A granular cat litter

Abstract

The present application provides a kind of sand grain cat litter, including sand grain, binder and nonpolar solvent, the weight ratio of sand grain is 50%-98%;The weight ratio of the sum of the amount of binder and nonpolar solvent and sand grain is 1:49:1:4;The weight ratio of binder and nonpolar solvent is 1:1 to 1:5;Nonpolar solvent includes nonpolar solvent, binder includes plant cellulose.Sand grain reaches more than 50%, by specific binder and nonpolar solvent to cooperate sand grain, when the amount of sand grain is larger, cat litter can also be better granulation.Cat litter is mainly sand grain, which greatly reduces the cost, and the cat's foot feels better, low dust to no dust, not easy to mildew, and also can realize the better granulation of sand grain, has good deodorization and wrapping.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of cat litter preparation, and specifically relates to a granular cat litter. Background Technology

[0002] Cats are among the most beloved pets. Their intelligence, agility, and cuteness bring warmth to many. Many urban dwellers, including students, office workers, and the elderly, enjoy keeping cats for companionship. However, because cat excrement has a particularly strong odor, many cat owners need to use cat litter indoors to manage their cats' urine and feces and reduce the unpleasant smell. When using cat litter, consumers pour it into a litter box, or cat toilet. Depending on the size of the litter box and the type of cat litter, a 2.5kg-3.0kg bag of ready-made cat litter can be spread to a thickness of 5cm-10cm in the box. Cats typically dig a small hole in the litter and bury their excrement with their paws after defecating to mask the odor.

[0003] Good cat litter, under ideal conditions, can bury excrement into clumps. Pet owners can use a litter scoop to remove these clumps containing excrement from the litter and flush them down the toilet or in the trash. The remaining litter in the litter box can still be used; simply add new litter when the amount used decreases to a certain level.

[0004] Therefore, good odor control, strong absorbency, tight clumping, easy scooping without sticking to the bottom of the litter box, safety for cats, and cost-effectiveness are the core factors pet owners consider when choosing cat litter. There are many types of cat litter on the market, such as bentonite cat litter, tofu cat litter, pine cat litter, paper litter, crystal cat litter, and mixed cat litter. These types of cat litter all have some drawbacks. For example, bentonite cat litter produces a lot of dust, which can harm a cat's respiratory system if inhaled; plant fiber cat litter, such as tofu cat litter, pine cat litter, bamboo fiber cat litter, and paper litter, has weak clumping and poor odor control, resulting in unpleasant smells in the pet owner's home. Furthermore, many poorly processed plant materials may contain aflatoxin and formaldehyde, making them prone to mold and potentially harmful to a cat's health if ingested; crystal cat litter generally has large particles with sharp edges, making it uncomfortable for pets. Although it has good absorbency, it lacks clumping properties, and its production process is environmentally unfriendly, with the possibility of accidental ingestion by cats. Besides the sand particles themselves being used as cat litter, other types of cat litter have the problems of being uncomfortable for cats to walk on and being more expensive.

[0005] Cats, as animals originating from the desert, are genetically predisposed to enjoy the feeling of walking on sand. Their instinct to bury their waste in litter is inherited from their ancestors, and sand itself is harmless to cats, making it an ideal material for cat litter. However, sand is fluid and lacks absorbency and clumping properties, failing to effectively encapsulate waste and deodorize. This results in noticeable odors and requires replacing the entire litter box each time. Even when a cat successfully buries its waste, it easily disperses, failing to meet the performance requirements of modern commercial cat litter. To address these issues, existing technologies sometimes incorporate sand particles into cat litter with better deodorizing effects. For example, patent CN 106614018 A discloses a deodorizing cat litter that uses diatomaceous earth and river sand as its main materials. This method minimizes dust generation and prevents injury to cats, with river sand comprising 35-40 parts of the litter, representing less than 50% of the total composition. Because river sand itself lacks water absorption and clumping properties, mixing in a large amount of river sand would affect the clumping and odor-eliminating properties of the cat litter. Therefore, this cat litter also incorporates a significant amount of diatomaceous earth and river sand as a main ingredient. Although this solution incorporates some river sand, the amount used is relatively small, and the product described in this patent has not been commercially available, thus preventing true commercialization. Therefore, in existing technologies, cat litter that can achieve clumping still has a very low proportion of litter particles. Currently, there is no technology that can increase the proportion of litter particles while still achieving clumping.

