Extruded animal litters
View Patent ↗The invention provides extruded animal litters and methods of making and using such litters. The animal litters comprise an extruded mixture of from about 10 to about 90% of one or more clays and from about 90 to about 10% of one or more starches. The use of starches to produce the extruded litters result in litters that are less dense than conventional clay-based animal litters and are therefore easier to transport and use.
1. An animal litter comprising from about 30 to about 70% of one or more clays and from about 70 to about 30% of one or more starches, wherein the starches have an expanded cellular structure.
2. An animal litter comprising about 50% of one or more clays and about 30% of one or more starches, wherein the starches have an expanded cellular structure.
3. The litter of claim 2 wherein the clay comprises a combination of non-swelling and swelling clays comprising from about 50% non-swelling clay and from about 50% swelling clay.
4. The litter of claim 1 wherein the starches are derived from corn.
5. The litter of claim 1 having a bulk density from about 12 lbs/ft 3 to about 23 lb/ft 3 .
6. The litter of claim 1 further comprising one or more lubricants.
7. The litter of claim 6 wherein the lubricants are selected from the group consisting of mineral oil, vegetable oil, and tallow.