Last updated Sep 29, 2026
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Known for its powerful odor control and paw-activated Febreze fragrance, Fresh Step is one of the most recognizable names in the cat litter industry. This brand offers a generous variety of clumping clay formulas, but how do they hold up to real-world testing? Find out in this detailed review.
Ratings
- Variety of Products – 4.5/5
- Price Per Pound – 4/5
- Multi-Cat Formulas – 5/5
- Clumping Ability – 4.5/5
- Long-Lasting Odor Control – 5/5
- Natural/Alternative Options – 4/5
Overall Score: 4.5/5
Fresh Step Brand Overview
The Fresh Step brand is owned by the Clorox Company, formerly known as Clorox Chemical Co. An American global manufacturer of consumer and professional products, this company also manufactures the Scoop Away and Ever Clean pet brands.
Throughout the brand’s history, Fresh Step has been known for innovation. The majority of its products are made with high-quality sodium bentonite clay mixed with activated charcoal and antimicrobial agents, though the brand also offers Fresh Step Crystals made from silica gel. Today, the company offers a wide selection of clumping cat litter products powered by the fresh scent of Febreze, including multi-cat and lightweight cat litter formulas.
In addition to being committed to providing cat owners with high-quality products, the Fresh Step brand is also committed to giving back. The company donates over 1 million scoops of litter to shelters around the country every year, on top of making significant monetary donations and sponsoring adoption events in partnership with Best Friends Animal Society.
What Kinds of Litter Does Fresh Step Offer?
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Fresh Step offers a wide variety of cat litter products. While the majority of the products are clumping clay litters, there’s one non-clumping formula and a crystal cat litter called Clean Care. Fresh Step also offers a handful of deodorizing crystals you can sprinkle into your cat’s litter box to help control odor.
Here’s a quick overview of Fresh Step’s clumping clay litter formulas:
- Odor Shield – A proprietary blend of clumping clay enhanced with activated charcoal, Ammonia Block Technology, and Febreze fragrance.
- Extreme Clump – Designed to form tight, hard clumps for easier scooping and hassle-free litter box changeouts.
- Light Weight – An 11.5-pound jug that delivers the same absorption and odor control as a 22-pound carton of regular clay litter.
- Clean Paws – Formulated to minimize dust and tracking with enhanced odor control lasting up to 21 days.
- Ever Fresh – Recipes formulated with ultra-absorbent microgranules to maximize absorption and reduce the frequency of litter box changeouts.
- Heavy Duty – Fresh Step’s strongest odor-fighting formula, made with three times the odor-fighting carbon and Ammonia Block Technology of Odor Shield.
Most of Fresh Step’s cat little formulas feature the odor-fighting fragrance of Febreze. The formulas are designed to not just mask litter box odor but neutralize it through the power of activated charcoal and ammonia blockers. Fresh Step describes its cat litter as “paw-activated,” suggesting that each step your cat takes in the litter box releases a burst of freshness.
Odor control is Fresh Step’s selling point, and every product package has a number in the upper right corner that tells you how long that formula’s odor control is supposed to last. The numbers range from 15 days for unscented and lightweight formulas up to 30 days for the Heavy Duty formula.
Fresh Step cat litter is sold primarily in boxes, though some formulas come in value packs with multiple smaller bags. The one non-clumping clay cat litter recipe is sold in bags and the lightweight formulas come in jugs.
