About Fresh Step Crystals

Fresh Step Crystals, made by the Clorox Co., represents a dramatic departure from the regular clay and scoopable cat litters that came before. For some cats, the change may be too drastic, but owners of felines that will accept the unusual litter will find themselves changing it less often.

  1. Features

    • Fresh Step Crystals is made of silica gel, along with a fragrance. Consumers may have seen silica gel, in small packets, packaged with products that need protection from moisture, such as leather purses or electronic equipment. The gel works fast to absorb the cat urine, then releases it through evaporation. The crystals' shape helps reduce scatter, the company says.

    Use

    • Fresh Step Crystals should be spread at least 1½ inches deep in the litter box, using more than one bag if needed. The company advises against adding any other products, such as litter box deodorant, to the crystals. Every day, pet owners should remove solid waste from the box and reposition the crystals by raking them with the scoop. This allows air circulation to all of the crystals in turn, boosting their performance.

    Benefits

    • With Fresh Step Crystals, wholesale litter changes are reduced to about once a month, as opposed to once a week for regular clay litter. Because the litter absorbs liquid quickly and then dries again, it may be less messy for both you and your cat. The company claims the litter also absorbs odor five times better than clay litter.

    Considerations

    • Some cats may not like the feel of the silica gel particles and may balk at using the litter box. If your cat has trouble, the company suggests using a mixture of the old litter with the new crystals for one week, then replacing the mixture with just Fresh Step Crystals. Silica gel is safe for both humans and cats, Fresh Step says, but as with other litters, pregnant women should handle only unused crystals to avoid the risk of contracting taxoplasmosis, an illness that can cause birth defects.

    Misconceptions

    • Fresh Step Crystals, along with clay litters, is not biodegradable and should never be flushed down a toilet. Instead, solid waste should be thrown into the trash. Despite its ability to last a month between changings, Fresh Step Crystals requires daily effort from pet owners to perform its best.