[0006] In view of the above problems, there is an urgent need on the market for a cat litter that will not harm the health of cats, that cats like to use, that has a good effect on removing the odor of cat excrement, and that can be used for a long time without easily getting moldy. Summary of the Invention

[0007] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a granular cat litter.

[0008] This invention provides a granular cat litter, comprising granules, a binder, and a non-polar solvent, wherein the granules comprise 50%-98% by weight.

[0009] The sum of the amounts of the adhesive and the non-polar solvent is in a weight ratio of 1:49 to 1:4 to the amount of sand particles.

[0010] The weight ratio of the adhesive to the non-polar solvent is 1:1 to 1:5.

[0011] Preferably, the weight percentage of the sand particles is greater than 95%. When 20g of water is mixed into more than 1000g of the sand particles in cat litter, a clump with a thickness of 3mm-5mm and a weight of 100g-120g will be formed.

[0012] Preferably, the weight percentage of the sand particles is 70%-98%.

[0013] Preferably, the weight percentage of the sand particles is 80%-97%.

[0014] Preferably, the ratio of the adhesive to the non-polar solvent is 1:1 to 1:4.

[0015] Preferably, the sand particles include one or more of river sand, sea sand, quartz sand, and desert sand; the average particle size of the sand particles in the sandy soil ranges from 0.5 mm to 3.5 mm.

[0016] Preferably, the adhesive is one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbomer, starch, corn starch, cassava starch, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, sodium polyacrylate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and cellulose ether.

[0017] Preferably, the overall moisture content of the cat litter is 0.01%-5%, and the non-polar solvent is one or more of paraffin oil, fatty acid, glycerol, milk fat alcohol, palmitate, palmitol, and phytosterol.

[0018] Preferably, the cat litter also includes additives, which include natural minerals, odor-absorbing and deodorizing agents, absorbents, preservatives and antibacterial agents, and fragrances. The natural minerals include one or more of bentonite, zeolite, and kaolin. The odor-absorbing and deodorizing agents include one or more of activated carbon, baking soda, citric acid, microbial agents, and zinc ricinoleate. The absorbents include one or more of absorbent resin, plant fiber, and calcium chloride. The preservatives and antibacterial agents include one or more of Kathon, calcium propionate, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, sodium dehydroacetate, methylparaben, and tea polyphenols. The fragrances include one or more of synthetic fragrances and natural essential oils. The amount of additives accounts for 1%-45% of the total weight of the cat litter formula.

[0019] Preferably, the non-polar solvent adheres to the surface of the sand grains to form a first coating layer, and the adhesive adheres to the surface of the first coating layer to form a second coating layer.

[0020] The cat litter provided by this invention has a sand particle content of over 50%. By using specific adhesives and non-polar solvents to bind the sand particles, the litter can clump well even with a large amount of sand particles. This results in a cat litter primarily composed of sand particles, significantly reducing costs, providing a comfortable feel for cats' paws, low to no dust, resistance to mold, and good clumping properties, resulting in excellent odor control and encapsulation. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 The above are photographs of the appearance of the agglomerates in Embodiment 1 of the present invention during agglomeration testing.

[0022] Figure 2The above are photographs of the appearance of the agglomerates in Embodiment 2 of the present invention during agglomeration testing.

[0023] Figure 3 The above are photographs of the appearance of the agglomerates in Embodiment 3 of the present invention during the agglomeration test.

[0024] Figure 4 Photographs showing the appearance of the clumps in Comparative Example 1 of the clumping test;

[0025] Figure 5 Photographs showing the appearance of the clumps in Comparative Example 2 during the clumping test;

[0026] Figure 6 These are front-view comparison photographs of the appearance of five clusters obtained in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 during the clustering test.

