Today cat litter is a massive industry, but how did it get started?

Cats have a long and varied relationship with us humans. In ancient times they were worshipped as gods (it seems likely they’ve never forgotten this). As our ancestors began to settle and farm, cats were useful hunters to have around, helping control pests that would spoil stored crops and food. In the Middle Ages in Europe they were seen as agents of Satan, though they were tolerated because of their usefulness.

Through most of this shared history between cats and humans, cats mainly lived outdoors or in barns. It’s only relatively recently that they have been commonly kept as indoor pets, so cat litter and litter boxes are a modern necessity for cat owners.

Prior to the availability of commercial cat litter, people who kept cats indoors would use sand, dirt, shredded paper, saw dust or even ashes as kitty litter. These materials all had obvious drawbacks, such as a lack of deodorising capabilities and the tendency to be tracked throughout the house. (Imagine black, sooty paw prints on the carpets and furniture?)

Today we have a bewildering variety of cat litters to choose from, but it all started with an American named Edward Lowe. After serving in the US Navy in WWII, he returned to work in the family sand and gravel business. His father started stocking granulated clay to be used as an industrial absorbent, and Ed, being an entrepreneur at heart, set out to find additional ways to market the product.

He came up with the idea that it could be used as filler for chicken’s nesting boxes. He approached numerous chicken farmers and handed out samples of the “Chicken Litter” as he called it, but the new product got no further off the ground than a chicken does.

In 1947 his neighbour approached him asking for some sand to use in her cat’s litter box. It was the dead of a Michigan winter though, and the sand piles were frozen solid. He gave her some of the granulated clay to try. When she came back eager for more and asking what it was called, “Kitty Litter” was his immediate answer. He realized that, unlike “Chicken Litter”, there might be a market for “Kitty Litter”, and a brand-new industry was hatched out of a failed one. (Pun intended.)

Today cat litter is a multi-billion-dollar industry which has grown from the simple industrial absorbent Lowe repurposed and named Kitty Litter. Clumping and dust-free litters were developed in the 1980s, and the 90s saw the introduction of crystal gel litters as well as the first plant-based litters. Colour and scent were added and patents registered for odour control and proprietary recipes. Plant-based cat litters have become increasingly popular as people look for options that are healthier for their cats and better for the environment.

In addition to offering Australian cat owners a premium plant-based cat litter that controls odour and is environmentally responsible, Kitty Fresh also provides an easy way to keep your home smelling fresh and your cat happy – all with no unpleasant cleaning of the litter box necessary! The disposable (recyclable!) Kitty Fresh litter box and litter (bamboo or tofu) is delivered to your door. This lasts one cat an entire month and when the new box arrives you simply fold up the old one, used litter and all, and place it in the bin.