Here is an anecdote:
From my experience as a professional Industrial computer technician for high precision optic inspection equipment (about fifteen years ago), we always had one rule:
There is standard and then there is extra hazard condition. I remember one customer like it was today. This company did manufacture hardened cutting tool inserts for CNC machines. They basically did metal grinding the whole day. The control computer that time (an Intel Pentium2 box) died because it was not shielded properly against that environment, till we fitted it in an extra box with filters and air condition system from
www.rittal.com. Imagine an extremely dusty coal mine and you get the picture. It was extra expensive but it did the trick back in the day. The customer had to pay extra for that.
What can we learn from this and my own story here? Pets in working environments should be categorised as an extra hazard condition. Jony did not design that box for an extra hazard condition. Statistically you have a higher risk situation of machine failure with an extra hazard condition. You can proof that with SixSigma.
This valuable blog and the unfortunate experience of the OP proves exactly that.
So the relevant question to Mr Jony Ive would be this: Did Apple's Six Sigma Quality Officer put Pets into account as a significant influence in risk management on unit failure, and would the ppm number (parts per million) be large enough to impact critical design changes on the 2013 model ?
Thats about the only intelligent question you can ask Sir Jonathan Ive, Knight Commander of the Britisch Empire and Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. And you know what, he would say "sure we did". The number is too small, we can live with that. And that would be the end of it.
However this unfortunate case may be, -my advice for the OP, give Apple another call on Apple Care. Call ten times, and you will most likely hit two people that are willing to take this case to the next supervisor. Get a service ticket. I think you should have a chance on a gift reimbursement or something. Don't stop, Apple can afford it.