Podcast Summary: Stuff You Missed in History Class

Episode: Inventions for Pets
Hosts: Holly Fry & Tracy V. Wilson
Date: November 19, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the fascinating and often quirky history of iconic inventions created for pets, with a focus on the people behind them and the cultural shifts that drove innovation. Holly and Tracy chart the rise of the modern pet industry—especially for cats and dogs—through inventions like kitty litter, the cat tree, and Wee Wee Pads. They discuss both the clever solutions to everyday pet problems and the unintended consequences (particularly environmental) that have come from mass adoption of these products.

Main Topics and Key Insights

1. The Emergence of the Pet Products Industry (02:32)

• Historical Context: The concept of a “pet store” and the notion of pets as beloved indoor companions is a relatively modern phenomenon. It became prevalent in the late 19th century in Victorian England and spread from there.
• Shift in Pet Care: Early pet stores mainly sold animals and minimal care products. The rise of specialty pet accessories and products didn’t really materialize until the mid-20th century.

Quote:
"So the idea of a store filled to the brim with merchandise that's engineered expressly for use with pets did not really happen until the mid 20th century."
— Podcast Narrator [03:54]

2. The Story of Kitty Litter & Ed Lowe (04:10–13:00)

Background

• Ed Lowe: Born 1920, Michigan; entrepreneurial from a young age. His father sold sawdust and wood shavings for industrial use.

The Invention

• Origin Stories: Multiple versions exist (frozen sand, ashy paw prints, extra Fuller’s earth clay, etc.)—all feature Lowe providing granulated kiln-dried clay as a substitute for sand or sawdust in litter boxes.

• Key Moment:
  “She [Kay Draper] found that it worked way better than sand or wood shavings, and she wanted to switch her cat over to it completely. So Lo sold her another bag. And then he decided to try selling more bags to see if other people liked it.”
  — Podcast Narrator [07:23]

• Early Marketing: Initial difficulty getting stores to sell, so Lowe gave away 10 trial bags—customer response convinced him to launch a business.

Rapid Growth

• By the mid-1950s, kitty litter sales were topping $1.5 million.
  "Kitty litter was available in supermarkets by 1954... just a little more than eight years after its invention."
  — Holly Fry [11:04]

Business Innovations

• Expansion: Lowe quickly diversified, introducing other cat products inspired by consumer willingness to spend for convenience and comfort.
• Product Testing: Lowe’s own cat, Impy, and other cats at a veterinary clinic tested all new products before launch.
• Major Products: Dry shampoo for cats, flea powder, scratching posts, “Kitty Castles,” and more.

Memorable Moment:
“A reporter in 1955 claimed to have been riding in a car with Lowe when a stray cat wandered in front of the vehicle and said that ‘low came to a quick halt, hopped out and escorted the feline across the road.’”
— Podcast Narrator [17:42]

The Business Legacy

• Market Share: By 1985, Lowe’s companies held a combined kitty litter market share above 35%—including both the premium (Kitty Litter) and supermarket (Tidy Cat) brands.
• Research: $4 million per year invested in R&D, including a cattery with 120 cats and behavioral researchers for testing.
• Sale of Company: Despite vowing never to sell, Lowe sold his business in 1990 for $200 million+; it eventually was acquired by Ralston Purina and then Nestlé.

3. Environmental Consequences & Lasting Legacy (22:13)

• Scale of Use: As of 2024, the U.S. had 73.8 million pet cats, making litter a multibillion-dollar industry.
• Environmental Impact:
  • 75 million tons of Fuller's earth clay mined in 2024, often treated with chemicals.
  • Most cat litter is used once and ends up in landfills, raising sustainability concerns.
• Broader Impact: The invention made cat ownership far more approachable, contributing to the rise in indoor cats and pet product dependency.

Quote:
“Cat litters made consumers dependent on a supply chain that converts a natural resource to waste.”
— Podcast Narrator quoting the 2015 Washington Post [23:52]

4. The Cat Tree and Furniture for Cats (24:05)

• Inventor: Frank L. Crow, who patented the first cat tree in 1969.
• Design Intent:
  • Provided platforms and scratching surfaces to prevent damage to furniture and curtains.
  • Emphasized modularity and replaceable parts for long use.
  • Platforms designed in crescent shapes for ease of movement and visual appeal.

