Misplaced Pages

#543456

42-447: Purina may refer to: Ralston Purina , an American pet food company that was acquired in 2001 Nestlé Purina PetCare , the pet food division of Swiss-based Nestlé S.A., and the acquirer of Ralston Purina Company in 2001 (subsequently merged with Nestlé's Friskies PetCare Company) Purina Mills , a farm animal feed company that was spun off from Ralston Purina Company Topics referred to by

84-401: A cat's instinctive desire to hide their scent by allowing them to bury their waste. The most common material is clay, although recycled paper "pellets" and silica-based "crystal" variants are also used. Sometimes, when an owner wishes to stimulate the cat's natural instincts, natural dirt is used. The litter can give off a strong odor, and must be disposed of periodically. It is recommended that

126-610: A clumping cat litter in the form of crystals made of "compacted baking soda ", which in contrast to bentonite is either dust -free or low-dust, and allegedly "100% CO 2 neutral ". Minerals Technologies claims to hold a patent related to this solution. Biodegradable litters are made from various plant resources, including pine wood pellets, recycled newspaper, clumping sawdust, Brazilian cassava, pea husk, corn, wheat, walnuts, barley, soy pulp , and dried orange peels. Each year, more than two million tons of cat litter, or approximately 100,000 truckloads, ends up in landfills in

168-508: A division of Nestlé (Nestlé Purina PetCare) which is still headquartered in St. Louis. While primarily a pet-food company, Ralston Purina also made some other pet-related products, such as Tidy Cats brand and Yesterday's News cat litter , which is made from recycled newspaper, purchased from Edward Lowe Industries in 1990. Also, Purina has honoured several Canadian animals every year since 1968 in their Animal Hall of Fame. The latest inductees included

210-492: A litter box, it is possible to train cats and dogs to use a toilet. Doing so significantly reduces waste, but for cats it goes against their instinct of burying waste. Combined with the requirement of jumping up onto the toilet, cats may find using a toilet stressful. In addition, excrement-based symptoms of medical problems are less likely to be spotted. There is also a higher likelihood of conflict with human use of toilets. Another option for animals to relieve themselves indoors

252-534: A new company called Ralcorp Holdings . In 1998, Ralston Purina spun off its international animal feed business as Agribrands, which was acquired by Cargill in 2001. The animal feed businesses continue to use the Purina and Chow brands, which Purina Mills and Cargill license for use in the US and internationally, respectively. Ralston Purina became the subject of an acquisition bid by Swiss -based Nestlé , whose Friskies brand

294-638: A police service dog which "rushed and subdued an armed robber". In 1974, Ralston Purina purchased and further developed the Keystone ski resort in Colorado. "Checkerboard Flats" for kids and beginners at Keystone still bears their logo. In 1993, Ralston Purina also bought Breckenridge ski area for an undisclosed amount, from Victoria U.S.A. Inc, a Japanese sporting goods retailer. However, both ski resorts were sold in 1997 to Vail Resorts for $ 331 million. In 1977, Ralston Purina acquired Missouri Arena Corporation and

336-469: A repository. They are provided for pets that are permitted free roam of a home but who cannot or do not always go outside to excrete their metabolic waste . Cats are fastidious by nature. Free-roaming domestic cats will attempt to cover their urine and especially their faeces within their home range , in proximity of their food area. To achieve this, they rake the surface in a backward sweeping motion with their front paws to draw loose material over

378-455: A solid mass separate from the other litter in the box. This solid clumped material can be scooped out and disposed of without changing the entire contents of the litter box. Clumping litter usually also contains quartz or diatomaceous earth (sometimes called diatomaceous silica, which causes it to be mistakenly confused with silica gel litter). Because of the clumping effect, the manufacturers usually instruct not to flush clumping litters down

420-534: A tuna cannery with Chicken of the Sea as its main product. Ralston Purina owned an animal pharmaceutical company in the 1970s and 1980s. Protein Technologies International was a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ralston Purina making soy protein products since 1958. It was purchased by DuPont in 1997 for $ 1.554 billion and later became Solae. Ralston Purina's "checkerboard" trademark was introduced in 1902. It

