Pet Toys

A tugger with a padded handle suits a dog who loves a game of tug-of-war and gives you something comfortable to hold onto during an enthusiastic pull. A squeaky toy taps into a strong prey-drive instinct in a lot of dogs, though it's worth supervising a determined dog around the squeaker itself.

Cats are drawn to toys that mimic prey movement — a feather teaser worked by hand, or a toy that rolls or darts unpredictably, tends to hold interest far longer than something static. Catnip toys work brilliantly for some cats and do almost nothing for others, since sensitivity to catnip is partly genetic.

A puzzle feeder or foraging mat turns mealtime into an activity rather than something finished in under a minute, which is genuinely useful for a bored dog or a fast eater. It's mental stimulation as much as physical, and a tired mind settles a restless pet as effectively as a tired body sometimes does.

Rotate toys rather than leaving everything out all the time — a toy that's been available for weeks loses its novelty, and bringing it back after a break often revives interest more than buying something new.

Size the toy to your pet rather than to what looks appealing on the shelf — a toy small enough to be swallowed whole by a large dog is a genuine choking and blockage risk, whatever it's marketed for. Check regularly for damage, and remove anything with a squeaker exposed or stuffing coming out.

Supervise a new toy the first few times, particularly with a determined chewer, so you know how they treat it before leaving them alone with it. Some toys are designed for interactive play only, not to be left with a pet unsupervised, and the packaging usually says so.