Thixotropic Liquid Cat Feed Starch Thickener Spillage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing milk-based liquid animal feeds for domestic cats are difficult to administer and digest due to their high water content and lack of thickening agents, leading to splashing and spillage during feeding, and may not adequately address nutritional deficiencies or promote digestion.
Innovation Solution
A milk-based liquid animal feed with at least 70 vol % water, 2-13 vol % milk protein, 2-6 vol % milk fat, and 1-5 vol % starch as a thickener, supplemented with amino acids, plant-based sugars, and dietary fibers, which forms a thixotropic consistency for easy administration and improved nutritional value.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If high water content (at least 70 vol %) is used in the animal feed, then the feed is more readily accepted by cats and easier to digest, but it becomes difficult to administer due to splashing and spillage during feeding
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the liquid feed by adding starch thickeners (1-5 vol %) to modify the viscosity characteristics. This creates a thixotropic behavior where the feed has high viscosity at rest (reducing splashing and spillage) but viscosity decreases under shear stress (allowing easy flow during administration). This parameter modification resolves the contradiction between ease of administration and reduction of harmful splashing effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite liquid system combining water (at least 70 vol %), milk proteins (2-13 vol %), milk fats (2-6 vol %), and starch thickeners (1-5 vol %). This composite structure provides both the high water content needed for palatability and digestibility, and the starch network that provides thickening and thixotropic properties to prevent splashing and spillage during feeding.
2Ease of operation
If traditional milk is used as the base, then the feed is readily accepted by cats, but it causes digestive problems due to lactose intolerance in cats
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful component (lactose) from the milk base. By using reduced-lactose or lactose-free milk, the invention eliminates the harmful effect of lactose intolerance in cats while retaining the beneficial properties of milk proteins and fats that contribute to palatability and nutritional value.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces plant-based substitutes as intermediaries to replace animal-derived milk components that cause problems. Plant-based milk alternatives or plant-based protein sources serve as mediators that provide similar nutritional benefits and palatability without the lactose content that causes digestive issues in cats.
3Ease of operation
If the animal feed is packaged in small portions (5 g to 15 g), then it is more convenient for administration, but the packaging becomes more complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the liquid animal feed into segmented single-serving portions (5 g to 15 g each) in individual pouches or bags. This segmentation allows for convenient administration of precise doses while enabling simple packaging solutions where each portion is independently packaged, reducing the need for complex dispensing mechanisms and allowing for cost-effective production through standardized small-unit packaging.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The feed is easy to administer, reduces splashing and spillage, and provides enhanced nutritional benefits and digestive support, making it a more effective and palatable supplementary feed for cats.
Implementation Method 1
Starch and thickeners may form hydrocolloids, which result in a thixotropic behavior of the liquid. Thixotropic liquids initially have a high viscosity which is reduced when force is applied.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a liquid, milk-based animal feed for domestic cats or dogs, containing at least 70 vol % water, 2-13 vol % milk protein, 2-13 vol % milk fat, 1-5 vol % starch as an essential thickener, at least 0.01 vol % amino acid additive, and at least 0.01 vol % plant-based sugar. The disclosure also relates to a method for producing such an animal feed.