We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.
Your pets can still have a ~ball~ even when it’s hot outside.
1.A ~hilarious~ giggle ball your pup will be enthralled with for hours thanks to the fun giggling sound that’ll capture their attention. The best part? No batteries or charging necessary!
Promising review: “My boxer absolutely loves this ball, this is the second one that I have purchased — the other one still works but she’s had it two years and it’s a bit chewed up. It lasts for a very long time with my aggressive chewer and keeps her entertained — I actually have to make her come inside from the patio. The sound it makes is so funny and I think that is what keeps her chasing it so much. I would definitely recommend for any medium or large dog breed.” —Kristy J.
Get it from Amazon for $13.04.
2.A self-groomer cat brush so your kitties can groom themselves and enjoy pets whenever they want — even if you’re not around to give ’em. You can even load it up with catnip if they need extra convincing.
Promising review: “None of my cats like to play with toys! They have so much energy but would get bored with any toy within days. I tried rotating them and interactive toys, anything and everything for hours and at different times. There is nothing that has kept my cats busy like these grooming tools! I have literally never seen any of them sit and mess with something for more than a few minutes but my cats will rub on this for like 20 minutes at a time. 100% worth the money!” —Amazon Customer
P.S. Don’t forget to add some catnip to your cart so you can make your cat an offer they can’t refuse!
Get it from Amazon for $4.99.
3.A durable chew toy for dogs who get aggressive with their toys, especially after being cooped up inside due to a heat wave! This sturdy toy will keep them busy *and* withstand their tough chewing.
Promising review: “My 8-month-old hound dog with bionic jaws, who has destroyed $400 of toys in the three months since I rescued her, has not destroyed this. The rope even remains unshredded. We play with it in the park. She marches around with it in her mouth and plays tug with humans and canines. She also likes to play fetch with herself and this ball. And, like many dogs, she shakes her head back and forth quickly while holding the rope. The ball is too big for her mouth, but she tries to grab it. She is entertained and so am I!” —Mary G GTG Owner
Get it from Amazon for $26.08 (available in three sizes and six colors).
4.A gorgeous wooden cat tree when you’re looking for a way to fascinate your climbing feline without ruining your home’s aesthetic. If your cat loves birdwatching from a window, I can promise you this is *the* ultimate way to their heart.
Mau / Etsy, Courtney Lynch / BuzzFeed
This is def a splurge purchase but I’ve had mine for about six months and have ~no regrets~ whatsoever. My high-energy cat has deemed this her safe place where she’ll stare out the window birdwatching for hours and eventually give into a nap. It’s also a huge help when she has the indoor zoomies and races around the house to burn off energy. She always comes right back to the cat tree to swat the pom-pom balls and go to town on the scratching posts! I personally appreciate that it doesn’t stick out like a sore thumb and actually matches the aesthetic in my space without taking over the whole room. The quality is *chef’s kiss* amazing, too.
Mau is a small biz founded by cat lovers who want to provide modern aesthetically pleasing cat furniture made from sustainable materials.
Promising review: “Wow! Not only is this the best looking cat tree, my two kittens jumped right up and started playing, and then napping, immediately. It’s really sturdy, too. One of my kittens is a Maine Coon, and it’s not wobbly like the carpeted trees you get at the pet store. Assembly instructions were the best I’ve ever used; everything was labeled and numbered, and it was helpful to watch the video first. All around, this is a high-quality product that works well and looks great while doing it!” —Paula Maroulis
Get it from Mau on Etsy or Amazon for $289 (available in three colors).
5.OR a multilevel cat condo if you have a multicat home full of hard-to-please kitties. Whether you have a brood of kittens with tons of energy or you have a couple of older cats, this will keep them on their toes.
Promising review: “This is a great tower for my kitty, Pepper, who loves to climb. She entertains herself all day by running up and down the tree, hunting the hanging fluffballs on it. It allows me to give her vertical space compared to horizontal space as we have a very small apartment.” —Isabel
Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes and eight colors).
6.A snuggle puppy stuffed toy because your dog could use a bit of extra love when the anxiety from cabin fever takes over. It has a “real feel” heartbeat, which is ~paws-itively~ perfect for pups who need constant touch to feel content.
The “real feel” heartbeat has two modes: 24-hour continuous use or eight-hour use with automatic shut-off. It comes with AAA batteries and a one-time use heat pack.
Snuggle Puppy was created in 1997 by a breeder who wanted to help a litter of puppies to transition to their new homes. It ended up being so effective that the line was eventually expanded to help other pets with stress and anxiety.
