An animal amusement and exercise device is provided with a motor and a pair of arm extensions affixed to a rotating motor shaft, wherein the end of each arm extension supports an object that is rotated continuously within a circular enclosure. The enclosure has several openings in its peripheral sidewall, whereby an animal may place its paw therethrough to catch the momentarily visible object. A claw stretching material is provided on the upper surface of the housing, whereby an animal can scrape its claws thereon.
This application is a continuation-in-part of prior application Ser. No. 08/354,275, filed Dec. 12, 1994, titled "Animal Amusement and Exercise Stimulator," and now U.S. Pat. No. 5,634,435.
An animal toy comprises a spherical housing including two annular tracks defining upper and lower polar regions and a ball retained in at least one of the circular tracks so that when an animal plays with the toy, the ball tends to move in the track. The housing includes a removable cap so that a material such as cat nip can be placed within the housing and holes in the housing so that the material can fall from the housing when the toy is played with by an animal.
A playhouse for cats provides a container with numerous perforations and an interior containing various mouse and other cat toys which may be accessed through the perforations by a cat's arm. The mouse toys may include a figure atop a moveable spring, a removable mouse, one or mice on a turntable, musical and sound mice, etc. Other cat toys can include balls which rattle when moved, and toys which can emit a variety of sounds based on a battery powered sound chip. The playhouse can be used to evaluate feline aggressiveness, docility and other traits for breeding and feeding, for psychological purposes, for exercise, for coordination, to relieve boredom, etc.
A cat amusement device (10) has a base (12) which has at least one base side (12S), a base top (12T) and a base bottom (12B). The cat amusement device (10) further has at least one microchip (18) contained within the base (12) or post (14). The cat amusement device (10) further has a power means electrically connected to the at least one microchip (18). The cat amusement device (10) at least one microchip (18) is audio capable. The cat amusement device (10) further has at least one speaker (26) electrically connected to the at least one microchip (18) functioning to transmit preselected audio sounds from the at least one microchip (18). The cat amusement device (10) further has at least one arm (16) connected to the motor (22). The at least one arm (16) has an arm holder (16A) at a distal end connectable to a toy (32). The toy (32) is selected to be attractive to a cat. The toy (32) may be feathered to resemble a bird. The toy (32) further may be furry to represent an animal. The at least one microchip (18) has preselected sounds which are emitted from at least one speaker (26). When a cat is detected by the at least one motion detector (24), an electrical signal is transmitted to the at least one microchip (18) which activates the motor (22) rotating the at least one arm (16) having the toy (32) attached at the distal end thereof.
A toy for a cat, which comprises a simulated mouse with a simulated cheese face, presents a continuous attraction for a cat because of the movable nature of the simulated mouse which is propelled during operation of the toy to appear in various locations relative to the simulated cheese face.
A cat's toy has a housing with a plurality of ports through its side wall, the ports being preferably substantially equally displaced. Preferably the exterior of the housing is shaped, textured and colored to look like a cheese. A plurality of play objects, one for each of the ports, are supported on a linkage within the housing. Preferably, the objects look like mice. The linkage is adapted for sequential reciprocation of at least a portion of each of the objects through its respective port so that the "mice" emerge from and return into the "cheese" in a circular sequence that entices the cat. A plurality of sensors are provided within the housing, one proximate each of the ports. The housing is adapted to permit the sensors to detect motion proximate and exterior to the housing so that the presence of the cat in the vicinity of the toy triggers the appearance and disappearance of the "mice." A drive system is responsive to each of the sensors to drive the linkage for an interval of time, prefeably approximately five seconds, following detection of motion by any of the sensors. If the cat abandons the chase and leaves the vicinity of the toy, the toy will remain deactivated after the internal elapses. The toy may also include a replaceable scratch pad secured to the upper surface of the housing.
