Must-have toys for playful cats & dogs!

Guide to dog toys

Dogs have very distinctive personalities: some are smart & cunning; others are adorably silly. While some dog breeds are full of energy, others are naturally more laid-back. We’ve got loads of different dog toys available to keep your dog occupied no matter their preference!

Throw & fetch toys

If dogs could talk, almost every other sentence would contain the word ‘ball’. Pretty much every dog breed lives for chasing things, and will drop absolutely everything for the chance to run after a ball, frisbee, or anything else they can pick up and dutifully bring back to you – sometimes.

A tennis ball certainly works for this purpose, but many dog balls contain air channels which are much safer for your dog, as it won’t block their airway if it accidentally gets stuck.

Playing fetch is a fantastic way for your dog to let out some energy and have awesome fun at the same time, especially when you use a ball thrower – not only will this protect your hands against doggy drool, you’ll also be able to throw the ball much further.

Tug toys

These bad boys are normally made from rope or plastic, and the aim of the game is an epic tug of war between yourself and your dog. They love to latch on and give you a run for your money, which helps them stay strong and fit.

Dog chews

Not all dog toys involve human participation. Not to say we don’t love it, but for times when the dog is on its own, or you’re having a dinner party and want to keep the dog occupied, giving them a dog chew will keep them happily munching away and content for a while.

For a dog to keep chewing, it has to taste good, and there are plenty of delicious doggy delights to choose from. Chewing toys are also great for their teeth, improving their winning smile and reducing the severity of dreaded doggy breath.

Whether you go for fully edible dog chews or dog chew toys to last them a while, these are a fantastic toy to keep in the cupboard for a special treat!

Puppy toys

Having a puppy is a journey of peaks and troughs. One moment they’re a tiny wrecking ball of chaotic limbs, then they’re literally the most adorable sleepy pudding you’ve ever seen. Puppies are resourceful little buddies, and if they haven’t got toys, they’ll happily get creative with sofa cushions, chair legs, and anything else they can adorably destroy.

Do yourself a favour and avoid these little mishaps by grabbing some puppy toys. Toys that are aimed at adult dogs are often too big and cumbersome for puppies, so our collection of puppy toys are smaller and easier to handle when they’re little. Keep your shoes safe from being chewed on with puppy chews, which are soft and small enough to be enjoyed by puppies and small dog breeds alike.

Guide to cat toys

Having a pet cat is like having a little hunter in your home. Cats are smart and instinctual creatures, but they love having fun just as much as dogs – it expels excess energy and is a cracking way of honing their skills.

Scratching posts

Cats love a good scratch as it keeps their claws in tip-top condition, helping them climb trees and traverse walls and fences in effortless feline style. If you don’t have a scratching post, your cat will inevitably find other surfaces to scratch its claws on, like sofas, bannisters, and door mats. For the sake of your soft furnishings, a scratching post is a cheap and simple solution which your cat will love.

From small scratching posts to clever covers for your sofa corners, you can keep your cat happy and your belongings safe with all sorts of scratching toys! There’s also wall mounted scratchers for a space-saving scratching solution.

Cat towers

Any cat pawrent will tell you that it’s the cat who owns you, not the other way round. Give your feline friend the lavish majesty they deserve with a cat tower, complete with scratching posts, built-in toys, and plenty of places for them to perch and survey their kingdom and their loyal subjects – that’s you.

From small and simple kitten towers and activity trees to massive cat towers for multiple cats (or one spoiled one), a cat tower is a great place for cats to play, sleep, or relax in the sun, with plenty of opportunities for jumping between levels like cat parkour.

Catnip toys

Catnip is a plant in the mint family, with delicate green leaves and lavender-coloured flowers which is loved by bees and cats alike.

Many cats go mad for catnip, and it produces a euphoric state of playfulness. It goes without saying that any toy with catnip in it is going to get plenty of attention! You can buy catnip on its own, catnip toys, or catnip bubbles!

Catnip is perfectly safe for cats, and very entertaining for humans. It can also help your cat’s digestion, making it so much more than simply a legal high.

Wand toys

These are sometimes referred to as ‘teasers’, and comprise of a soft toy on the end of a stick which cats just love to hunt. The stick keeps your hands out of harm’s way whilst your cat jumps around after the toy on the end of it, harnessing those killer instincts and having fun in the process.

There are loads of different styles out there, but your cat probably won’t mind too much: if it moves, it must be attacked.

Cat tunnels

Play tunnels aren’t just for kids; cats love a tunnel too. They’ll have a great time running back and forth, and it also gives them a place to hide when they don’t want to be the centre of attention.

Use your wand toy to take your cat on a mini assault course through their tunnel and up their cat tower for an entertaining high-speed chase!

Don’t throw away the box!

You can spend as much as you like on cat toys, but the thing they’ll be interested in the most to begin with is the box. Cats enjoy small spaces as it makes them feel safe and secure – many cat beds have little roofs for this reason. It’s pretty much inevitable that as soon as you’ve unpacked anything, your cat will jump straight into the empty box.

Toy storage

Of course, you want to shower your pets with gifts for being the cutest little sausage, but it’s important to have somewhere to keep all those toys to avoid tripping hazards. Grab yourself a storage box or basket which you can use as a cat or dog toy box.