Promising review: “I received a puppy approximately two months ago, and she carries it around all over! As a new puppy, she has many toys, but always leaves the others after five minutes of play time. This one she carries all over the place, even when the heart is not beating. The toy is very durable and soft. Well worth the money I paid for it!” —Sophie23
Get it from Amazon for $39.95+ (available in six colors).
7.Or, a purr pillow your kitty will surely thank you for when it’s snuggled up next to it. The gentle purring sound is soothing to anxious cats and can help occupy energetic cats!
The touch-activated purr pillow is available as a purple kitty or a blue sloth. Petstages offers other soothing toys, including a glow-in-the-dark mouse that contains catnip.
Promising review: “Got a little baby kitten. He’s very playful so I wanted to get him a toy to keep him occupied with something other than my ankles and legs…he absolutely loves it. He’s been using it for a few months now. The purring effect is really cool, as soon as I turn it on it immediately catches his attention and even puts him to sleep sometimes.” —Alfred
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in three styles and four colors).
8.An organic cat grass growing kit if you know the struggle of having a furry friend who is downright obsessed with your plants. Plus, if your cat is used to getting some backyard grass time, this is a nice replacement in the summer months when it’s just too dang hot out there.
This kit comes with a rustic wood planter that’ll look great in your home. It contains a blend of barley, rye, oat, and wheat seeds, so it’s packed with vitamins and minerals that are good for your cat!
The Cat Ladies is a family-owned, southern California-based small business founded in 2015 by a mother-daughter duo who wanted to create unique, organic, nontoxic products for other passionate cat owners.
Promising review: “I have been a customer for about a year now, and ever since the first time when we gave her gentle pets while she ate the grass, she’s now developed a whole daily routine! She meows at us every morning, demanding that we come and sit with her and pet her while she munches happily on the grass. It’s become such an important part of her daily routine that we bought two of the planters so that she can always have fresh grass.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $28.90.
9.An interactive treat puzzle so your doggo will have to work a bit harder for their reward when spending time inside! This keeps them busy longer and prevents them from gobbling up their treats in one fell swoop.
You can hide their favorite treats inside the flip-top compartments and liftable dog-bone shapes, all of which have tiny air holes on top so your doggo can smell that something is hiding underneath. You might have to show them how to access the compartments the first time they use it, but reviewers say most dogs get the hang of it very quickly!
Promising review: “My puppy Chabuddy loves this puzzle … He uses his nose and paws to remove covers, flip open the lids, and slide the boxes to reveal more treats. I didn’t have to teach Chabuddy what to do with the puzzle. I just gave him a single peak under one lid to show him food was in fact accessible and his nose did the rest of the work.” —Clementine
Get it from Amazon for $9.21.
10.Or a slow feeder bowl to make mealtime even more exciting for your pet. It keeps their mind active by encouraging their foraging skills *and* occupies them for more than, well, five seconds.
Promising review: “Our three-month-old Aussie puppy was wolfing down her food, so we thought it would be a good idea to see if there was anything that could help with that. So glad to have found this bowl! It made a huge difference, and it keeps her busy so I can get a few things done without being concerned if she is getting into something she shouldn’t.? Bowl is made of a very thick plastic and appears to be very sturdy. I got the large bowl so the kibbles were more spread out, giving her more fun time while eating. She really seems to enjoy the problem-solving stimulation.” —Red in Keds
Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in four sizes and nine styles).
11.A mounted catnip ball that is basically proven to send even the chillest cats into a silly frenzy that’s a little too fun to watch. Each ball has a different flavor so there’s a good chance they’ll like at least one of ’em: silvervine, gall fruit, catnip, and cat sugar.
Promising review: “The cats are in love with this thing and it is so durable! They have been rubbing their faces against it as well as pulling on it with their paws and it has not fallen once. Great entertainment!” —Sky
Get the set of four from Amazon for $12.99 (available connected or as stand-alone balls).
12.An automatic water fountain for felines who need all the motivation they can get to stay hydrated — especially during the scorchin’ summertime. They’ll also be mesmerized for hours by the trickling water, which is a nice bonus for cats that linger by the sink waiting for a sip.
Promising review: “My kitty is fascinated when we pour any type of liquid into a glass so I knew he would enjoy this fountain and sure enough, he does love it. Has slight waterfall noise but not too loud and it’s actually peaceful. Kitty stays hydrated and entertained. Cat mom approves too.” —Anni Keny
Get it from Amazon for $35.19 (available in three colors).
