Abstract:
Aesthetically pleasing habitats and methods for safely housing and displaying small animals such as cats, each having cageless compartments stacked on top of one another and/or arranged in side-by-side arrangements. The compartments can include walls and doors formed from materials such as plastic, acrylic, laminate, glass, and the like. Hinged front doors, walls, and floors can include see-through materials, and/or colored materials, combinations thereof, and the like. Portals can allow travel access between the compartments. Various shapes such as letters that spell the word “CATS” can be mounted to rear wall portions of the compartments to form ledges, crevices, hiding spaces, and areas for the animals to sit, lay on, hide, and the like. Other shapes can include geometrical shapes such as circles, squares, rectangles, triangles, and the like. The shapes can be mounted inside the compartments and/or be free-standing to allow easy removal to change out shapes, and/or aid in cleaning out insides of the compartments. Closed side compartments can be reached by the animals to that they can go to locations hidden from sight. Storage compartments such as hinged doors, and drawers can be added for storing items such as food, blankets and toys. Wheels can make the habitats moveable from place to place. Gaps around each of the front door panels and/or small holes and/or exhaust flues in the compartments can allow for natural ventilation and/or substantial air exchange between the housings and ambient air. Space can exist under the letters and geometrical shapes to allow for cleaning and/or for using removable litter boxes, and the like.

Description:
[0001]    This invention claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application 60/459,799 filed Apr. 2, 2003, and this invention is a Continuation-In-Part of U.S. Design Pat. No. 29/156,032 filed Feb. 25, 2002, which claims the benefit of priority to United Kingdom Design Application No. 2106757 filed Dec. 7, 2001. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to pets, in particular to aesthetic, comfortable, and ergonomic habitats and methods for displaying, and accommodating small animals such as cats, and dogs, and rabbits, and the like, in commercial businesses and residences.  
         BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART  
         [0003]    Pet stores and humane society environments are well known to display small animals in cages that typically contain wire mesh floors and walls. To patrons who visit these establishments, these cages often appear unsightly and undesirable. The resulting appearance of small cages individually or stacked together can be depressing sights to visitors of the sites.  
           [0004]    The cages can be difficult to clean and sanitize since animal waste from upper cages can drop through the wire mesh floors to cages stacked underneath the cages. Additionally, a cage located directly on a floor must be physically moved in order to adequately clean beneath it. Furthermore, it is clearly difficult to easily clean all exterior surface sides of the individual wires in the mesh type floors, walls, and ceiling of the traditional cages without having to wipe directly about each of the wires.  
           [0005]    Single and stacked cages generally placed directly on flat surfaces must be manually lifted in order to be moved. Often, the animals must be removed from the cages so that the cages can be moved to different locations, which also results in the uncomfortable and time consuming displacement of the animals during the move.  
           [0006]    Additionally, the animals inside these cages often appear unhappy and unrelaxed as well as bored. The animals can have little comfort in having to sit and/or walk and/or stand on wire type mesh floors, and the like.  
           [0007]    Adoption of the animals stored and displayed in these cages can be hindered because of the unhappy and unrelaxed state of the animals, as well as the depressing, unsightly and undesirable appearances of traditional storage cages at these pet stores and humane society environments.  
           [0008]    The cages have little or no privacy since the cages are wide open. Additionally, traditional cages are so small that they allow for little movement of the animals or the cages are so confined that many small animals must stay in either a fixed position or restricted space within the cages. Thus, the traditional cages contribute to atrophy effects in the animals.  
           [0009]    Various types of pet type houses have been proposed over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. Des. 228,537 to Jennings; Des. 257,292 to Brown; Des. 270,297 to Lovitt; Des. 298,577 to Faxon; Des. 349,783 to Berger; Des. 335,002 to Read et al.; Des. 371,641 to Crowley; D443,956 to Rudnick; 3,561,757 to Schillig; 4,301,766 to Piccone; 4,347,807 to Reich; 5,711,253 to Phillips et al.; 5,964,189 to Northrop et al.; and 6,058,887 to Silverman.  
