Abstract: A pet toy having a body configured in a shape that is attractive to a cat and a consumer. The pet toy is in the form of a pet toy body, the pet toy body having a cavity, the cavity having a smooth surface and diameter. A rigid insert having a smooth surface and a coefficient of friction less than that of the pet toy body and diameter equal to the diameter of the cavity. The cavity is sized such that a retained portion of the rigid insert is captured within the cavity and a portion of the rigid sphere extends outside of said spherical cavity such that during play, a portion of the rigid insert is in contact with a support surface for the pet toy.

Abstract: A pet toy having a head region and a tail, the head region having an outer shell defining its shape and for enclosing a fill material. The fill material, contained within the head region is a cat stimulant such as catnip and/or silver vine. A tail in the form of a plurality of feathers is fixed to the head region and fan out there from.

Abstract: A pet toy, in combination, including a containment structure having a longitudinal axis and cross section defining an interior volume. The containment structure, which is preferably collapsible, includes a plurality of containment openings along its longitudinal axis exposing the interior volume to a pet during use of the pet toy, and an electronic component in the form of a hollow shell having a shell opening configured therein. A motor having a rotatable shaft extends toward the opening. A power supply for powering the motor and optional microprocessor, the motor, microprocessor and power supply being supported within the interior of the hollow shell. An attractant is affixed to the rotatable shaft and extends through the shell opening, the microprocessor being programmed to control operation of the motor to cause the attractant to rotate intermittently, the electronic component and attractant being visible to a pet during use of the pet toy.

Abstract: A cat amusement system including a user actuated transmitter sized to be held by hand, the transmitter housing an actuation signal generator for remotely controlling a pet activity toy The system also includes a user actuated light generator for generating light at a wavelength and intensity to be visible to a pet proximate the pet activity toy The pet activity toy includes a motor which propels the pet activity toy upon receipt of the actuation signal emanating from said transmitter.

Abstract: A cat scratcher and activity center is in the form of a rectangular box having a top, bottom and four sidewalls creating an interior space, the top being detachable and completely removable from the rectangular box. A rectangular block of corrugated cardboard is sized to fit within and occupy the interior space, the cardboard block having an open fluted surface which is exposed upon removal of the top. A planar cardboard toy kit is sized to reside within the interior space atop the open fluted surface of the rectangular block of corrugated cardboard, the planar cardboard toy kit being convertible to a three-dimensional configuration appendable to one of the four sidewalls.

Abstract: A cat scratcher is either in the form of a rigid support and cat scratcher surface or in the form of a body of corrugated cardboard. The corrugated cardboard body typically has a plurality of corrugated subparts, each corrugated subpart being a corrugated sheet having top and bottom surfaces and planar sheets of kraft paper adhered thereto through the use of an aqueous-based adhesive, the aqueous-based adhesive including a catnip or silver vine hydrosol. This same adhesive can be used to adhere a cat scratcher surface to its rigid support.

Abstract: A pet activity module having a substantially square or rectangular base for contacting a support surface when in use, substantially parallel back and front walls extending orthogonally from said base and substantially parallel side walls extending orthogonally from the base, the substantially parallel front and back walls being orthogonally joined to the substantially parallel side walls, the base, front, back and side walls together creating an internal volume sized to receive a domestic cat, a plush fabric applied to the base, a fabric creating scratcher surfaces, at least one scratcher surface being within the interior volume and at least one scratcher surface being on an exterior surface of at least one of the back, front or side walls of the module.

Abstract: A pet mat having a bottom for contacting a support surface, the bottom having a bottom peripheral edge and a top having a top peripheral edge. The bottom peripheral edge and top peripheral edge are joined to define the shape of the pet mat and to enclose a fill material therein, the top facing away from the bottom for receiving a pet utilizing the pet mat. The top includes a backing layer joined to the top peripheral edge and a plurality of fabric layers, each being at least partially joined to the top peripheral edge, a first of the fabric layers having an edge unattached to the top peripheral edge creating a flap sized to enable a domestic cat to be received between the first fabric layer and backing layer and at least one of the fabric layers being a scratcher surface.

Abstract: A pet toy having a body which includes a head section and a tail section. A stretchable member extends from and is fixedly attached to the head section. This stretchable member is an elastomer having a web with first and second ends, the first end being appended to the head section and the second end transitioning to a loop, the loop having an opening sized to receive the finger of a user.

Abstract: A system and method for reliably counting user steps. Various aspects may, for example, comprise processing a plurality of frequency bands of at least one sensor signal to accurately count user steps. A plurality of filtered sensor signals may be formed by filtering a sensor signal with a plurality of band-pass filters from which a dominant filtered sensor signal may be selected. The selected dominant filtered sensor signal may then be used to count user steps. Further, a frequency band of a sensor signal may be selected such that if it is determined the user is not engaged in a non-stepping activity, user steps may be counted using the content of the signal in the selected frequency band. Still further, user steps may be counted using an identified dominant harmonic.

Abstract: A device for launching an object which includes a flexible shaft having a distal end and a proximal end and a handle located at the proximal end sized to enable a user to grip the device while launching an object. An object gripping claw is located at the distal end of the flexible shaft, the gripping claw including first and second flanges which together define a capture volume for an object, the first flange being a stationary post and the second flange being a flexible web extending from the flexible shaft, the second flange being sufficiently flexible to deform in retaining an object within the capture volume and to release an object for launching when the flexible shaft is swung in a forward circular path.

Abstract: A pet bed having a substructure including a square or rectangular-shaped planar base and four sidewalls extending orthogonally from it. The sidewalls are affixed to the planar base proximate its edges and to each other to establish a volume. The substructure is introduced to an outer shell fabric, said outer shell fabric having a top cover selectively joined thereto for providing selective access to the volume. A cushion is shaped and sized for snugly fitting within the volume and being frictionally retained therein, the top cover providing for selective access thereto.