WO2023091096A1

WO2023091096A1 - Natural pet cat litter

Info

Publication number: WO2023091096A1
Application number: PCT/TR2021/051228
Authority: WO
Inventors: Manuk KAYAOĞLU
Original assignee: ŞEKER, Ceyda
Priority date: 2021-11-17
Filing date: 2021-11-17
Publication date: 2023-05-25

Abstract

The invention is related to litter mixtures obtained from natural and organic compositions in the pet industry which pets can defecate on.

Description

NATURAL PET CAT LITTER

Technical Area

State of the Art

The use of cat litter is a system that is used for cats living at home. There are many types of cat litter and cat toiletries on the market. Newborn cats are weaned from their mother's milk between 45-60 days and thereafter, toilet trained by their mothers or their owners.

Commonly used cat litter components are mostly bentonite, kaolin, montmorillonite, sepiolite clay and silica chemical. The specific reason for using these two components is an action taken to ensure that clumping occurs when the cat leaves a stool or urinates, aiming to save the amount of litter that is used by removing the clumped mass from the box.

The most preferred litter type in the market is clay-based cat litter which is obtained by adding chemical components. Clay based and chemical cat litters; are grained in two types known as fine- hard and coarse-hard. When the fine-grained comes in contact with the urine, it turns into a ball and clumps. On the other hand, coarse grained absorbs the urine within themselves. Clay based and chemical cat litters also have many different scented types Other preferred litters are made of clay containing materials such as zeolite, diatomite, sepiolite and have absorbent properties. One of the reasons why these litters are preferred by the producers is that clay mining is done in large quantities and the cost of clay is low.

One of the studies in the state of the art is the Turkish patent document numbered TR 2019/03801. This invention is related to bentonite cat litter containing activated carbon and the production method of this product. Due to the activated carbon it contains it is the most suitable cat litter for cats that leave an intense odor of urine. It provides and controls odor absorption, collects liquid and solid wastes in the litter box always allowing a clean appearance and preventing the formation of odors. Therefore, ensuring that a fresh smell remains in the house for a long time. The method subject to the invention in question; due to the property of sticking the particles together when wet, it clumps and traps the liquid in a short time and does not allow the formation of bacteria. It consists of bentonite and activated carbon which has the ability to trap more odor and prolongs the spreading time of the urea odor to the external environment.

Another application numbered TR2019/03802 is about diatomite containing cat litter and the production method of this product. This invention is about the cat litter containing diatomite and the production method of this product which is healthier for cats and their owners. It has less dust formation due to the diatomite it contains which has 110% water absorption capacity and does not agglomerate. Thus, it increases the water absorption capacity of the litter by 40-50%. It also provides the ability to supress the odor originating from the urea and absorbs the odor, ensuring a clean appearance at all times and preventing the formation of odors whilst keeping the fresh smell around the house for a long time. The product and method subject to the invention in question; it consists of diatomite, which has a high water absorption capacity and thus provides rapid clumping.

Although bentonite clay and silica are frequently preferred, their permanent damage to the cat and nature is completely ignored. In addition, this chemical effect negatively affects cat owners as well. The harm that the cat is exposed to is caused by the dust that rises when the cat scratches the litter and swallows the litter particles that get on its paws during the self cleaning it does due to its nature. Inhaled dust particles sticks to the lungs, triggering or causing serious lung diseases, especially in cats of certain breeds. Cat owners in a similar way, are also exposed to this effect without being aware of it, by breathing dust particles flying into the air while cleaning the litter.