Top 5 Cat Litters Reviewed
| Product Name | Fresh Step Simply Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter | Fresh Step Clean Paws Low-Tracking Scented Cat Litter | Fresh Step Ever Fresh Clumping Clay Cat Litter | Fresh Step Heavy Duty Odor Block Scented Cat Litter | Fresh Step Odor Shield Light Weight Clumping Clay Cat Litter |
| Materials | Clay | Clay | Clay | Clay | Clay |
| Clumping? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Life Stage | All | All | All | All | All |
| Additional Features | Unscented, Odor Control, Clumping | Scented and Unscented, Low-Tracking, Low-Dust, Odor Control, Clumping | Scented and Unscented, Highly Absorbent, Odor Control, Clumping | Scented, Odor Control, Low-Dust, Clumping | Lightweight, Scented, Odor Control, Clumping |
| Type | Clumping | Clumping | Clumping | Clumping | Clumping |
| Price | $0.55 per lb | $0.67 per lb | $0.67 per lb | $0.67 per lb | $0.84 per lb |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 | 4.6/5 | 4.7/5 | 4.7/5 | 3.8/5 |
#1 Fresh Step Simply Unscented Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Fresh Step’s take on a classic clumping clay litter, Simply Unscented offers up to 15 days of odor control. Instead of relying on added fragrance to keep unpleasant scents at bay, this formula combines activated charcoal and proprietary Ammonia Block Technology with hard-clumping clay to stop odor before it starts. It’s also designed to inhibit growth of odor-causing bacteria.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Simply Unscented is what I’d describe as a medium-weight formula. The clay granules are fairly heavy and moderately sized, so tracking wasn’t a significant issue. It clumped quickly and the clumps held together well, making this litter easy to scoop. There was some dust when I first poured it but it wasn’t an ongoing concern.
I performed most of my testing with this formula in an automatic litter box (the Litter-Robot 5). Odor generally isn’t much of a concern with a self-cleaning litter box, but even the clumps and waste in the waste drawer didn’t seem to accumulate odor as quickly as it sometimes does. Overall, I was impressed with this litter’s performance.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 4/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 4.5/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 4.5/5 |
| Scent | 4/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.5/5 |
Pros
- Forms tight, hard clumps that are easy to scoop
- Free from artificial fragrances and dyes
- Provides up to 15 days of continuous odor control
Cons
- May track a little more than low-tracking litter like Clean Paws
- Some dust on first pour, but it settled quickly
#2 Fresh Step Clean Paws Low-Tracking Scented Cat Litter
Available in unscented, scented, and advanced formulas, Clean Paws is Fresh Steps’ low-tracking clay litter. It’s designed with larger, heavier granules that don’t stick to your cat’s paws like finer formulas. This recipe is also marketed as Fresh Step’s lowest dust formula.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This litter features a proprietary blend of natural clay, activated charcoal, Ammonia Block Technology, and Febreze fragrance (except the unscented recipe). When scooped daily, it delivers up to 21 days of continuous odor control. This makes it a great option for multi-cat households, though in single-cat households one box can last up to a month.
In testing Fresh Step Clean Paws, I did find it to track the least out of the formulas I tried. The granules are noticeably larger. Every clay litter I’ve tested has some dust upon first pour, but this one settled quickly and there wasn’t any dust when I scooped it later.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 4/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 5/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 4.5/5 |
| Scent | 4/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.6/5 |
Pros
- Large, heavy granules reduce tracking
- Available in scented and unscented formulas
- Delivers up to 21 days of continuous odor control
Cons
- Some dust on first pour, but it settled quickly
- Febreze fragrance was barely noticeable on scented variety
#3 Fresh Step Ever Fresh Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Marketed as Fresh Step’s most absorbent formula, Ever Fresh contains ultra-absorbent microgranules that complement the natural clay in soaking up liquid on contact. The primary benefit of this recipe is to keep the surface of the litter bed fresh and clean, while also reducing the frequency with which you have to change out the contents of the litter box.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
In my experience, this Ever Fresh formula seemed to be less dusty than the low-dust Clean Paws recipe. Both the scented and unscented recipes absorbed liquid very quickly and dried to a hard, easily scoopable clump. The two recipes looked nearly identical, except the scented formula had lots of little teal granules (for the Febreze scent, I assume).
