13. Dog-First, But Not Dog-Only - Cats & Very Small Chewers Setup

Best for

Suitable cats, very small dogs, supervised small chewers, indoor-adjacent areas, patios, verandahs, and controlled feeding zones

Main problem solved

Cats or very small pets dragging raw meaty bones, chicken wings, chicken necks, or chews around the house or garden

Primary setup

BoneZone® set very low using a fixed BaseMount, indoor/semi-indoor setup, patio setup, verandah setup, or suitable wall/post mount

Best dog type

Very small dogs and suitable cats only, under careful supervision and with appropriate bone/chew selection

Setup style

Low-height, controlled, supervised chew station for small animals

Video

🎥 Add setup video link / icon here

BoneZone® alloy Clamp-Post / pole

Main vertical support for the jaw assembly

Fixed BaseMount, Versatile Wall Mounts, or suitable low mounting setup

Supports the Clamp-Post depending on the chosen location

Suitable screws, bolts, anchors, straps, or fixings

Secure the setup to the selected surface or structure where appropriate

Plunger pin / height-locking pin

Sets and locks the working height

BoneZone® jaw assembly

Holds the bone, chew, chicken wing, chicken neck, or pet-safe chew

BiteLock™ jaw insert, where suitable

Helps grip irregular, small, round, or awkward chew shapes

Spill mats

Helps contain mess, drool, blood, crumbs, marrow, and bone fragments

Optional tray or puppy training mat

Adds extra floor protection for raw items or messy chews

Cleaning bucket and stiff nylon brush

Useful for cleaning clamp parts, mats, and surrounding surfaces

Animal suitability

Not every cat or very small dog will suit this setup. Use only with animals that chew calmly and can be supervised.

Chew selection

Choose only appropriate raw meaty bones or pet-safe chews suited to the animal’s size, diet, and dental condition.

Height position

The jaw assembly must be set low enough for the animal to chew naturally without reaching, twisting, or straining.

Stability

The setup must not move, tip, slide, or lift under the animal’s pulling or chewing force.

Floor surface

Use a washable surface such as tile, sealed concrete, patio floor, verandah floor, garage floor, or spill mat.

Hygiene

Raw chicken, raw bones, and raw meaty items should be treated like raw meat and cleaned up immediately after use.

Other animals

Keep dogs, other cats, children, and visitors away during the session unless directly supervised.

Escape path

The animal should not feel trapped in a corner, against a wall, or near another animal while eating.

Supervision

BoneZone® is a controlled chew station, not an unsupervised feeding device.

1

Choose the location

Select a quiet, cleanable area such as a laundry, garage, patio, verandah, tiled room, or outdoor wash-down zone.

2

Choose the mounting method

Use a fixed BaseMount, suitable low wall mount, post mount, patio setup, or indoor/semi-indoor setup matched to the surface and animal.

3

Set the system low

Position the jaw assembly low enough that the cat or very small dog can chew naturally with all feet on the ground.

4

Check the surrounding area

Keep the setup away from rugs, bedding, furniture, electrical cords, sharp edges, stairs, doors, and areas where food can be dragged or hidden.

5

Add spill protection

Place a washable spill mat, tray, puppy training mat, or designated floor covering underneath the chew zone.

6

Install the mount securely

Secure the BaseMount or mounts using suitable screws, bolts, anchors, straps, or fixings for the selected surface or structure.

7

Insert the Clamp-Post

Drop the alloy Clamp-Post into the mount and confirm it is seated correctly and locked where required.

8

Set the height

Use the index plunger pin fixed to the lower jaw frame to set the jaw assembly at the animal’s natural chewing height.

9

Test before use

Pull the pole and jaw assembly firmly by hand. If anything moves, stop and improve the fixing before adding the chew.

10

Add the bone or chew

Load the item into the jaws using the bone-loading instructions below.

11

Supervise the full session

Stay close enough to monitor chewing, comfort, hygiene, and whether the animal is targeting the food instead of the hardware.

12

Clean immediately after use

Remove leftovers, clean the jaws, wipe the Clamp-Post, wash the mat, and clean the surrounding floor or ground area.

1

Choose a suitable item

Use only an appropriate raw meaty bone, chicken wing, chicken neck, or pet-safe chew suited to the animal’s size, chewing style, dental condition, and diet.

