I am often asked by my clients what are some good toys for their animals. This is not always an easy question to answer. Animals will have their own likes/dislikes for favorite toys and you may have to do a little experimenting to see what sparks interest for your companion animal. Recently I asked some of my clients to tell me their favorite dog and cats toys.

For dogs, at the top of nearly everyone’s list is the Kong. Since its inception, Kong has added multiple sizes and shapes to their line of Kong toys. Some can be filled with treats which allow your dog to work at getting the “prize”. Kong even produces a booklet filled with recipes so you can create your own doggie “recipes” to fill your Kong with.

Another top favorite is a GoughNut. They come in different shapes and for the dog that likes to retrieve this is a great toy. GoughNuts float and like the Kong are quite durable. GoughNuts also have a special interior red-colored material embedded in the center of the toy to tell you if the toy needs to be replaced. If you see the red it is time to replace your GoughNut.

Chuckit! ball launchers are another favorite item. A plastic wand grasps a ball then releases it as you swing. Owners love it because they do not have to pick up the saliva covered ball, allowing hands to stay clean and dry.

And, cats … well, suffice to say cats can be very finicky. You may have just brought home the newest, greatest toy for your cat, only to have her turn her nose up in disdain and walk away. All of your pleadings and cajoling fall on deaf ears when it comes to trying to interest your cat in the newest and greatest (well, you thought it was great!) toy you just bought. However, there are some things that even the most hard core cat may find hard to resist.

For cats one of the top items mentioned was a laser light. Some cats just love to run after the light. An added benefit is it gives the cat exercise as well. After playing with the laser light for a few minutes, I eventually shine the light on a favorite stuffed toy. This allows them to pounce on said toy and to feel some satisfaction they “caught” their prey.

Furry toy mice are another big favorite with some cats, but with one caveat – if your mouse hunter tends to chew on the tails of these furry toys, best to remove the tails or only let them play with it when you are there to supervise. Some cats who love to dine on these so-called morsels may end up needing surgery – a very expensive surgery I might add – due to blockages that can occur from ingesting the tails.

Most cats can be easily entertained with everyday items. I have seen cats go nuts over the little plastic “tab” from a plastic bottle of juice or milk. Likewise, I have seen the cork from a wine bottle become the best item for kitty to play “hockey” with.

Whatever toys you buy for your dog or cat, please make sure they are well constructed and they do not have any parts that can accidentally come off during playtime.

— Jan Brown

— Jan is the Owner of Jan’s Pet Sitting & a Pet Tech Pet First Aid Instructor. She can be reached at