As with other Fresh Step scented formulas, I found the Febreze fragrance to be very subtle. It was hardly noticeable, in fact, outside of the box it came in. However, the litter did a great job of controlling litter box odor, probably thanks to the quick-clumping feature. I tested it in an enclosed litter box that usually accumulates odor quickly, and it wasn’t a problem.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 4/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 5/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 5/5 |
| Scent | 4/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.7/5 |
Pros
- Quickly absorbs liquid and forms hard clumps
- Designed with multi-cat households in mind
- Delivers up to 21 days of continuous odor control
Cons
- Febreze fragrance was barely noticeable on scented variety
#4 Fresh Step Heavy Duty Odor Block Scented Cat Litter
Designed to deliver up to 30 days of odor control, Heavy Duty is Fresh Step’s strongest odor-fighting formula. Compared to Fresh Step’s Odor Shield line, it blocks odor for up to three times longer. It contains the same activated charcoal and Ammonia Block Technology and Febreze fragrance as many of Fresh Step’s other formulas.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
In testing, I found this recipe to be one of the heavier formulas. The granules were similar in size and weight to the Clean Paws formula, so it tracked a little less than some of the other recipes. It was still a little dusty on first pour but the dust settled quickly and wasn’t an issue while scooping.
As promised, this formula worked very well to control odors. The Febreze fragrance was most noticeable in this recipe, out of all those I tried, which may have had something to do with it. It also formed hard clumps that made it easy to scoop.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 4/5 |
| Clumping Action | 5/5 |
| Odor Control | 5/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 4.5/5 |
| Scent | 4.5/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 5/5 |
| Overall Rating | 4.7/5 |
Pros
- Formulated with activated charcoal and Ammonia Block Technology
- Fights odors continuously for up to 30 days
- Contains Febreze fragrance to keep the litter box smelling fresh
Cons
- Some dust on first pour, but it settled quickly
#5 Fresh Step Odor Shield Light Weight Clumping Clay Cat Litter
Cat litter can be heavy, so this formula is designed to be a little easier to manage. Fresh Step’s Light Weight litter from the Odor Shield line is supposed to deliver the same level of liquid absorption and odor control as a regular cat litter that weighs twice as much. It comes exclusively in 11.5-pound jugs, which makes it particularly easy to pour.
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Though this formula was definitely not as heavy as the other Fresh Step formulas, it wasn’t as noticeably light as some of the lightweight litters I’ve tried from other brands. It was also the dustiest of the bunch and tracked more than the others since the granules were smaller and finer.
This Odor Shield Light Weight formula is designed to deliver up to 15 days of odor control, partially thanks to the inclusion of Febreze fragrance. Again, I found the fragrance to be pretty subtle but the litter did seem to control odors well. The clumps didn’t harden as much as some of the other formulas either, which made it a little messier to scoop.
| Category | Rating |
| Price | 3.5/5 |
| Clumping Action | 4/5 |
| Odor Control | 4/5 |
| Dust/Mess | 3.5/5 |
| Scent | 4/5 |
| Easy to Scoop | 4/5 |
| Overall Rating | 3.8/5 |
Pros
- Sold in easy-to-manage 11.5-pound jugs
- Offers up to 15 days of continuous odor control
- Infused with Febreze fragrance to help keep the litter box fresh
Cons
- Can be pretty dusty due to the finer clay granules
- May track more than heavier formulas
What Do Customers Think of Fresh Step Cat Litter?
Since Fresh Step has been on the market for over 50 years, it’s no surprise that customer reviews are plentiful. The brand has an overall positive reputation and a strong following among cat owners. All but the Light Weight Fresh Step formulas have an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars or higher on Chewy.
Positive reviews frequently mention hard clumping, easy scooping, and excellent odor control. Many satisfied customers say they’ve been using Fresh Step for years. Dissatisfied customers often cite dust and tracking as primary concerns, and some find the fragrance of the scented formulas to be too strong.
