We all love to buy toys for our furry friends, but have you stopped to take a look at where it is made, or what sort of materials it is made from? More than 80% of all toys are made in China. In the past decade, toys made in China, have repeatedly been shown to be toxic. Many of these toxins, can be quite harmful to your pet if they are chewing on it, or happen to digest it.
Research has been conducted on both cat and dog toys selected at random, from dollar stores, to grocery stores, to pet shops. The results are shocking. The substances they tested positive for – lead, antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium and mercury – can seriously damage the nervous system, and can enter the body through breathing, the skin and contaminated food. These toxic toys not only poison pets when chewed or touched, but can enter the body through the air they breathe.
It seems as though there should be some sort of regulation or standards that are enforced to protect our pets, however, that is not the case. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) checks the safety of all toys intended for humans. Maximum levels of certain toxins are enforced when it comes to children’s toys. Unfortunately, there are no organizations regularly testing animal toys, and there are no federal standards regarding pet toys.
There are conflicting opinions regarding the severity of these levels of lead and other heavy metals in pet products. Because of the lack of federal regulation at this time, it is up to you, the pet owner, to determine your level of concern. However, there are safe alternatives.
At Eco Dogs and Cats, we carry a wide variety of safe, environmentally friendly and non-toxic toys for both cats and dogs.
Planet Dog Orbee Tuff Bone
Planet Dog carries a wide variety of safe and non-toxic toys for dogs. All of their toys are made in the USA, non-toxic, durable, recyclable, and come from a company that values sustainability. Check out our line of Planet Dog’s toys here.
West Paw Design Tizzi
West Paw is another fabulous company that features wonderful toys for cats and dogs. West Paw design believes in sustainable practices, and operates a eco-friendly facility in Montana. All of the products they sell adhere to a strict safety and quality standard, are made in the USA, and are non-toxic to your pets. Search through our West Paw items for cats and dogs here.
SImply Fido Millie the Cow
Simply Fido is based in New York and all of their pet toys are made from organic materials, sustainably sourced and safe for your pets. They are committed to offering safe and chemical free products. You can shop our Simply Fido line here.
Beco is based in the United Kingdom and offers a full line of bamboo based dishes, litter trays and litter scoops, but they also offer safe, durable and ethical toys for your cat. These Beco cat toys are made from recycled plastic, double stitched for durability and ethically manufactured. Shop our line of Beco cat toys here.
We also carry From the Field, Bihler Flex, Katie’s Bumpers, and much more. You can shop our full line of dog toys here, and our full line of cat toys here.
