Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure provide a cat litter system which preferably holds cat litter for use by a cat, and thereafter facilitates disposal of the material. In certain embodiments, the system can be arranged on a toilet and left in place for use by the cat when needed, or alternately, the system can be placed elsewhere before and during use by the cat, and can then be placed over a toilet seat or other receptacle for the disposal step. Certain embodiments preferably provide a base with a substantially flat upper surface with an open central area filled with a cup arrangement. Cat litter material is preferably placed in the cup arrangement for use. Once the cat has used the cat litter material, the system preferably allows the cup arrangement to be opened, allowing the used litter material to fall through into a disposal receptacle, for example a toilet bowl.

Abstract: An emergency traction device for vehicles which comprises a particulate traction material, such as sand, held together by a suitable binder material, such as sodium silicate, to provide an easily handled and stored article. The article may take the form of a flat, sheetlike, rectangular block, and may have gridlike, briquet sections therein, which can be broken off in one or more sections from the main block for use in lesser quantities. In another embodiment, the article may comprise a discrete briquet. To provide traction for a vehicle stuck on ice or snow, the flat, rectangular block, or the briquet sections, or the discrete briquets are placed in contact with the slipping drive wheel of a stuck vehicle in line with the desired direction of travel. Rotation of the drive wheel tire in contact with the traction device causes the traction device to be ground into traction-producing materials which spread under the drive wheel to improve traction.