Cats have many nerve receptors under their paws. The presence of these receptors makes the cat's paw very sensitive. Due to this sensitivity, in their natural habitats they prefer softer sands to hard ones, because the cat's body temperature, balance and hunting characteristics are directly related to their paws. The grains of bentonite and silica derived litters are quite hard therefore, they are not ideal for the nerve receptors and paw tissues of cats. The damage to nature is that the chemical structure of the litter, which becomes waste, causes the natural texture of the soil and waterways to deteriorate. While clay provides benefits to the soil in terms of potassium and ammonium as it is found in nature, after being displaced by mining and used as cat litter, the waste becomes a toxic one, contrary to its original purpose. Used litter containing clay and chemicals remains toxic in nature for hundreds of years. There is a lot of scientific data that examines and supports how excessive clay mining damages the balance of nature and how the damage increases exponentially after it becomes waste. There are also scientific studies on how clay based cat litter causes allergic attacks and asthma attacks. According to a study conducted at Cornell University, routine exposure to clay based litter causes cats’ immune systems to think they are constantly in danger and under attack. It has been determined that the cat therefore declares a war on itself in order to eliminate this attack. When cats can not get the minerals and vitamins they need from their food, they sometimes tend to eat their litter. This is very dangerous for the health of the cat, especially with the chemical and extremely hard clumping cat litters on the market. For example, sodium bentonite can build up inside their intestines and cause a blockage. In more severe cases, it can even cause bentonite toxicosis. The cat litters we have developed are easily dissolvable and completely natural and organic, they can be defecated without causing a blockage in the cat's digestive system. Finally, the amount of litter standardized by people varies from 5 kg to 30 kg. The fact that standard cat litter is heavy in kilograms tires the consumer and brings a lot of cost to the supplier in terms of logistics. As a result, due to the disadvantages described above and the inadequacy of the existing solutions on the subject; a development on pet litter was required.

Purpose of the Invention

The present invention relates to pet litter that meets the above mentioned requirements, eliminates all disadvantages and brings some additional advantages.

The primary aim of the invention is to develop a pet litter that is made ready for use, with all components being completely natural, without interacting with any chemical substances and without deteriorating its natural state and structure.

One aim of the invention is to develop a pet litter, which can easily be poured into the toilet after its usage due to its solubility that is compatible with the septic systems.

Another aim of the invention is to develop a pet litter that is suitable for composting, that can be used as soil vitamins and fertilizer in agricultural soils with low productivity due to its content of rich elements.

Another aim of the invention is to develop a litter that is light in weight, which does not tire the user and does not cause much cost to the supplier in terms of logistics.

To fulfill the above described purposes, the invention is pet litter containing perlite or vermiculite.

The structural and characteristic features of the invention and all its advantages will be understood more clearly due to the detailed explanation written below and therefore the evaluation should be made by taking this detailed explanation into consideration.

Detailed Description of the Invention

The sole intention of the detailed explanation of the invention, the pet litter, is to make the understanding much more clear without any limitations.

The invention pet litter contains perlite or vermiculite in its most basic form. In the invention, the perlite and the vermiculite that are preferred are those with the highest water holding capacity and odor absorption capacity. The mentioned water holding capacity is 300% and the odor absorption capacity is 90-95%.

The process of preparing cat litter consisting of perlites or vermiculites: includes the steps of bringing the perlites or vermiculites to the desired size (preferably between 1 mm-1 cm) through crushing; dehumidification at 800°C, water starvation and expansion; gradually sieving with different sieving processes until the desired size is reached and suctioned to reduce the dust level ratio to the most suitable level thereafter, packaging it as cat litter. The appropriate dust level ratio mentioned is; 2-4% for vermiculite and 5-8% for perlite. In case of need or necessity, vermiculite and perlite are suitable to be used as alternatives for each other.

The litter developed in a preferred application of the invention includes; wheat, wheatgrass and wheat bran, grain, grain grasses or a mixture. Thereof, including at least one second ingredient selected from the group. The wheat is cleaned, boiled, cooked and dried (preferably in the sun or in conventional ovens). The dried wheat is separated from the husks. At this stage, if wheatgrass is going to be used in the litter, the stalks of the wheat will be separated from the seeds and dried, then the dried wheatgrass will be brought to the desired size. The wheat bran is obtained by crushing the wheat grains, it is then sieved and the pieces of the bran that remain on the bottom of the sieve are used in the litter developed. The litter is obtained by mixing at least a second mentioned component with perlites or vermiculites.