462-643: A variety of retail stores. Non-clumping cat litter is often made of zeolite , diatomite and sepiolite . Litter clumps were first developed by using calcium bentonite clay. This was manufactured in the UK in the 1950s by the Fuller's Earth Union (FEU), which later became a part of Laporte Industries Ltd. Subsequently in America, clumping bentonite was developed in 1984 by biochemist Thomas Nelson. Most are made from granulated bentonite clay , which clumps together when wet and forms

SECTION 10

#1732851751544

504-523: A waste product as opposed to drawing clay from mines. Guar gum was the principal clumping agent used in biodegradable cat litter as of 2013, with a clumping rate of 69.8%, while xanthan gum (73.9%) and plantago gum (57.5%) were identified in one study as potential alternatives. It is also added to bentonite litter to increase its clumping capacity. In 2020, it was still being used in tests of new wood-based biodegradable litter formulations. Silica gel litter, often referred to as "crystal litter",

546-720: Is a porous granular form of silicon dioxide , has the highest absorbency of any litter, and has excellent moisture control and complete odor elimination for an extended period of time compared to other litters. It is typically prepared through a sol-gel process, which involves the hydrolysis and condensation of silica precursors such as tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) or sodium silicate (Na2SiO3). The porous structure of silica gel enables it to trap moisture within its network of interconnected pores, effectively locking away urine and preventing it from spreading or leaking. Moreover, many silica gel litter formulations incorporate activated carbon or other odor-neutralizing compounds, which further enhance

588-407: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Ralston Purina Ralston Purina (originally Ralston-Purina) traces its roots to 1894, when founder William H. Danforth established the animal feed company Purina Mills . Danforth formed a partnership with George Robinson; William Andrews entered the business of feeding farm animals by founding

630-403: Is easy to rake over the waste. A litter box's bottom is typically filled with 2 inches (5 cm) or less of cat litter. Litter box filler is a loose, granular material that absorbs moisture and odors such as ammonia . Some litter brands contain baking soda to absorb such odors, or owners may sprinkle a thin layer in the bottom of the box, under the cat litter. The litter material also satisfies

672-408: Is important to lightly stir the crystals daily while scooping the solid waste, otherwise urine can pool in the box. When crystal litter is saturated, at the end of 30 days or so, it begins to smell and is visibly saturated (the white crystals have turned slightly yellow). In comparison, over the same time period it may take 20–30 lb (9.1–13.6 kg) or more of clay or clumping litter, because it

714-518: Is necessary to replenish the litter that is removed when the clumped urine is scooped out. No replenishing is necessary with silica gel (crystal) litter. An open litter pan is generally the most basic and least expensive design. They are commonly constructed out of plastic , however some disposable models exist, in the shape of a rectangular tray with outwardly sloped sides 3.9 to 5.9 inches (10 to 15 centimeters) high. Open litter pans allow for maximum ventilation which may increase cat comfort. They show

756-1027: The St. Louis Blues National Hockey League franchise. During the company's ownership of the team, they changed the name of the St. Louis Arena to the Checkerdome, reflecting the Ralston Purina logo. The franchise was sold to Harry Ornest on July 27, 1983. Ralston Purina purchased the Eveready Battery Company in 1986, owner of the Eveready and Energizer brands. The company was spun off in 2000. Ralston Purina purchased Continental Baking Company , makers of Wonder bread and Hostess cakes , from ITT in 1984. Ralston spun off Continental Baking Company, subsequently bought by Irving, Texas–based Interstate Brands Corporation (IBC). Ralston Purina opened test market pizza stores called Checkerboard Pizza in 1986. The format

798-495: The Robinson-Danforth Commission Company. Its predominant brand for each animal was generally referred to as "Chow"; hence "Purina Horse Chow", "Purina Dog Chow ", "Purina Cat Chow", "Purina Rabbit Chow", "Purina Pig Chow", and "Purina Monkey Chow". Later, the company began producing cereal, which received endorsement by Webster Edgerly , founder of Ralstonism , to market Ralston breakfast cereals . Edgerly

840-502: The US alone. Primarily, this is not biodegradable or renewable and adds to the waste burden. Some pet owners prefer biodegradable litters due to its friendliness to the environment. Biodegradable cat litter can also be eliminated completely by safely composting the used litter at home. Other cat owners can be attracted to the biodegradable litters because of their flushability or deodorizing properties. Some pets, such as those with asthma or sensitive senses of smell, may also benefit from

