10 Simple Toys That Will Ensure Your Pet’s Occupied While You’re Not Home

Our beloved pets tend to become nasty pets when they feel lonely, hungry, or neglected. Thankfully, we have a solution for this. Check out the following toys that will keep your otherwise mischievous pets entertained and satiated.

1. The dog food ball and dispenser will have your canine or feline friend entertained and satiated while you’re away. Still, they’ll have to put some effort into getting the food, reducing boredom and destructive behavior along the way.

• Ideal for small to medium-sized dogs
• Safe high-quality ABS+PC material
• Holes on the upper part to let the pet smell the food

Features buyers appreciated:

Buyers appreciated the durability and easy cleaning of the food dispenser. They found that the item reduced the destructive behavior of their canines a great deal.

Cons to consider:

The downside you might need to deal with is noise if you have tile floors. Also, smart dogs may remove the slider to get the food quickly.

Promising review:

We have a variety of enrichment feeders for our dog, but she loves this one the most. I also prefer it because it’s the easiest to fill and clean.

It’s durable, quite small, and you can close it, which is good for traveling. Also, if we drop her off with a friend for the afternoon/day, it’s the right size to fit about half her daily food in there.

I would say that this is most suitable for small to medium dogs, unless this is being used just as a treat feeder. If just used as a treat feeder, however, it’s not a very challenging device, so you may want something more complicated. I would say it works better as a way to slow your pooch down when eating their dinner. @ Chloe Isherwood

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2. Tiny squeaky toys in various versions are excellent boredom fighters for your cats and dogs. Each of them features a balloon that makes a sound each time your pet bites the toy.

• 4 to 6 inches in length
• Heavy-duty and non-toxic
• Suitable for cats, puppies, and small and medium-sized dogs
• The set consists of 6 differently shaped toys (mushroom, carrot, banana, bone, strawberry, and eggplant).

Features buyers appreciated:

These toys are durable and sturdy even though they’re made of soft materials. They make interesting squeaky sounds, which some people may find noisy. Small dog owners find them particularly useful for their dogs.

Cons to consider:

You’d better find some other toys if your Fido is too aggressive because it might chew them. Some people find the sounds the toy makes to be noisy.

Promising review:

Really good value for the money, especially compared to what you can buy at pet stores like Pets at Home. Seem durable so far; my Chi has ripped apart Pets at Home plushies within hours, but his strawberry is doing well so far! He’s not tried the other selection yet, as they’re for Christmas, but so far he seems to love the strawberry! Especially the squeak and the scrunchy top! 🍓🐾 @ Lauren Sian

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3. The set of 2 bouncy rubber balls is available in various sizes. The balls feature high-visibility colors and are ideal for fetch games. They are also suitable for games in the water thanks to their floating properties.

• Small dogs: 2 inches in diameter
• Medium dogs: 2.5 inches in diameter
• Large dogs: 3 inches in diameter
• Extra-large dogs: 3.5 inches in diameter
• XXL dogs: 4 inches in diameter

Features buyers appreciated:

The size, durability, solid design, and easy cleaning are these products’ benefits that pet owners like.

Cons to consider:

Some buyers reported the toy bursting at the seams.

Promising review:

We have a dog that can kill and strip a tennis ball in 5 minutes flat, so we gave up buying them for her! Then she found a Chuckit ball in the grass. We were so impressed with how indestructible it was that we bought 2 more...and she still hasn’t managed to chew her way through them, no matter how hard she tries! @ BJ Brennan

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4. The climbing tree condo serves as a great playground and lounge area for your cats. And it will keep your furniture intact since its rope-coiled posts are ideal for scratching.

• Easy assembly
• Complimentary ball toy
• Fluffy and skin-friendly plush cover
• A reinforced base provides great stability
• One hammock and basket, 2 condos, and 3 padded beds

Features buyers appreciated:

Buyers like the exceptional sturdiness, large shelves, and easy assembly of the climbing tree. They point out its great value for the money.

Cons to consider:

Some reviewers received the product in a different color than ordered, while some got it damaged.

Promising review:

We needed a replacement for our old cat tower, as we’d had it for years, and it was looking a bit tattered. Didn’t plan to spend this much on one, but ended up giving it a go as we were looking for a good height, and so glad we did.

My husband put this together with no problem (with a bit of help from our son!), and the cats jumped straight on. Lovely padded seating x3 at the top, definitely superior to our last tower. Great quality, there’s a spare pompom for when one gets ruined, and the way they tie on means we can replace it with something else if we choose. Worth the money, our cats love it. @ Rachael

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5. The stainless steel drinking fountain will keep your pet entertained and hydrated while you’re away. It has a 2-liter capacity and glows in the dark thanks to its LED lights.

• Easy assembly
• 3 water flow settings
• Super quiet (less than 30 dB)
• 180 ml of water remains on the top at all times.
• Transparent water-level window illuminated with LED lights

Features buyers appreciated:

Most people underline that the drinking fountain is easy to clean and put together. They also point out a several-day capacity and great value for the money.

Cons to consider:

The unsecured lid and noisy operation are some downsides a few buyers complained about.

