The Way of Cats

The cat litter.

There’s no subject more central to a cat’s maintenance than their litter box.

And there’s no subject more central to a human’s daily chores than choosing, placing, and taking care of the cat litter.

This is one of the cat’s great advantages as a household pet. Anyone who has cleaned out a hamster cage or walked a dog in rotten weather should appreciate how relatively simple modern technology can make this essential task.

At one time, cat boxes were actually filled with sand. As referenced on radio in the popular show, The Bickersons, where Don Ameche offers the cat some take-out Chinese food. “Go on, eat it, don’t bury it in the sand box!”

I can imagine the rejoicing when this low-tech method gave way to the clay based, prophetically named, Kitty Litter, invented in 1948 and marketed by Ed Lowe. He began the First Epoch of Cat Litter History when he offered a friend a bag of the substance he used to clean up oil spills and dirt from machinery.

The Second Epoch of Cat Litter History followed in 1984 when clumping bentonite was developed by biochemist Thomas Nelson, and perfected by polymer chemist William Mallow, which opened the door to the possible use of robotic assistance in keeping cat litter clean.

The fact that the offensive litter contents could now be isolated from the cleaner litter around it created many automatic litter box patents dating back to 1991. People with cats find litter boxes duties to be such onerous chores that they are willing to create and buy appliances that will perform this task for them.

And thus began the Third Epoch.

Automatic cat litter boxes.

I have put together a number of articles about this important subject, from the lowest tech, to the highest state of the art.

Because it’s that important.

• Invisible Litter Box
• Automatic Litter Box
• Litter Robot II: Great!