I created the design for the first MatMate, for my childhood dog, Sable. After going to the vet with 2 strange growths, one on her shoulder and one between her toes, I thought I'd let her get on my Mini BioMat to help her paw, that now had only three sewn together toes, heal a little faster. Then the biopsy results came back and Sable was diagnosed with a malignant, fast moving cancer. There was no doubt that I'd be putting her on my BioMat Mini every day. I had just gotten my mini mat and had barely had a chance to use it my self. Sable being the large, rough and tumble girl she is, can sometimes be a little smelly and because of her stitches, we couldn't bathe her. I wanted something I could slip over the mat, that had a little padding and that I could take off easily for washing. The MatMate was born! I now have one cover for her and one for myself, that way I can change them out and wash them as needed. We made the MatMates out of 100% cotton, so they are easy to care for and won't interfere with the emmitance of far infared rays or negative ions from the BioMat. Every MatMate is made by hand and is easily washable.