Buzz
1. A plush, purring cat toy designed to soothe anxious kitties. If your pandemic fur baby can't stand being apart from you or their siblings, this one is definitely worth trying.
2. A super-durable cactus toy for intense chewers who tear through anything you give them. With tough rubber bristles, it also doubles as a canine toothbrush, so — without them realizing — it'll keep their teeth and gums in great shape.
3. A self-grooming toy for those babies who demand non-stop scritches and scratches and can't seem to grasp that you can't do it while you're sleeping/eating/using the bathroom or that you only have two hands, you know?
4. A soccer ball with multiple pull tabs making it an excellent choice for dogs with only one thing on their mind — endless games of fetch.
5. A cat dancing toy that costs less than $4 (it’s essentially a steel wire with cardboard at the end) but is utterly irresistible to cats everywhere.
6. This ChuckIt! ball launcher is perfect for pups who are *always* up for a game of fetch. Plus, it eliminates the need to handle wet, slobbery balls—it's a win all around.
Highly recommended review: "This is honestly my dog’s favorite toy. We keep it in the garage and pull it out whenever we take him to the yard. He immediately heads to his toy storage and waits for me to bring it out. It's so simple to use, even with weak muscles like mine. I can launch the ball pretty far. He gets a great workout fetching and bringing it back. I absolutely recommend this product!!! You won’t be let down. Very durable and so user-friendly!!!" —Katherine Hawkes
Available on Amazon for $9.75.
7. This self-rocking teaser toy is perfect for enticing curious kittens with its erratic movements, soft feathers, and vibrant ribbons.
8. A launcher with 20 colorful pom-pom balls designed for kitties who love to fetch but haven’t quite mastered the concept of bringing it back. This gives you more time to launch multiple balls before having to leave the couch and retrieve them from the kitchen or bedroom.
9. This Jolly Ball is praised by owners of German Shepherds, Border Collies, Boxers, Pit Bulls, and various mixed breeds for being virtually indestructible! One pet parent even says it’s an excellent way to release pent-up "squirrel aggression"—LOL.
10. A "jingle and roll" cat kicker toy, infused with organic catnip, silvervine, and valerian root. It's so enticing, your cat may prefer gnawing on it over your arm or its fellow feline companions.
HoffnPaw Pet Toys is a small, eco-conscious business based in Chicago that creates handcrafted pet toys. Owner David draws inspiration from his cats, Sweetp and Simba.
Buy it from HoffnPaw Pet Toys on Etsy for $14.35+ (was $15.95+; available in sizes S–L and four different colors).
11. A plush toy with reinforced seams and chew-resistant material, perfect for pups who love turning their toys into 'flat babies' — essentially stuffing-less skins. Even the most determined chewers will struggle with this one.
12. A 12-piece set of spiral springs for your cats if they enjoy playing with anything and everything, no matter how simple it may be.
13. A Nerf gun designed to shoot balls up to 35 feet, perfect for those who can't keep up with their pet's energetic demands.
14. A refillable catnip mat designed for those lazy kitties who prefer rolling around on the floor rather than burning energy chasing after a robotic toy.
The 9 x 9-inch mats are available from 3 Kitties and 2 Humans, a Willowick, Ohio-based shop offering a variety of cat-themed products.
Positive review: "My cat absolutely LOVES this clever product! She’s a bit quirky and doesn’t usually play much, catnip or not, but she spends most of her time napping, so this mat is perfect for her! She won’t let it go! Shipped quickly, the fabric is super soft, and the quality is fantastic! Highly recommend! (:" —BreAhnna Stephens
Purchase it from 3 Kitties and 2 Humans on Etsy for $8 (available in various colors/prints).
15. A retractable tug-of-war rope that your dog can go wild with once you secure it around a tree. If they thought you were a tough opponent, they’re about to face the ultimate challenge with that maple tree!
A simple string attached to a stick that will bring more joy to your cat than any pricey gadget or even the box that gadget comes in!
For reasons beyond explanation, this string-on-a-stick is my cat Clementine’s absolute favorite object. Whenever I think of Linus from Peanuts, I picture his beloved blanket, and for Clemmy, it’s all about her string on a stick.
Glowing review: "My husband says, 'It's just a strip of cloth on a stick!' But our two boys know it has the perfect pattern, texture, and float to captivate their feline minds! When it's whipped through the air above them, the pattern flickers and they lose control with excitement! It's a great way to let them burn off energy!" —dc99
Available at Chewy for $5.19.
A banana-shaped toy filled entirely with pure catnip, guaranteed to delight your feline! One reviewer shared that the faux fruit is so irresistible, their cat is still pouncing on it after an entire year!
A *silent* dog toy featuring an ultrasonic squeaker that only your pup can hear! This means your enthusiastic chewer can enjoy their toy without disturbing your TV time or waking up their peacefully napping sibling.
A floppy robotic fish that springs to life when your cat interacts with it. Once they master it, you’ll witness some serious karate chops and bunny kicks in action!
