Kitty Litter Makes Cats Likeable

In 1947, Ed Lowe created a product that helped cats to grow in popularity as pets. His Kitty Litter would largely replace the boxes of sand and ashes that most cat-lovers were using. But it took time for the absorbent, clay-based creation to catch on. Lowe traveled across the country, selling 5-pound bags out of his trunk, and he attended cat shows. Lowe didn’t have much money, so he cleaned out hundreds of cat boxes each day at the shows in exchange for free booth space, where he displayed his creation. The strategy worked, and Kitty Litter became a household name.