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You can feel less guilty when you’re not in the mood to play.

I am a contributor with 10 years of experience covering parenting, lifestyle, and shopping, and a regular contributor and former shopping writer who has been writing for the BuzzFeed Shopping team for over three years.

Promising review: "Nicely made, simple to clean. Kept the guinea pig entertained for a good while." —TT

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, 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 $9.98 (available in two styles).

Promising review: "My six cage-free budgies love it. I have two. One each on the platform window. It keeps their beaks and nails trimmed. It keeps them entertained. It's sturdy and has quality wood parts." —Villa

Promising reviews: "This is way more than I expected in many ways, easy to put together, great construction, and has science behind slow-eating puzzles for cats. It challenges them and makes them work for treats. It keeps my cat busy and entertained while I work, and the kids love watching the cat work on getting a snack." —Anita

"Bought this for my inquisitive kitten a couple of years ago, and she loved it. Two years later, both her and her younger sister still enjoy this device. All in all, money well spent. Really, we've enjoyed every product this company has made. Well designed. High quality. Enriching. Hours of entertainment." —AMC

Promising review: "This is an amazing puzzle for cats! It has provided hours of entertainment to my cat so far, and because it has so many places to hide treats, he doesn’t get bored. Every time is a 'new' puzzle for him, and you can change the configuration any time! Very sturdy, he has climbed on the cube a couple of times, and it’s like new. I know it's a bit pricey compared to other cat toys, but it's totally worth it! When done, he is mentally tired and ready to take a nap." —Flavia Lanata

BTW: It also comes with two rope chew toys!

Promising review: "Best entertaining toy ever. This was the best toy I have purchased for my puppy yet. He loves it, and it helps keep him busy when he is in the yard all day. Only gave four stars for durability because, in a month, he has already torn up the rope toy and a little bungee. However, my 70-pound Chesapeake is what you would classify as an extremely heavy chewer." —Tammi Duckert

"My dog loves this toy!!! Our collie loves to chew and tug, and this toy keeps him entertained!" —Judy

Get it from Amazon for $15.99+ (available in three colors).

Promising reviews: "Parrot entertained. My Jardine's loves to play with these and rip them to shreds. Seems pricey but worth it, seeing the joy it brings my parrot and that I only purchase every month or so." —Kevin

"Almost like catnip for a bird. My bird will destroy one ball in a few hours. They are a little pricey, but a nice treat." —bklyn456

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in three- and six-packs and two sizes).

BTW, we have a roundup of ingenious pet products that your fur baby might want to get their paws on.

Promising reviews: "Just enough giggles to keep my puppy entertained, but not overly noisy, so it doesn't annoy us" —The Hope's

"This toy keeps my boxer entertained for hours! It's the perfect toy I've been looking for, plus he hasn't been able to get his mouth around it enough to chew on it." —Jackie

Get it from Amazon for $14.99+ (also available in a glow-in-the-dark and bounce versions as well as a two-pack).

Promising reviews: "The Upsky Cat Toy with 6 Balls is a fun and engaging interactive toy that provides hours of entertainment for your cat. Featuring a circular track with six colorful balls, it encourages your cat to bat, chase, and play, stimulating both their physical and mental activity. The toy is sturdy, with a smooth, safe design that prevents any sharp edges, making it ideal for active cats." —Catandogz

Get it from Amazon for $12.99+ (available in two styles, five colors/designs, and value packs that include additional toys).

Promising reviews: "Exciting and challenging. This toy really engaged and entertained our dogs, one is 44 pounds, and the other is 65 pounds. They loved the squeak. The 65-pound one destroyed it and had the inner toy in 30–45 minutes, the other can't open it but loves it as is." —Chuck Hepburn

"My dog loved it. Kept her busy for hours." —Clare L Marton Von Vogt

Get it from Amazon for $12+ (available for small and large dogs, various styles, and a two-pack).

Promising reviews: "Dog loves this. Didn’t take long to master the toy, but it still provides entertainment." —MJF

"Love it. Easy to clean and the dogs play with it for hours." —Maria zettlemoyer

Get it from Amazon for $8.99+ (available in two styles).

