Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright

I first saw this hanging on the wall in Ron's study some months ago. He got it from a relative, tossed it into the closet, and had only recently rediscovered it.
My first thought was of the Blake poem. My second was that it was a strange sort of spanking implement. But when I asked Ron if that's what he was going to use it for, he said no. I then guessed another use--vanilla this time--but I was wrong again. When he told me what it really was, I was sceptical, but was willing to give it a try.

Can you guess what it might be for? In case you can't tell from the picture, it's furry.