Here are a few sample reviews:
Positive Reviews
“I think I’ve used every litter made and this is by far the best. Virtually no tracking, it stays in the box. Litter clumps fast and hard, does not smell and works great in my automatic litter box.” –Lily reviewing Fresh Step Clean Paws cat litter on Chewy, August 24, 2026
“This litter actually does what it says on the package-Shields Odor. Don’t get me wrong I still scoop 2x daily but the litter itself clumps nicely to remove the source of such odors.” –Kelly reviewing Fresh Step Odor Shield cat litter on Chewy, August 29, 2026
Negative Reviews
“I have used this litter for over 5 year since my cat was a kitten and up until recently it was great. I noticed the packaging changed, but the formula must’ve also changed recently because it is very, very dusty now. When I poured it into my cat’s litter box for the first time, I was alarmed about the cloud of dust and overwhelming scent that was not there before.” –Kelly reviewing Fresh Step Simply Unscented cat litter on Chewy, March 18, 2026
“I don’t know what Fresh Step did to their cat litter but clumps break up, the febreze scent is no longer there and I’m having to dump my whole box every week to keep the odor of the cat litter down.” –Kay reviewing Fresh Step Heavy Duty cat litter on Chewy, July 10, 2026
How Much Does Fresh Step Cat Litter Cost?
The cost of Fresh Step cat litter is near market average, at about $0.67 per pound for most of the scented clumping clay formulas. Simply Unscented cat litter is a little bit cheaper while the lightweight formulas cost a little more. Fresh Step cat litter is similarly priced to other clumping clay litters from Tidy Cats and Arm & Hammer, though a little pricier than Dr. Elsey’s and Frisco (now Chewy Made).
Interestingly, buying Fresh Step cat litter in bulk generally doesn’t lower the per-pound price (based on online pricing). Using the Clean Paws, Ever Fresh, and Heavy Duty formulas as examples, you’ll pay about $0.05 more per pound to buy a 4-pack of 9.5-pound bags (38 lbs total) versus a single 22-pound box.
Where Is Fresh Step Cat Litter Sold?
Fresh Step cat litter is widely available both in stores and online. You can find a variety of formulas in national pet store chains like PetSmart and Petco as well as grocery stores and big box stores like Target and Walmart. Online, Fresh Step is sold by both Amazon and Chewy.
Overall, Is Fresh Step Cat Litter a Good Choice?
As a whole, we’re happy to recommend the Fresh Step brand of cat litter. Not only is this brand modestly priced, but there’s a decent variety of products to choose from. Fresh Step seems to have the art of odor control down, with every formula offering strong clumping ability which helps keep odor from accumulating or spreading outside the litter box area.
One thing to be mindful of with this brand is the dust and the scent. Though Fresh Step does offer unscented formulas, most of the formulas contain Febreze or Gain fragrance. It’s also worth noting that almost every Fresh Step formula is clay-based, so it tends to be a little dusty on first pour. The dust settles pretty quickly, however, and we didn’t find it to be an ongoing issue.
If you’re looking for an everyday clay cat litter that clumps well and helps control litter box odor, Fresh Step is a great option to consider. The product names and packaging make it easy to find the right formula to fit your needs, and the per-pound pricing is similar across product lines.
I have used fresh step unscented litter since it first came out, but since the last change of the look of the box the odor control is no longer there, does not clump as well as the old one, and the granules are much smaller and dusty. I don’t know why you changed the formula especially where fresh step is one of the most expensive brands on the market. I am now trying other brands. Very disappointed.
Started using 30 day fresh step with 2 cats scooping daily and replacing what was removed and it’s lasted well beyond 30 days no problem.
I stopped buying Fresh Step litter when they discontinued the Ultra Unscented. However, I decided to give the Outstretch Unscented a try when it was initially released and have been using it exclusively since. The unscented formula is by far the best clay litter I have ever used. (I do not recommend the scented version). Hopefully they don’t change or discontinue it.
Fresh Step is not any good anymore about controlling litter box odor.
I use Fresh Step Unscented Clumping formula for multiple cats. Litter never smells, I don’t have that heavy fragrance that I dislike and that my cats hate. I scoop every morning after breakfast. I have litter mats under my cat box and the clumps are large and hold together very well. My two cat sisters are happy with it and with sharing the extra large high-sided catbox. I have no reason to change.
