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 detectionfor humans and/or animals.

A cat litter box mat having a planar upper layer which overlaps and covers a planar lower layer. In some embodiments, the planar upper layer includes a pair of planar upper layers. The planar upper layers are connected to the planar lower layer. A plurality of openings are formed through the upper layers and these openings increase in area from a lower surface of each upper layer to an upper surface of the upper layers. Connecting members are provided for joining additional mats placed adjacent one another.

A stall plow removably attaches to a prior art skid steer using available quick connect couplers. The stall plow has a moldboard that is configured to completely remove waste bedding from a livestock free stall from the area adjacent to the curb and deliver it to the alley, where a prior art machine can then complete removal of the waste bedding from the alley. The moldboard includes a primary scraper section and side cutter that scrapes and lifts waste bedding up and over the curb. A curb section and curb flange then shift the bedding over to the alley and drop waste bedding into the alley, where a discharge spreader levels and distributes the waste. An extensible arm and hydraulic extension cylinder adjusts the moldboard transversely relative to direction of travel. An angle and pitch adjuster sets the moldboard for a particular free stall geometry and bedding material composition.

A stall plow removably attaches to a prior art skid steer using available quick connect couplers. The stall plow has a moldboard that is configured to completely remove waste bedding from a livestock free stall from the area adjacent to the curb and deliver it to the alley, where a prior art machine can then complete removal of the waste bedding from the alley. The moldboard includes a primary scraper section and side cutter that scrapes and lifts waste bedding up and over the curb. A curb section and curb flange then shift the bedding over to the alley and drop waste bedding into the alley, where a discharge spreader levels and distributes the waste. An extensible arm and hydraulic extension cylinder adjusts the moldboard transversely relative to direction of travel. An angle and pitch adjuster sets the moldboard for a particular free stall geometry and bedding material composition.

Methods for increasing growth rate of livestock. Methods for increasing survival rate of livestock. Methods for decreasing hydrogen sulfide concentration in an environment containing manure. Methods for decreasing odor concentration in an environment containing manure. Methods for decreasing ammonia concentration in an environment containing manure. Compositions for decreasing noxious gases in an environment containing manure.

Methods for increasing growth rate of livestock. Methods for increasing survival rate of livestock. Methods for decreasing hydrogen sulfide concentration in an environment containing manure. Methods for decreasing odor concentration in an environment containing manure. Methods for decreasing ammonia concentration in an environment containing manure. Compositions for decreasing noxious gases in an environment containing manure.

An animal waste rake is described that separates waste from animal bedding such as wood chips or straw. The manure rake apparatus of the invention includes a shaker assembly that both vibrates and shakes the rake to expeditiously separate the manure from the bedding.

It is possible to provide an absorbent sheet for pets capable of making a trace of excreta of a pet difficult to be visually recognized. The absorbent sheet for pets comprising: a liquid-permeable top sheet; a liquid-impermeable back sheet; an absorbent core provided between the top sheet and the back sheet; a colored area covered with the top sheet and visually recognizable from the top sheet side; and an aroma chemical provided on the top sheet side relative to the absorbent core. L*value of the colored area in an L*a*b*color system is 50 or less. A total light transmittance of the top sheet is in a range of 40 to 80%.

A toilet for household pets comprises a housing having a horizontal platform, a film-moving mechanism having two axes installed in said housing on opposite transverse sides of the platform, and a winding drive that moves a clean film onto the platform from a roll installed on the first axis, and moves the film with the excrement along the platform to a roll installed on the second axis, and film-securing devices which are installed in the housing on opposite longitudinal side of the platform and designed to be capable of clamping and unclamping opposite edges of the film, respectively, for securing the film disposed in a stationary position on the platform and for the unhindered passage of the film moved along the platform. The first and second axes of the mechanism for moving the film are arranged and designed to be capable of tensioning the film and pressing same against the platform be means of the winding drive, wherein the film from the roll on the first axis in lifted to the platform and lowered from the platform to the roll on the second axis.

A livestock air bed system including a livestock air bed having a bottom sheet made of a substantially impervious material; a top sheet made of a substantially impervious material and joined to the bottom sheet to define a number of air chambers, each air chamber defining a central portion having a first cross-sectional dimension and an end portion having a second cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension; a bed inflation system; an air chamber inlet sealing system; and an anchoring system.