[0027] Figure 7 These are top-view comparison photographs of the appearance of five clusters obtained in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-2 during the clustering test. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The technical solution of the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments, so that those skilled in the art can better understand the present invention and implement it. However, the embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention.

[0029] This invention provides a cat litter with sand particles, comprising sand particles, an adhesive, and a non-polar solvent. The weight percentage of the sand particles is 50%-98%. The weight ratio of the sum of the amount of the adhesive and the non-polar solvent to the weight of the sand particles is 1:49 to 1:4. The weight ratio of the adhesive and the non-polar solvent is 1:1 to 1:5.

[0030] This invention employs an adhesive in combination with a non-polar solvent, with the total amount of adhesive and non-polar solvent used in a weight ratio of 1:49 to 1:4 to the amount of cat litter particles. Preferably, the ratio is 1:35 to 1:10. In the most optimal configuration, the ratio is 1:25 to 1:15, ensuring that even with a high content of cat litter particles, they can clump together upon contact with water, effectively encapsulating cat feces and providing good deodorization. The total amount of adhesive and non-polar solvent constitutes more than 2% of the overall cat litter formula. The non-polar solvent acts like glue, binding the adhesive and cat litter particles together. Without pre-treating the sand with a non-polar solvent, the adhesive cannot be evenly distributed and adhered to the particles. The adhesive works by altering the mechanical properties of the cat litter particles upon contact with water, enabling them to clump together.

[0031] The granular cat litter provided by this invention solves the problem that existing cat litters with a high granule content cannot achieve good clumping performance. It provides a cat litter whose main material is granules, which clumps well when wet. This allows cat litter with a granule content of 65%-97% by weight to still have good clumping properties, and even cat litter with a granule content of over 90% by weight can still achieve good clumping performance.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, when a certain amount of water is mixed into the cat litter granules, a clump of a certain thickness and weight will form. In this embodiment, a clump refers to a clump that is clearly visibly formed, with the proportion of litter granules greater than 65% in the clump. When the weight percentage of litter granules is greater than 95%, when 20g of water is mixed into more than 1000g of the cat litter granules, a clump with a thickness of 3cm-5cm and a weight of 100g-120g will be formed.

[0033] Unlike existing cat litter that mixes sand / grain, where most of the grains don't participate in clumping and the resulting clumps contain relatively little sand, this new litter can't be used in large proportions in clumping-promoting cat litter.

[0034] When a certain amount of water is mixed into cat litter, it will form a clump of a certain thickness. Specifically, different volumes / weights of water mixed into cat litter will result in clumps of varying thicknesses, as shown below:

[0035] (1) A clumping test was conducted using cat litter with a sand particle ratio greater than 95%. 10g of physiological saline, purified water, or tap water was dripped into more than 500g of the cat litter using a syringe without external pressure at a uniform rate. The cat litter rapidly absorbed water and formed a solid clump with a diameter or thickness of 2mm-4mm and a weight of 50g-60g within 3 seconds. The sand particle ratio in the clump was greater than 65%. The clump was then dropped freely from a height of 1.2 meters. The clump did not break significantly. The mass of the dropped clump was then measured and found to be 95% or more of its original weight.

[0036] (2) A clumping test was conducted using cat litter with a sand particle ratio greater than 95%. 20g of saline solution, purified water, or tap water was dripped into more than 1000g of the cat litter using a syringe without external pressure at a uniform rate. The cat litter rapidly absorbed water and formed a solid clump with a diameter or thickness of 3mm-5mm and a weight of 100g-120g within 3 seconds. The sand particle ratio in the clump was greater than 65%. The clump was then dropped freely from a height of 1.2 meters. The clump did not break significantly. The mass of the dropped clump was then measured and found to be 95% or more of its original weight.