           [0010]    Jennings &#39;537; Faxon &#39;577; Northrop &#39;189 and Silverman &#39;887 each shows structures include box type structures with openings for mostly single animals that does not allow for safely storing and confining the animals within the structures. Schillig &#39;757; Piccone &#39;766; Reich &#39;807; and Phillips et al. &#39;253 each show plural block arrangements each with openings which appear to be used primarily as open playgrounds and/or constant open storage containers for pets.  
           [0011]    Brown &#39;292 and Berger &#39;783 each shows pedestal/stand supported obtrusive structures with specific height requirements that clearly wastes space between the “modular house.” Lovitt &#39;297 shows a multi-tiered interconnected display with stairs and rotating wheel that appears to be no more than an enlarged gerbil type cage. Read et al. &#39;002 shows a see-through structure resembling a little house with wide open spaces offering no privacy to the animals. Rudnick &#39;956 shows an animal habitat requiring tube connected blocks that clearly requires large amounts of space.  
           [0012]    These depicted structures are generally not built for the comfort of the pets being stored. Additionally, none of these proposed houses are easily adaptable for aesthetically displaying and safely housing several or more small pets, such as cats in a specific space, such as in a pet store. The above devices are also generally not mobile, and instead must be physically disassembled in order to be moved.  
           [0013]    Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0014]    The first objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats, that is aesthetically pleasing to one viewing the small animals.  
           [0015]    The second objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats, that is comfortable to small animals.  
           [0016]    The third objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that eliminates the use of undesirable and unsightly cages and wire meshes.  
           [0017]    The fourth objective of this invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats that can be used in commercial establishments such as pet stores.  
           [0018]    The fifth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats that can be used in humane society environments.  
           [0019]    The sixth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that can be large enough to allow for the animals to move about and not be confined in fixed positions.  
           [0020]    The seventh objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that allows for areas that the animals can go to that are out of sight and offer some privacy effects to the animals.  
           [0021]    The eighth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats, that results in the animals being in a more relaxed and happy state.  
           [0022]    The ninth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats, that results in the animals being livelier and less bored.  
           [0023]    The tenth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats, that results in the positive, playful natural animals being more desirable for adoption.  
           [0024]    The eleventh objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such a cats, that results in brighter environments that make it more desirable for animal adoption.  
           [0025]    The twelfth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that both safely contains the animals while allowing for cross-airflow ventilation therethrough.  
           [0026]    The thirteenth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that is both ergonomic and safe and practical for viewing, displaying and housing small animals such as cats.  
           [0027]    The fourteenth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that can be easily moved without requiring the manual lifting and/or disassembly of the houses and habitats and/or removal of the animals for the move.  
           [0028]    The fifteenth objective of the present invention is to provide an enclosed habitat and method for housing and displaying small animals such as cats, that can be easily cleaned and sanitized.  
           [0029]    Habitat housing apparatus and methods of using habitats for safely accommodating, displaying, and housing small animals such as cats, and the like. Compartments can include cageless walls, floors, and ceilings, that are either or both stacked or arranged in side-by-side arrangements. The compartments can be formed from plastics, acrylics, glass, safety glass, and the like, and have see-through front doors. On rear walls of the compartments can be letters, and/or geometrical shapes having different colors than the surrounding surfaces so as to give the illusion of the letters and/or shapes being suspended in the air. The letters and/or geometrical shapes can be arranged so as spell out words such as CATS with different colors.  
           [0030]    The letters and/or shapes can be fixably mounted inside individual compartments. Alternatively, or in combination the letters and/or geometrical shapes can be free-standing so as to be easily removable from the compartments. Space beneath the letters and geometrical shapes allows for easy cleaning inside the compartments and for allowing removable litter type boxes to be placed therein.  
           [0031]    The compartments can include extra storage such as drawers and/or hinged boxes for allowing supplies to be stored with the compartments. The compartments can be easily movable by having wheels underneath the compartments.  
           [0032]    Portal openings in the sides, floors, and/or ceiling of the compartments can allow for the animals to travel back and forth as desired. Additional private compartments can allow for the animals to move out of sight by passing through the portals.  
           [0033]    Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES  
       [0034]    [0034]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the novel animal habitats.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 3 is a left side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 4 is a right side view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 5 is a top view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.  