13.A rechargeable flopping fish toy if you want to keep everyone in the house amused — that includes four-legged and two-legged species. You’ll love watching your pet tussle with this motion-activated toy so much, you may just forget about the triple-digit temps outside.
Promising reviews: “Best cat toy. My cat absolutely loves this fish. Well worth the price to keep my cat entertained.” —Joanne
“I bought two for my Frenchie and Chihuahua and they both stay entertained for a good while tossing and chewing on the little trout. The charge usually lasts about a week on a single charge.” —Chef Raul Alberto Dominguez
Get it from Amazon for $13.99 (available in four styles).
14.A challenging activity mat so your dog is never bored inside again! If your pup has destructive tendencies due to lack of stimulation, this might just do the trick. Hide treats in the mat and they’ll be occupied for a hot minute.
DogNmat / Etsy
DogNmat is a small business that makes the cutest snuffle mats and pooch accessories.
Promising review: “My lil’ dog absolutely LOVES her snuffle mat. She was flipping, shaking, foraging, pawing it to get every treat. I had to help her get to some of the treats in some hiding places because I put the treats too deep in some places she couldn’t get her nose to get it. I’ll be ordering another one because another dog I take care of LOVES it too! Exceptional quality, vibrant colors, fun and mentally stimulating for my dog. Excellent customer service. Thank you so much!” —Chris Gray
Get it from DogNmat on Etsy for $27.50+ (available with or without personalization).
15.OR, a soft interactive snuffle mat that’ll keep your pooch occupied while you sprawl out in front of the fan for some relief from the heat. Hide treats inside and they’ll go to town searching for them.
Promising review: “My chiweenie absolutely loves this! He loves to dig and sniff around the kitchen floor so when I saw this I thought it would be a better way for him to release those canine desires. I feed him his dinner and breakfast in this somedays, it keeps him busy for about 30 minutes. He really seems to enjoy sniffing around the fake grass and digging at it for his food. He usually eats his entire bowl in under a minute so this is a great option also for those who have fast eaters! I am very happy I bought this item.” —Erin
Get it from Amazon for $15.99.
16.An interactive cat toy because who isn’t a fan of endless entertainment for their kitty? Watching them go after this thing will bring you joy *and* it’ll help them stay active, so it’s a win-win.
Promising review: “My 2-year-old playful and energetic Maine Coon is obsessed with this toy. He will chase it nonstop and begs for us to take it out of the cabinet.I’m so happy we found something to burn off some energy aside from climbing the TV and tormenting our senior cat. He’s very strong, so this toy needed replacing after a couple of months of hard play. I have no complaints. I’m just happy to have found something he loves.” —Kelsey Heroux
Get it from Amazon for $2.65.
17.A time-consuming treat-dispensing ball when you need a toy that’s guaranteed to keep your pet busy until it cools down outside. Pop some treats in the ball and watch their problem-solving skills shine as they work to retrieve them.
Amazon
Promising review: “My dog is a fast eater. This toy keeps her busy for hours trying to get treats out of the ball. I put larger pieces of treats inside to slow down kibble from coming out of the ball. It’s larger than others so it doesn’t get stuck under furniture.” —Lauren Howroyd
Get it from Amazon for $9.99.
18.A Goughnuts chew ring strong enough to go against enthusiastic chewers. Your dog may become *obsessed* with trying to figure out why they can’t destroy it, but at least they’ll be engaged in a fun activity!
Promising review: “We have a mastiff/American bulldog/pitbull mix and he LOVES toys. So finding a toy that lasts more than 30 minutes is historically impossible. Finally, we found the Goughnut which he GOES [WILD] for. It’s the first toy that has the right texture that our dog loves and he hasn’t been able to tear it to shreds. He’s fascinated with it and why he can’t destroy it. It’s able to keep him busy for several daily play sessions. Love it!” —Rowan W.
Get it from Amazon for $28.95+ (available in three colors and four toughness levels).
19.A genius set of catnip-infused felted balls if you’re desperate to entertain your rambunctious cat on those extra hot days when patio time isn’t an option. Simply return ’em to the tin to recharge with more catnip before the next play sesh.
Simply B Vermont / Etsy
Simply B Vermont is a small business located in Montpelier, Vermont that carries a huge selection of toys and accessories for both cats and dogs. You can also get dog bandanas, catnip alternatives,
Promising review: “My cat normally only likes toys with feathers and ribbons or catnip filled so I took a chance and ordered these for her. She is OBSESSED. She is like a little maniac running around chasing a little felt ball. I always hear crashing and it’s her throwing around the toy and running into things lol. So glad I purchased these and that she loves them so much!” —Kristina Meyer
Get it from Simply B Vermont on Etsy for $8.75+ (available in three tin colors).
