We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
1. A fuzzy, purring cat toy that helps calm kitties with anxiety. If your pandemic babe simply can't be separated from you or their siblings for any period of time, this is certainly worth a shot.
The toy purrs for a solid two minutes when squeezed or cuddled so your cat can activate it on their own.
Promising review: "I was super skeptical but I'm glad that I was wrong. I foster kittens. Some love it. Some couldn't care less. The reason I gave it 5 stars is because my special needs kitten finds such comfort in this toy. Corey was diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia. His motor skills, coordination, and balance were compromised in utero. He has head shakes and his back left leg is weak. He is my little loner boy. I was so happy to see him loving this toy! I just added four more on my foster wish list." —Michham
Get it from Amazon for $10.84.
2. A tough-as-nails cactus toy for superrrrr chewers who rip apart anything you put in front of them. With durable rubber bristles, this also doubles as a doggie toothbrush so — unbeknownst to them — it'll help keep their teeth and gums in tip-top shape.
Promising review: "Okay, so I never leave reviews, but this toy is the best thing I have ever bought for my Pit. He usually tears apart Kongs the day of, and this thing has been around SIX MONTHS, and he’s barely done any damage. It’s his favorite toy and is always his first pick in his toy basket. 11/10." —Hunter Hicks
Get it from Amazon for $12.78+ (available in four sizes and seven color combos).
3. A self-grooming toy if your babies need 24/7 scritches and scratches and they just don't get the fact that you can't do that while you sleep/eat/use the bathroom or that you only have two hands, ya know?
Promising review: "Now I bought this out of the fact that my cat likes to rub her face on EVERYTHING, so I thought she would like this and she absolutely LOVES THIS. Usually you think cheap cat things like this wouldn't work, and I thought the same, then my cat rubbed her face on it and it was like holy cow this actually works, like my cat actually likes this. A whole new experience tbh." —Raychelle Schar
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
4. A soccer ball with various pull tabs which make it an A+ option for dogs who have no thoughts behind their eyes — just dreams of 24/7 fetch.
Promising review: "This is my dog's favorite toy, and also mine because it tires him out! I love that I can kick it around like a regular soccer ball, and that my dog can thrash it around with the tags that are attached to it. It is great for fetch, and it tires out my dog because it is heavier than a tennis ball. For a longer-distance toss, I punt it or throw it by the tags. For size reference, the large is the size of a kid's sized soccer ball, not a standard one." —sharon arnez
Get it from Amazon for $13.99+ (available in four sizes and 11 colors).
5. A cat dancing toy that literally costs less than $4 (it's just a steel wire with some rolled cardboard on the end) but proves IRRESISTIBLE to kitty babies the world over.
Promising review: "This is the best $ I've ever spent on a cat toy. She goes WILD! Even GLADLY flew into a TV once cause she was flying after it. No harm, she just grabbed it in her mouth, trotted to the kitchen, and continued to chase! I don't know if it looks like a bug to them or what but I'm getting one for every cat owner I know. It's such a surprisingly great buy. I think even Big Cats would like this. Buy it now! It's only a few bucks :)" —ShawnaO Reviews
Get it from Amazon for $3.99.
6. A ChuckIt! ball launcher for pups who are *always* game to make fetch happen. Plus, this way, you don't have to pick up slobbery balls. It's a win-win.
Promising review: "This, honestly, is my dog's favorite toy. We leave it out in the garage for use when we take him out in the yard. He heads right to his toy storage and waits for me to pull it out. It's so easy to use, even for someone with weak muscles like myself. I can get some pretty great distance from the ball chucker. He gets awesome exercise retrieving the ball and returning it. I highly recommend this product!!! You won't be disappointed. Highly durable and so easy to use!!!" —Katherine Hawkes
Get it from Amazon for $9.75.
7. A self-rocking teaser toy sure to tempt feisty bebes with its unpredictable movements, fluffy feathers, and colorful ribbons.
Promising review: "This is small but mighty. My cat loves to tap this and watch it bounce. Sometimes I pick it up and he likes to chase the feathers and ribbons. Love how small it is; it's easy to put away when we are cleaning or take it with us on the go." —Amanda Smith
Get it from Amazon for $4.78+ (available in various styles and bundles).
