Abstrict A cat litter product is provided made substantially from spent
distillers' grain substantially removed of starch and combined with
modified starch. The combination of spent distiller's grain and
modified starch form particles tending to agglomerate when wetted.
In addition, zeolite is added to adsorb and desorb water, thus eliminating
and preventing mildew formation, and yucca schidegira is included
as an emulsifying or foaming agent which functions to inhibit urease
enzyme action and to prevent the formation of NH.sub.3 (ammonia),
thereby binding and neutralizing annoying and harmful odors associated
therewith. Yucca schidegira further serves to help neutralize feces
odor.
Claims What is claimed is:
1. A method of manufacturing a cat litter composition comprising
polysaccharide, zeolite, yucca schidegira, distillers dried grains,
salt compound, and anti-microbial agents, wherein said method comprises
the steps of: a. grinding corn into a coarse modified flour called
meal; b. mixing said meal with water and a malt enzyme, preferably
alpha-amylase, and passing said meal through cookers where starch
is liquefied; c. applying heat to said starch so as to enable liquefaction,
and thus producing a mash product; d. Cooling said mash product
and adding an additional malt enzyme, preferably gluc amylase, in
order to convert liquefied starch to fermentable sugars; e. adding
yeast, preferably saccharomyces cerevisiae, in order to ferment
said fermentable sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide, thus producing
fermented mash; f. distilling said fermented mash wherein said ethanol
is extracted so as to leave spent mash; g. centrifuging said spent
mash wherein stillage is separated from spent mash leaving disillers
grains; h. reintroducing said stillage into said cookers in order
to be sold as livestock feed or partially dehydrated into a syrup;
i. executing steps 2-8 under controlled pH being adjusted and readjusted
in a suitable manner as is commonly practiced in a mash distillation
process; j. drying said distillers grains into a powder to which
modified corn starch, zeolite, yucca schidegira, calcium carbonate,
and antimicrobial agents are added in order to form an improved
litter product; k. drying said improved litter product into a powdered
product; i. pelletizing said powdered product via an extrusion technology
process so as to form particles each having a size approximating
a size of a grain of wheat; and m. bagging and sealing said particles.
2. The cat litter composition of claim 1 wherein said cat litter
composition includes: 19.5 percent to 21 percent polysaccharide
composition by weight; 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent zeolite composition
by weight; 0.15 percent to 0.25 percent yucca schidegira composition
by weight; 71.50 percent to 71.75 percent distillers dried grains
composition by weight; 2.95 percent to 3.05 percent salt compound
composition by weight; and 0.085 percent to 0.105 percent anti-microbial
agents composition by weight.
3. The cat litter composition of claim 2 wherein said polysaccharide
is modified corn starch.
4. The cat litter composition of claim 2 wherein said salt compound
calcium carbonate.
5. The cat litter composition of claim 2 wherein said anti-microbial
agents include sodium propionate and calcium propionate.
6. The cat litter composition of claim 1 wherein said cat litter
composition includes: 20.0 percent polysaccharide composition by
weight; 5.0 percent zeolite composition by weight; 0.20 percent
yucca schidegira composition by weight; 71.70 percent distillers
dried grains composition by weight; 3.00 percent salt compound composition
by weight; and 0.10 percent anti-microbial agents composition by
weight.
7. The cat litter composition of claim 6 wherein said polysaccharide
is modified corn starch.
8. The cat litter composition of claim 6 wherein said salt compound
is calcium carbonate.
9. The cat litter composition of claim 6 wherein said anti-microbial
agents include sodium propionate and calcium proprionate.
Description BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to cat litter and, more
particularly, to a cat litter possessing anti-odor and anti-microbial
agents which is biodegradable and provides easy cleanup and lessens
cat tracking.
2. Description of the Related Art
The cat litter industry is filled with a variety of litters that
provide, collectively, a non-toxic and naturally safe, biodegradable,
odor-eliminating, scented, anti-bacterial litter that clumps in
a convenient size for easy disposal and which has little dust and
reduces tracking by cats. Many litter formulas offer some combination
of the aforementioned qualities, however, no litter offers each
of these advantages in one litter formula.
Accordingly, a need has arisen for an improved cat litter formula
offering the aforementioned advantages in one comparably priced
formula. The development of the improved cat litter fulfills this
need.
The use of non-clay based animal litters is not unknown. There
are currently two groups of cat litter formulas that are now commercially
available that are based upon the use of grains rather than clay-based
litters. The first group is typified by U.S. Pat. No. 5690052
issued in the name of Sladek, and U.S. Pat. No. 5230305 issued
in the name of House. The second group is typified by U.S. Pat.
No. 6216634 and U.S. Pat. No. 6098569 both issued in the name
of Kent et al.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5690052 a litter is described using as its
base material a treated wheat, and more particularly, used only
whole raw ground wheat grain that is mechanically processed in order
to achieve a 10-17% moisture content and a 250-2500 micron grain
size. When formed of a hard red spring wheat, such a mechanically
process whole wheat grain can function as a litter by absorbing
aqueous fluids (due to the moisture content) and clumping upon receiving
pet waste (due to both the particle size AND lack of any added gluten).
