Our pets are so dear to us. And for many of us dealing with emotional , physical or interpersonal challenges, our cherished animals can be crucial sources of support.
Folks living with limited mobility, fatigue or depression may not always be able to engage with their pet as much or as easily as theyd like, including when it comes to playtime or enrichment.
These products can help provide your dog or cat with exercise, stimulation and fun, without requiring too much movement on your end. Some can even be used while sitting, or independent of your engagement.
Read on for opinions from reviewers who can relate and picks from HuffPost.
HuffPost and its publishing partners may receive a commission from some purchases made via links on this page. Every item is independently curated by the HuffPost Shopping team. Prices and availability are subject to change.
This ingenious ball thrower , aptly named the Chuckit , launches balls farther and faster for your dog during fetch while requiring less effort and movement from you. It can also scoop up balls for you, so you won't have bend over as much (or touch a muddy, slobbery fetch toy).
It's a bestseller, with 37,000 5-star ratings, and works best with its specialty (and also bestselling) Chuckit fetch balls , which are designed to be extra durable and bouncy.
Note: Clip the coupon at the fetch ball's page for an extra discount at checkout.
Promising review: There were two reasons I wanted a chuck it when we got our dog. Picking up gross, dirty, slobbery tennis balls is no fun and I have a bad shoulder. I have had three surgeries on my shoulder so my mobility with it is limited thus making throwing difficult. With the chuck it, I can throw a tennis ball across the entire dog park with a flick of the wrist. After the dog brings the ball back and drops it the tennis ball pushes back in to the chuck it and my hands never have to touch the ball.
It takes very little practice to learn how to use the chuck it and get the ball as far or as short as you want it to go. You can throw overhand, sidearm or underhand and get the results you want.
The chuck it works with any standard size tennis ball and is made of thick durable plastic. A must have for dogs who love to fetch balls." B Gal
If you're low on energy or unable to physically engage with your cat, these colorful bouncy spirals enable them to amuse themselves. Cats can bat the springs around, chase them as they slide on the floor and play-stalk them from behind furniture. You can also toss them to your cat to fetch.
I consider them a must-have and rely heavily on them when my cat is bursting with energy and I'm busy working, trying to sleep or simply worn out.
They're lightweight yet durable, with smooth ends (I've stepped on them many times without breaking them, and without hurting my feet la Legos which I'm repeatedly relieved and impressed by). They slide especially well on uncarpeted floors, but my cat uses them on carpets without an issue.
Promising reviews: "These springs are great. They keep my cat entertained without me having to get involved. They are better than a lot of the more complicated, expensive toys." Carolyn
"My cat absolutely loves these. He entertains himself!!!" Mary Ann Minicozzi
Boost your dog's mental stimulation and support their love of sniffing with this play feeding mat . Just put your pup's regular dry food or treats inside the mat, and they get to forage for their food using their senses. It's also designed to help reduce anxiety and encourage slower eating!
Get it in three machine-washable colors.
Promising review: "He gets bored during the day and lives for walks. He wants to sniff and hunt and see where his nose takes him. This mat made sense but I had no idea how much *he* would value it. He takes other types of treats to his mat. When he wants a snack, he goes to his mat. When he comes back from a potty break, he rushes over and sits next to his mat. This thing no joke became and integral part of our lives and I cannot go back to life without one." SereneSilence001
Activated with the touch of a paw, this rechargeable wiggling fish toy will keep your cat entertained without you needing to be on the floor with them. You can also use it with small dogs!
It comes with a pouch of silvervine and catnip to help get your cat excited. You can also grab the fish in six types, including a clownfish and koi !
If you want to get in on the action, you can also grab a remote-operated fish toy .
Promising review: "My Cats LOVE this floppy fish toy, and it can keep them entertained for long stretches of time. What's great is that the toy is touch-activated, so it starts up when they bump into or walk over it. Another fun play session ensues. The materials are durable enough so that my giant Maine Coon doesn't easily shred the fabric. I thoroughly enjoy watching my cats engage with the floppy fish. I've purchased 5 of these floppy fish - for my cats and for other cat friends as well. The sellers are also super attentive and professional, which added to a great purchase experience." Kate
Keep your kitty entertained without your intervention with this no-hands, motion-activated laser toy . It's designed to stimulate your cat without over-exercising them: Once the sensor detects your cat, the laser will kick in for 15 minutes before turning off, giving your cat a break for two hours before motion detection resumes.
The gadget works best when placed on a surface 8-35 inches high. The laser utilizes up to 13.1 feet of space for play.
Just be sure to supplement the laser toy with some kind of physical toy before you finish playing, since it can be frustrating and demoralizing for cats to chase something they're never able to catch.
Promising review: "This device comes on automatically every couple of hours around the clock. It provides great entertainment for our cats, AND US. Lol We love watching our cats play chasing the Red Dot. If you have a cat or a few cats, you need this. They need this. It is great too, to have something for the cats to do while we are out at work or just out period. And the price is GREAT! I would have thought that something like this would cost much more. The $25 price tag is too good to pass up, and a worthy investment for your pet." T&SCurtis Shops
Cats and dogs alike love chasing this laser toy all over your home, sprinting around with glee without you having to move an inch.
As with the previous laser toy option , be sure to end playtime with a toy your cat can physically catch to abate frustration.
It's rechargeable and includes five different patterns and three light modes for you to switch between.
