Face it, you like toys. So does your pet. That's because toys are a fun source of amusement for your pets when you're busy living the part of your life that doesn't involve leashes and plastic bowls with the name "Killer" across the side of it. Plus proper use of toys can keep your pet healthy (and you thought they were just good for making fun of Bower when he spins out chasing it across the linoleum). Toys put your pets in the habit of regular exercise as well as building a sense of enjoyment that will keep them young. After all, a playful pet is a healthy pet.

In fact, toys play a major and important role in emotional and mental development of your pet (they may not have the same effect for you, sorry). They offer a great solution for boredom, inappropriate chewing and anxiety (and you thought you had problems).

Now keep in mind that just like the multitude of mood swings your furry friend can have, there are a multitude of toys to choose from, but hey, variety is the spice of life, and don't worry, when it comes to picking the toy that's right for your pet you just need the right information from your pet. To start with, let's say your cat is touchy and demands a smorgasbord of play things, the message in those creepy green cat eyes is simple, buy cat toy. Dog owners don't worry because dog's always have the same idea on this as the cats and it's just as simple; buy dog toy.

So just where do you do that? You will find that smorgasbord of pet toys at any pet store, and they come in affordable prices. But before you walk in like a cat-eye hypnotized zombie chanting "buy cat toy" or "buy cat toy", put some thought into what to look for in a cat or dog toy (after all, let's be honest, you're going to play with it just as much as they are). Also, don't forget to buy dog toy while you're there.

So, to get you started here are a few tips to keep in mind while purchasing;

1. Try to buy a toy that matches your pet's size, not your size.

2. Make sure that there are no dangerous small pieces, as your pet could try to swallow it leading to choking, whereas if you tried to swallow it you just might feel really weird for the next three days.

3. Bones and sticks can splinter and cause choking and vomiting. Actually, they can even perforate your pet's mouth and throat (for those of you not in the know, perforating your throat is bad) so use non-splinter chew toys such as Nylabone Edible Bones, to allow your pet to gnaw with no fear.

4. Bells can be problematic for birds, besides just being really annoying. Use a treat dispensing roll toy instead, after all, food equals fun. On that note do not offer any leather toy (if not specially tanned), paint or any wood preservatives to your feathered friend for they can be toxic. So to recap, food equals fun, toxic equals not fun.

5. Cats often enjoy hiding out in plastic bags, and while you are unlikely to go to the pet store for the sole purpose of buying a plastic bag it is important to know because doing so can get their head stuck in it's handle, leading to choking and suffocation, so you're better off with a treat dispensing roll toy which will not choke or suffocate them.

6. When purchasing toys online, make sure to do a price comparison before ordering because many online shops will offer seasonal discounts that you can cash in on.

And lastly, make sure to supervise your pet while they play with their toy, this will minimize any accidents and then maybe later, if you ask nicely, they may even supervise you while you play with it too. Enjoy the toy.