The litter developed in a preferred application of the invention includes; at least one second ingredient selected from grain and grain grasses. The grain based bread varieties that have completed their expiry dates and have been removed from the shelves are collected. The collected bread is rebaked at 180°C in order for the remaining moisture within to evaporate. The bread that have completed their rebaking processes are crushed to be brought down to the desired granule sizes. Then, with the sieving method, the extra dust that is formed during the crushing process is separated. Particles separated from the dust are added to the other ingredients to be packaged for use as cat litter. The litter is obtained by mixing at least a second mentioned component with perlites or vermiculites. Wheat, wheatgrass and grain and grain grasses are suitable for use as alternatives to each other in case of need and necessity.

In a preferred application of the invention, wheat bran is 1 mm - 2 mm, wheatgrass is 1 mm - 1 .5 cm, grain is 1 mm - 2mm, grain grasses are 1 mm - 1 .5 cm, wheat is 1 mm - 8 mm.

The elements that constitute the developed litters are completely natural and organic. The fact that all the elements that constitute the content of the invention are soft, small and light are fully compatible with the nature of the cat. The tissues in the paws of the cats are very crucial and valuable for them in terms of leading a sustainable life. The paws are what provide the balance of the body temperature of cats. It is very important to protect the texture of the paw from deterioration. Keeping their body temperature at an optimum value is directly related to their paws. Cats dig and scratch the litter with their paws before and after defecation. The cat litters that contain large, hard and chemical ingredients cause paw tissue deformation over time. The deformed tissue cannot perform its function of balancing the body temperature as it should. The area where cats have the least of fur is their paws. Cats balance their body temperature through their paws whilst also sweating through them. Another advantage provided by the elements that make up our composition is the natural smell that is perfectly compatible with the nature of the cat. Cats are some of the most capricious and sensitive of pets when it comes to smell. Cats' sense of smell is 14 times greater than that of humans. Almost all of the cat litters on the market are produced by taking into consideration the comfort of the owner of the cat when it comes to odor. Cat litters produced using chemical and industrial perfumes work completely against the nature of cats.

The invented litter preferably contains perlite, wheatgrass and wheat. Preferably perlite in the amount of 50-65% per liter (more preferably 50%) based on the total weight, wheatgrass in the amount of 35- 55% (more preferably 35%) and wheat in the amount of 15 -25% (more preferably 15%).

In a preferred application of the invention; dust level ratio is 2-4% for vermiculite, 5-8% for perlite, 1 - 3% for wheat bran, 8-10% for wheatgrass, 1 -2% for wheat.

The invented litter preferably contains vermiculite, grain and grain grasses or wheatgrass. Preferably vermiculite in the amount of 50-65% per liter (more preferably 50%) based on the total weight, grain grasses or wheatgrass in the amount of 35-55% (more preferably 35%) and grain in the amount of 15- 25% (more preferably 15%).

Due to the baking processes applied to the litters developed with the present invention, the moisture in the components are evaporated which allow them to become more water thirsty.

These components which have been dehumidified and became more thirsty for water have the water holding capacity of 3-4 times greater than their original volume. In addition, due to this process, since moisture and humidity are removed by evaporation, the components become excellent organic preservatives against mold and dampness. This high water retention feature allows the cats urine to be easily trapped and the bad smell of the urine to be suppressed without using any industrial or chemical additives. These components are currently used as soil regulators, animal feed and to filter harmful bacteria from food consumed by human beings. For that reason, it does not harm the cat, its owner and the nature. On the contrary, due to their rich content of elements they are used as soil vitamins or fertilizers in agricultural fields with low productivity. They can easily be poured into the toilet after their usage due to their solubility that is compatible with the septic systems. They are also compostable. Soft litter structure; cat paw tenderness; supporting body temperature, balance and hunting features with its softness. It does not harm the receptors under the paws of cats in any way, and it is as soft as cats would prefer in their natural habitat.