Promising review: "Fun little brain teaser for dogs. Entertaining for you and them. Love that it offers different ways to access the food, unlike most puzzle dog toys. My dogs love it." —Sarah

Get it from Amazon for $8.09+ (available in three difficulty levels and seven designs/styles).

Promising review: "Great toy. Keeps my cat happy for hours. My cat just loves this toy! He attacks it several times throughout the day, and it's so fun watching him play with it. The quality is great — it's very durable, given how many times Lucas has attacked it. Love seeing Lucas get exercise while having so much fun. It's a great value for the money!" —Amazon Customer - PJD

Get it from Amazon for $12.79+ (available in three styles and a two-pack).

Promising reviews: "This is my dog's favorite toy for whatever reason. Playing fetch with the gun is 10 times more exciting than having me throw 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

"Seriously, this is the best money I’ve ever spent on our dog! I have a German Shepherd who can play for hours and LOVES chasing and catching balls! This has given my arm a rest and provided hours worth of play a day! Best purchase EVER!" —Sam

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in various sizes with one or three balls, and ball refills). 

Promising review: "My vet recommended I get this for my older dog who was putting on weight from treats. He loves it because he uses his foraging instinct to find small treats in the folds of the mat. I just bought one for my sister's new dog, it gives them hours of interactive fun and mental stimulation." —Kathy Kirkpatrick

Get it from Amazon for $9.98+ (available in seven styles).

Promising review: "I bought this for a friend's kitten, and her kitty loved it! He plays with it for hours sometimes! It's a good length. I was a little worried about the strings on the end, but they're thick enough that her cat leaves them alone. They don't tear off easily or anything. I think the rope is a good thickness as well. He can chew on it without harming his teeth, and it's durable enough that it doesn't break apart easily or anything." —Emily

Get a pack of three on Amazon for $6.98.

Promising review: "My pup really enjoys the training aid, keeps her busy for hours. I like the way it fits in the crate. Great product." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $34 (available in two colors).

Promising review: "These are the best balls for power chewers. Our dogs love them, and they keep them busy for hours. They have yet to figure out how to tear them up." —Samuel Gobble

Get it from Amazon for $7.51+ (available in two sizes, with or without a squeaker, and in packs of two, four, and eight).

Promising reviews: "I had grown weary of watching $15 toys be destroyed within a couple of hours by my year-old pit. I decided to try this simply because of its low cost, as I didn't feel I could trust the description's claim to be indestructible, since other brands touted the same, inaccurate claim. BUT... This bone has endured hours and hours of nonstop gnawing, and, aside from being roughed up, it has held up. I am so amazed and excited about this find that I am buying two more... one for outside and one for my son's dog. This is a win-win!" —K Family

"I bought this bone over a year ago, and it’s still going strong, and my dog is quite the chewer. He loves the flavor, and I love how long-lasting it is. The only criticism I can give would be that sometimes the plastic pieces will stick to blankets or socks, but I think that is worth it for how much my boy is entertained by it. I’m confident in saying that this bone will be around for a long time." —Alana

Get it from Amazon for $8.80+ (available in four sizes and three flavors).

Promising reviews: "Entertaining. I’ve never seen my rabbit so interested in a toy. I’m glad I got two! I’ll definitely be ordering more." —Kahlia

"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 $8.48 (also available in a three-pack).

Promising reviews: "My cat loves to hunt, so he uses it to hide in the tunnels, jump out at us, and try to scare us. Lol! He plays with it every day. He has his claws, and there are no holes in the tunnel; we have had it for months. The only complaint is that it weighs nothing and always blows around. Guess that’s just the life of a cat owner." —Shallan cook

"I foster cats and kittens, and these tunnels are always a big hit. The kittens especially love running through them, hiding inside, and chasing each other back and forth. It keeps them entertained and helps them burn off energy. One thing I really like is that it’s collapsible, which makes it very easy to store. We rotate different tunnels in and out for the cats, so being able to fold this one up quickly is helpful. It also seems to hold up really well, even with multiple cats playing with it regularly. Overall, it’s a simple toy, but it gets a lot of use in our foster room." —KT

Get it from Amazon for $9.99+ (available in 31 colors/styles). 