Promising review:

After 1 cat getting ill from stagnant pond water, and discovering cats don’t like water bowls with their food, we got this 8 months ago and plugged it into a quiet corner of the kitchen. Pretty quiet and easy maintenance — just cleaned it occasionally and replaced the filter a couple of times when it was obviously dirty. Easy to see when it’s running low and can just be topped up by pouring water in, but easily holds enough for several days.

Both cats (who never drank from water bowls) now happily drink from it. The bonus gifts are just a gimmick — they’re toys you’ll find in any pet store, but the fountain is good value for the money and works very well. @ ge1971

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6. The snuffle mat for dogs will keep your canines fed and entertained. Made of quality fabric, it will have your Fido forage to find food as it stimulates their senses. The mat is easy to clean and can keep the dogs entertained for a long time.

• High-quality fabric
• Suitable for all dog breeds
• 4 additional feeding pockets
• Easy to clean by hand or in a washing machine
• A non-slippery bottom, keeping the mat in place

Features buyers appreciated:

Easy cleaning, durable fabric, and the right size are some strengths most buyers are happy with. Also, they state that the item stays in place while the dog forages.

Cons to consider:

You may find that the product is too small for your big dog or that it might flip.

Promising review:

Our boy BUDDY gives this Snuffle Mat 2 paws up!!!! We rescued him about a year ago, and he is a 4-year-old lab/hound mix. Very energetic and has some anxiety issues, we are helping him work out. This mat was a hit from the start. He is a natural “snuffler” so he took to it right away.

To redirect him when he seems to get anxious and needs some calming, we put the mat down. We put a variety of small snacks and kibble in and around the mat, and he seems to really enjoy searching for the treats. After, he is calmer and more relaxed.

We used it on the hardwood floor and the carpet. It stays in place. He has not tried to chew it up, but we pick it up once he has finished searching on it. We also have a smaller 6-year-old chihuahua mix that also loves this snuffle mat! We highly recommend giving this snuffle mat a try! @ S.A. Otten

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7. The scratching post for cats is available in several color versions and is suitable for most cat sizes. The wooden base provides stability and the ball hanging from the top keeps your furry friend entertained.

• 29 in tall, weighing 4.4 lb
• Soft, chemical-safe plush
• Easy to assemble with the complimentary tools
• Beige, blue, brown, dark brown, and gray versions

Features buyers appreciated:

Quality material, decent durability, height, and sturdiness are benefits the product’s buyers like.

Cons to consider:

Sometimes, the post tends to drop. Also, the ball might fall off.

Promising review:

Tall and sturdy. My cat loves it and it’s a really nice color and quality material. @ Ammmze

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8. The laser toy for indoor use can keep your dog or cat occupied while activating their natural hunting instincts. It has 2 speed settings, catering to pets with different exercise needs.

• Smart sensor
• USB rechargeable battery
• 2 speed modes (slow and fast)
• A working distance of 13 feet (4.06 meters)
• The laser toy works for 15 minutes before it deactivates.

Features buyers appreciated:

Cat owners find that their pets like the laser toy very much. Moreover, buyers say that the battery life is good, while the power saver and the auto sensor are useful.

Cons to consider:

A few reviewers complained about repetitive laser movements.

Promising review:

The cat seems to enjoy it, really handy for popping on if we are going to be out a while or if the cat wants to play when I am busy working, etc. @ Sam

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9. Your canine will have a great time chasing and chewing the classic dog toy. It bounces around unpredictably, making your pet train hard and improving its behavior and physical development.

• Durable
• Dishwasher safe
• Different sizes for small and large dogs
• Hollow inside for adding various ingredients

Features buyers appreciated:

Dog owners like this product because it entertains their pets, keeping them occupied and preventing destructive behavior. Some of them say that their dogs tend to spend hours chasing the toy, especially if filled with food. Other reviewers said that the product is virtually indestructible.

Cons to consider:

If you have a pit bull, it might ruin the toy quickly. The hole might be too small for some breeds to get the food out.

Promising review:

I have a few of these. Keep a backup in the freezer for when my teething pup is trying to teeth on me. Lol, fill them with peanut butter or treats or both. Freeze ’em. Leave them in the yard or the car or wherever you spend time with your dog. They are virtually indestructible and the dogs LOVE THEM. Toss it around the yard and watch the erratic bounce keep your dog engaged with minimal effort on your part. A lifesaver for hyperactive dogs 🐶! @ Krit C.

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10. The catnip wall toy will help your cat maintain its dental health and have fun. Stick this product featuring a few flavors to the wall to keep it out of the way.

• Rotatable balls
• Non-toxic and 100% natural
• Reduces tartar and dental plaque
• Catnip, cat sugar, silvervine, and fruit of silvervine flavors

Features buyers appreciated:

Cat owners say that their cats love the wall toy. They also say that the product is easy to attach.

Cons to consider:

Some reviewers say that the wall toy sticks for some time to the wall before falling off. Others are concerned about sugar balls.

Promising review:

I have two cats, a 3-year-old and an 11-year-old. They both LOVE this thing!! They lick it, rub on it, lay near it, you name it! No more loose catnip everywhere and they still get their enrichment. 2 paws up 🐾 @ MissMaddie

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