Abstract: A shipping container and method of use. The shipping container is intended to contain bulky, compressible objects under vacuum in order to reduce the bulk size of these contents during shipping. The shipping container is configured as a plastic body sized to receive and envelop the bulky, compressible contents and includes a top, a bottom, each of which is characterized as having a periphery, and side walls, the latter of which are compressible. A stem is provided passing through the plastic body for passage of air and for selective sealing after the air has passed therethrough. The top, bottom and side walls are preferably transparent and are of the sufficient thickness and durability to enable the shipping container to be shipped between remote locations without any protective packaging being applied thereto while substantially resisting damage to the shipping container and its contents.

Abstract: A collapsible pet enclosure in the form of a planar sheet material configured in the shape of a trapezoid. The planar sheet material is foldable along creases to create three subparts, each subpart being in the shape of a triangle. At least one of the triangular subparts is provided with an opening configured therein.

Abstract: A recreational pet toy for cats which includes an outer covering and a cord attached to the pet toy for hanging the recreational pet toy during use. The pet toy also includes an elongated channel for receiving catnip and distributing the catnip along its length.

Abstract: A pet activity system for releasably joining a plurality of parts. These parts include bases, extenders and attachments wherein each is characterized as having either the male or female portion of at least one snap connector whereby the parts are releasably connectable to one another. As a preferred embodiment, multiple connectors are employed each requiring different forces to disengage those portions of the activity system that they connect from one another.

Abstract: A cat scratcher system for providing at least one surface suitable for cat scratching. This system includes a shell being capable of accepting at least one cat scratching insert, the shell having sides, an opening for inserting and removing the first cat scratching insert and a top and bottom. At least one of the shell surfaces, such as the top, is further characterized as having an open region for displaying a first cat scratching surface of the insert to the exterior of the shell. The system contemplates the use of replaceable inserts used as current cat scratching surfaces become degraded upon use. These inserts can provide alternative cat scratching surfaces. The entire system can be employed in many diverse orientations by hanging it from a wall or door, lying it horizontally on a floor or bracing it diagonally between a floor and wall.

Abstract: A pet bed sized to receive a domestic pet such as a dog or cat. The bed includes compressible fill material and an outer shell fabric defining the geometry of the bed. The outer shell material includes a bottom fabric, side fabric and top fabric, the top fabric ideally being a plush, high loft material. The bed further includes a collapsible canopy which, when erected, extends over a substantial portion of the top fabric so that when the pet lays upon the bed or cushion, the pet resides beneath at least a portion of the canopy.

Abstract: A pet activity system for releasably joining a plurality of parts. These parts include bases, extenders and attachments wherein each is characterized as having either the male or female portion of at least one snap connector whereby the parts are releasably connectable to one another. As a preferred embodiment, multiple connectors are employed each requiring different forces to disengage those portions of the activity system that they connect from one another.

Abstract: A recreational pet toy for cats which includes an outer covering and a cord attached to the pet toy for hanging the recreational pet toy during use. The pet toy also includes an elongated channel for receiving catnip and distributing the catnip along its length.

Abstract: A pet bed which is configured from an upper fabric layer and lower fabric layer which are joined at a peripheral edge. The upper and lower fabric layers define the shape of the bedding product wherein a portion of the peripheral edge is selectively closeable to provide an opening for filling the bedding product with a chopped memory foam fill material. A plurality of barriers extend proximate the opening to the length of the upper and lower fabric layers and join the upper and lower fabric layers by, for example, sewing the barriers to them. The barrier layers are of a width approximately equal to the thickness of the bedding product once filled with said chopped memory foam fill material substantially preventing fill material migration between sub volumes created by said barriers.