         [0040]    [0040]FIG. 7 is a right front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with front doors off.  
         [0041]    [0041]FIG. 8 is a left front perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with front doors off.  
         [0042]    [0042]FIG. 9 is a front view of a second embodiment of the novel animal habitat.  
         [0043]    [0043]FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 along arrows A-A.  
         [0044]    [0044]FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 along arrows B-B.  
         [0045]    [0045]FIG. 12 is a top cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 along arrows C-C.  
         [0046]    [0046]FIG. 13 is a top cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 9 along arrows D-D.  
         [0047]    [0047]FIG. 14 is a front exploded perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 9.  
         [0048]    [0048]FIG. 15 is a front exploded perspective view of a third embodiment of the animal habitat.  
         [0049]    [0049]FIG. 16A is a front view of a fourth embodiment of the novel animal habitat.  
         [0050]    [0050]FIG. 16B is a side cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 16A along arrows X 4 .  
         [0051]    [0051]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a free-standing shape that is used in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 16.  
         [0052]    [0052]FIG. 18 is a front enlarged view of another one of the geometrical shapes within a compartment of the embodiment shown in FIG. 16A.  
         [0053]    [0053]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an additional novel shape that can be used with the embodiments of the preceding figures. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0054]    Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.  
         [0055]    The novel invention habitats results in happier and more relaxed animals. When used in pet stores and/or humane society environments, the novel habitats have a positive affect on adoption, membership and sponsorship of the animals housed in these habitats.  
         [0056]    Mobile enclosure specifically configured for cats, uses principals of playfully shaped, colored cat houses, where choices of materials, location sizes and enclosure configurations are chosen to cause optimum comfort to the animals and physical and visual connectivity to visitors of the enclosures.  
         [0057]    Materials forming the enclosures can be made from durable, cleanable materials, such as but not limited to plastics, acrylics, laminate, and the like, and combinations thereof. Additional materials can include plate glass, safety glass, and the like, and combinations, thereof. Each compartment in the enclosure can be used individually or interconnected both horizontally and vertically to other compartments. The various changes in level within each compartment/unit provide interest to the animals, such as the cats, whilst gazing between each compartment/unit allows greater visual connection, which can relieve boredom. Various high and low level cabinets/compartments/units can provide storage for food and blankets.  
         [0058]    Mobile units can also be linked to provide. a flexible array of stimulating accommodation that will brighten animal establishments such as pet&#39;s stores and humane society environments for both the animals and humans.  
       First Embodiment  
       [0059]    [0059]FIG. 1 is a front view of a first preferred embodiment of the novel animal habitats which shows four compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 , and  40  stacked on top of one another with common left sidewall  60 , right sidewall  70 , rear wall  50 , top wall  80  and bottom floor  90 . Each of the four compartments can have see-through cageless doors  12 ,  22 ,  32 , and  42  attached by side mounted hinges  15 ,  25 ,  35 , and  45  to respective sidewalls  60  and  70 , respectively. The see-through doors  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42  can be made from plastics, acrylics, laminate, and the like, and combinations thereof, plate glass, safety glass, and combinations, thereof. The hinges  15 ,  25 ,  35 ,  45  can be metal or reinforced plastic to allow the left doors  12 ,  32  to open to the left of the embodiment 1, while right doors  22 ,  42  can open outward to the right of the embodiment 1. FIG. 2 is a rear view of the back wall  50  of the embodiment of FIG. 1, which can be a solid panel that can be formed from similar materials such as those of the front see-through doors  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42 . In the preferred embodiment the back wall panel  50  can be opaque such as white, and the like.  
         [0060]    [0060]FIG. 3 is a left side view of left sidewall  60  of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 along arrow X 1 . FIG. 4 is a right side view of the right sidewall  60 ,  70  of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 along arrow X 2 . The sidewalls  60 ,  70  can be formed from similar materials to that of the see-through front doors  12 ,  22 ,  32 ,  42  and rear wall  50 . The sidewalls  60 ,  70  can include portal openings  62 ,  64 ,  66 ,  68 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  that can be closed off with disc covers  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77 ,  79  that can be screwed onto the sidewalls  60 ,  70 . Alternatively, flap covers such as rubberized mat covers, can be used with or instead of the screwable covers to allow access through the circular portals as needed.  