2

Avoid unsuitable bones

Do not use cooked bones, brittle bones, sharp fragments, oversized bones, or items the animal may try to swallow whole.

3

Find the best clamping point

Choose the thicker or more stable section of the item. Avoid clamping only the thinnest, sharpest, or most fragile end.

4

Select the jaw face

Use the jaw face or BiteLock™ arrangement that gives the best grip without crushing the item unnecessarily.

5

Use gentle jaw pressure

Tighten only enough to hold the item securely. Smaller bones and chicken pieces can be damaged by overtightening.

6

Place the item into the jaws

Position it so the animal can chew naturally without biting too close to the clamp faces, striking the pole, or dragging the item off the mat.

7

Check animal access

The animal should be able to chew comfortably without reaching upward, crouching awkwardly, or twisting its neck/back.

8

Watch the first few bites

Confirm the item stays held, the animal understands the setup, and the chew is not breaking into unsafe pieces.

9

Keep the session short at first

Start with short supervised sessions until the animal is comfortable with the setup.

10

Remove leftovers

Remove remnants when the session is finished, especially raw chicken, raw bones, or anything that may spoil.

11

Clean the area

Wipe down the jaws, Clamp-Post, mount, mat, tray, and surrounding floor. A bucket of warm soapy water and a stiff nylon brush is great for cleaning clamp parts.

Dog-first product

BoneZone® is designed primarily for dogs. Cat and very small chewer use should be treated as a supervised secondary application.

Supervision

Always supervise cats and very small animals when using BoneZone®. Do not leave them unattended with bones or chews.

Chew suitability

Use only food or chews appropriate for that animal’s size, diet, dental condition, and chewing behaviour.

Cooked bones

Do not use cooked bones. Cooked bones can splinter and are not suitable for this setup.

Small swallow risk

Avoid items small enough to be swallowed whole once loosened or partly chewed.

Jaw pressure

Do not overtighten small bones, chicken wings, chicken necks, or delicate chews.

Other pets

Keep dogs and other animals away during the session to avoid stealing, competition, or stress.

Indoor hygiene

Raw chicken and raw bones should be treated like raw meat. Clean immediately after use.

Hardware chewing

Do not allow cats or small dogs to chew the Clamp-Post, jaw assembly, BaseMount, straps, mounts, padding, mat edges, or fixings.

Veterinary advice

For animals with dental issues, dietary restrictions, illness, or special needs, seek veterinary guidance before offering bones or hard chews.

The cat ignores the setup

The item is unfamiliar, the location is wrong, or the cat dislikes the fixed position

Try a quieter location, use a familiar food item, keep sessions short, and allow the animal to investigate without pressure.

The animal tries to drag the item away

Item is not clamped securely, jaw pressure is too light, or the animal is used to carrying food

Reposition the item, increase jaw pressure slightly, and supervise until the animal learns the chew stays in place.

The item crushes or breaks

Jaw pressure is too high or the item is too delicate

Loosen the jaws, choose a stronger clamping point, or use a more suitable chew.

The animal bites too close to the clamp

Item is too short, clamped too deeply, or positioned incorrectly

Reposition the item so more chewable material sits away from the jaw faces. Use a longer or more suitable item.

The animal reaches upward

Jaw height is too high

Lower the jaw assembly until the animal can chew naturally with all feet on the ground.

The animal crouches awkwardly

Jaw height is too low or the item angle is wrong

Raise the jaw assembly slightly and reposition the item.

The animal slips while chewing

Floor is too smooth, wet, or unstable

Add a non-slip mat or move to a surface with better footing.

The item comes loose

Wrong clamping point, poor jaw face selection, or insufficient jaw pressure

Reposition the item, use a better jaw face/BiteLock™ arrangement, and retest gently by hand.

The animal tries to swallow a loose piece

Item has become too small or broken down

Stop the session and remove small remnants immediately. Use larger or more appropriate items next time.

Raw food mess spreads

Mat is too small, item is angled outward, or the animal is pulling sideways

Use a larger washable mat or tray and reposition the item over the protected area.

Other pets interfere

Dogs, cats, or other animals are attracted by the food

Separate animals during the session and remove leftovers immediately afterward.

Smell or insects appear

Raw item residue or scraps remain after the session

Clean immediately, remove waste properly, wash the mat, and avoid leaving raw food out.