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uFEATURED ARTICLE 8 | my pet magazine Toys are not only cute and fun, but they also play a very significant role in keeping your pet happy and healthy. Toys provide stimulation which is important for enriching your pet's development, both mentally and physically. They reduce boredom and can help ease mischievous and destructive behaviour like digging, chewing or scratching. Toys are a great tool to encourage bonding between owner and pet and also for socialisation with other pets, as they make playtime and interaction fun. They are a useful way for pets to get exercise and can also help comfort them when they are lonely or going to sleep. There are a lot of different toys available and each have been designed with a different purpose in mind. So when choosing a toy for your four-legged friend, think about what it is they need in a toy. The following are the different types of toys available and some of their uses and benefits. Distraction Toys or Boredom Relief Toys are great for keeping your pet entertained and hopefully out of mischief. They are particularly good for when no one is home as they help distract your pet and lower separation anxiety. Treat toys, chew toys and tough toys are great for boredom relief and distraction as they can keep a pet entertained for hours. For cats, scratching posts are a great way to hopefully save your furniture from being scratched as they may use the post instead. Active and Interactive Toys provide great stimulation for your pet and are also a good opportunity for you to play and bond with them. They are a great way for you both to get exercise and also very useful for training. Fetch toys and tug toys create a fantastic game for you and your pet, or likewise with another animal. Comfort Toys are the soft and cuddly toys made for comforting your pet when they are nervous, alone or just need something familiar to cuddle up with. Some pets like to cuddle up to something when sleeping or lonely or use them to keep them warm. You can get soft toys, with or without stuffing and with or without squeakers. It is also a good idea to supply your pet with a variety of toys that you can interchange or rotate for them. This is especially important for boredom relief as when your pet has been playing with them non-stop for months they can sometimes lose the sense of challenge and excitement. Changing the toys around will keep them entertained for longer and provide new stimulation. When picking a toy for your pet, safety must be foremost in your mind. Make sure that you choose toys that are a suitable size for them. If they are too small they can be a choking hazard and if they are too big they can be too heavy for your pet or too hard for them to play with. Check your toys regularly to make sure nothing has come loose which may become a choking or injury hazard for your pet. Toys are a very important part of your pet's happiness and well being, and should not be overlooked. Not only will your pet have fun playing with them, but you will also have fun watching them play or joining in with them. Choosing the right toy for your pet

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