Fresh Step Fillers Review

Often, cat owners are faced with the difficulties of choosing a suitable litter for cat litter, which must meet several criteria at once: reasonable price, convenience, getting rid of unpleasant odors, and so that the pet likes it. One such product is Fresh Step filler.

Fresh Step cat litter keeps your pet comfortable and removes unwanted odors from the house. There are several types of cat litter care products in the brand's lineup. The products of this brand are distinguished by their quality and have many advantages:

• the brand has been on the market for 18 years;
• high quality clay and proprietary Carbon PLUS technology to control unpleasant odors;
• completely absorbs unpleasant odors, and also perfectly retains them even with a large number of cats;
• has fragrances that are activated upon contact with liquid;
• perfectly absorbs liquid;
• there is a special fastener on the package, you need to pull the free end of the thread, and the package will open without using scissors;
• is always available in almost all pet stores and marketplaces;
• cats quickly adapt and get used to this litter;
• varied assortment and packaging;
• with Extreme filler (based on clay with activated carbon) it is convenient to train kittens to the litter box. Neither animals nor owners are allergic to it;
• strong packaging for easy transportation.

However, Fresh Step fillers have several disadvantages:

• the price is higher than the average in the market;
• the quality of some varieties of Fresh Step filler leaves much to be desired;
• many pets dig up filler granules, which is why they are carried on their paws through the territory of the house;
• has a chemical odor that can be unpleasant not only for pets, but also for their owners;
• buyers are confused by the lack of a handle on the package, which causes inconvenience when transporting even small volumes;
• after use, none of the products can be flushed down the toilet, which causes certain difficulties in the cleaning process;
• creates dust, which is almost impossible to get rid of.

The brand's products are conveniently packaged in volumes of 6, 12, 18 and 30 liters. Weight in bags is respectively 3.5 kg, 6.35 kg, 9.52 kg and 15 kg. Each package is quite strong and made of dense material, so it can be stored for a long time without damaging the filler.

Fresh step is appreciated for its varied assortment. The brand's lineup includes several types of cat litter products: absorbent (mineral with activated carbon), clumping and silica gel-based filler. A detailed description of each type of product will be presented below.

High quality absorbent filler. It perfectly absorbs and neutralizes unpleasant odors, keeping it fresh for a long time. The consumption of the product is very economical; if you have one cat, the litter is changed once every 7 days. Made of gray clay with the addition of activated carbon and minerals. Clay and activated carbon are the very materials that instantly absorb odors. Minerals have an antibacterial effect, because bacteria are the main source of unpleasant odors. Carbon PLUS technology allows you to trap, not just mask, unpleasant odors.

Thanks to the new technology, the fresh scent is activated only upon contact with liquid or pet's paws. Absorbent filler valid 24/7 and guarantees the cleanliness of the tray up to 7 days... Pet owners no longer need to spend all their free time cleaning the litter box every day. It's pretty simple to use. A clean tray is filled with granules to a height of 5-7 centimeters. For more cats, you need to increase the backfill volume.

The content is changed once a week or as needed. Solid waste is cleaned up regularly as pets love cleanliness. So that cats regularly use the litter box and do not leave puddles throughout the house, and also to keep the toilet fresh, the litter is periodically poured to the original level.

Silica gel filler belongs to the group of absorbent mixtures that have a rather high price. Loose granules of premium silica gel absorb liquid without changing their structure. Hard stones do not stick together or disintegrate when moisture appears. They work like a filter. When cat excrement gets on them, the granules do not change color, so the tray always looks aesthetically pleasing. The advantages of silica gel filler include hypoallergenicity (the granules practically do not contain dust, which is the cause of the allergic reaction). Filler crystals are light, do not crumble and are not transferred to the pet's fur and paws throughout the apartment. The multicolored granules do not have thick edges, so they do not hurt the cat's paws or cause cracks on them. And also they are easily sifted into a scoop. When digging, the granules do not frighten the animal with a loud sound, they let the liquid through almost silently.

With proper use, one pack is enough for a long time... For one cat, the bag is enough for a whole month. Suitable for simultaneous use of the toilet by several pets, but in this case the consumption increases greatly... The disadvantages include the high cost and chemical composition (it is undesirable to use it for kittens, since they can eat silica gel), as well as the following feature of the material: when urine gets on the granules, they begin to hiss, which is why most cats get scared and refuse to hike into the tray. In order for the silica gel filler not to lose its properties and to be liked by the pet, you need to follow several recommendations.

Silica gel stones are poured into a clean tray to a height of 3.5 cm. Do not mix the filler with other similar products. For wide trays, you may need two packages at once. It is recommended that solid waste be removed immediately. It is important to stir the granules periodically with a special scoop to ensure long-term freshness and cleanliness. If only one cat walks into the litter box, the litter is changed every 20-30 days. For two cats, the toilet is changed every 10-15 days. For three, you will need more frequent replacement - every 7-15 days. At first, it is necessary to carefully monitor that the pet does not consume the chemical crystals of silica gel in food, and, if necessary, remove them from the mouth.

High quality clumping clay litter sold in a box of 6.35 kg... It is different formation of ultra-strong lumps for long-term elimination of unpleasant odors (up to 10 days). The lumps are dense and can be easily removed from the litter box with a scoop, which pleases users. The use of lumpy filler is much more convenient than previous materials. Smells and liquids are trapped inside the lump, thereby preventing bacteria from growing. Upon contact with the paws of an animal or moisture, a pleasant smell of freshness appears from the scented granules, it is quite light and does not irritate either cats or kittens.

The clumping litter contains practically no dust, suitable for simultaneous use of the litter box by several cats at once. For its use, the tray is filled to a thickness of 7-8 cm. Lumps quickly form when moisture enters. Lumps and solid waste should be disposed of in the trash can as soon as they appear. They cannot be flushed down the toilet. It is recommended to periodically add the filler to the original level. You can use Fresh Step Extreme filler in combination with wood. This prevents strong scattering of the absorbent fill and prolongs its service life. And also the chemical smell of the fragrance is interrupted by the scent of wood. Wood filler is put in the first layer, absorbent is poured on top.

There are often tips to use the top mesh layer of the litter box to prevent spillage from the sides of the toilet. This saves costs. The principle is simple: the liquid flows down, and the top layer remains dry. Thus, the filler granules do not spread throughout the apartment. And there will be no smell from the tray.

After analyzing the reviews, it can be noted that the majority of buyers speak positively about Fresh Step products... The product is appreciated for the complete absorption of unpleasant odors, beautiful appearance and economical consumption. Users recommend purchasing the filler from this company, since on average one bag of absorbent filler for 18 liters is enough for 2 months. Many people hesitate to buy such a little-known product, but the fact that the pellets do not stick to the tray, paws and wool makes them opt for budget Fresh Step litters.

Unfortunately, despite the fact that many recommend the product, the reviews often point to serious brand flaws. The main disadvantages for buyers are the high price and the fine fraction of the absorbent granules. According to several users, the price of the silica gel filler does not match the quality.Users with toddlers are reluctant to use silica gel, as its bright colors appeal to small children. Therefore, for safety reasons, they switch from silica gel to filler with clay and activated carbon from the same manufacturer.