[0037] (3) A clumping test was conducted using cat litter with a sand particle ratio greater than 79%. 20g of saline solution, purified water, or tap water was dripped into more than 1000g of the cat litter using a syringe without external pressure at a uniform rate. The cat litter quickly absorbed the water and formed a solid clump with a diameter or thickness of 2mm-4mm and a weight of 70g-90g within 3 seconds. The sand particle ratio in the clump was greater than 65%. The clump was then dropped freely from a height of 1.2 meters. The clump did not break significantly. The weight of the remaining clump after the drop was measured again; its mass was 95% or more of the original weight.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the weight percentage of the sand particles is 70%-98%.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, the weight percentage of the sand particles is 80%-97%, and the overall cat litter is basically composed of sand particles. By adding binders and non-polar solvents and simply stirring and mixing, the formula can achieve the property of quickly forming a solid clump when it comes into contact with water, even if the weight percentage of sand is more than 90%.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the ratio of the binder to the non-polar solvent is 1:1 to 1:4. This ratio of binder to non-polar solvent results in better clumping of the cat litter granules.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the sand particles include one or more of river sand, sea sand, quartz sand, and desert sand; the average particle size of the sand particles in the sand ranges from 0.5mm to 3.5mm. Preferably, the best clumping effect is achieved when the average particle size of the sand particles in the sand is (1.1-1.8)mm; larger particle sizes are avoided as they result in poor clumping and easy disintegration; smaller particle sizes are also avoided as they are easily carried out by the cat and scattered everywhere, making them difficult to clean. In this embodiment, the particle size refers to the average particle size, for example, the average particle size measured by randomly selecting 20 sand particles. The particle size can be measured by sieving cat litter with a mesh size of 8-16 through a sieve, then measuring it with calipers and taking the average value.

[0042] In a preferred embodiment, the adhesive is one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbomer, starch, corn starch, tapioca starch, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, sodium polyacrylate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and cellulose ether; and can have a good thickening effect.

[0043] In a preferred embodiment, the overall moisture content of the cat litter granules is 0.01%-5%, and the non-polar solvent is one or more of paraffin oil, fatty acids, glycerol, milk fat alcohol, palmitate, palmitol, and phytosterol. Unlike cat litter mixed with some water, the cat litter provided in this embodiment is essentially water-free, with an overall moisture content of less than 5%, and the non-polar solvent has a moisture content of less than 3%-5%. Non-polar solvents are immiscible with water, and generally do not contain water; they can clump together upon contact with water.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the cat litter also includes additives, which include natural minerals, odor-absorbing and deodorizing agents, absorbents, preservatives and antibacterial agents, and fragrances. The natural minerals include one or more of bentonite, zeolite, and kaolin. The odor-absorbing and deodorizing agents include one or more of activated carbon, baking soda, citric acid, microbial agents, and zinc ricinoleate. The absorbents include one or more of absorbent resin, plant fiber, and calcium chloride. The preservatives and antibacterial agents include one or more of Kathon, calcium propionate, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, sodium dehydroacetate, methylparaben, and tea polyphenols. The fragrances include one or more of synthetic fragrances and natural essential oils. The amount of additives used accounts for 1%-45% of the total weight of the cat litter formula.

[0045] The amount of the odor-removing and deodorizing agent used is less than 10% of the total cat litter formula. The cat litter granules provided in this embodiment have a certain encapsulation and deodorizing effect, and the deodorizing and deodorizing effect can be further achieved by adding a small amount of odor-removing and deodorizing agent.

[0046] In a preferred embodiment, the non-polar solvent adheres directly to the surface of the sand grains, thereby forming a non-polar solvent coating layer, i.e., a first coating layer, on the outer surface of the sand grains. The adhesive adheres to the surface of the coating layer formed by the non-polar solvent, thereby forming an adhesive coating layer, i.e., a second coating layer, outside the non-polar solvent coating layer of the sand grains, allowing the sand grains to quickly agglomerate upon contact with water. The first and second coating layers in this invention can be fully coated, i.e., the sand grains are completely coated by the first coating layer, and the first coating layer is completely coated by the second coating layer; or they can be partially coated, i.e., partially coated.