20. This durable octopus cat teaser is sure to keep your high-energy kitties fully entertained. They might get so hooked on it that they'll pester you to play with them while you're working from home. But hey, typing with one hand while dangling this toy with the other? That's a pretty good workaround, right?
Suslu Paw Pet Toys is a small, eco-conscious pet toy business run by a veterinary technician and animal rescue volunteer.
Customer review: "Super adorable, and the quality is top-notch. My cat usually destroys his toys quickly, but this one still looks as good as new even after weeks of use!" —Ashley
Available at Suslu Paw Pet Toys on Etsy for $12.99 (available with or without catnip).
21. This glow-in-the-dark ball is perfect for cats who enjoy late-night backyard adventures. It stays lit for 20–30 minutes after just ~5~ minutes of light exposure, giving you enough time for a fun game of fetch before the glow fades.
22. These catnip-infused felt balls are the *perfect* size for cats who think they’re football players. Plus, they come with a special "charging tin" so when the catnip starts to lose its potency, you can recharge them by popping them back in to soak up some more.
Simply B Vermont is a charming small business located in, you guessed it, Vermont. They create all sorts of cute pet accessories and toys for both cats AND dogs.
Customer review: "These are my cat’s absolute favorite toys, and I honestly can't say why. It could be the perfect size, maybe the felt texture, or perhaps the homemade herb/catnip blend is simply purrrrrrfect for him. But he chases these everywhere!" —Becca
Purchase a set of four from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $9.25+ (available in three color combinations; refills for the balls and catnip can also be purchased).
23. A pair of play-'n'-squeak mice perfect for your formerly feral kittens who still love to hunt, but you’d rather they stalk these instead of your toes.
24. A durable rubber flying disc that has earned over 22,000 5-star reviews, showcasing just how popular it is with all types of dogs. Even if your dog is a bit picky, statistically speaking... this toy is likely to be a big hit.
25. A "Woof Clicquot" plush toy for pups who appreciate the finer things in life. And if you're on a budget, you'll be glad to know it only costs $14.
26. A three-tier cat toy featuring polka-dot balls for batting. One of my cats loves to place her paws on either side and invent her own version of tetherball, all by herself.
27. A zebra-print activity mat that resembles a baby play mat and totally amuses me. If your cats are in need of some tummy time, the attached dangling toys will keep them entertained.
28. A bacon-flavored chew toy shaped like a wishbone, designed for aggressive chewers who won't hesitate to gnaw on your new Converse sneakers or even your coffee table leg if they run out of other options.
29. A "ripple rug" that your cat can burrow into, scratch as much as they wish, and roll around on. Its non-slip rubber backing keeps it steady, and it can be repositioned into different shapes, especially if your kitties enjoy tunneling.
Promising review: "My cat couldn’t wait to play with the mat before I even finished unboxing it! She loves tunneling under the top mat and hiding her favorite toys. I adjust the top rug every few days to make it feel like a new adventure. It’s easy to clean and move when needed. A total success in our home." —Connie
Available at Chewy for $46.
30. A Gumby plushie for dogs who LOVE toys with squeakers and can’t rest until they've figured out how to remove it.
31. An interactive treat maze designed for high-energy cats in need of a mental challenge. It even features three difficulty levels — beginner, intermediate, and expert — so you can adjust as their hunting skills grow.
Simply hide treats or food in the compartments and let your kitty go to work!
Promising review: "I’m going away for the first time since the pandemic. I wanted to make sure my cats stayed entertained while I’m gone. I bought this with my more energetic younger cat in mind. She’s not very food-motivated, but my older cat is. While the one I intended to enjoy it didn’t, I’m thrilled that my older, chubbier cat is getting more active. She’s been working on this puzzle for the past 20 minutes, roaming the living room. I love it! I’d definitely recommend it to other cat lovers!" —CreatorCourt
Available at Chewy for $15.94.
32. Or a Lambchop plushie for millennial pet parents who pick toys for their pets based on their own childhood memories. (Guilty. 🙋♀️)
33. Tearribles — a plushie designed to be torn apart. Each piece is connected by Velcro, so after your pet has had a blast ripping its toy limb from limb, you can easily reassemble it for another round of destruction.
Check out how this works on TikTok.
Tearribles is a small business founded by a dog owner who sought a toy that her dog could repeatedly destroy to satisfy its shredding instinct.
Promising review: "I have two small dogs and bought both the small and medium toys. The medium size is perfect for them. And the green monster is my dog’s absolute favorite. After tearing off a tail or ear, he proudly brings it to me. When I put the toy on a shelf between playtime, he asks for it. This puppy shreds everything — paper, cardboard, sticks, but not this toy. He just disassembles it and wants me to put it back together. Totally worth the price. We are buying another one." —Pat H.
Get it from Tearribles for $14.99+ (originally $26.99+, available in three sizes, with or without a squeaker, and in various styles/colors).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
