Fresh Step cat litter: review and reviews

About the filler

The secret of the long and successful existence of the Fresh Step brand in the cat litter market lies in the concern for quality and constant improvement of existing formulas. Manufacturer and developer - the American company Clorox has existed since 1984.

Each filler has its own audience. In addition to special treatment of conventional materials, they are enriched with activated carbon and antimicrobial agents that control toilet odors. This allows us to talk about enhanced antibacterial and absorption properties.

Kinds

Today, Fresh Step cat litter comes in three types: absorbent, silica gel and clumping.

It is important to take a responsible approach to the choice of filler and take into account the wishes of the pet. Most pets are flexible, so they immediately agree to the litter chosen by the owner, but some cats may refuse to go to the litter box. It is difficult to explain the reason for this behavior of an animal - its preferences can only be found out through experiment.

The animal should use the tray without any problems and carefully bury its waste products. If people are not bothered by the unpleasant smell of cat litter, the litter is chosen correctly.

Diversity

Fresh Step produces several types of litters. Packages from 7 to 42 liters.

Clumping with the function of air freshening from natural materials, namely clays. In addition to binding liquid waste and enveloping solid waste, they guarantee odor control with the help of special additives - fresheners. Available with the Febreze Freshness label.

This:

• Multi cat;
• Odor Shield;
• Extreme and Extreme Light Weight, which differ in granule density but are equally designed for large volumes of absorption;
• Total Control.

Ordinary clumping ones, which do not contain an air freshener, but must contain activated carbon. They have the same locking and antibacterial properties.

• Triple Action;
• Multi Cat;
• Odor Shield;
• Extreme.

Absorbent products are available in the Ultra Care line.

Blue, green and blue granules provide more than just aesthetics. They guarantee the elimination of specific problems inherent in cats of different age categories:

• for kittens, pets over 10 years old or those who shit a lot - Kittens;
• for adult cats – Adults;
• for cats over 10 years old – Seniors.

In the absorbent series, Extreme filler is available separately.

In addition to classic mineral fillers (regular density or lightweight), Fresh Step also has the latest developments: silica gel filler - Crystals. It has the highest absorption coefficient of all.

Customer Reviews

A very good thing, especially in terms of efficiency. But it is not suitable for training kittens to use a litter box.

Advantages:

clumps, light and fresh smell, reliable filler, looks very ethical in the tray, just a good filler!, packaging lasts a long time
Disadvantages:
a little dusty

Good day to you! We have been using only this filler for many years, although from time to time there is a thirst for innovation. We buy all kinds of wood, silicone hydrogel and others, but for adult cats this filler is still an absolute favorite! But with kittens the situation is a little different; I’ll describe the essence of the problem below. We have Persian cats and cats, and kittens are born from time to time. We buy Fresh Step in a bandura like this. It weighs about 15.8 kg, which lasts for a very long time, almost six months. The filler has many advantages. It itself smells of something neutral, similar to a mixture of washing powder and soap, but it does not contain the cat odor well. Although it still doesn’t completely save you from an unneutered cat, you still need to quickly remove the tray to completely get rid of the smell. But it doesn’t spread throughout the house, doesn’t stick to little paws, and looks aesthetically pleasing in the tray (the little white one with splashes). However, when the age of litter box training comes for kittens, I provide them with a separate tray with wood filler. Why? Because many kittens associate this filler with either a toy or food, and they begin to chew it. Not all of them, of course, but this is a fairly common problem. Of course, if it gets into the stomach, it won’t bring anything good - the filler gets soggy, becomes heavy, clumps, and this in turn can cause constipation and other digestive problems. Well, why should such little bastards suffer with their tummy? ;( So if you want to accustom your kitten to this litter, use a couple of tricks. First, he needs to get used to wood litter - that’s half the battle. Even if he first tries to chew it, nothing bad will happen - in fact, it’s just compressed sawdust. Then just mix the fillers, gradually increasing the amount of clumping and decreasing the amount of wood. That's all.

Terms of use

Considering that Fresh Step cat litter is available in fundamentally different types, for proper use you must follow the instructions exactly. However, all toiletries have common points:

1. The litter is poured into a clean, dry cat litter box. Layer: 5–6 cm. If there are several users of one tray in the house, then more.
2. As they appear, solid waste or formed lumps are removed with a special scoop.
3. Each type of filler must be mixed daily. This is done so that liquid does not form at the bottom of the cat litter and the granules do not lose their adsorbing properties.
4. Mineral fillers can be added as they decrease in the tray.
5. A complete replacement is made as needed: clumping and absorbent ones are recommended to be changed after 10 days, and silica gel - when the crystals become uniformly yellow.
6. Fresh Step is thrown into containers along with the trash. They cannot be disposed of in the toilet.