[0047] The cat litter provided by this invention consists of cat litter, binder, and non-polar solvent as mentioned in the above embodiments. Specifically, the cat litter is mixed evenly with the non-polar solvent and then mixed with the binder, so that the binder adheres to the surface of the cat litter. The cat litter has the property of quickly forming clumps when it comes into contact with water. In this embodiment, the cat litter is prepared by simply mixing the cat litter, binder, and non-polar solvent together, which is a very simple preparation method. The binder and non-polar solvent adhere to the surface of the cat litter, and the surface of the cat litter has the non-polar solvent. The non-polar solvent can bind the cat litter to the surface of the cat litter, so that when the cat litter comes into contact with water, the binder on the surface of the cat litter has a thickening effect, which helps to agglomerate the cat litter together and form clumps.

[0048] The cat litter provided by this invention consists of the litter particles, adhesive, non-polar solvent, and deodorizing agent mentioned in the above embodiments.

[0049] To provide a better understanding of the technical solution of the present invention, several preferred embodiments are listed below for further detailed description.

[0050] Example 1

[0051] Take 94g of desert sand with an average particle size of 1.5mm; the ratio of binder to non-polar solvent is 1:2; carbomer, starch, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, guar gum, and sodium polyacrylate are used as binders, with a total amount of 2g, wherein the amounts of each binder component are: carbomer 0.4g, starch 0.4g, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 0.3g, polyethylene glycol 0.3g, guar gum 0.3g, and sodium polyacrylate 0.3g; palmitate and glycerol are used as non-polar solvents, with a total amount of 4g, wherein the amounts of each non-polar solvent component are: palmitate 2g and glycerol 2g; after mixing the above formula, a granular cat litter is obtained. The granular cat litter has a moisture content of less than 5%, and the binder and non-polar solvent adhere to the surface of the granules. A coating layer of non-polar solvent and binder can be observed on the surface of the granules.

[0052] This invention addresses the existing properties of sand by adding binders and non-polar solvents. Through simple mixing, the formula can quickly form solid clumps when exposed to water, even when the sand content is over 90% by weight. Real cat user feedback has proven that this invention not only has the potential to become an innovative cat litter product, but also outperforms most commercially available cat litter products in terms of odor control.

[0053] Example 2

[0054] Take 75g of desert sand with an average particle size of 1.5mm; the ratio of binder to non-polar solvent is 1:1.5; carbomer, starch, polyethylene glycol, and sodium polyacrylate are used as binders, with a total amount of 10g, wherein the amount of each component of the binder is: carbomer 2.5g, starch 2.5g, polyethylene glycol 2.5g, and sodium polyacrylate 2.5g; palmitate and glycerol are used as non-polar solvents, with a total amount of 15g, wherein the amount of each component of the non-polar solvent is: palmitate 7.5g and glycerol 7.5g; after mixing the above formula, a granular cat litter is obtained. The granular cat litter has a moisture content of less than 5%, and the binder and non-polar solvent are attached to the surface of the granules. A coating layer of non-polar solvent and binder can be observed on the surface of the granules.

[0055] This invention addresses the existing properties of sand by adding binders and non-polar solvents. Through simple mixing, the formula can quickly form solid clumps when exposed to water, even when the sand content is over 70% by weight. Real cat user feedback has proven that this invention not only has the potential to become an innovative cat litter product, but also outperforms most commercially available cat litter products in terms of odor control.

[0056] Example 3

[0057] Take 93.45g of desert sand with an average particle size of 1.5mm; the ratio of binder to non-polar solvent is 1:2; carbomer, starch, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, polyethylene glycol, guar gum, and sodium polyacrylate are used as binders, with a total amount of 2g, wherein the amounts of each binder component are: carbomer 0.4g, starch 0.4g, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose 0.3g, polyethylene glycol 0.3g, guar gum 0.3g, and sodium polyacrylate 0.3g; palmitate and glycerol are used as non-polar solvents, with a total amount of 4g, wherein the amounts of each non-polar solvent component are: palmitate 2g and glycerol 2g; take 0.05g of fragrance and 0.5g of deodorant. Mix the above formula to obtain granular cat litter with a moisture content of less than 5%. The binder and non-polar solvent adhere to the surface of the granules, and a coating layer of non-polar solvent and binder can be observed on the surface of the granules.

