Why Are a Lot of Cats and Dogs Attracted to Squeaky Toys?

squeaky toys bring them back to their primal instincts to hunt and catch things to eat the squeaking toy emulates something that is living and so they will play with it like their ancestors did.

Because when a small animal is injured or dieing, they will squeak. This gets the cat or dog excited, that it is easy prey, so they are thinking about attacking the squeaky toy.

Most dogs like to shake the toy as in "killing" shakes, and it is fun for them to finish off the squeaky toy, by killing it, by shaking it to daeth. Dogs just like to play that way, its natural instinct for them.

Because it makes them think that they are real animals...playing with toys also helps them deal with their pent up energy/aggression.

Whenever my dog gets a new toy, she always pulls it apart and takes the squeaky thing out lol.

The squeaking imitates wounded animals or baby animals, and kick starts the natural prey drive.

This is also a reason a dog should never be allowed to chase children. Children shriek and scream while running and playing "catch me" and "chase" games, and this can stimulate the dog's prey drive. What starts out as innocent can quickly become dangerous and even deadly.

Since, in nature, they'd go after those creatures that squeek.

Like mice, why do you think they chasea piece of string? Cause instinct tells them on the other end of that is a mouse.

Because they make a sound like a dying animal.

Thats why they shake them as well. It's a fun "kill" game for them

The same reason I am! they are fun as hell!!