8. A launcher with 20 colorful pom-pom balls if your kitty loves to play fetch but doesn't quite understand the whole bring it back part of the game. This will buy you a whole lot more time so you can shoot of multiple before you have to get off the couch and venture into the kitchen or bedroom in order to retrieve the balls.
Promising review: "My cats love to carry things like this around the house. When these came, I just opened the package and threw them all out at once. I thought my kitties' eyes were going to pop out of their heads when they saw the cloud of pom-poms falling on them. Super fun." —Kindle Customer
Get it from Amazon for $9.99 (you can also buy extra pom-pom balls separately).
9. A Jolly Ball that owners of German Shepherds, Border Collies, Boxers, Pit Bulls, and mutts of all shapes and sizes say is nearly indestructible! One pet parent also says it's a great way to release pent-up "squirrel aggression" LOL.
Promising review: "I have ywo dogs (a Rottie and a Pit mix) and they are 100% obsessed with their Jolly Balls. Hands down their favorite toy ever. Downside is that they really want someone to be throwing them at all times which gets super annoying. We have gone through about a dozen in the past few years. The excitement when they get a shipment with new ones is adorable and kind of makes up for how annoying they are begging to play all the time!!" —Jennifer A
Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in three sizes and six colors).
10. A "jingle and roll" cat kicker toy laced with organic catnip, silvervine, and valerian root so intoxicating, they might just get their fill of scratching and biting it instead of their siblings or your arm.
HoffnPaw Pet Toys is a small, Chicago-based biz that creates handmade, eco-friendly pet toys. Owner David says his cats Sweetp and Simba serve as his inspiration.
Promising review: "She's obsessed! My cat has not let go of her new favorite toy since I took it out of the package. In fact, she's currently napping atop it. Excellent construction, fast shipping, and very communicative seller." —Sarah Mersch
Get it from HoffnPaw Pet Toys on Etsy for $14.35+ (originally $15.95+; available in sizes S–L and four colors).
11. A plush toy with reinforced seams and chew-resistant lining if your pup loves to turn their toys into what I call "flat babies" — AKA stuffing-less skins. This should give even the most persistent nibblers a run for their money.
Promising review: "Ordered a bunch of new toys for my Frenchie since she usually destroys them in less than a day. This one is her *favorite*. And it’s actually durable. No rips or tears yet through many tug o' wars with our other dog. I don’t expect it to last very long because it’s soft, but I’m impressed it’s lasted longer than a day." —sammi terry
Get it from Amazon for $11.95+ (available in four sizes).
12. A 12-piece set of spiral springs if your cats are ~basic~ and will play with just about anything.
Promising review: "I do cat foster care and have 18 cats in my house right now (I KNOW!). They all love these ridiculous little springs. I don't get it. Because they roll and bounce, they have just enough movement for everyone to be running after them. BE PREPARED. They will be found under every appliance, door, and piece of furniture you own. Do yourself a favor. They are cheap — order two packs right away." —Mixed Blessings
Get the 12-piece set from Amazon for $5.99.
13. A Nerf gun capable of launching back-to-back balls up to 35 feet if your biceps simply can't keep up with your baby's demand.
Promising review: "This is my dog's favorite toy for whatever reason. Playing fetch with the gun is 10x more exciting than me throwing it even though it's the same. The bands that provide the resistance/launching on all these shooters don't typically last too long, 3–4 months maybe, at least on the blue guns. This green gun though... it's built different." —justin
Get it from Amazon for $19.99+ (available in seven sizes/styles).
14. A refillable catnip mat for lazy lil' kitties who rather roll around on the floor than get in some cardio chasing after a robotic toy.
The 9 x 9-inch mats come from 3 Kitties and 2 Humans, Willowick, Ohio-based shop with all sorts of cat goodies.
Promising review: "My cat LOVESSS this genius product (: She’s an odd one and doesn’t play much, catnip or not, but she does snooze around pretty much all the time so this is perfect! She won’t give it up! Shipped super fast, super soft fabric, great quality! I definitely recommend! (:" —BreAhnna Stephens
Get it from 3 Kitties and 2 Humans on Etsy for $8 (available in dozens of colors/prints).
