Working from Home? Electronic Pet Toys Are Your New Best Friend.

(photo credit: Elena Yakimova / shutterstock.com)

Like many of us who work from home, the call of the wild (our pets) is never far away. Whether it’s an urgent potty break, a quick stroll around the block, a morning snack, responding to a perceived emergency or just a little snuggle, they sure can eat into our productivity.

Now, we all know that nothing beats one-on-one time with the fur kids but sometimes duty calls and we just can’t drop everything to be available. Which leads to… wouldn’t we all love to find a way to keep the little guy entertained and busy doing anything other than scratching at the office door or trying to climb onto our lap while we’re on a Zoom call? C’mon, be honest.

The good news is that there is relief in sight and it comes in the form of the wide range of electronic toys now available to engage your pet in something other than you. They’re easy to activate, long-lasting and all you have to do is fire them up and let your cat or dog do the rest.

One of my favorites has to be this remote-controlled dog bone from Wickedbone. Made from durable, food-grade polycarbonate for added durability, this interactive toy is shaped like his favorite chew bone… but that’s where the similarities end. App-controlled and with nine different actions – including rolling, shaking, flipping forward or backward – it’s as much fun for you, the parent, as it is for your pet. Totally love that once it’s charged, this active plaything has a surprisingly long life – more than 30 minutes when you’re engaging it through your phone app (both iOS and Android) and over 2 hours when it’s on auto-play and responding to your pet’s actions such as when he’s chasing, touching, or even avoiding it. So, you can be totally hands-off and finally finish that report you’ve been working on.

If it’s a feline that’s constantly scratching at your office door or trying to climb onto your lap, you know this can be a tough nut to crack. Talk about determined, right? But I’ve yet to meet a cat that doesn’t get caught up in the pursuit of that random red dot. Yes, we’re talking laser pointers and Potaroma has developed a motion-activated laser pointer that allows you to sit in on that important Zoom call without a furry interloper showing up. Simply clamp the unit to a tabletop and choose from two options – either kick-start it via your SmartPhone or switch it to sensing mode so the moment your fluffy companion wanders by, it automatically activates and sends a laser dot bouncing around the room. She’ll enjoy a full five minutes of exhaustive playtime before it moves into standby mode. And by then, your tuckered-out kitty is planning to nap.

Because no cat can resist chasing and attacking anything that scrambles at ground level, this rolling remote-controlled cat toy is a must-have for anyone seeking a peaceful working environment. Not only can it be activated remotely using a control that allows you to adjust the speed of rolling motion based on your cat’s ability but also through an auto-mode. And this last mode is how you can actually get back to work and let the toy operate on its own. This clever little cat minder works on most floor surfaces including low-pile carpets, uses intelligence obstacle avoidance to prevent it from getting hung up on chairs or table legs, and it operates silently. Best of all, those little wheels are removable – so easy to clean out all that fluff that’s accumulated on its various runs.

Do you live with a high-energy pooch that loves to chase a ball? If you’re working from home and can’t keep taking breaks for a game of fetch in the backyard, you’re going to love this automatic dog ball launcher from PetSafe. Now, what makes this option so perfect for those holed up in a home office is that you can adjust the launch range from 30 feet for outdoor use to just 8 feet for when you want to keep him busy indoors. It works with regular tennis balls, Chuck-It balls for greater bounce, or sponge balls for when indoor use requires a gentler approach. Six different angle settings, an audible tone just prior to launch, and a series of motion sensors that detect movement up to seven feet away and pause the launch to keep your pet safe. And with an auto-shut-off after 15 minutes of hard play, your pet feels tired yet never overly exhausted.

A high-energy dog was likely the catalyst behind this motion-activated dog ball from PetDroid that rolls or bounces around the house – all day long. Yes, settle in for a productive day at the computer because this interactive pet toy has you covered. Not only does that rolling action have a bit of a bounce but it can also go into what the manufacturer calls “active-bounce” mode which is akin to a super-heavy vibration. Perfect for those pooches that just never seem to tire out. And because this rechargeable pet toy is totally touch-activated, you don’t need to constantly restart the process. Your pet does that all on his own. Designed for use on hard-surface floors and not intended for heavy chewers, this is such a great option for those small- to medium-sized dogs that just can’t get enough of a good thing.

Does your feline love to watch the birds and chatter away… sometimes from your lap or desktop as you’re trying to finish up that financial statement for the boss? Time to keep her occupied and out of the office with something that ticks all her sensory boxes. I’m thinking this two-pack of fuzzy flapping birds from Potaroma is just the ticket. Not only are they soft and fuzzy for carting around but they also chirp and flap their wings at varying speeds. And here’s the best part, integrated motion sensors activate all that bird-like activity the moment they sense your cat has neared. What’s great is that they charge with a USB cable (included) and power down when not in use so you enjoy a longer lasting charge and more kitty downtime.