When visiting a nearby toy store, it’s difficult to overlook the abundance of Squishmallow toys. These plush toys resemble traditional fluffy toys but possess an additional quality as their name implies: they are exceptionally squishy. You may have experienced the urge to squeeze one as you passed by them in the store, or perhaps, like myself, you succumbed to the temptation. Squishmallows are available in numerous styles and colors, yet they all share a common feature—a marshmallow-like stuffing that grants them a soft outer texture.
There is occasional confusion surrounding the name of Squishmallow toys, with some referring to them as “Squishmellows,” while others may not even recognize them as a branded item. Due to their widespread popularity, numerous imitations of these cuddly companions have emerged since 2020.
Renowned for their unmatched softness and squishiness, Squishmallows have become beloved companions that frequently find a place in the beds of their owners, regardless of their age. These delightful plush animals are cherished by both young and old alike.
How Can I Recognize a Squishmallow Toy from a Regular Fluffy Toy?
Squishmallows are always in the shape of an animal or a fruit and while they come in a range of colors, sizes shapes and patterns, they all sport their famous squishy feel. Cuddling a Squishmallow toy feels like cuddling a giant marshmallow.
Squishmallows derive their name from their squishy texture, resembling that of a marshmallow. The KellyToy company fills each Squishmallow with polyester fiber, ensuring a plush and squeezable feel.
Squishmallow toys offer a diverse range of sizes, with certain styles available in multiple sizes, while others may be restricted to specific dimensions. The available size options for Squishmallows encompass a variety of measurements, including 3.5 inches, 5 inches, 7 inches, 8 inches, 11 inches, 12 inches, 13 inches, 16 inches, 20 inches, and 24 inches.
Are Squishmallow Toys a Vintage or Antique Item?
Since their introduction to toy shops in 2017, Squishmallow toys have swiftly gained attention and continue to be highly sought-after. Despite their relatively recent appearance, they have not lost any of the popularity or charm typically associated with antique or vintage toys. The year 2020 witnessed a significant surge in the popularity of Squishmallows, possibly attributed to the global pandemic and resulting lockdowns. People sought comfort in these cuddly companions as they worked from home, while others sent them as thoughtful gifts to bring joy to those who were unwell and confined to their homes. Squishmallows, as I write this blog cannot be classed as an antique or vintage toy, although they well and truly fall into the collectibles category.
What was the First Squishmallow Produced?
The Los Angeles-based KellyToy company is the brains and production behind what could be described as the most popular fluffy toys of the 21st century. While the KellyToy company was first established in 1986, it wasn’t until 2017 that the first Squishmellow was marketed. KellyToys is most famous for its contributions to Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake, and more recently the Squishmellows, the company is also recognized for its Pillow Chums™, Kellybaby™ and Kellypet™ toy lines.
In 2017, the most famous, and thought to be the first Squishmallow, Cam the Cat stole the hearts of both the young and old. Cam the Cat was a mix of cream, black, and brown and sported soft velvety fur and a squishy stuffing making him all the more loveable. Just like Cam the Cat, each Squishmallow toy was marketed with its individualized personality and name. Similar to the beloved Cabbage Patch Dolls, each Squishmallow toy even has a birthday, Cam the Cats being the 18th of December.
Following on from Cam the Cat which was first marketed in Walgreens during 2017, 7 more Squishmallows would follow before the year came to a close.
What Were the Original 8 Squishmallows Produced by KellyToys?
- Cameron the Cat
- Wendy the Frog
- Piper the Penguin
- Puff the Penguin
- Hans the Hedgehog
- Hoot the Owl
- Holly the Owl
- Fifi the Fox
During 2017, collectors had a choice of 8 Squishmallow characters, while a mere 6 years later, there are close to 1000 different Squishmallows on the market.
What is the Rarest and Most Valuable Squishmallow?
Like all collector items, those that are a part of a limited edition release become the most sought after and that is no exception for the Squishmallow range. Jack the Black Cat is said to be the rarest Squishmallow and this is due to the fact that only 500 of Jack were manufactured to celebrate the 500th character release. Jack sports a gold heart tag and due to the rarity of this Squishmallow, he can also be valuable when sold to a collector. In recent times, a ‘Jack the Black Cat’ fetched an owner close to $1500 USD on an online auction. This compares to the original recommended retail price of $39.99 for ‘Jack the Black Cat’.
Due to the fact that Squishmallows are now available in many participating retailers and online, they are not generally valuable resale items. Most Squishmallows retail for $10 to $40 making them an affordable cuddly toy.
