Hello everybody,

How can I talk about neutral inanimate objects and abstract nouns?

First, I read about “possessive constructions” to find out what types of nouns can possess. Here is what I read online from “The American Heritage® Book of English Usage. A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English. 1996.”
>>In English the possessive case is used to show not only simple possession but also a variety of other relationships between the noun marked for possession and the noun that follows:
>>John’s car, the senator’s aide ----------------------(possession or belonging)
>>the tide’s ebbing, Amy’s presentation ------------(subject of an action)
>>the company’s owners, the hero’s betrayal------(object of an action)
>>learner’s dictionary, a women’s college----------(description or type)
>>my father’s gentleness, the character’s greed---(attribute)
>>the bird’s wing, the book’s cover------------------(a constituent part)
>>Beethoven’s symphonies, grandmother’s letter--(origin)
>>a day’s journey, an arm’s lengt--------------------(measure or amount)

As you can see, the first case "John’s car, the senator’s aide" is the only real possessive case.

The adjective possessive “its” is used for a noun of neutral gender, like a dog. So, I can say “a dog and its toy.” The adjective possessive "their" isn't it used for human possessors only? Should I say “the dogs and their toys” or “the dogs and its toys?” How about a table? Can I use the adjective possessive “its” for table even though a table cannot possess? Can I say “a table and its four legs” or “a book and its cover?” How about “two tables and their eight legs?” Can I say “I look at them” for “I look at the tables?” Can "them" be used for inanimate objects?

Thank you for your coming answers