such as interactive toys). If you want to create a play time with your pets, look for something that requires your involvement. You can also find toys that are made for comforting your pet, and this can make them calmer when you cannot be at home.