The color you receive will be randomly selected at the time of delivery.

Promising review: "Keeps my larger dogs occupied for hours. My dog that doesn't enjoy tennis balls, really enjoys this toy. I was a little shocked at first. This squeaks when they bite down on it. Easily my dog's favorite toy." —Brown 

Get it from Amazon for $16.96+ (available in two sizes).

Promising reviews: I foster for a rescue, and every single cat has loved this toy! Keeps them very entertained." —Janet Ackerman

"Cats are entertained. I purchased this toy hoping that my cats would at least touch it. It far outdid my expectations. All three of them play with it so BIG HIT!" —Nujean

I have a black-capped conure who usually gets bored with toys within a day, and I'm constantly buying new toys. I purchased this out of pure desperation. I expected it to last a few days tops. But I was shocked that my bird loved it, and it lasted months! My bird has never been entertained so much or for so long by any other toy. I will definitely keep replacing it because it's just the best!

Promising review: "Keeps my cockatiel entertained for hours. I have a 4-year-old, very playful and curious cockatiel that will chew everything and anything from furniture to papers to my hair! She absolutely loves this toy, and it keeps her occupied for hours. Some toys only last a day or two with her, but I’ve had this for a few months, and it’s still going strong." —Dee and Jon Whible

Get it from Amazon for $14.98+ (available in three styles).

This ball is wayyy too big for my dog to chew, which is probably why it has lasted so long. Whenever he touches it with his paw or head, it will roll around, and he will chase after it. He keeps trying to get a grip on it, but he can't. So, he ends up pushing and pawing at it and chasing it around until he is exhausted. This ball has lasted months and is still in great condition, and it definitely keeps him entertained when I'm too busy or just not in the mood to play fetch. Totally recommend for anyone who has a dog who chews through everything because this will last!

Promising review: "This ball will last a lifetime, and if it doesn't, I will have to purchase another one because my dog just loves his Jolly Ball. It's very durable and chew-proof. He is an aggressive chewer, and this ball has managed to stay intact. It's light enough to pick up and throw, but hard enough so your dog cannot sink his/her teeth into it. This ball is a great way to give your dog exercise, and you don't have to do much, but stay out of the way. My dog pushes this ball all over the yard. Great purchase!!" —LK

Get it from Amazon for $10.99+ (available in three sizes and three colors).

Promising review: "First of all, let me say that assembling this was a breeze! Very simple, and I loved the fact that I could design the track in whatever shape I desired. I accidentally ordered two, but in all honesty, two tracks made the toy even MORE enjoyable to assemble, and since I have 5 kitties, it was just more track to share, although one of my cats is NOT very good at sharing. After this was assembled, they went bonkers over it, trying in earnest to get the ball out of the track. They had me in stitches. This is SUCH a cool toy, and it kept my cats very busy and entertained. They are NOT outdoor cats and really need to get out some energy at times in a constructive way. One thing I might change about this product, I wish the ball lit up or made some type of squealing or tweeting sound. It would be even more entertaining. Overall, I LOVE this toy!!! Almost as much as my cats do!!!! I'm all for redirecting excess feline energy in a constructive manner." —carol

Promising review: "These little springs are a great way to keep my cat entertained. She loves to chase after them when I roll them around on the ground. These toys are among the few I currently have that truly tire her out. Also, the fact that you get 12 for under 10 dollars is an unbeatable deal." —Claire

* Owning These 28 Helpful Pet Products Will Earn You Two Paws Up

* Ahem, It Has Come To My Attention That Your Pet Deserves A Little Treat — Here Are 28 They’ll Probably Love

* If Your Roommates, AKA Your Pets, Are Creating A Mess In The House, Here Are 27 Things To Help

Plus, subscription boxes and finds from Chewy and Petco.

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.