         [0061]    In the preferred embodiment, the sidewalls  60 ,  70  can have an opaque color such as but not limited to white, while the removable disc covers  63 ,  65 ,  67 ,  69 ,  73 ,  75 ,  77  and  79  are see-through, so that outsiders can look directly into the compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 . The side portals can be arranged in zig zag patterns of circular openings, and the like, which can allow for additional access into interiors of the compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 .  
         [0062]    [0062]FIG. 5 is a top view of the top panel  80  of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 along arrow Y 1 . FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the floor panel  90  of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 along arrow Y 2 . The top panel  80  and bottom panel  90  can be formed from the same materials as those previously described. In the preferred embodiment, these panels can be opaque such as using the color white, and the like.  
         [0063]    [0063]FIG. 7 is a right front perspective view of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 with front doors  12 ,  22 ,  32  and  42  removed. FIG. 8 is a left front perspective view of the embodiment 1 of FIG. 1 with the front doors  12 ,  22 ,  32  and  42  removed. The upper compartments  10 ,  20  can be separated from the lower compartments  30 ,  40  by a common floor panel  110 , which can also include portal openings  112 ,  122  for ventilation and for allowing the small animals inside to easily move from one compartment to another. The upper compartments  10 ,  20  can be separated from one another by an upper dividing wall panel  130  that also can have portal openings  132 ,  134  for ventilation and for allowing the small animals to pass therethrough. Similarly, the lower compartments  30 ,  40  can be separated from one another by a lower dividing wall panel  140  that also can have portal openings  142 ,  144  for ventilation and for allowing the small animals to pass therethrough. The arrangement of portal openings  132 ,  134 ,  142 ,  144  can also be arranged in zig zag patterns similar to the other portal openings previously described.  
         [0064]    In a preferred embodiment the floor panel  110  and dividing wall panels  130 ,  140  can be formed from a see-through material such as those described previously.  
         [0065]    The interior portal openings  112 ,  114 ,  132 ,  134 ,  142 ,  144  in floor panel  110 , and dividing walls  130 ,  140  can also include selected covers and flaps such as those previously described in order to selectively limit passage between the compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40 .  
         [0066]    In the first preferred embodiment, each compartment can include fixably mounted raised shapes such as letters, formed from the same materials as those previously described.  
         [0067]    In first compartment  10 , the letter C  13  can be formed from an oblong tubular shaped materials such as those previously described that resembles the capital O with a front cut-out portion  14  that can be surface coated with the same color as the rear wall  50  of the embodiment 1, such that using a color such as red for the letter against the white rear wall  50  with the cut-out  14  creates the illusion of the letter C in compartment  10 . The C shape can be fixably mounted by an adhesive, and the like, to left L-shaped goal post  16 ,  17  and right L-shaped goal post  18 ,  19 , where the goal posts are similarly attached to both the rear wall  50  and interior surfaces of the side walls  60  and  130  by adhesives and the like. In the preferred embodiment 1, the goal posts  16 - 17  and  18 - 19 , can be formed from materials similar to those previously described but having a different color than that of the letter shape C  13 . For example, using white for the goal posts  16 - 17 ,  18 - 19  further enhances the illusion of the letter C floating in midspace inside the compartment  10 .  
         [0068]    In second compartment  20  the letter A  23  can be formed from several materials such as those previously described that resembles the letter A having a color that is different than that of the rear wall  50  of the embodiment 1, such that using a color such as green for the letter against the white rear wall  50  creates the illusion of the letter A in compartment  20 . The A shape can be fixably mounted by an adhesive, and the like, to left L-shaped goal post  26 ,  27  and right L-shaped goal post  28 ,  29 , where the goal posts are similarly attached to both the rear wall  50  and interior surfaces of the side walls  70  and  130  by adhesives and the like. In the preferred embodiment 1, the goal posts  26 - 27  and  28 - 29 , can be formed from materials similar to those previously described but having a different color than that of the letter shape A  23 . For example, using white for the goal posts  26 - 27 ,  28 - 29  further enhances the illusion of the letter A floating in midspace inside the compartment  20 .  