[0058] Comparative Example 1

[0059] Spherical bentonite cat litter on the market has spherical particles with a particle size ranging from 1mm to 3mm, and bentonite accounts for 100% of the formula.

[0060] Comparative Example 2

[0061] The commercially available crushed bentonite cat litter consists of irregularly shaped, fine particles with a particle size ranging from 0.5mm to 2mm, and bentonite accounts for 100% of the formula.

[0062] Comparative Example 3

[0063] Compared with Example 1, no non-polar solvent was added in Comparative Example 3, but the rest of the formulation and preparation method were the same as in Example 1, and the comparative cat litter was prepared.

[0064] The cat litter prepared in Examples 1-3 and Comparative Examples 1-3 was subjected to dust tests, clumping tests, impact resistance tests, and deodorization performance tests.

[0065] 1. Dust test

[0066] The testing method was as follows: A 4kg sample of cat litter was placed in a sealed bag. After complete sealing, the bag was placed in a standard vibrator to simulate the dusting caused by the product during logistics transportation and cat use. The entire bag of cat litter was subjected to vibration at a frequency of 1440 times / minute for 5 minutes. Then, against a black background, the entire bag of cat litter was poured from a height of 60cm, and the dust emission was observed. Scores were assigned based on the observed dust level, categorized as "Completely dust-free - 0 points," "Mostly dust-free - 1 point," "Moderate dust - 2 points," and "Heavy dust - 3 points." Specific results are shown in Table 1.

[0067] Table 1

[0068]

[0069] 2. Clumping test

[0070] The testing method is as follows: Pour 20g of water (physiological saline, purified water or tap water are all acceptable) into cat litter with a mass greater than 1000g, observe the degree of clumping, and test the cat litter's water absorption and clumping speed, clumping thickness and clumping weight.

[0071] Specifically, 20g of water is dripped into 1000g of cat litter at a constant speed without external pressure using a syringe. After the water in the syringe has finished dripping, the time required for the cat litter to absorb water and form clumps is recorded to obtain the water absorption and clumping speed. Then, the weight of the clumps is measured using a balance to obtain the gram weight of the clumps. The diameter or thickness of the formed clumps is measured using vernier calipers, and the average value is taken.

[0072] Test results: See attached document for clumping appearance. Figures 1-7 As shown: Appendix Figure 1 Photographs of the cat litter prepared in Example 1 after clumping are attached. Figure 2 Photographs of the appearance of cat litter after clumping prepared in Example 2 are attached. Figure 3 Photographs of the appearance of cat litter after clumping prepared in Example 3 are attached. Figure 4 Photograph of the appearance of spherical bentonite cat litter after clumping (Comparative Example 1); Attached Figure 5 Photograph of the appearance of the broken cat litter prepared in Comparative Example 2 after clumping; Figure 6 andFigure 7 For the appendix Figure 1 -Appendix Figure 5 Comparison photos of the thickness and width of the agglomerates. The agglomerate thickness results are shown in Table 2 below.

[0073] Table 2

[0074]

[0075]

[0076] 3. Drop resistance test

[0077] The testing method is as follows: The initial weight G1 of each knotted group obtained in the knotting test is measured. Then, the knotted groups are subjected to a drop test from a height of 1.2 meters. After the drop, the groups are observed for obvious breakage, and the weight G2 of the unbroken portion of each knot is weighed again. The drop resistance rate is calculated as follows: Drop resistance rate P = G2 / G1 * 100%. Specific data are shown in Table 3.

[0078] Table 3

[0079]

[0080] 4. Deodorization test

[0081] The testing method is as follows:

[0082] (1) Short-term deodorization: Pour cat litter into an open litter box and spread it to a thickness of 5-6cm. Let the cat use the cat litter and judge the deodorization effect by smelling the clumps after 5 minutes, 60 minutes, 4 hours and 24 hours after urination and defecation.