20.A hanging chew toy because even the littlest pets deserve attention, too. Give ’em a break from their usual cage toys with this one! It has a bunch of different snacks and textures to keep bunnies, guinea pigs, rats, and chinchillas plenty busy.
Promising reviews: “Our two large bunnies really go for these. They are active chewers and the toys give them a choice of treats to chew. Treats last reasonably well considering how the bunnies enjoy them!” —M. Cooper
“I got this for one of my guinea pigs, Garbanzo Bean, for his teeth of course and for his high energy. He loves chewing, tugging, and batting it around. It’s lasting for a while too! I’m glad that he has something to keep him entertained while I’m at work.” —Heather
Get it from Amazon for $9.98.
21.A cat scratching post for captivating your kitty when their energy level is officially off the charts. Bonus points: It may even keep their claws off your couch for a change.
Amazon
Promising review: “While I haven’t gotten a chance to try the scratcher out personally, our cat loves it, and that’s enough for me. Our surly and highly judgmental cat was gouging up the sofa and carpet until we got this excellent scratcher. I was impressed at how stable it is as our cat is not the most slender of creatures. But she hasn’t knocked it over yet. The ball-on-a-string on top is a very clever feature as that was the first thing that got our cat’s attention. Plus it’s helping to keep her needle-like claws more manageable.” —Alan
Get it from Amazon for $23.99 (also available in a smaller size).
22.A wood alternative dog chew toy they’ll be SO happy to play with even if they didn’t get to spend hours outside finding it themselves. Keep them entertained with this look-alike that’s much safer than a real one that might splinter.
Promising review: “My bulldog loves these wooden chew toys. A few months ago she started acting up and eating the wood siding shingles off the house and part of our Jacuzzi deck. We would fix it and it would happen again. She had a lot of toys so we knew she was not just bored. I asked our dog trainer what to do and he suggested we give her sticks as toys since she seems to like chewing wood. We tried that, but the sticks would get broken or thrown away by the gardeners. So, when I came upon this real wood toy I had to try it. It is amazing! She loves it and she has not chewed any wood off the house since we got the first one about a month ago. I just came back to buy a second one so she can have her favorite toy inside the house too. She is so happy with it!” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $6.49+ (available in four sizes and many styles).
23.A sweet but also tear-resistant stuffed duck your pup can literally grow up with thanks to its durability. If you’ve sworn off stuffed toys because they usually end up in pieces, this duck may be *the* perfect solution for your dog’s indoor boredom.
Check out our full Multipet yellow duck toy review for more deets!
Promising review: “Our 6-month-old lab puppy loves her Duckworth duck, carrying it around with her throughout the day, and even play fighting with it when she needs to expend some energy rather rambunctiously. So far, it has received quite a bit of active rough-house play and is holding up well.” —Michael
Get it from Amazon for $7.24+ (available in four styles).
24.A motion-activated laser toy because when your pet has a case of indoor zoomies, they’ll need something to chase around until they get all tuckered out!
Promising reviews: “Our cat loves it. Light is very bright at day or night. Great that there are multiple mounting options, wall, shelf, or window. Great to for busy lives when we need to leave our cat still have something to interact with.” —Amazon Customer
“My dog loves lasers and we are getting two kittens, so I thought I would give this a try. When I received it, I got it out of the box and my dog went [wild]. She loves it and I love that it is rechargeable instead of using up batteries.” —G Brodecky
Get it from Amazon for $16.99.
25.A rolling cat kicker toy to take playtime to a whole new level. These contain organic catnip, silver vine, and valerian root, so your kitty will be ~kicking~ and scratching for more.
Hoff-N-Paw Pet Toys / Etsy
Hoff-N-Paw Pet Toys is a small Etsy shop based in Chicago, Illinois.
Promising review: “This cat toy is exactly as advertised. I have four cats and even the one old lady who doesn’t care much for catnip loves playing with the scratcher! The lil’ peanut was all over the envelope before we even got it open (and when her brother took a turn playing with the toy, she managed to cram herself almost completely into the envelope).” —Amy
Get it for Hoff-N-Paw Pet Toys on Etsy for $15.25+ (available in three sizes and four colors).
26.A cat tunnel with three pathways so they have plenty of options when they decide it’s time for a game of hide-and-seek. They may be out of sight when playing in their tunnel, but they’re probably keeping an eye on you. ?
