Disclosed are compositions of matter and a method of manufacturing that may be used to create animal litter that detects health conditions with feline animals. For example, feline urine detection may be performed by color generation when a feline animal urinates on the litter composition. The color generation properties of the litter may be used to indicate diabetic conditions, and urinary tract infections. The litter may be highly absorbent and efficient for waste removal purposes.

Provided herein are compositions useful for improving conditions in animal housing. In some embodiments, the compositions may include, in combination: a) an organic acid; b) an organic terpene; and optionally, c) a strong mineral acid. In some embodiments, the composition has a pH of from 2 to 5, or from 2.5 to 4, or from 3 to 3.5. Also provided are processes for the control of ammonia and microbes in animal housing, which may include applying a composition as taught herein to at least a portion of the house, e.g., to the bedding of the house, whereby said applying steps result in the control of ammonia and/or microbes in the animal housing.

A method of producing animal litter including bentonite which includes a step of forming, from a starting material for animal litter containing bentonite, a starting mixture that contains 10 to 60 mass % of granules that remain on an 8.0 mm-aperture sieve and 40 to 90 mass % of granules that pass through an 8.0 mm-aperture sieve, a step of conveying the starting mixture on a path of conveyance, a step of loading the starting mixture that has been conveyed on the path of conveyance into a granulator capable of pulverizing and granulation, pulverizing at least the granules remaining on the 8.0 mm-aperture sieve while forming a granulated product, and a step of drying the granulated product.

A multicomponent granular absorbent blend formed of at least a plurality of components with at least one of the components formed of smectite-containing, preferably bentonite-containing, absorbent granules, and at least one other of its components formed of absorbent granules comprised of an extrudate. Such an extruded-containing absorbent granule component can be a component formed of extruded pellets covered with an outer absorbent coating preferably composed of smectite, more preferably bentonite, and/or can be a component formed of extruded pellets used without any such smectite, preferably bentonite, outer coating producing uncoated absorbent granules which also are dust-adhering thereby reducing airborne dust in the multicomponent blend. Such a component composed of uncoated dust-adhering absorbent granules can be formed of extruded splayed pellets having at least one lobe and/or fibrillated tendrils enhancing both absorption and dust pickup in the multicomponent blend.

An excrement-treating material has a core part, and a surface layer bonded to the core part by utilizing the adhesion ability of a water-absorbable polymer in the surface layer without using an adhesive. The excrement-treating material suitably exerts the water absorbability and water transport ability inherent to the surface layer. The excrement-treating material is constituted by incorporating pulverized water-absorbable polymer particles of 20 μm to 50 μm, and adding water to the surface of the core part after granulation to noncontinuously form a highly-wet part; reacting a water content in the highly-wet part and the pulverized water-absorbable polymer to noncontinuously form an adhering part; and bonding the surface layer to the core part through the adhering part. Upon absorption of excreted urine, permeation of the urine into the core part is accelerated in a part other than the adhering part.

An animal litter composition having enhanced odor reduction properties, and a related method, are disclosed. The animal litter can include a zeolite-based liquid adsorbing material. The animal litter can also include a nanosilicate odor reducing agent that reduces an odor of litter waste, the animal litter composition having a total nanosilicate odor reducing agent content of about 0.5% by weight to about 13% by weight based on the total weight of the animal litter composition.

Litter compositions are provided comprising sodium bentonite and various fillers. These litter compositions have substantially the same clumpability properties as a composition consisting of only the sodium bentonite.

A method of making absorbent granules can include mixing activated carbon with a liquid and a binder to form a slurry; applying the slurry to particles of absorbent core material to at least partially coat the particles of the core material with a first distinct layer containing the activated carbon; and applying a clumping agent to the first distinct layer to at least partially coat the first distinct layer with a second distinct layer containing the clumping agent. The absorbent granules can be used as a deodorizer and/or a pet litter, and each of the absorbent granules can include an absorbent core, a first distinct layer containing activated carbon, and a second distinct layer containing a clumping agent such that the first distinct layer is between an outer surface of the absorbent core and an inner surface of the second distinct layer.

A composition comprising a physical blend of discrete particulates such that the liquid absorbency is greater than the individual components and is greater than the expected absorbency based on the rule of mixtures. A composition comprising diatomaceous earth which may have a clump strength greater than 75% and in which the thy density may be less than 880 kg/m.sup.3(55 lb/ft.sup.3). The compositions exhibit synergistic absorbance, light density, high clump strength, low dustiness, and are suitable for industrial and household absorption and solidification, animal litter, and soil amendment.

Technology is disclosed for a cat litter that can be used to diagnose feline medical conditions. A cat litter contains an additive, e.g., a chemical agent, such as a natural and/or synthetic agent, that changes in color when it comes in contact with cat urine or feces. Based on the color it can be determined whether the cat has a medical condition, such as particular illness. For example, if the litter turns yellow when it comes in contact with the urine, it can indicate that the cat is healthy. If the litter turns to a color other than yellow, e.g., green, it can indicate that the cat has some illness. The cat then be taken to a veterinary doctor for further diagnosis. The chemical agent aids in detection and diagnosis through interaction of materials that change colors to indicate reactions with specific chemicals, cells, molecules, DNA and/or materials. The technology can be implemented for medical diagnosis and detection—for humans and/or animals.