Litter packages

Abstract

A litter package has a body of litter within a container of waterproof material and is for use by a pet animal after the package has been opened to expose the litter substantially throughout the area of the container when disposed for use. The litter body consists of particles of absorbent material or materials that are chemically neutral when wet. Testing means are associated with the litter and of an indicator type changing color if wetted by urine containing a color-changing reactant indicating an unfavorable health condition. The testing means may be incorporated in litter material, carried on the inner surface of the container or on inserts in any case when the package is open, the testing means includes at least one unitary portion under each position the animal may occupy while urinating and of an area such as to become wetted at least in part by contact with urine-wetted particles in the normal use thereof thus to be subject to the reactant throughout a predetermined time. The indicating means may include different types of indicators, each changing color in response to different reactants, the colors being different for each reactant.

I claim: 
     
       1. A litter package comprising a container of transparent waterproof material, a body of litter within the container for use by a pet animal after the package has been opened to expose the litter with the litter covering the bottom of the container when disposed for use, said body consisting of absorbent particles that are chemically neutral when wet, and testing means within the container and of an indicator type changing color if wetted by urine containing a particular color-changing reactant indicative of an unfavorable current health condition of the animal, said testing means so located within the container that when the container is disposed for use, test areas are provided where they will become wetted by urine in any position the animal will normally occupy while urinating during a predetermined time interval, each test area dimensioned to provide a colored signal, if said reactant is present in the animal's urine, that is readily distinguishable from the remainder of the litter body during the disposal thereof. 
     
     
       2. The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means includes different types of indicators, each indicator changing color if wetted by urine containing a reactant different from that to which any other type responds. 
     
     
       3. The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means includes a plurality of test pieces in the form of small pieces of paper. 
     
     
       4. The litter package of claim 2 in which each type of testing means includes a plurality of test pieces. 
     
     
       5. The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means are fixed on the bottom of the container. 
     
     
       6. The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means is applied to the inside of the bottom of the container and the container material is sufficiently transparent to enable the color thereof to be visible from the outside. 
     
     
       7. The litter package of claim 6 and a color chart on the outside of the bag bottom for comparison with the color of the testing means after use of the litter by the animal to approximate the concentration of the reactant. 
     
     
       8. The litter package of claim 1 and at least one insert positioned on the bottom of the container and dimensioned to resist any substantial displacement during use of the litter by the animal and testing means is applied to the insert. 
     
     
       9. The litter package of claim 1 and inserts detachably secured to the inner surface of the bottom of the container and the testing means is applied to the inserts. 
     
     
       10. The litter package of claim 9 in which the testing means are also small pieces of paper treated with the indicator. 
     
     
       11. The litter package of claim 9 and in which the testing means constitutes approximately 3 to 15 percent of the litter volume. 
     
     
       12. The litter package of claim 1 in which the testing means contains different types of indicators each consisting of small pieces of paper treated with an indicator different from any other indicator and constituting approximately three to fifteen percent of the litter volume. .Iadd. 
     
     
       13.  An absorbent material package adapted for use for receiving animal litter comprising at least one container for said absorbent material, said container adapted for enclosing within the same for storage, use, and disposal said absorbent material, said container adapted for opening and for receiving litter from said animal within said absorbent material, said container further adapted for closure and/or discharge of said litter within said absorbent material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.14. The absorbent material package as defined in claim 13, wherein the same comprises a sealed container, means for readily opening said container, means adapted to fit said container within a receptacle and means for securing said container to said receptacle. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The absorbent material package as defined in claim 14, comprising at least one absorbent material for said container, and said container and said receptacle sealingly secured to each other. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16. The absorbent material package as defined in claim 13, wherein indicating means are separately adapted for use with said absorbent material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The absorbent material package as defined in claim 13, wherein the container is of a waterproof 
     
     
        material. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18.  The absorbent material package as defined in claim 16, wherein the absorbent material is sprayed with a separately packaged indicator means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The absorbent material package as defined in claim 16, wherein the absorbent material is admixed with separately packaged absorbent material to which has been admixed an indicating means. .Iaddend.