882-408: The added benefit of deterring other pets or young children from the contents of the litter box. Some designs feature a grate on top which allows litter from a cat's paws to fall back into the box, reducing litter tracking. Self-cleaning litter boxes employ technology that automates the litter box emptying procedure. Some models have electric combing mechanisms that automatically scoop the clumps out of

SECTION 20

#1732851751544

924-692: The entire box away. Some may come with an included bag of litter. They are also marketed for use inside of pet crates or carriers to eliminate accidents. To hide a litter pan in plain sight, litter box furniture is designed to open and fit litter pans inside. Cats can access through a front, side, or top entrance. These cabinets are constructed of wood or wood composite and offered in different colors and styles, from traditional to contemporary. Features can include storage drawers, odor filters, wall liners, and external litter catches. While prices can vary from moderate to expensive, litter box furniture can help hide litter pans as well as contain odors. Instead of using

966-406: The litter box be kept in low traffic areas of the home, such as a basement or laundry room to avoid litter box aversion. There are commercially available special types of litter to help cover or lessen the odor produced. They contain baking soda, plant extracts and/or odorized crystals. If kept in a room with an intake vent, an air freshener may be added on the furnace filter to isolate the odor from

1008-433: The litter box into a sealed, disposable-bag-lined container after the animal has used it. These models use a pressure pad or an infrared light to determine when the cat has left the box and will comb the box after a pre-determined amount of time has passed to avoid disturbing the cat. Other designs take this one step further by connecting directly to a home's plumbing (faucet connection and drain) so they can wash, rinse and dry

1050-606: The litter's ability to control unpleasant smells. In addition to its physical structure, the chemical composition of silica gel also contributes to its performance as a cat litter. The surface of silica gel is covered with silanol (Si-OH) and siloxane (Si-O-Si) functional groups. These groups interact with water molecules through hydrogen bonding and dipole-dipole interactions, enabling the material to absorb and retain moisture effectively. Some owners praise its absorbency because 4–5 pounds (1.8–2.3 kg) can absorb liquid and odor for up to 30 days for one healthy normal weight cat. It

1092-406: The motivation behind elimination is to engage in scent marking . At thirty days of age, domestic kittens start to exhibit the innate behaviour of raking loose sand or soft dirt. This initially occurs in advance of elimination and can be combined with ingesting particles. Cat litter boxes are designed to stimulate feline instincts around waste elimination and provide a cat with loose material that

1134-426: The permanent litter pellets automatically. Simpler designs exist as well; for example, some require the owner to manually shake the clumps into an easy-to-remove tray. Another variant has an enclosed sphere which rotates as it sifts out the clumps and deposits them in a drawer below the sphere. A new method involves incorporating sifting functionality within a sifting litter liner. Some automated litter boxes incorporate

1176-523: The reduced dust in some forms of biodegradable litter. Biodegradable litter packaged for cats tends to be more expensive than traditional clay litters, so cost is often not a positive factor in their selection. Most biodegradable litters last longer than the equivalent clay or clumping clay litters. Grain-based animal or poultry feed also provides an economical alternative to products marketed specifically as cat litter. Additionally, most of these forms of litter are recycled from human usage and are thus reusing

1218-482: The rest of the house. Edward Lowe accidentally discovered that clay made an excellent cat litter material and began selling it in bags as "Kitty Litter" in 1947. In the US, cat litter is a $ 2 billion industry consuming five billion pounds (2.3 Mt) of mined clay annually. The first commercially available cat litter in the United States was Kitty Litter , available in 1947 and marketed by Ed Lowe . This

1260-409: The same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Purina . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Purina&oldid=1145735674 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description

1302-767: The toilet, because it could clog it. Clumping clay cat litters are natural products. Some may also contain naturally occurring crystalline silica , or silica dust, which in California is treated as a known carcinogen under Proposition 65 . Clay litter is also criticized by the manufacturers of non-clay litter because the components of clay litter are commonly obtained from a strip mine in an environmentally degrading process. This sort of litter can be toxic to ferrets , leading to both respiratory and digestive problems. Clumping litter for cats has also been produced from materials other than clay. The New York -based New York Stock Exchange -listed company Minerals Technologies offers

Purina - Misplaced Pages Continue

1344-446: The tray and hood. Many are constructed out of plastic and feature a plastic hood or dome that covers the litter pan and litter. The pet enters through an opening in the cover, these may be open or have a swinging door. To clean, pet owners lift the cover off the tray to scoop and change the litter. Covered litter boxes may help reduce the amount of litter that is tracked outside the box, may help address issues of pets eliminating waste over

