Pet toys are one of the most accessible product categories for private label brands entering the pet market. Compared to pet food, treats, or supplements, the regulatory burden is lower, the supply chain is more straightforward, and the range of product concepts is wide. The pet toy market in the US exceeded $2 billion in 2023 and continues to grow as pet owners invest in enrichment and play as part of everyday pet care. But material safety is a genuine issue in this category, and a manufacturer without documented safety protocols can expose your brand to significant liability.
This guide covers what to evaluate in a pet toy manufacturer before committing. Browse reliable pet toy manufacturers on our pet toys page.
Material Safety: The Most Important Issue in Pet Toy Manufacturing
Pets chew and mouth their toys in ways that children generally do not. This means that any material that can be chewed apart and swallowed is a safety risk. The material safety requirements for pet toys are therefore more stringent in practice than they might appear on paper, even though pet toys are not regulated as rigorously as children’s toys.
Non-toxic materials
All materials in a pet toy must be non-toxic when ingested. This applies to the primary material, any coatings or surface treatments, adhesives, dyes or colorants, and any fill materials inside plush toys. Request a full bill of materials and material safety data sheets from any manufacturer before committing.
Choking hazard components
Buttons, sewn-on eyes, small squeakers, and decorative attachments are all potential choking hazards if they detach during play. Confirm your manufacturer has documented standards for attachment strength and does not use components that become small parts when removed. This is particularly important for plush toy manufacturers where decorative elements are common.
Rope and fiber materials
Rope toys are popular for dogs but present ingestion risks if fibers are swallowed in large quantities. Natural fibers (cotton, hemp) are generally safer than synthetic alternatives. Confirm dyes used on rope toys are non-toxic specifically for the target species.
Latex and rubber
Common in chew toys and squeaky toys. Some pets have latex sensitivities. Natural rubber is generally preferred over synthetic alternatives for safety and consumer perception. Confirm your manufacturer uses food-grade or toy-grade rubber compounds, not industrial rubber.
Pet Toy Categories and Manufacturing Requirements
Plush and stuffed toys
The most widely purchased toy category. Typically produced through cut-and-sew manufacturing, often overseas. Key considerations include fabric durability for chewing, seam strength, fill material safety, and the safety of any attached decorative elements. Many plush toy manufacturers are general toy factories that also produce children’s toys, which is acceptable as long as pet-specific material safety is confirmed.
Rubber and chew toys
Designed for chewing dogs. Durability ratings (puppy, moderate, power chewer) vary by compound hardness. Toy-grade rubber compounds must be used. Some rubber toys incorporate treat-dispensing features, which require additional design consideration for food-contact material safety.
Interactive and puzzle toys
A growing premium segment. Requires more complex design and injection molding capability. Material must be food-safe since treats are often used with interactive toys. This segment has higher design and tooling costs and typically requires a longer development timeline.
Catnip toys
Cat-specific toys that often incorporate catnip fill. Catnip quality and potency vary significantly by source. Confirm your manufacturer sources quality catnip and that catnip fill is completely contained and cannot be easily torn out and ingested in large quantities.
Electronic and battery-operated toys
A complex category with additional regulatory considerations including battery safety and electronic component standards. Most small pet toy brands do not start with electronic toys. If this is your category, confirm your manufacturer has specific experience with CPSC-compliant electronic toy production.
Safety Standards for Pet Toys
Pet toys are not subject to mandatory federal safety standards in the US the way children’s toys are under CPSC regulations. However, the following standards are relevant and increasingly expected by retail buyers.
- ASTM F963: The Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety. Originally designed for children’s toys but increasingly referenced by pet toy manufacturers as a baseline for material safety. Confirm your manufacturer is familiar with this standard even if not formally certified to it.
- California Proposition 65: Requires warnings on products sold in California that contain chemicals above certain thresholds. This applies to pet toys sold in California and is enforced by retail buyers. Confirm your manufacturer can produce Prop 65-compliant products.
- EN 71 (European standard): Required for toys sold in the EU. If you plan international distribution, confirm your manufacturer can meet EN 71 material safety requirements.
MOQs for Pet Toy Production
- Plush toys: Typically quoted by unit. 500 to 3,000 units per SKU is a common starting range from overseas manufacturers. Domestic manufacturers may accept lower MOQs at higher per-unit cost.
- Rubber chew toys: Typically require tooling investment for injection molding. Tooling costs range from $1,000 to $5,000 per design and are amortized over the production run. Once tooling exists, per-unit costs are low. MOQs of 1,000 to 5,000 units per SKU are typical.
- Interactive puzzle toys: Higher tooling costs due to design complexity. MOQs of 2,000 to 10,000 units are common once tooling is in place.
Questions to Ask a Pet Toy Manufacturer
- Can you provide material safety data sheets for all materials used in the toy, including fill, fabric, dyes, and any attached components?
- What is your documented standard for attachment strength on decorative elements like eyes, buttons, or tails?
- Are your rubber compounds toy-grade or food-grade, and can you provide documentation?
- Do you have experience producing Prop 65-compliant pet toys for California retail?
- If producing plush toys: what is your seam strength testing protocol?
- What is your defect rate on current production runs and how do you handle defective units?
Find Reliable Pet Toy Manufacturers
Browse reliable pet toy manufacturers in our directory. Each pet manufacturer profile includes product specialties, certifications, and a direct contact option.