Abstract: The present invention provides a new product for small animals such as rodents (e.g., gerbils, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, chinchillas, rabbits, etc.) and the like. The new product is comprised of a hollow housing, such as bone or pipe, having a cavity therein which is accessible from outside the housing by at least one opening. The cavity is large enough for the animal(s) to burrow in and is filled with food suitable for the animals to eat or nibble on.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for making pet chews. According to the invention, ligaments from cattle and other hoofstocks are rendered substantially free of fat and then dried until the de-fatted ligaments are hardened and suitable for use as pet chews. According to the invention, the ligaments are rendered substantially free of fat in one of two ways: (1) either by washing the ligaments in an aqueous degreasing solution comprised of water, strong alkali (e.g., sodium or potassium hydroxide) and cleaning agents or (2) by roasting the ligaments until they are rendered substantially free of adherent fat. With the aqueous degreasing method, the washed ligaments are roasted until they assume a pleasing color. Following roasting, the ligaments may be further dried until they are hard and "bone like", and suitable for pets to chew on.