Choosing Toys Through Your Pet's Eyes: Why Blue and Yellow Often Work Best

When we choose toys for our shop, we try to look at them a little differently.

Instead of asking, "Which colour looks nicest to us?", we ask a different question:

"Which colour is our pet more likely to notice?"

It might sound like a small detail, but the answer is surprisingly interesting.

Your Pet Sees the World Differently

Humans enjoy a rich spectrum of colours thanks to three types of colour receptors in our eyes.

Cats and dogs have fewer colour receptors, which means they don't see the same range of colours that we do.

While researchers are still learning exactly how cats perceive colour, studies suggest that both cats and dogs see blue and yellow much more clearly than colours like red, orange, or green.

To them, those warmer colours can appear dull, muted, or even greyish.

So the bright red toy that catches your eye might not stand out nearly as much to your pet.

Why Are So Many Pet Toys Blue?

Once you know how pets see colour, you may start noticing something.

Many balls, frisbees, rope toys, and interactive toys are blue.

That's probably not a coincidence.

Blue is one of the colours that many pets can distinguish more easily, making it easier to spot while playing indoors or outdoors.

Imagine throwing a green ball onto a lawn.

For us, it's easy enough to find.

For a dog, however, it may blend into the background much more than a blue one.

Don't Forget Yellow

Blue often gets the spotlight, but yellow deserves some attention too.

Yellow is another colour that cats and dogs can generally distinguish well.

You'll often see yellow details on fetch toys, agility equipment, and training accessories for exactly this reason.

Blue and yellow aren't magical colours, but they can make a toy easier for many pets to notice.

Colour Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle

Of course, colour isn't everything.

If you've ever lived with a cat, you'll know they can completely ignore an expensive new toy... then spend twenty minutes chasing the cardboard box it came in.

Dogs can be just as unpredictable.

Some love squeaky toys.

Others prefer a tennis ball they've carried around for years.

A toy's movement, texture, scent, sound, size, and shape often have a much bigger influence than colour alone.

Colour simply gives the toy another chance to catch your pet's attention.

How We Choose Toys at Keke

When we select products for our shop, we try to think from a pet's point of view.

If a toy comes in several colours, we'll often lean towards shades that many cats and dogs can recognise more easily, including blue or yellow.

But colour is never the deciding factor.

The toy also has to be safe, well made, and genuinely fun.

Most importantly, it has to earn Keke's approval.

Some toys get an instant pounce.

Some receive a cautious sniff.

And a few... are politely ignored.

Our favourite products are the ones Keke keeps coming back to long after the excitement of something "new" has worn off.

The Best Toy Is the One Your Pet Loves

Every pet has their own personality.

Some love feathers.

Some love squeakers.

Some love crinkly sounds.

Some are happiest carrying around an old toy that's missing half its stuffing.

Choosing blue or yellow may help make a toy easier to spot, but no colour can replace curiosity, playfulness, or the bond you share with your pet.

So next time you're choosing a toy, try seeing it through their eyes.

You might discover that the toy you thought looked the cutest isn't the one your pet would have picked.

And honestly, that's part of the fun.

A Note from Keke 🐾

"Humans spend a lot of time talking about colours.

I'm mostly interested in whether it zooms, crinkles, or has feathers."