15. A retractable tug-o'-war rope your dog can go ham on after you wrap it around a tree. If they thought you were too easy of an opponent...they have no idea what kind of fight that maple is about to put up.
Promising review: "Our dog loves playing with this toy and it sure beats throwing a ball back and forth. This is his favorite toy!!!" —emma olivia
Get it from Amazon for $26.98+ (available in two sizes and five colors).
16. A piece of string on a stick that will make your cat happier than any expensive electronic toy or even the box said toy comes in!
This is inexplicably my cat Clementine's favorite thing in the whole wide world. Whenever I think of Linus from the Peanuts, I think of his blanket, and whenever I think of Clemmy, I think of her string on a stick.
Promising review: "My husband says, 'It’s just a strip of cloth on a stick!' Yet our two boys know the cloth has just the right pattern, strength, and floatiness to make it fascinating to cat brains! When the strip is shaken rapidly in midair over their heads, the pattern appears to strobe and they go wacky! Good jumping exercise!" —dc99
Get it from Chewy for $5.19.
17. A banana toy sure to please as it's filled with nothing but 100 percent catnip! One reviewer said the faux fruit is so potent, their fur baby is still attacking it a full year later!
Promising review: "I've spent a crap ton on toys for my picky cat only for him to ignore them. My co-worker gave me one of these unassuming bananas and it's like crack for cats! He cant get enough! I got three for backup. They are super durable (I don't clip his claws) and the right size to hold and kick. Smoosh and twist to activate the catnip and he's ready to play. This is a staple in his toy box now." —Lan
Get a pack of three from Amazon for $18.86.
18. A *silent* dog toy with an ultrasonic squeaker only your pup can hear! That means your super chewer can go to town on their toy without interrupting whatever you're watching on TV or waking up their angel baby sibling who's taking a nap.
Promising review: "This friendly gator immediately became my dog’s new favorite toy! He loves a squeak toy as much as the next pup but I work from home so they’ve sadly been banned from the house. This toy works as advertised! I’ve tested it from rooms away and he definitely hears it and I do not. The negative reviews here are about the toy being destroyed. Know your dog, have realistic expectations. We’re a few scales down but it’s holding up just fine!" —Ginny L.
BuzzFeed editor Abby Kass just picked one up for her family's pup and here's what she has to say:
"My family's dog LOVES squeaker toys. She squeaks them over and over and over again and especially loves to put on a little show when my dad's in a virtual meeting. I was intrigued by this toy when I found it at the pet store and had to give it a try. I wasn't sure how well it was going to work, but Izzy loves it so much. You seriously can't hear a thing. I even took the toy in another room (without her knowing) and started "squeaking" it to see what would happen, and only a few seconds later she came running into the room looking for her toy. This toy is amazing. Izzy can squeak all she wants (as you can see in the gif above), and we don't have to hear a thing. If you have a dog who enjoys squeakers, you need to invest in at least one of these toys."
Get it from Amazon for $16.70+ (available in two sizes and six styles).
19. A floppy robotic fish that only moves when your cat interacts with it. Once they get the hang of it, I guarantee they'll be karate chopping and bunny kicking the ish out of it.
The fish comes with a small bag of catnip as well as USB charger so you can juice it up whenever your cat kills the battery.
Promising review: "I'm never sure if a new cat toy will be received as well as I hope, but this one sure delivered! My three cats have been playing with it almost non-stop, except for when I have to take it away to charge it. One of them pretty much hogs it and the other two can't get near it, though they try. It took them a few minutes to realize that they had to touch it to get it to move when it stopped flopping, but once they understood it, they were off to the races. I can't speak to the durability of it, but since the cover can be removed for cleaning, I'm thinking it should last a long time — fingers crossed." —Amazon Gal
Get it from Amazon for $12.98+ (available in six styles).
20. A durable octopus cat teaser certain to keep high-energy kitties nice and entertained. They may grow so obsessed they beg you to play with it while you're supposed to be working from home but typing with one hand (and dangling this with the other) is still better than none, right?