Similarly, in U.S. Pat. No. 5230305 also describes a process
of making litter that uses as its base material a treated wheat.
A naturally available wheat product is then modified by impregnating
at subatmospheric pressure with a gas such as to reduce density,
sugar content and cold water solubles. The gas used is sulfur dioxide,
hydrogen chloride, ammonia, chlorine, ethylene oxide, or propylene
oxide, which essentially would result in a phase transfer leaching
operation.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6216634 and U.S. Pat. No. 6098569 a litter
is described that uses spent grain germ only, and more particularly,
spent corn germ. Although the corn germ is described as being pressed
or solvent extracted to remove the corn oil, in practice it is the
spent corn germ waste from an unrelated corn oil extraction processing
operation that is used as the starting point for the litter processing.
The corn is cold pressed, and the oil extracted with hexane. Such
use of waste stock from one process as raw material for an unrelated
process is very well known in industry. The pressed corn germ is
then processed mechanically to form discrete granules, after which
binding agents and additives are incorporated such as to provide
the corn oil process waste with characteristics that are acceptable
as cat litter, i.e. fluid absorption and `clumping` of used litter.
Finally, the particles must be ground to the appropriate size.
In sharp contrast to the two groups of cat litter formulas that
are now commercially available, the present invention utilizes spent
distillers grain as the starting material. Spent distillers' grain
is comprised of wheat, corn, rice, barley, or any combination that
has previously been used in an alcohol fermentation process. In
the alcohol fermentation process, the starch within the grain is
converted to alcohol, and the fiber remains and is removed as a
waste product. Current uses for this waste product is mainly as
animal feed or organic composting material. By itself, spent distillers'
grain is not capable of being used as litter by itself, because
the lack of starch will not allow for absorption or clumping. Similarly,
this lack of starch content in the spent distiller's grain, plus
the fact that the oil still remains in the spent grain, makes it
incapable of being used as a feedstock for any of the above mentioned
prior art processes for converting grain to cat litter.
Consequently, a need has been felt for a cat litter possessing
anti-odor and anti-microbial agents which is biodegradable and provides
easy cleanup and lessens cat tracking.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide
an improved cat litter that is non-toxic and naturally safe.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
cat litter that is biodegradable.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
cat litter that is odor-eliminating.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
cat litter that is scented.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
cat litter having anti-microbial agents.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
cat litter that clumps in a convenient size for easy disposal and
which has little dust and reduces tracking by cats.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved
cat litter which includes manufacture from modified corn starch.
Briefly described according to one embodiment of the present invention,
an improved cat litter is provided and includes manufacture from
modified corn starch, Yucca Schidigera, anti-microbial agents, anti-odor
agents, zeolite, distilled dried grains, and calcium carbonate for
improving the litter density and for improving cost production.
Modified corn starch is a polysaccharide, which are the most common
agents used in providing the cohesiveness, or clumping, of litter
when used. Among the suitable agents that may additionally be used
for clumping are dextrins, maltodextrins, flours, cellulosics, hemicellulosics,
and the many varieties of starches.
Yucca Schidigera is a plant typically found in the desert regions
of Arizona, California, Nevada, Utah and Mexico. Among its many
properties, the Yucca Schidigera's ability to bind and neutralize
ammonia is relevant to the cat litter formula. Natural saponins,
which are emulsifying or foaming agents, are found in the leaves
of the Yucca Schidigera and are the chemicals responsible for binding
and neutralizing the annoying and harmful odors associated with
the ammonia formed in the litter after the breakdown of urea, which
is found in cat urine. The natural saponins may also act to neutralize
the odors associated with cat feces, as Yucca Scutigera is also
used in animal foods to help neutralize feces odor within the intestinal
tract of an animal so that when the feces are passed the odor is
less objectionable. In addition to the natural saponins from Yucca
Scutigera, additional anti-odor agents may be added to further curb
the smell generated from waste deposited in the cat litter.
Anti-microbial agents are also added to help curb the initiation
and development of microbes that may be harmful to cat and cat owner,
such as molds. The anti-microbial agents may come from among sodium
propionate, calcium propionate or other known chemicals. In addition
to the agents suggested, additional anti-microbial compounds may
be included with those already suggested so as to provide maximum
protection against the formation of microbes, bacteria or molds.
The general method of manufacture of the cat litter formula is
comprised of a mash distillation process and an extrusion technology
process. A grain fiber that has been removed of all starch is incorporated
with calcium carbonate, which is added for density only. To this
mixture is added a modified starch, which creates inter-particle
cohesion as well as density and bulk to the product. Zeolite is
added for odor control, as well as to attract and trap ammonia.
Yucca schidegira is added for additional ammonia control. The mixture
is then extruded through a pellitizer, but does not need to be ground
due to the fact that the material has sufficient inter-particle
cohesion to allow particles of a sufficient size to remain, while
mere mechanical handling of the product will prevent particles of
too large a size to remain.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A. Composition
An improved cat litter is provided, according to the present invention,
comprised of a composition which includes the following ingredients:
polysaccharide (modified corn starch); zeolite; yucca schidegira;
distillers dried grains; salt compound (calcium carbonate); and
anti-microbial agents. The distillers dried grains utilized in the
improved cat litter is manufactured via a mash distillation process
to be described in greater detail below.
