Airborne interactive cat treat or toy
View Patent ↗An aerodynamically interactive artifact is proportioned to experience at least one of tumbling, fluttering, and autorotating motion when subjected to free fall in a gravitational field. Suitable shapes include films, strips, butterflies, birds, and the like. The artifact may be contain a neutraceutical, may be dissolvable in pet saliva, and may provide an olfactory sensation for a pet. Dimensionless parameters such as Froude number and length-to-thickness ratios may be used to select aerodynamically interactive motions.
1. A method of human-feline interaction comprising the steps of:
providing an artifact constructed and arranged to interact with air and exhibit at least one of fluttering motion, tumbling motion, and autorotation motion;
dropping the artifact through air in proximity to the feline pet and from a height sufficient to exhibit the at least one of fluttering motion, tumbling motion, and autorotation motion; and
allowing the feline pet to chase and catch the artifact,
wherein the providing step includes providing an artifact having a coating including at least one ingredient selected from the group consisting of a palatant, a flavoring, and a nutraceutical.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing step includes providing an artifact having a coating including a palatant ingredient.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing step includes providing an artifact having a coating including a flavoring ingredient.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the providing step includes providing an artifact having a coating including a nutraceutical.
5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of designing the artifact to exhibit primarily fluttering motion.
6. The method of claim 1 further including the step of designing the artifact to exhibit primarily tumbling motion.
7. The method of claim 1 further including the step of designing the artifact to exhibit primarily autorotation motion.
8. A method of human-feline interaction comprising the steps of:
providing an artifact constructed and arranged to interact with air and exhibit at least one of fluttering motion, tumbling motion, and autorotation motion;
dropping the artifact through air in proximity to the feline pet and from a height sufficient to exhibit the at least one of fluttering motion, tumbling motion, and autorotation motion;
adding a nutraceutical substance to the artifact prior to the dropping step; and
allowing the feline pet to chase and catch the artifact.