Suslu Paw Pet Toys is a small, eco-friendly pet toy biz run by a veterinary technician and animal rescue volunteer.
Promising review: "Super cute, and quality is great. My cat usually ruins his toys fast, but this one still looks brand new even after weeks of playtime!" —Ashley
Get it from Suslu Paw Pet Toys on Etsy for $12.99 (available with or without catnip).
21. A glow-in-the-dark ball for babies who insist on late-night romps around the backyard. It remains lit for 20–30 minutes after just ~5~ minutes of light exposure, so you can fit in a good game of fetch before it loses its magic.
Promising review: "My pup LOVES his glow ball. It’s his favorite toy. I love blasting it with a flashlight for a few minutes and then turning out the lights — it glows bright indeed!! We have two of them. Recommend!" —Danielle Lima
Get it from Amazon for $6.57+ (available in sizes S–XL).
22. Some catnip-infused felt balls that are the *perfect* size for cats who fancy themselves footballers. They also come with a "charging tin," so when the catnip starts to wear off, you can pop them back in to absorb some more.
Simply B Vermont is a small business located in, you guessed it, Vermont. They make all kinds of adorable pet accessories and toys for cats AND dogs.
Promising review: "These are easily my cat's favorite toys, and I couldn't even tell you why. Maybe it's the perfect size, maybe he loves the felt, or maybe the homemade herb/catnip mix is just purrrrrrfect for him. But he will chase these everywhere." —Becca
Get a set of four from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $9.25+ (available in three color combos; refills for the balls and catnip are also available).
23. A pair of play-'n'-squeak mice if your formerly feral babies still love to hunt and you'd prefer they stalk these instead of your toes.
Promising review: "My cat is flipping OUT. The instant I pulled the tab and tossed it to him, he flailed and slapped it across the floor. He's been playing for 20 minutes straight, and talking about it the whole time. Kitty's rough on his toys, so I anticipate having to perform emergency mouse surgery sooner than later — but for now? This toy's worth every penny." —Emily S.
Get a pack of two from Amazon for $9.99.
24. A durable rubber flying disc that's collected over 22,000 5-star reviews which attest to how beloved it is by all sorts of pups. Even if your pup is picky, statistically speaking... this toy should be a big win.
Promising review: "This is our girl's favorite toy! Our Labradoodle LOVES this! She loves for us to throw it for her but she also loves to just run around the yard with it or lay down and chew on it. She even 'sneaks' it into the house to chew it. It is very durable. She chews on it every day but it seems to be indestructible. Nice, sturdy, and entertaining toy for our Bailey!" —Paula
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in two sizes).
25. A "Woof Clicquot" plushie for the pup with champagne tastes. If you're working on a beer budget, you'll also be happy to know it's only 14 bucks.
26. A three-tier cat toy with polka-dot balls they can bat at. One of my cats puts her arms on both sides and essentially plays a modified version of tetherball just with herself.
Both of my cats love this but one, in particular, just can't get enough of this thing — especially in the middle of the night. More than once, I've woken up to her *punching* it and sliding it across the living room floor. She also loves to flip it over so it stands on the smallest tier and idk why but sure??
Promising review: "My cat's favorite toy even after two years of playing with it... and good stress relief, too!! Everyone who has a kitty they love to spoil knows after several tries with expensive toys, the most inexpensive are the ones the kitties truly enjoy. My kitty has been consistently playing with this one since he was a kitten, while his expensive robotic toys have either broken or are gathering dust in his toy box. No matter how much rough housing goes on, this toy takes a lickin' and keeps on ticking. Well worth $10!!" —Laurie D. Savoie
Get it from Amazon for $8.79.
27. A zebra-print activity mat that looks exactly like a baby play mat and that just tickles me pink. If your kitties could use some tummy time, the attached hanging toys will keep them entertained.
Promising review: "My cat simply loves this! He dives right into it, sometimes even doing somersaults into it, and it has really held up nicely! He's 15 pounds, so he's not small, and it bounces right back into place after he pounces on it. It moves with him and has provided hours of entertainment for him and for me! Highly recommend for active cats." —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $21.62 (also available in a rocking style).
