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Peoria Ag Lab Scientists Invent a Better Kitty Litter

(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

Peoria Ag Lab scientists are introducing their latest invention: a new and improved kitty litter. The bio-degradable litter is made using eastern red cedar, which is Central Illinois' only native coniferous tree. Lead scientist Steve Vaughn said it made sense to incorporate the wood, which is highly absorbant and contains flea and tick-repellant chemicals.

"It's a tough tree, we have a lot of it. And there's a lot of harvesting of it anyways. So it's kind of a natural solution," he said.

Vaughn's team mixed the wood flakes with a cedar-based "biochar," a charcoal-like compound which eliminates cat urine odors. Vaughn said it's the "secret" ingredient that makes the cat litter unique.

Guar gum was added to make the litter "clump," making it easier to clean up. Most commercial cat litters are clay-based.

"We tested many different formulations, and we combined them. And we essentially got really good bio-based cat litter," he said. "It absorbs odors really, really well. It doesn't have any allergenic issues, cats inhaling dust. You know, it had all sorts of good things."

Several companies are currently inquiring about rolling out the litter on a mass scale.

Other scientists in Peoria who worked on the litter include Jill Moser, Mark Berhow, Jeffrey Byars, Sean Liu, Mike Jackson, Steve Peterson and Fred Eller.

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Tim is the News Director at WCBU Peoria Public Radio.