Molded or Extruded Catnip Composite and Method of Manufacturing Catnip Pet Toys and Pet Toys Made from the Same

Abstract

A domestic pet toy is provided having a housing element formed of a moldable or extrudable catnip composite made of a solid catnip attractant, a lignocellulose cork agglomerate filler material, and an FDA approved binding agent adhesive. The housing material provides sufficient delivery aromatic olfactory attractant to be effective in having an interactive response with a domestic feline. A sound chip assembly can also be positioned in a retention cavity and emits a prerecorded sound as an audible attractant in response to one or both of commencement and continuation of movement the pet toy.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present invention claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 81 / 806,417, filed on Mar. 29, 2013 and incorporated by reference as if fully rewritten herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention relates generally to pet products that include the delivery of aromatic attractant for encouraging pet interaction and, more particularly, to such a pet products formed of a catnip composite and a method for making the same.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]Nepeta cataria, commonly known as catnip, or catswort or catmint, is a herbaceous perennial, resembling a mint in appearance, that is widely naturalized elsewhere, as well as commercially grown for specialty purposes. It is commonly used in herbal tea blends related to sleep, stress reduction, and relaxation, as well as used as a culinary herb for cooking and many dishes.[0006]The plant terpenoid nepetalactone is the main chemical constituent of...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a catnip composite material that can be molded, compressed, or shaped into various forms such as sheets or bodies of aromatic attractant material. The composite material is a cost-effective, natural blend of catalpol, a compound found in catnip, and other components that can be easily incorporated into pet products. The material is soft, textured, and can be easily gripped, chewed on, or scratched by pets. The invention allows for the creation of larger objects that provide a catnip benefit to domestic cats.

Problems solved by technology

And, while catnip or similar attractants are used widely by pet owners with a positive effect, the use of dry, granulated, flaked or powdered herbal or plant based attractants is difficult to deliver or dose, and will generally produce a mess within the play area that is undesirable to most pet owners.

Such toys are popular for their efficacy, but the cost of the plant material results in only small sized devices being commercially available, requires that such devices durations.

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