Squishmallow Squads
Generally, when the company produces a certain type of Squishmallow, they then create other similar styles that form a ‘Squishmallow Squad’. Some of the popular squads include:
- Fruit Squad
- Frog Squad
- Bird Squad
- Leopard Squad
- Cow Squad
- Pig Squad
10 of the Most Valuable Squishmallow Toys
The most valuable Squishmallow to date is Jack the Black Cat as discussed previously in this article. While he remains the most valuable, a handful of other Squishmallow toys have fetched incredibly high auction prices in comparison to their initial recommended retail value. Generally speaking, the most valuable Squishmallows are those that were released as limited-number editions where only 500 or 1000 of the same Squishmallow were sold. In the section below, 10 of the most valuable Squishmallow toys can be found.
1. Jack the Black Cat
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| Jack the Black Cat was the first limited edition Squishmallow sold from the KellyToys website sold during 2020. 500 of these black, charming 16-inch cats were released to mark this being the 500th Squishmallow character. Due to the popularity of Jack the Black Cat, in fact, selling out within 2 hours of them going live on the website, 1000 12-inch versions were later released. | $39.99 and $30 USD | $1000 USD + Generally sold for around the $1800 USD mark. |
2. Golden Hans
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| 3000 Golden Hans were produced to commemorate 100 million sales of Squishmallows. This hedgehog is entirely gold from the tip of his top hat to his base. | $59.99 USD | $250 USD + |
3. Founders Cat
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| With only 250 of the Squishmallow Founder’s Cat being released, there is no surprise that keen collectors are willing to pay a high price to get their hands on one of their own. Furthermore, the only way one was able to originally obtain a ‘Founders Cat’ was to find the redemption card within a Squishmallow Trading Card pack. The chance of finding one of the 250 redemption cards was said to be no greater than 1 in 10000. Known as a JSK Business Cat or a Founder’s Cat, this particular cat was named after KellyToys founder, Jonathan Kelly. | A redemption card found within trading cards was the only way to receive a Founder’s Cat. | $2000+ |
4. Blossom the Sheep
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| Released in two sizes, 8 inches and 16 inches in 2021, Blossom the Sheep also known as Blossom the Lamb, was a co-creation by KellyToys and Justice. The Justice company went out of business in 2021 and thus Blossom will no longer be produced. This Squishmallow is lightly scented with a vanilla flavor and she appears to be asleep. | Unknown | $800+ |
5. Gertrude the Goose
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| A Squishmallow that is exclusive to Canada known as Gertrude the Goose makes the list of the most valuable of these adorable fluffy toys. Gertrude was released in 2021 and is a favorite amongst collectors. | Unknown | $200 USD + |
6. Philippe the Frog
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| With heart-shaped cheeks, Phillipe the Frog is an adorable and valuable Squishmallow plush toy. As part of the Vast Valentine collection, Phillipe came full of loving messages. This Squishmallow is said to be rare since his release in 2017. | Roughly $40 USD | $500 USD + |
7. Connor the Cow
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| As part of the cow collection, Connor the Cow became a fan favorite. As soon as a toy shop restocks Connor the Cow, he seems to walk off the shelves. Due to his classic colors, Connor makes a cute addition to all Squishmallow collections. | $25 USD | $150 USD + |
8. Santino the Platypus
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| Santino the Platypus is said to be one of the most sought-after Squishmallow plush toys. Santino is so popular due to his brown color. Of the thousands of Squishmallows on the market, less than 50 of them are brown in color. Santino was released as part of the ‘Down Under’ squad which encompassed iconic Australian and New Zealand animals. | $49.49 USD | $1100 USD + |
9. Chanel the Cinnamon Scroll
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| Chanel the Cinnamon Scroll Squishmallow was released in 2020 as part of the Valentine squad. Named after a famous perfume brand, and due to that and the fact that these special squads only come around once per year, this cute and squishy cinnamon scroll stole the hearts of many Squishmallow collectors. | $49.99 USD | $450 USD + |
10. Avery the Duck
| Description of Squishmallow | Original Price of Squishmallow | Auction Price of Squishmallow |
| Within the Squishmallow farm squad, Avery the Duck can be found. This colorful duck also holds the title of one of the most expensive Squishmallows due to the fact he was released in 6 different sizes. Avery the Duck is not a limited edition Squishmallow, although due to his popularity, he sold out in all retail stores and thus became hard to come by after his production ceased. | $25 USD | $550 USD + |
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