28. A bacon-flavored wishbone chew toy for aggressive chewers who *will* resort to gnawing on your brand-new Converse or the leg of your coffee table if no other options are present.
Promising review: "My puppy adores these bones. He is is 10-months-old now and I have to order a new one about every five weeks. He is a super chewer and he goes at this bone all day. It's his favorite toy by far. The best part is, chewing provides great benefits and stimulation for dogs, so he often gets tired just from chewing! We can't travel anywhere without his little bone. Definitely recommend." —Denise Mastrangelo
Get it from Amazon for $10.88+ (available in four sizes and three flavors).
29. A "ripple rug" your kitty can burrow into, scratch as much as they like, and just generally just roll around on. The mat's non-slip rubber bottom keeps it in place and also allows you to prop it up in various configurations if your babies are a fan of tunneling.
Promising review: "My cat started playing with the mat before I even got it entirely unboxed! She loves tunneling over and under the top mat and hiding her favorite toys. I readjust the top rug every couple of days so it is like a brand new adventure. Easy to clean and move out of the way if needed. Total hit in our household." —Connie
Get it from Chewy for $46.
30. A Gumby plushie if your pup LOVES a toy with a squeaker and won't know peace until they've found a way to rip it out.
Promising review: "Longest lasting toy and most enjoyable for my dog. I have a puppy (an 8-month-old Pitbull/Lab mix) who loves to tear up anything that squeaks or anything that’s plush, and time after time I’ve had to continuously toss and buy toys. This toy has been his favorite and has lasted through his teething phase as well as his adult teeth coming in (about 3 months). The squeaker is still intact which is shocking to me, but he's also dragged it through mud, poop, water, you name it! Overall this was a great purchase for my pup." —Angie
Get it from Amazon for $3.01.
31. An interactive treat maze for high-energy cats who could use a lil' mental stimulation. It even has three levels of difficulty — beginner, intermediate and top-cat — so you can switch things up as their hunting skills improve.
Just hide some treats or food in the various compartments and let your kitty get to work!
Promising review: "I'm going out of town for the first time since the pandemic. I wanted my girls to have enough stimulation during my absence. I bought this with my younger more active/energetic cat in mind. She's not very food motivated but my oldest is. While the cat I intended to gravitate towards it isn't, I'm pleased my older and chubbier cat will be more active. She's been trying to figure this puzzle out for the last 20 minutes, moving all over the living room. I love it! Would totally recommend to other cat lovers!" —CreatorCourt
Get it from Chewy for $15.94.
32. Or a Lambchop plushie for millennial pet parents who buy their baby toys based on their own nostalgia. (Guilty. 🙋♀️)
Promising review: "This was our mixed Lab breed’s first toy and it is still her favorite. I’ll be buying a new one soon. While she did manage to pop one or two of the squeakers, she hasn’t managed to chew them out of the body. She still carries it around and squeaks the squeakers that are left. It will be hard to get her to let go of this one for a new one. It’s also cute cause her name is Cami and she is always with her lamb-y." —Delilah Lute
Get it from Amazon for $3.80+ (available in three sizes and packs of one or two).
33. Tearribles — a plushie that's *meant* to be torn apart. Each piece attaches to the body via Velcro, so after your baby has gone to town tearing their toy limb from limb, you can piece it back together again for another round of attack.
See how this works on TikTok.
Tearribles is a small biz that was started by a dog owner who needed a toy that her dog could destroy over and over again to help with their need to shred things.
Promising review: "I have two small dogs and purchased both the small and medium toys. Medium is best for them. And green monster is one dog’s absolute favorite toy. Once he has ripped a tail or ear off, he proudly brings it to me. When I put the toy up on a shelf between play times, he asks for it. This puppy shreds everything — paper, cardboard, sticks, etc. but he doesn’t shred this one, just takes it apart and asks me to reassemble it. Totally worth the money. We are getting another one." —Pat H.
Get it from Tearribles for $14.99+ (originally $26.99+, available in three sizes, with or without a squeaker, and various styles/colors).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.