         [0069]    In third compartment  30  the letter T  33  can be formed from crossed materials such as those previously described that resembles the letter T having a color that is different than that of the rear wall  50  of the embodiment 1, such that using a color such as blue for the letter against the white rear wall  50  creates the illusion of the letter T in compartment  30 . The T shape can be fixably mounted by an adhesive, and the like, to left L-shaped goal post  36 ,  37  and right L-shaped goal post  38 ,  39 , where the goal posts are similarly attached to both the rear wall  50  and interior surfaces of the side walls  60 ,  140  by adhesives and the like. In the preferred embodiment 1, the goal posts  36 - 37  and  38 - 39 , can be formed from materials similar to those previously described but having a different color than that of the letter shape T  33 . For example, using white for the goal posts  36 - 37 ,  38 - 39  further enhances the illusion of the letter T floating in midspace inside the compartment  30 .  
         [0070]    In fourth compartment  40  the letter S  43  can be formed from materials such as those previously described that resembles the letter S having a color that is different than that of the rear wall  50  of the embodiment 1, such that using a color such as yellow for the letter against the white rear wall  50  creates the illusion of the letter S in compartment  40 . The S shape can be fixably mounted by an adhesive, and the like, to left L-shaped goal post  46 ,  47  and right L-shaped goal post  48 ,  49 , where the goal posts are similarly attached to both the rear wall  50  and interior surfaces of the side walls  70  and  140  by adhesives and the like. In the preferred embodiment 1, the goal posts  46 - 47  and  48 - 49 , can be formed from materials similar to those previously described but having a different color than that of the letter shape S  43 . For example, using white for the goal posts  46 - 47 ,  48 - 49  further enhances the illusion of the letter S floating in midspace inside the compartment  40 .  
         [0071]    The goal posts in the above compartments can also be formed from and use different colors than the sidewalls and rear walls of the compartments as long as the visual appearance of the letters inside the compartments are readable from outside.  
         [0072]    Furthermore, the goal posts and/or the letter shapes can be formed from clear materials, various colored materials, and the like, such as but not limited to red, yellow, orange, green, blue, brown, grey, and black, and the like, variations thereof, and combinations thereof.  
         [0073]    The letter shapes and goalposts inside the compartments are shaped so that portions of the letter shapes and goal posts function as ledges, and small interior compartment spaces, crevices, and the like, for the small animals, such as cats, and the like, to sit on, relax and rest within, and the like.  
         [0074]    Additional materials can be used as ledges across each compartment as further spaces for the animals to climb to, rest, and relax thereon, and the like.  
         [0075]    Ventilation openings  190  can be selectively located through sidewalls and rearwalls of the embodiment as needed to allow for cross-ventilation into the compartments. The ventilation openings can be large enough to allow airflow but small enough so that animals cannot pass therethrough. Additionally gaps around each of the front door panels and rows of small holes  192  in the rear or each compartment can be used for ventilation, and finction as flue openings in the rear to allow for natural ventilation and/or substantial air exchange between the housings and ambient air.  
         [0076]    Beneath each of the letter shapes in the compartments are spaces large enough for allowing easy cleaning of the floor surfaces  110 ,  90 . Additionally, the spaces below the letter shapes allow for storing and removing additional items such as litter boxes  150 . The additional items such as the litter boxes can also be made from materials that are used in the embodiment, and can also have different colors to add in the visual effect of the embodiment 1.  
       Second Embodiment  
       [0077]    [0077]FIG. 9 is a front view of a second embodiment  200  of the novel animal habitat. FIG. 10 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment  200  of FIG. 9 along arrows A-A. FIG. 11 is a side cross-sectional view of the embodiment  200  of FIG. 9 along arrows B-B. FIG. 12 is a top cross-sectional view of the embodiment  200  of FIG. 9 along arrows C-C. FIG. 13 is a top cross-sectional view of the embodiment  200  of FIG. 9 along arrows D-D. FIG. 14 is a front exploded perspective view of the embodiment  200  of FIG. 9.  