[0083] (2) Long-lasting odor suppression: Pour cat litter into an open litter box and spread it to a thickness of 5-6cm. Let the cat use the cat litter and remove the clumps after defecating and urinating. Let the cat use the cat litter for a long time. After 7, 14 and 28 days of use, the odor suppression effect is judged by the score after people smell the remaining cat litter in the litter box.

[0084] The intensity of the odor can be categorized as "completely odorless - 0 points", "mostly odorless - 1 point", "moderate odor - 2 points", and "strong odor - 3 points". See Table 4 for detailed test results.

[0085] Table 4

[0086]

[0087]

[0088] In summary, it can be seen that the cat litter provided in Examples 1-3, which uses sand particles as the main material, can achieve a clumping effect similar to that of bentonite cat litter (Comparative Examples 1 and 2), exhibiting good clumping rate and encapsulation, thus solving the problem of existing sand-based cat litter's inability to clump and achieving a better clumping effect. Comparative Example 3, without the addition of non-polar solvents, cannot achieve a clumping effect. It is evident that the formulations in Examples 1-3 are reasonable, achieving a better clumping effect through the combined action of binders and non-polar solvents. As shown in Example 1, even when the sand particle content is above 90% of the overall cat litter composition, a good clumping effect can still be achieved. Examples 1-3 demonstrate that cat litter containing sand particles as the main component is less prone to odor after prolonged use compared to ordinary bentonite cat litter, allowing for long-term use. The deodorizing performance of Example 3 is superior to that of Examples 1 and 2. The granular cat litter of this application possesses the good water absorption and clumping properties of bentonite cat litter, while also solving the problem of excessive dust that is difficult to achieve with bentonite cat litter.

[0089] The above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and do not limit the patent scope of the present invention. Any equivalent structural or procedural transformations made based on the content of the present invention specification, or direct or indirect applications in other related technical fields, are similarly included within the patent protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A type of granular cat litter, characterized in that, The mixture includes sand particles, an adhesive, and a non-polar solvent, wherein the weight ratio of the sum of the amount of the adhesive and the non-polar solvent to the weight of the sand particles is 1:49 to 1:4; and the weight ratio of the adhesive and the non-polar solvent is 1:1 to 1:

5. The sand particles include one or more of river sand, sea sand, quartz sand, and desert sand; the average particle size of the sand particles is 1.1mm-1.8mm; the average particle size is measured by sieving cat litter with a mesh size of 8-16 through a sieve, and then measuring it with a vernier caliper and taking the average value. The overall moisture content of the cat litter granules is 0.01%-5%. The non-polar solvent is one or more of paraffin oil, fatty acids, glycerol, milk fat alcohol, palmitate, palmitol, and phytosterol. The non-polar solvent adheres to the surface of the litter granules to form a first coating layer, and the adhesive adheres to the surface of the first coating layer to form a second coating layer. The adhesive is one or more of guar gum, xanthan gum, gellan gum, polyvinylpyrrolidone, carbomer, starch, corn starch, tapioca starch, polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene oxide, polyethylene glycol, sodium polyacrylate, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose, and cellulose ether. The weight percentage of the sand particles is greater than 95%. When 20g of water is mixed into more than 1000g of the sand particles in cat litter, a clump with a thickness of 3mm-5mm and a weight of 100g-120g will be formed.

2. The cat litter with granular particles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The ratio of the adhesive to the non-polar solvent is 1:1 to 1:

4.

3. The cat litter with granular particles as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cat litter also includes additives, which include natural minerals, odor-absorbing and deodorizing agents, absorbents, preservatives and antibacterial agents, and fragrances. The natural minerals include one or more of bentonite, zeolite, and kaolin. The odor-absorbing and deodorizing agents include one or more of activated carbon, baking soda, citric acid, microbial preparations, and zinc ricinoleate. The absorbents include one or more of water-absorbing resin, plant fiber, and calcium chloride. The preservatives and antibacterial agents include one or more of Kathon, calcium propionate, 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol, sodium dehydroacetate, methylparaben, and tea polyphenols. The fragrances include one or more of synthetic fragrances and natural essential oils.

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