Multi-functional reconfigurable pet enrichment system

Abstract

A reconfigurable pet enrichment system designed to help pets fulfill their natural behaviors is provided. The system is arranged to facilitate an environment that helps stimulate, entertain, and exercise a pet, and also provides a defensible space for napping, resting, or sleeping. The system is constructed from two separate pieces of pliable material. A base component is fashioned with a non-slip element. A top-covering component is attached to the base component, by means of semi-permanent fasteners, to create a variety of forms such as ripples, nooks and tunnels. The top component contains a plurality of differing sized openings. Openings appeal to a pet's predatory nature, as the openings provide a source of stimulation and interaction. The pet enrichment system may be formed of any desired material, so as to be safe for pet interaction. The system may also be configured with a plurality of members attached via semi-permanent fasteners.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A pet enrichment system, comprising:
 a base layer comprising an upper surface that is made substantially of a reshapable, pliable first material;   a top layer, comprising:
 a plurality of at least three cut-out openings; 
 an upper surface that is made substantially of a second reshapable, pliable second material, wherein the first material does not attach to the first material when the first material comes into contact with the first material, the first material does not attach to the second material when the first material comes into contact with the second material, and the second material does not attach to the second material when the second material comes into contact with the second material, such that the upper surface of the top layer and the upper surface of the base layer do not attach to the upper surface of the top layer nor to the upper surface of the base layer; and 
 a lower surface that is made substantially of a third material that does not attach to the first material when the third material comes into contact with the first material, that does not attach to the second material when the third material comes into contact with the second material, and that does not attach to the third material when the third material comes into contact with the third material, such that the lower surface of the top layer does not attach to the upper surface of the top layer, to the upper surface of the base layer, nor to the lower surface of the top layer; and 
   a plurality of snap fasteners, a first half of each snap fastener affixed in a distribution on the lower surface of the top layer and a corresponding second half of each snap fastener affixed in a distribution on the upper surface of the base layer,
 wherein the first half and the corresponding second half of each snap fastener form a semi-permanent attachment to one another when pressed together, such that the top layer is configured to attach at a set of locations on the upper surface of the base layer via the plurality of snap fasteners, 
 wherein the top layer is configured to hold a three-dimensional shape, capable of forming a self-standing internal cavity with space suitable for containing a domestic cat or similar sized animal in the case that the first half and the corresponding second half of at least some of the plurality of snap fasteners are attached to one another, and 
 wherein the plurality of snap fasteners are configured to separate in response to a force pulling the first half of each snap fastener away from the corresponding second half of each snap fastener. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution of the plurality of snap fasteners is an array having at least two columns and at least two rows. 
     
     
         3 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of snap fasteners comprises between 5 and 20 snap fasteners. 
     
     
         4 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of at least three cut-out openings comprises at least one opening with a round edge. 
     
     
         5 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of at least three cut-out openings comprises at least one polygon-shaped opening. 
     
     
         6 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cut-out openings comprises between 3 and 25 cut-out openings. 
     
     
         7 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , the plurality of at least three cut-out openings comprising a first set of cut-out openings having a first size and a second set of cut-out openings having a second size, the second size being different from the first size. 
     
     
         8 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , the plurality of at least three cut-out openings comprising a first set of cut-out openings having a first shape and a second set of cut-out openings having a second shape, the second shape being different from the first shape. 
     
     
         9 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , at least one opening of the plurality of at least three cut-out openings being of sufficient size to permit a domestic cat or similar sized animal to pass through the at least one opening. 
     
     
         10 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , the top layer further comprising a plurality of expansion mechanism slits extending from a subset of the plurality of cut-out openings. 
     
     
         11 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of expansion mechanism slits comprises at least two radial cuts extending from the subset of the plurality of cut-out openings. 
     
     
         12 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first material, second material, or third material does not break and substantially does not deform when folded. 
     
     
         13 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 12 , wherein the first material, second material, or third material is a carpet material. 
     
     
         14 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the first material and the third material are the same material. 
     
     
         15 . The pet enrichment system of  claim 1 , wherein the third material is a reverse side of the second material.