Last Updated: 08/04/2026
How to Choose the Best Pet Toy
Whether you have a destructive chewer, a bored indoor cat, or a senior pet, our vets break down the best toy recommendations for every personality and life stage to keep your furry friend happy and healthy.
Author: Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Reading Time: 7 minutes - short read
Play is hugely beneficial for dogs and cats on both a psychological and physical level. Not only does playtime keep their mind stimulated and happy, but it helps to keep them occupied and away from other objects (such as your shoes!). Play can also increase your pet's fitness, and is an important form of exercise.
With so many pet toys available, it can be hard to know which one is best to give to your furry friend. For those who aren't sure what toy to buy for their pet, we've compiled a list of typecast sample dogs and cats. Simply choose which animal profile is most like your pet, and check out our recommendation!
Best toys for teething puppies: soothing sore gums
Puppies just love to chew, chew, and chew a bit more! With new adult teeth coming through, you can hardly blame them. Unfortunately, sometimes a shoe looks just as good as a chew toy. Chewing is a natural and healthy instinct and instead of punishing your pup for it, try to redirect them onto something that we want them to chew!
Our Vets Recommend: Puppy safe chew toys
Strong rubber chew toys are great for chewing on, as they are harder to destroy, fairly soft so won't cause injury or break puppy teeth, and will provide hours of chewing fun.
Learn more about Puppy Teething and How to Stop Your Puppy from Chewing Inappropriately.
High-energy kitten play: keeping your tiny hunter busy
Kittens have an abundance of energy, and will play with anything. They are ever-learning and curious little mischief-makers. Piece of string? Awesome. Plastic bag? Super exciting! Electrical cords? Fun maze!
To keep kittens safe and occupied, it's important to provide a range of toys. Just like children, they will find joy in new toys, so keep them busy with a fresh new toy every so often.
Our Vets Recommend: Chase Toys
Help them expend that everlasting energy with things they can chase, such as balls, teaser toys, or even an interactive toy such as a laser pointer. With hyperactive kittens, it really is true that the more toys, the merrier!
Best interactive toys for cats
Toughest toys for destructive dogs: durable chew options
For some dogs, toys do not last long. They destroy every toy you lovingly buy for them, and really need something tough and durable to keep them occupied.
What we recommend: Toys Made For Durability
A number of toy brands make extra-tough toys for determined pooches. KONG Extreme Range, West Paw and Aussie Dog are designed to be extra tough for destructive dogs. For some great soft toys that will last, Tuffy makes a durable fabric range of toys, and even has a 'Tuffy' scale to grade how tough a toy is.
Check out more tips in our article about Heavy Duty Toys for Power Chewers.
Interactive toys for weight loss: getting chubby cats moving
Overweight cats are all too common in today's world, what with easy access to high quality nutrition, humans tendency to overfeed, and desexing being so common (desexing tends to slow your cat's metabolism). While chubby cats might be adorable, they are in danger of developing some seriously grim health issues and weight loss is absolutely vital.
Playing with toys is an extremely effective form of exercise for cats. Overweight cats are usually less keen on being active, so it's important to do everything you can to encourage them to get off the couch and move their pudgy butt.
What we recommend: Puzzle Feeders and Interactive Toys
Puzzle Feeders are designed to feed your cat slowly and only after they have put in some effort.
Interactive toys are great to get your cat active. Balls or fetch toys are great, but it nothing gets them moving quite like a teaser toy, ball circuit, or an automated laser pointer.
For more information, take a read through our Tips to Help Your Cat Lose Weight.
Energy-burning toys for working breed dogs
Working breed dogs need a whole lot of exercise. They've got tonnes of energy to burn and love to keep busy and play.
What we recommend: Fetch toys
Fetch toys are great for dogs who need to burn some energy. Try a ball launcher to extend your throwing distance and get the maximum exercise for your dog. Fetching isn't all about balls though - why not try a frisbee-type flyer or rope toy to keep things varied?
Learn more about How Much Exercise YOUR Dog Needs.
Enrichment for indoor cats: beating boredom while home alone
Cats are kept mostly indoors and are often home alone while their owner is out for the day. They need toys that keep them entertained and occupied, to ensure their time indoors alone is stimulating and enjoyable.
What we recommend: Interactive toys and scratchers
Interactive toys are great as they stimulate your cat to play when no-one else is around. Ball in circuit and automated electronic toys can keep your cat busy when they are on their own.
Cat scratcher toys are a must for indoor cats, so they don't get bored and scratch your furniture. Most cat furniture comes equipped with scratching surfaces, or you can buy small scratchers made from carpet, wood, or cardboard.
For more information, read through:
Dental toys for dogs: supporting oral health through play
Most dogs will experience some degree of dental disease as they age. It is a vicious circle - the worse your dog's dentition, the less they want to chew on beneficial dental treats and toys. The more we can encourage our dogs to chew, the better, as this helps keep their teeth clean.
What we recommend: Dental Toys
Dental toys are designed to encourage chewing. Many are scented or contain a palatable taste to keep your dog focused on cleaning their teeth by chewing.
For more information, read through:
Engaging senior cats: how to encourage older pets to play
All cats will become less playful as they age. However, sometimes a cat will develop a strong preference for the type of toy they want to play with. For example, a cat that used to love all toys might only get excited in their old age by toys with feathers, or really high-interaction play toys.
What we recommend: Interactive Toys
Interactive toys that have an independent moving component encourage your cat to play. Look for automated or motion activated electronic toys, as well as treat dispensing and puzzle toys. Laser pointers and cat nip filled toys are also great, as are toys that encourage a cats natural hunting instinct with realistic feathers or fur.
Learn more about How to Care for Senior Cats.
Pet Toy FAQs
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History
Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
Thu 9 Apr 2026
Edited by Dr Gillian Hill BVSc (Hons)Dr Carla Paszkowski BVSc (Hons)
Veterinarian
Dr. Carla graduated from the University of Queensland in 2013 with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science and worked for a number of years in small animal clinics across South East Queensland. While Carla enjoys most facets of clinical veterinary work, she holds a special passion for feline medicine, pocket pets, and nutrition.