Promising review: “I have never seen so much fun being had by my cat as I have with this tunnel. He is so fun to watch! We are very happy with this purchase and it is pretty enough to stay out in our living room. I love the gray and white pattern.” —x1blais2x
Get it from Amazon for $16.99 (available in eight colors).
27.Or an interactive dog toy when your hide-and-seek loving pup needs their fix. They’ll be entertained for the foreseeable future as they try to find the squirrels in this tree trunk toy.
Six squeaky squirrels are included with the XL toy pictured above. The small, medium, and large size toys come with three squirrels. You can also purchase a three-pack of replacement squirrels as needed.
Promising review: “Absolutely amazing. Our Corgi puppy loves it and it keeps her well occupied. This is a great toy for a teething puppy and forces her to think. Definitely recommend.” —Amazon Customer
Get it from Amazon for $21.99 (available in four sizes and many styles).
28.A three-tiered ball tower for cats who love chasing things around the house. They’ll be so entranced by all the balls rolling around, they just might forget about the inanimate objects they usually wreak havoc on.
Promising review: “My kitty LOVES this toy, and hasn’t lost interest in it since I introduced it two months ago. She was formerly an ‘outdoor kitty’, but transitioned to indoor life this winter. So, I needed something to keep her mind and energy level occupied, and this is doing a great job. The tower is fairly sturdy and isn’t too noisy. The balls are a bit on the light side compared to a single-track unit I had ages ago, but that’s actually a plus with this item. My gal has to ‘work for it’ a little, and that’s keeping her interested during playtime. The four foam pads on the bottom side keep it from sliding around, and the hollow top is providing some extra play by dropping items down inside for her to fish out with her paws.” —Mitchell M.
Get it from Amazon for $8.79 (also available in four other designs).
29.A small treat ball so your tiny friends have a lil’ something to keep them busy when fenced-in yard time is out of the question — thanks a lot, summer. They’ll have an absolute ~ball~ following this thing around while trying to get their treats out.
The adjustable opening makes this work for kibble, pea flakes, small diced carrot, dried herbs or dried fruit. It’s recommended for small pets, like guinea pigs, rabbits, rats, and hedgehogs.
Promising review: “I have two standard Rex rabbits. A fully grown one (about 10 pounds) and 9-week old baby (the size of a guinea pig). Both absolutely have a blast playing with these balls. The baby has even managed to get the ball into the water dish. So, I wonder if he’s learned to pick it up and throw it by the treat dispensing opening. The ball’s treat dispensing opening is adjustable in size to accommodate different sized yummy surprises or difficulty level. They get great enjoyment trying to get either pieces of vegetables or some food pellets out of it that I’ve put inside.” —PPG
Get it from Amazon for $10.95.
30.A nail scratch pad that actually serves two purposes! Not only does it occupy your dog with a positive reinforcement activity, but it also helps keep their nails trimmed to a reasonable length.
ScratchPad For Dogs / Etsy
The ScratchPad is available in different levels of coarseness depending on your pup’s needs. Every purchase comes with a step-by-step training guide to teach your dog to use the ScratchPad for both the front AND back feet!
ScratchPad For Dogs is a small business in Atlanta. The owner was inspired to create this product after having plenty of firsthand experience with a dog that hates nail trims.
Promising review: “Just as described. Only took about 15 minutes each to train two of my dogs to scratch on the pad with their front paws. It quickly became a game to them and they line up ready to scratch as soon as the board comes out of the closet. May not be as precise as a professional nail trim, but definitely allows us to go a longer time between trips to the groomers and is stress free for our pups.” —Endeavour Toys
Get it from ScratchPad For Dogs on Etsy for $46.95 (available in three materials and four styles).
31.An interactive cat toy if your kitty gets bored easily and needs constant mental stimulation to stay entertained. Watch their hunting instincts ~spring~ into action as they play with this toy!
Amazon
Promising review: “My kitten plays with this for hours at a time. He loves the spinning ball and then gets distracted by the springing mouse as well. I like that he can have some entertainment when I am not home as well. Definitely his favorite toy.” —AmCust
Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in four styles).
32.And finally, a classic Kong dog toy because sometimes all it takes is a treat to keep them busy and content. Stuff it with peanut butter or any other treat they love, and you’ll instantly be crowned best pet parent!
Promising review: “Great size for my 40–60 lb dogs! Put peanut butter inside then place in the freezer for awhile – it takes them a lot longer to get through it and keeps them busy 🙂 We’ve had it for six months and it’s very durable. 10/10 recommend!” —Nicole
Get it from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in six sizes).
Reviews in this post have been edited for length and/or clarity.