         [0078]    Referring to FIGS.  9 - 14 , the second embodiment  200  can include the novel features of the first embodiment 1, and further include separate horizontal rectangular compartments  210  above and below  220  the four main compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 . The top horizontal rectangular compartment  210  can include a door  211  that folds up on a hinge  213 . Alternatively, the door  211  can fold down by moving the hinge  213  to be attached to the front edge of the floor panel  212  of the compartment  210 . Top compartment  210  can have a rectangular shape with sidewall panels  214 ,  218 , floor panel  212  and ceiling panel  216  that can be formed from materials similar to those previously described, and have colors such as those previously described.  
         [0079]    The bottom horizontal rectangular compartment  220  can be located beneath the four compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 . Bottom compartment can have an open front end that can include a drawer  230  that can be pulled outward by a handle  232  to reveal interior storage space.  
         [0080]    These additional compartments  210 ,  220 ,  230  can function as cabinets and be used for storing supplies such as but not limited to blankets, food, toys, and the like.  
         [0081]    Wheels  242 ,  244 ,  246 , such as four caster wheels can be mounted underneath the bottom horizontal rectangular compartment  220  to allow the second embodiment habitat  200  to be easily moveable from place to place.  
         [0082]    Similar to the preceding embodiment, ventilation openings  190  can be selectively located through sidewalls and rearwalls of the embodiment as needed to allow for cross-ventilation into the compartments. The ventilation openings can be large enough to allow airflow but small enough so that animals cannot pass therethrough. Additionally gaps around each of the front door panels and rows of small holes  192  in the rear or each compartment can be used for ventilation, and function as flue openings in the rear to allow for natural ventilation and/or substantial air exchange between the housings and ambient air. An optional exhaust flue  85  can run from along a midportion of the rearwall  50  the embodiment  200  connecting rear wall ventilation holes  192  to exhaust out a top opening  86  above the embodiment  200 . Air can be drawn through all four compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  upward through the flue  85 . An extra rear door  55  can be used to access and provide any maintenance to the flue  85 . Additionally, the rear door  55  can be used to provide additional access to anyone of the main compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  as needed for cleaning purposes, and the like.  
       Third Embodiment  
       [0083]    [0083]FIG. 15 is a front exploded perspective view of a third embodiment  300  of the animal habitat. The third embodiment  300  can include novel attributes and features of the previous embodiments 1,  200 , and further include left and/or right storage closeable opaque door colored enclosed compartments  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380 , respectively reachable by portals  62 ,  64 ,  72 ,  74  to the main compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  for allowing animals to feely move into these closed spaces to be out of sight, to viewers of the four main compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 . Each of the extra left and right compartments  350 ,  360 ,  370 ,  380  can be similar to the main compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40 , and instead have opaque doors for allowing small animals privacy space that is not visible from in front of the embodiment  300 .  
         [0084]    Extra upper left compartment  310  and upper right compartment  320  each with hinged doors similar to middle compartment  210 , can allow for extra storage space. In addition, extra drawer compartments  330 ,  340  similar to lower drawer compartment  220  can be located beneath the main compartments, and also allow for extra storage space as needed. Extra wheels  332 ,  342  such as casters can be used in addition to wheels  242 ,  244  to allow embodiment  300  to be easily moveable when needed.  
       Fourth Embodiment  
       [0085]    [0085]FIG. 16A is a front view of a fourth embodiment  400  of the novel animal habitat that can include various novel features of the previous embodiments 1,  200 ,  300  and further include different shapes such as geometrical shapes, such as but not limited to square, rectangles, triangles, and circles that can also form ledges, crawl spaces, hiding spaces, and the like for the small animals to go to. These shapes can also be mounted to rear walls within the compartments. Additionally, these shapes can be free-standing and easily removable from the compartments as needed for changing out the shapes, cleaning the compartments, and the like.  
         [0086]    Referring to FIG. 16A, different geometrical shapes such as rectangle  440 , square  410 , triangle  420  and a circle  430  can be positioned within compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30  and  40  such as those previously described. Some geometrical shapes  420 ,  430  can be fixably mounted inside their respective compartments using fixed goal post supports  422 ,  424 ,  432 ,  434 , in a manner similar to those previously described.  