Features and types of Fresh Step filler

Premium Fresh Step fillers are manufactured at the Clorox plant in the USA. Moreover, they are produced not only from standard materials (bentonite clay, silica gel), but also from red cedar wood and activated carbon. The composition depends on the type of hygiene product.

Pet owners leave mostly positive and even rave reviews about Fresh Step litter. However, some were confused by the change in packaging. In July 2021, the company rebranded, changing the product labeling from kilograms to liters.

Table: compliance of the new filler markings with the old one

Unfortunately, some buyers remain dissatisfied with their purchase. Therefore, it is so important to understand the types, pros and cons of filler.

Photo gallery: types of Fresh Step fillers

FRESH STEP CLUMPING is a clumping filler made from clay and some other components. FRESH STEP EXTREME filler is absorbent

FRESH STEP EXTREME

FRESH STEP EXTREME absorbent filler contains clay, activated carbon, minerals and flavor. Thanks to these components, the product, according to the manufacturer, instantly absorbs odor and prevents its appearance by blocking the growth of bacteria. The filler granules are small, pleasant blue, cyan and gray in color. Cat owners note that it is not painful to step on spilled particles even with bare feet.

EXTREM filler granules are small, but not sharp

Available in packages of 6, 12, 18 and 30 liters. The corresponding cost is approximately 450, 900, 1200 and 2500 rubles. The package lasts up to three weeks for the owner of one pet.

Using the filler is not at all difficult: it is recommended to pour a layer of the product into the tray at least 5 cm thick or more (depending on the number of pets). It is recommended to completely change the contents of the tray at least once a week, regularly removing solid waste. At the same time, many cat owners manage to change the contents in the tray no more than once a month.

The filler (one mound of 1.5–2 kg) is enough for a month, or even more. It absorbs just perfectly! The smell appears only at the end of this period. The only negative is that it is carried out of the tray with its paws, but this is a complaint more likely to our cat, he is also a fan of raking with shovel paws. Moreover, it also removes any other filler.

mirca2006

https://irecommend.ru/content/samyi-zhivuchii-napolnitel-iz-vsego-raznoobraziya-laifkhak-kak-prodlit-ego-zhizn-eshche-na-d

EXTREM absorbent filler is easy to use

Most reviews of FRESH STEP EXTREME claim that the filler intensively absorbs odor and is easy to use. But there are also nuances.

What is very important is that I get an ALLERGY if the cat actively scratches this filler with its paws. And when I change the filler, and its fine dust begins to fly around the room, my nose itches terribly and I sneeze. I consider this a minus for allergic people, but I am not reducing the stars, because, in principle, I am also allergic to dust and ragweed. In addition, I minimized this by using a closed toilet... In general, of all the fillers I tried, this one seemed to me the most successful. Both in price and quality. And, of course, there was no smell, even when there were three animals.

Zhanna Mjatta

https://irecommend.ru/content/ochen-ekonomichnyi-napolnitel-glavnoe-nikakogo-zapakhano-allergiya-u-menya-istoriya-kak-my-p

And occasionally you can read extremely negative reviews.

The cat became a drug addict and an asshole, and the rabbit died... Too strong aromatization, dusty, causes unpleasant consequences for animals! Unsafe!!!

Inexplicable things began to happen to the cat: she really became an asshole! I walked about 5 times a day, with normal formed stools! I ate a lot! And she was as thin as a bicycle! She was digging the pot all the time very maniacally, as if she was “stuck” by the aroma of the filler. After we bought a regular, non-scented litter, dramatic changes occurred with the cat: she lost such an unhealthy interest in her potty, and simply started going into it when she needed to - poop once a day, pee 3 times a day. She dripped a little and went about her business. Now we sleep peacefully at night, because the kitty is not addicted to drugs in her litter box!

grafinia

https://irecommend.ru/content/koshka-stala-narkomankoi-i-zasrankoi-krolik-pomer-slishkom-silnaya-aromatizatsiya-pylit-vyzy

FRESH STEP CRYSTALS

The next type of filler is absorbent FRESH STEP CRYSTALS, which is traditionally made from silica gel crystals.