Promising review: "I recently had to have foot surgery and have a very high energy dog. I bought this in the hopes of finding something to entertain him with that I could still use while seated. He goes crazy for this and it makes playtime easy for an owner with limited mobility." Emily
You can dangle and wiggle this beloved rainbow string toy for your cat while sitting, and they're sure to respond. They can bat, tug, bunny-kick and chase it; it's made with soft fleece, meant to be easy on kitty paws and mouths.
Just be sure to put the toy away once you're done playing for maximum safety!
Promising reviews: "I'm disabled, and needed a light weight cat wand that would allow me to play with my cat from a stationary sitting position while still giving her plenty of exercise. I start out with a laser pointer, then follow up with this so she has something solid to chase and pounce on. She can chew on it, dig her claws into it, and so far (after about a month of daily play) it hasn't fallen apart. The handle hasn't snapped either despite rough repeated play sessions. Not bad at all for the price. Will happily buy another should it break tomorrow." hmz
"The Cat Charmer is one of the top recommendations I make as a certified cat behavorist and veterinary technician. I find that many cats who are not attracted to most routine toys are easily attracted to this toy. The toy holds the attention of most cats that would otherwise not play with a toy. The array of colors and the way that it is made provides endless amounts of fun for both the handler and the cats involved. I hang these outside of the cat roaming room at the animal shelter and allow volunteers to play with the cats. It has a long reach which worked great for people who were in wheel chairs or were disabled.
I find that this toy is very durable and can last for years...even with routine use! Not replacement feathers or parts needed which makes this a cheap toy to use." Siamic
This renowned cat toy attaches to flat surfaces via suction or adhesive, letting its wire wand move and sway as your cat bats, jumps and "hunts" the attached fluttering bird. It's the best of its kind around, able to self-sustain as a stimulating toy without outside help, while your cat's engagement keeps the the bird flying.
It works best on flat and hard surfaces, like hardwood, tile or windows, and comes with five replacement birds so you (and your cat) can really get your money's worth.
Promising review: "I am SO GLAD I got this. I initially tried it on the wall, she was instantly attracted, but did not play with it AS MUCH until I put it on the floor.. then she played so hard she exhausted herself fully, literally could not stop playing, over an hour solid.. she would take a quick rest, then get back to it. Great self play and really keeps her entertained and active and helps her get in her needed exercise. The suction power is really good; it does come off from time to time, however, as I have it on the floor and its easier to get dirty so this is why, its a quick fix with a rinse and reapply -- its very strong once applied; no qualms what so ever. its sturdy, feels nearly indestructible, the bird variety is nice and helps keep things fresh - she is obsessed. you will NOT regret this. GET IT FOR YOUR KITTY! THEY BEG OF YOU! Also helps you get some work done. Winning all around with this one!" Ginny
"It sticks to the floor and bends any which way your cat leaves it. Our cat plays with it almost all day. She wears herself out and falls asleep right where she is. This is the greatest product Ive ever bought." Kris
Cats are instinctually drawn to high spaces because of their evolutionary history, according to feline behaviorists , so cat trees are an excellent and oft-underrated tool for cat-inhabited households.
Not only will your cat feel more secure at home with the ability to survey their surroundings from up high, but they'll enjoy a dedicated space for scratching, jumping, toying around and generally enriching themselves without requiring any extra work from you, besides the initial setup. (Read more about why cat trees are important for the kitty in your life here .)
I own this highly-rated Yaheetech model (or rather, my cat Bee does). Bee clearly adores it: She loves leaping from tier to tier, clawing at the abundance of scratching posts and squirreling away at its top or in the enclosed cave when she needs privacy or rest. It stays impressively still without wobbling despite all her roughhousing and comes with a rope and hanging ball for extra fun.
The cat tree is 63 inches at its highest point and comes in six other colors (including this fun cactus-themed green option ).
Promising reviews: "Our 2 cats absolutely love this cat tree! Assembly was easy and took only a short amount of time. Our cats love to play on the platforms, jump from level to level, and lounge on the very top. The material is so soft! I will soon be purchasing a 2nd tree for another room in the house." Heidi Sypin
"She has not stopped playing on this. From the time i laid all the parts on the floor shes been all over everything like to say come on mom put it together already lol. Theres really nothing bad to say about this. Easy to put together picture direction. Use the four short screws to but the ladder on. Then theres 2 screws they go up through the bottom to attach the little house. Sure it shakes but i dont see monk turning it over and shes been jumping up hard on it. The carpet well its not carpet its like a nice soft fuzzie blanket. Would i buy another HELL YEAH !! In fact Im getting ready to order one for my nieces kitten. All i can say is make sure you screw everything right. And sit back and watch your babys have fun." Elizabeth rose
We've written about this $4 cat toy before ; it's recommended by a certified feline behavior specialist and went on to be one of the best-selling items recommended by HuffPost to date. Made from a deceptively simple springy piece of steel wire with cardboard rolls at the end, it taps into your cat's native drive to hunt by imitating the slow crawl of prey.
The toy will delight your cat while requiring just a flick of your wrist as you sit down (which is how I usually use it, too).
Promising reviews: "this toy is AMAZING!! so simple yet brilliant, and for the price, its a steal! my cat loves chasing it around and biting the cardboard bits; it moves very similarly to a flying bug. the wire bounces a lot on its own with little movement on my part, so this would be perfect for cat owners with limited mobility! he loves it even more than some toys ive spent $10 or $15 on!! it gets my 8 year old grumpy man to jump around like a kitten! i will definitely be purchasing a new one when this wears out!" rainnnbow
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