         [0087]    [0087]FIG. 16B is a side cross-sectional view of the fourth embodiment of FIG. 16A along arrows X 4 . The geometrical shapes  420 ,  440  can be shown to sit within their respective compartments adjacent to the rear wall  50 , and spaced apart behind front wall F so that animals can also be located on the floor surfaces of the respective compartments in front of the geometrical shapes.  
         [0088]    [0088]FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a free-standing shape  410 / 440  that is used in the fourth embodiment of FIG. 16. Here a geometrical shape such as a rectangle/square having sidewalls  412 ,  414 , ceiling panel  416  and floor panel  418  formed from materials such as those previously described can be supported above a floor surface in the compartments  10 ,  20 ,  30 ,  40  by legs  442 ,  444 ,  446 ,  448  so that the entire shape  410 ,  440  can be moved and lifted out of the compartments similar to moving a table. Similar to the previous embodiments the main portion of the shape such as walls  412 ,  414 , ceiling panel  416  and floor panel  414  can be one color such as red, and the legs  442 ,  444 ,  446 ,  448  can be a different color, or the entire shape and the legs can be the same color, while the rear wall of the compartments and sidewalls, ceiling and floor of the compartments are different colors.  
         [0089]    Allowing for a combination embodiment allows for the user to change out the free-standing shapes as desired. For example, a free-standing rectangle can be changed out for a free-standing triangle, and the like.  
         [0090]    Although not shown, letters can also be used that are free-standing using the similar stands as that shown in FIG. 17.  
         [0091]    [0091]FIG. 18 is a front enlarged view of another one of the geometrical shapes  430  within a compartment  30  of the embodiment  400  shown in FIG. 16A. Side posts  432 ,  434  can also be of a different color as that of the O shape  430 , and fixably support the geometrical shape to the sidewalls of the compartment. Legs  436 ,  438  can also fixably attach the geometrical shape to the floor of the compartment  30 . Alternatively, geometrical shape  430  can be preformed with horizontal side posts  432 ,  434  and legs  436 ,  438  as part of the shape, so that the entire configuration can be removed from the compartment as a single piece.  
         [0092]    [0092]FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an additional novel shape  500  that can be used with the embodiments of the preceding figures. Shape  500  can include a lower cylindrical portion  510  having an interior space  515  which can function like a cave for the small animals. A tabletop  520  can be placed on top of cylindrical portion for allowing another surface for the animals. A post  530  attached to tabletop  520  can be attached to a pedestal surface  540  which can also function as another surface for the small animals. Similar to the other shapes, embodiment shape  500  can be formed from a single color, and/or a combination of colors, where for example, the cylinder  510  is a different color than tabletop  520 .  
         [0093]    The invention can also allow for all the compartments to solely have free-standing and removable shapes such as free-standing geometrical shapes and/or letter shapes, and the like, so that all compartments can be changed out as needed.  
         [0094]    Either or both the free-standing shapes and/or the fixable mounted shapes inside the compartments allow for portions of the shapes and goal post type supports to be able to function as ledges, and small interior compartment spaces, crevices, and the like, for the small animals, such as cats, and the like, to sit on, relax and rest within, and the like.  
         [0095]    Furthermore, the free-standing and/or fixably mounted geometrical shapes of the fourth embodiment  400  can be used with the novel extra cabinets and/or drawers and/or movable wheels used in previous embodiments.  
         [0096]    The novel shapes geometrical shapes  410 ,  420 ,  430 ,  440  have enough space underneath to allow for the spaces underneath to be easily cleaned, and/or allow for removable litter boxes  450  and the like, to be used.  
         [0097]    Although the preferred embodiments show the habitats being formed of generally rectangular compartments arranged in side-by-side and/or stacked arrangements, the individual compartments can be have other stackable side-by-side configurations such as but not limited to triangular exterior, hexagon exterior, and the like.  
         [0098]    While a preferred embodiment shows spelling out the word CATS, the invention can be used to spell out other words such as but not limited to kittens, dogs, pets, and any other selected names, identifiers, messages, sayings, and the like.  
         [0099]    Although letters and geometrical shapes are described, the invention can be used with numbers, and/or various combinations and/or arrangements of letters, numbers and/or geometrical shapes.  
         [0100]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.