Silica gel does not leave dust, but a cat can carry its stuck small granules on its paws throughout the apartment, and silica gel particles are sharp and painful to step on with bare feet.

Silica gel granules are beautiful but sharp

This filler is poured into the tray at a level of 4 cm or more (depending on the depth of the tray). Solid waste must also be removed regularly, and the rest of the filler in the tray must be mixed with a scoop. If you want to remove stained silica gel particles, there will be no problems - they change color from blue to dirty yellow. And it’s better to remove solid waste as soon as possible - silica gel filler absorbs odors less intensely and more slowly than clay filler.

A cat litter box has never seen such beauty)) Bright blue color, complete absence of odor for three weeks (yes, it’s not enough for a month), and the most important thing is to remove only solid waste! Just a miracle! This is the pinnacle of the evolution of fillers)))

tangerine duck

https://irecommend.ru/content/vysshee-zveno-v-evolyutsii-koshachego-tualeta

Experienced breeders do not recommend mixing FRESH STEP CRYSTALS with other fillers. Cats that prefer silica gel tend to be fussy and are unlikely to appreciate a mix of scents or textures. FRESH STEP CRYSTALS is not suitable for timid and fearful cats, since silica gel hisses when wet and can scare pets.

FRESH STEP CLUMPING

FRESH STEP CLUMPING is a clumping litter made from high quality clay, activated carbon and plant extract with reduced dust content.

The granules of clumping litter are much smaller than the particles of absorbent litter. They do not have a distinct odor, stick to the paws, but do not prick.

Granules of clumping filler are significantly smaller than particles of absorbent

FRESH STEP CLUMPING is poured into the tray in a layer of 5–7 cm. The cat’s owner can only regularly remove lumps that form upon contact with moisture. The manufacturer claims that the lumps are super durable, and thanks to the special formula, bacteria will not form in the tray for up to 10 days.

The product is sold in packages of 6.35 kg and costs about a thousand rubles. For one pet, the package is enough for up to three weeks. True, it is better to use this type of litter if there is no more than one cat in the house.

In theory, lumps should have formed, but either my cats have a horizontally directed stream, or its speed is too high, but the lump did not have time to form. And all the mess had to be scraped off from the bottom of the tray with a scoop. And the resulting substance is then washed away with great difficulty. The filler “leaked” before our eyes: a pack of 6.35 kg was enough for two cats for exactly 8 days. A pack of Fresh Step absorbent filler 6.35 kg is enough for a little over a month.

akira_yamaoka

https://irecommend.ru/content/smyli-dengi-v-koshachii-lotok-sravnenie-komkuyushchegosya-fresh-step-s-vpityvayushchim

Advantages

Over many years of impeccable quality and meeting expectations, Fresh Step fillers have acquired an army of fans. Their reviews indicate the following advantages of the brand:

• big variety. It is possible to choose a filler that suits the individual needs of the cat;
• economical, it does not require frequent replacement;
• absorbs moisture;
• perfectly withstands the load of several cats;
• easy to use;
• reliably eliminates odors, prevents bacterial growth;
• Doesn't stick to cat's paws.

Customer Reviews

And I really liked this filler. I also have 2 Bengal cats, they bark a lot))) and the tray is large. This filler has a subtle odor compared to the fresh-absorbing step and the absence of dust, which is an important plus. The granules are small and don’t stick to my cats’ legs and then they don’t drag them around the room, which is also a plus. Lumps form instantly and in order not to scrape them from the bottom, you need to sprinkle a layer of 5 cm. Very economical. Mine have been on it for a week now and I haven’t added a new portion of filler. I really liked it. I will continue to buy it.

Customer Reviews

Advantages:

It retains the smell for a long time, does not turn into dirt, like clay, and does not stick to the tray and paws.
Disadvantages:
high price.

Of course, I will say right away that the filler is expensive. Even if it is spent quite sparingly, it doesn’t matter. But the most important thing is that it really copes with the smell. It simply doesn't exist. Moreover, it does not overwhelm it with flavoring and does not generate dust, like bentonite. Previously, we also used Kloros filler, fresh step, but based on bentonite, and silica gel has the advantage that it does not contain any dust or debris. It’s easy to clean with a dustpan and in the trash, you only need a little bit of it, a full change is not needed often. The only thing is that it is not everywhere. I think it's all about the price. But the online store brings us great things to order, along with food and other cat treats. So whoever really needs it will not have a problem buying it. You just shouldn’t expect it to be in full stock in every small pet store.