Self drying pet litter box

A self-drying pet litter box for controlling odors by destroying bacteria comprising

• a box-like container having upwardly extended sides with at least one aperture through a lower portion of at least one of said sides, whereby air may pass through the aperture from points exterior to the container to the interior of the container,
• a foraminous panel received within said container and having at least one substantially flat surface, said panel extending substantially continuously between said container sides with the apertures through said panel being distributed across substantially the entire panel, and
• means for supporting said panel generally horizontally and spaced above the lowermost portion of said container sides with said substantially flat surface panel facing upwardly to support particulate litter material placed thereupon and another surface of said panel facing downward, whereby exterior air may enter the litter box through the apertures in the panel to dry the particulate litter material placed thereupon;
• means for applying heat to said panel, whereby liquid and solid waste material deposited by an animal upon the particulate litter material supported by the panel may be heated;
• means both for selectively controlling said application of heat to said panel such that the temperatures of said panel and of the litter material supported thereupon are raised to predetermined levels and maintained at those levels for a time sufficient to destroy bacteria and viruses residing upon said panel and upon the particulate litter material and carried by the liquid and solid waste deposited thereupon and also for thereafter discontinuing said application of heat.