Quote:
“Crow also wanted the placement of the platforms to be thoughtful to enable rapid movement by a house cat from one to the other.”
— Holly Fry [25:44]

5. Wee Wee Pads, Four Paws, and Alan Simon (29:45)

Entrepreneurial Story

• Alan Simon: Opened Puppy City in Brooklyn in 1960, then pivoted to inventing products in 1970.
• Invention of Wee Wee Pads: Inspired by the inefficacy of newspapers for house-training puppies, Simon adapted hospital absorbent pads for home use. These became a runaway success, expanding from small packs to a $25 million business line.
• Other Innovations: Simon also invented the Allen Pooper Scooper, auto pet food dispensers, new litter scoops, grooming gloves, and more.
  • Many of his patent applications were minimal, sometimes “comically brief,” simply presenting the product design.
  • Designed “ornamental” scoops and toys, some of which are ubiquitous in pet stores today.

Major Business Moves

• Four Paws: Simon founded this company to manufacture and market his inventions, growing it into a $30 million per year business and later selling it for $55 million in 1997.
• Later Ventures: In 2014, he founded PetProducts.com, an aggregator connecting small pet businesses to customers online.

Notable Quote:
"With determination and hard work, anyone, even a kid from Brooklyn like me with a learning disability, can be successful and make their dreams come true."
— Alan Simon, quoted by Podcast Narrator [36:46]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Invention and Consumer Behavior:
  “If people were willing to spend money for kitty litter, they were probably willing to spend money on other items for their cats.”
  — Podcast Narrator [13:00]

• On Product Testing:
  “...That cat, a Red Point Siamese named Impy, got to test and approve a lot of the innovations that are probably in your home if you have a cat.”
  — Holly Fry [16:44]

• On the Environmental Consequences:
  “All of that is just going into the nation's garbage dumps, per a 2015 Washington Post article about it.”
  — Holly Fry [22:55]

• On Alan Simon’s Style:
  “He was very obviously a straightforward New Yorker. He has exactly what you think of in your head when you think, what does a guy from New York sound like? He reportedly was very generous. He gave both to charity and just to individuals who needed a hand.”
  — Podcast Narrator [36:46]

Selected Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pet Industry Origins: [02:30–04:10]
• Ed Lowe and Kitty Litter Narratives: [04:10–13:00]
• Kitty Litter Growth & Market Dynamics: [13:17–19:16]
• Kitty Litter Environmental Impact: [22:13–23:52]
• The Cat Tree Patent and Features: [24:05–26:21]
• Alan Simon, Wee Wee Pads, and Four Paws: [29:45–36:46]

Overall Tone & Style

• Friendly and conversational, mixing engaging storytelling with surprising facts.
• Both hosts frequently inject humor and personal asides, particularly around pet ownership.
• Emphasis on the human side of innovation, the quirks of inventors, and the unintended consequences of “helpful” products.

Additional Memorable Listener Moment

• Listener Mail: [38:00–39:04]
  • Holly tries to read a moving email from a listener about their beloved schnauzer, Sailor, but is overwhelmed with emotion.
    “I'm sorry I could not read your email too much for my little heart, but I really appreciate you sending it.”
    — Holly Fry

Takeaways

• Everyday pet accessories like kitty litter, cat trees, and disposable puppy pads have stories rooted in American ingenuity—and sometimes family drama.
• These inventions profoundly changed pet ownership in the U.S., making it easier and more sanitary to keep companion animals indoors.
• However, mass adoption has led to substantial environmental impacts and a reliance on convenience-driven supply chains.
• The inventors profiled—Ed Lowe, Frank Crow, Alan Simon—demonstrate the power of observation, targeted problem-solving, and sometimes a great knack for marketing (and a cute cat for product testing).

A must-listen for anyone curious about the intersection of daily life, history, and innovation—all filtered through the lens of our furry companions!