1386-413: The use of a two-belt system. The top belt has litter ready to use while the lower belt has a batch of litter ready "on hold" for when the cleaning process takes place. As the litter on the bottom belt is moved up to the top, is it evenly distributed across the width of the top belt. Disposable litter boxes are designed to free cat carers from inconveniences of dealing with animal waste besides just throwing

1428-614: The walls of a litter pan, and may help contain odor. However, it can allow odors to build up which will affect the cat's comfort. While it offers privacy, it may be too confining for the cat. In the wild, cats do not prefer covered locations for toilet use. Top entry litter boxes have an opening on the top of the box and require the pet to climb on top of the box and into a hole to eliminate waste. While cats in good physical health, even kittens, have no problems accessing these boxes, they are generally not recommended for geriatric or physically limited felines. However, top-entry designs do have

1470-432: The waste most visibly which cat experts like Jackson Galaxy point out helps cat carers monitor current health status. Litter pans with low walls are not ideal for containing litter when a pet scratches or digs. Some animals may urinate or defecate over the walls. Some designs include a detachable rim to help catch litter when the animal kicks to bury their waste. A variety of enclosed litter boxes exist that include both

1512-405: The waste. The efficiency of these attempts is limited by soil texture , as cats have to break the surface with their toes due to their claws being protractile . Still, on rare occasions outdoor cats have been observed trying to dig holes to deposit their excrements in. The raking behaviour is associated with sniffing the waste and will often follow from it. Raking is said to occur rarely when

1554-601: Was at the time promoting the consumption of whole-grain cereal. These cereals became so successful that the name of the enterprise was changed in 1902 to the Ralston-Purina Company. In 1986, Ralston Purina sold Purina Mills, its US animal feed business, to British Petroleum . Purina Mills is now owned by Land O'Lakes . In 1994, the Ralston "human food" operations of the Ralston Purina Company were spun off into

1596-427: Was inspired by William Danforth 's childhood memory of a family dressed in clothing made from the same bolt of checkerboard cloth. The company's headquarters was called Checkerboard Square. Danforth used the design as the visualization of a concept put forth in his book I Dare You , in which he proposed that four key components in life ("Physical", "Mental", "Social", and "Religious") need to be in balance, and one area

1638-491: Was not to develop at the expense of the others. In 1921, the design inspired the design of feed that was pressed in cubes, called "checkers". Cat litter A litter box , also known as a sandbox , cat box , litter tray , cat pan , potty , pot or litter pan , is an indoor feces and urine collection box for cats , as well as rabbits , ferrets , miniature pigs , small dogs , and other pets that instinctively or through training will make use of such

1680-588: Was similar to Domino's and Little Caesars. They opened the stores in markets such as Moorhead, Minnesota, to test how the Midwestern market would accept the concept. They did well, but Ralston Purina decided not to enter the pizza franchise business and closed all pilots by late 1987. Ralston Purina also owned Jack in the Box fast food restaurants from 1968 to 1985, along with several high-end restaurants. Ralston Purina owned Van Camp Sea Food Company from 1963 to 1988,

1722-429: Was the first large-scale use of clay (in the form of Fuller's earth ) in litter boxes; previously sand was used. Clay litter is much more absorbent than sand and is manufactured into large grains or clumps of clay, making it less likely to be tracked from the litter box. The brand name Kitty Litter has become a genericized trademark , used by many to denote any type of cat litter. Today, cat litter can be obtained at

Purina - Misplaced Pages Continue

1764-711: Was the other leading US brand of pet food. Nestlé S.A. and Ralston Purina announced in January 2001 a definitive merger agreement. Under the agreement, Nestlé acquired all of Ralston Purina's (NYSE: RAL) outstanding shares for US$ 33.50 per share in cash. The offer represented a premium of 36% over the closing price on Friday, January 12, 2001. The transaction had an enterprise value of US$ 10.3 billion ($ 10.0 billion equity plus $ 1.2 billion of net debt, minus $ 0.9 billion of financial investments). Several brands of pet food (e.g., " Meow Mix ") had to be divested separately to meet antitrust concerns. Purina brands are now made and marketed by

#543456