Each of the aforementioned ingredients may have one or more sub-components.
For example, the salt compound is preferably calcium carbonate,
however, potassium carbonate and calcium carbonate are envisioned
as being selected alone or in combination.
Yucca schidegira, as a natural saponin, is an emulsifying or foaming
agent which functions to inhibit urease enzyme action and to prevent
the formation of NH.sub.3 (ammonia), thereby binding and neutralizing
annoying and harmful odors associated therewith. Yucca schidegira
further serves to help neutralize feces odor.
The anti-microbial agents, preferably including sodium propionate
and calcium propionate, facilitate protection against the formation
of microbes, bacteria, or molds.
Zeolite is a natural mineral consisting of silica and alumina.
Zeolite has a unique interconnecting lattice structure arranged
to form a honeycomb framework of consistent diameter interconnecting
channels and pores. Negatively-charged alumina building blocks and
neutrally-charged silica building blocks are stacked thereby producing
an open, three dimensional honeycomb framework. Odors and gases
such as ammonia are attracted to and trapped within the zeolite
crystalline structure. Zeolite also adsorbs and desorbs water, thus
eliminating and preventing mildew formation.
Modified corn starch is a polysaccharide, which serves in the production
of alcohol and provides cohesiveness, or clumping of litter. While
other cereal grains such as wheat, barely, and rye may be selected,
modified corn starch is preferred. In addition, other suitable agents
facilitating occlusivity or clumping may include a mixture of dextrins,
maltodextrins, flours, and arabinoxylans.
B. Method of Manufacture
In practicing the present invention, the general method of manufacture
is comprised of a mash distillation process which includes grinding
corn into a coarse modified flour called meal. The meal is mixed
with water and a malt enzyme, preferably alpha-amylase, and is passed
through cookers where starch is liquefied. Heat is applied to enable
liquefaction using cookers with a high temperature stage and a lower
temperature holding period, wherein a mash product is produced.
The high temperature stage facilitates reduced bacteria levels in
the mash product. The mash product is then cooled and an additional
malt enzyme is added to convert liquefied starch to fermentable
sugars. The additional malt enzyme selected includes gluc amylase
and beta-amylase, however, gluc amylase is preferred. Yeast, preferably
saccharomyces cerevisiae, is then added in order to ferment the
sugars to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Saccharomyces cerevisiae is
the preferred yeast species because it facilitates quick, efficient
production of alcohol and possesses a high alcoholic concentration
tolerance. Fermented mash results and is sent to distillation, wherein
ethanol is extracted, leaving spent mash. The spent mash is centrifuged,
where liquid is separated therefrom. The liquid, or stillage, is
reintroduced into the cooking system and sold as livestock feed,
or is partially dehydrated into a syrup. The aforementioned mash
distillation process is executed under controlled pH being adjusted
and readjusted in a suitable manner as is commonly practiced in
such industry.
The mash distillation process creates two main co-products in the
production of ethanol, namely carbon dioxide and distillers grains.
The distillers grains are rich in protein, fat, minerals, vitamins,
and amino acids, and thus serve as a highly valued livestock feed
ingredient.
Next, centrifuged spent mash (distillers dried grains) is suitably
dried into a powder to which the following ingredients are added
to form a litter product: modified corn starch, zeolite, yucca schidegira,
calcium carbonate, and anti-microbial agents. The litter product
is suitably dried to a powder and is processed through a pelletizer
via an extrusion technology process so as to form particles each
having a size approximating the size of a grain of wheat. The particles
are then bagged and sealed.
C. Example
The following example represents the general formulation for the
improved cat litter of the present invention.
INGREDIENTS COMPOSITION BY WEIGHT Polysaccharide 19.5-21%, preferably
20.00% (Modified Corn Starch) Zeolite 4.5-5.5%, preferably 5.00%
Yucca Schidegira 0.15-0.25%, preferably 0.20% Distillers Dried Grains
71.50-71.75%, preferably 71.70% Calcium carbonate 2.95-3.05%, preferably
3.00% Anti-microbial Agents 0.085-0.105%, preferably 0.10%
D. Operation of the Preferred Embodiment
To use the present invention, user simply opens the improved cat
litter from its sealed packaging and pours a suitable volume thereof
within a container fabricated of a material specifically adapted
for use as an animal litter storage receptacle.
Therefore, the foregoing description is included to illustrate
the operation of the preferred embodiment and is not meant to limit
the scope of the invention. As one can envision, an individual skilled
in the relevant art, in conjunction with the present teachings,
would be capable of incorporating many minor modifications that
are anticipated within this disclosure. The foregoing descriptions
of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented
for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended
to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms
disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible
in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and
described in order to best explain the principles of the invention
and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled
in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments
with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the
Claims appended hereto and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope
of the invention is to be broadly limited only by the following
Claims. |