Claims

1. A pet litter features; containing perlite or vermiculite.

2. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; composing of perlite.

3. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; composing of vermiculite.

4. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing at least one second ingredient or a mixture selected from the group of wheat, wheatgrass and wheat bran, grain and grain grasses.

5. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing perlite, wheatgrass and wheat.

6. A composition in accordance to claim 5, features; containing perlite in the amount of 50-65% per liter based on the total weight, wheatgrass in the amount of 35-55% and wheat in the amount of 15-25%.

7. A composition in accordance to claim 6, features; containing 50% perlite per liter based on the total weight, 35% wheatgrass and 15% wheat.

8. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing vermiculite, wheatgrass and wheat bran.

9. A litter in accordance to claim 8, features; containing vermiculite in the amount of 50-65% per liter based on the total weight, wheatgrass in the amount of 35-55% and wheat bran in the amount of 15-25%.

10. A litter in accordance to claim 9, features; containing 50% vermiculite per liter based on total weight, 35% wheatgrass and 15% wheat bran.

11. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containig perlite or vermiculite in the size of 1 mm- 1cm.

12. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing perlite or vermiculite that has 300% water holding capacity and 90-95% odor absorption capacity.

13. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing vermiculite that has the dust level ratio of 2-4%.

14. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing perlite that has the dust level ratio of 5- 8%.

15. A litter in accordance to claim 4, features; containing sizes of wheat 1 mm - 2mm, wheatgrass 1 mm - 1 .5cm, grain 1 mm - 2mm, grain grasses 1 mm - 1 .5 cm, wheat bran 1 mm - 8 mm.

16. A litter in accordance to claim 1 , features; containing vermiculite, grain and grain grasses or wheatgrass.

17. A litter in accordance to claim 16, features; containing vermiculite in the amount of 50-65% per liter based on the total weight, grain grasses or wheatgrass in the amount of 35-55% and grain in the amount of 15-25%.

18. A litter in accordance to claim 17, features; containing 50% vermiculite, 35% grain grasses or wheatgrass and 15% grain.

19. A method of preparing a pet litter according to any of the claims made above, features; containing the steps; crushing of the perlites and vermiculites; dehumidification and expansion at 800°C, sieving for different sizes and measures, suctioning during the sieving process to minimize the dust level ratio and packaging it as cat litter.

20. A method of preparing a pet litter in accordance to claim 19, features; containing perlites and vermiculites that are to be crushed down to the size of 1 mm-1cm.

21. A method of preparing a pet litter in accordance to claim 19, features; containing reduction of the dust level ratio to 2-4% for vermiculite and 5-8% for perlite with the suctioning method.

22. A method of preparing a pet litter in accordance to claim 19, features; containing a mixture of at least one second component selected from a group consisting of wheat, wheatgrass, wheat bran, grain and grain grasses with perlite or vermiculite.

23. A method in accordance to claim 22, features; containing the obtainment of wheat through the processes of cleaning, boiling, cooking, drying and dehulling.

24. A method in accordance to claim 22, features; containing the wheat being dried out either in the sun or in the conventional ovens.

25. A method in accordance to claim 22, features; containing the wheatgrass that is separated from the grains of the wheat to be dried out for its moisture to be removed and later to be brought to the sizes of 1 mm -1 ,5 cm.

26. A method in accordance to claim 22 features; containing wheat bran that is obtained by crushing the wheat that is separated from its shells and bringing it to the size of 1 -2 mm.

27. A method in accordance to claim 22, features; containing the processes of collecting the grain and grain grasses as well as the grain based breads that have reached their expiry dates and are no longer available for sale; rebaking the collected breads at 180°C to evaporate the moisture within them; granulating and sieving the breads that have completed their rebaking processes.