Thanks for sharing your experience!
Fresh Step had been my favorite kitty liter for years, but lately I have become very disappointed in the way it does not clump any more at all! And does not eliminate odors! I’m not sure what you changed, but it’s not good!
Sorry to hear that your experience has declined so significantly.
After not using it for 2 years I was shocked at the difference when I started using it again. I’m not sure what changed , but it’s not as absorbing like it used to. Imma gonna try multi cat now and see how that works. Fresh step you changed something in your litter , and I’m disappointed in your extreme , my cat leaves litter all over since the granules are so so small, and it produces so. Much dust.
I’d like to add one more thing… Fresh Step stuck to my older cat’s paws and between her toes and hardened like concrete. She could hardly walk! Extremely difficult to dislodge! I switched to a more natural litter for her.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I agree with other reviewers that Fresh Step is the worst I’ve ever used! It hardens, yes, but also sinks and bonds to the bottom of the litter box, almost like concrete. A nasty mess that’s very difficult to scrape from the bottom of the box! Also, much waste and has to be replenished more often than other brands.
I think that the fresh step outstretch is the best litter ever made. I have had cats for 40 years and with this litter there is no smell. I know it’s more expensive but I will skip a couple of meals to buy it from now on. Hats off to whoever invented this product.
Fresh Step Crystals is NON CLUMPING. I’ve been using this litter for 15 years. You made an error in calling this clumping litter. Other Fresh Step litters fill that description.
Hi Stephen, thanks for mentioning that! I don’t see anything in the article saying that the crystal litter is a clumping product.
i purchased light weight extreme extra strength 99.9% dust free, I am sorry worst litter i have ever purchased. I was using Arm & Hammer but decided to try yours, It doesn’t absorb, my cat leaves litter cat prints on the floor when she leaves the litter box (never happened before) wet paws when she jumps on my lap, there is litter all over the floor, the couch, and worse every morning in my bed sheets. she is a short hair cat , but this is disgusting plus triples my house work. i am changing sheets everyday. sweeping and mopping 3 plus times a day. i am so embarrassed to have anyone come and visit. sorry this does not allow me to post pictures i was shocked to read that your website suggests adding 3-4 inches scoopable to make your litter more absorbent. Surprise its not written on your box at all. I have never written any comment like this before, i usually just change product and thats it but this was way too much, you see why if i could have posted pictures. I am sorry but you lost a customer.
thank you for listening
Denise, thank you so much for sharing your experience with Fresh Step. As a side note, you may also want to contact the company directly: https://www.freshstep.com/contact-us/product/
This is the worst litter I’ve ever used. It does clump, odors eliminated…but, I find I waste three times as much litter as its competitors. Urine is absorbed to the point of large clumps, so large it takes away as much as two cups or more of the litter, I find myself having to replenish the amount every couple of days. The clump sticks to the litter scoop like oatmeal on a fork, thus having to clean it with hot water.
I would not recommend this to people on a fixed budget, the other products available provide the same results without using as much product.
Hi Timothy, we value your feedback! If Fresh Step no longer fits your budget we recommend checking out some of our other top picks for clumping cat litter here: https://cats.com/best-clumping-cat-litter
Though tracking was tough for us to test at the cat cafe, Dr. Elsey’s Ultra has grains that are on the larger side, meaning it should track less than some of the competition. Our staffers’ long-term experience experimenting with litter bears that out. “It tracks a bit, but not as bad as other litters I’ve used,” Streams said.
I have 11 cats. Fresh Step Extreme is the only cat litter that works for me. 5 litter boxes cleaned once to twice daily. Surprisingly little smell and all my cats like it. Just use a dust pan when I clean and it takes care of the tracking. Have tried them all and this is the best!
I am surprised that you did not review fresh step crystals. It’s the only litter we’ve used for as many years as can be remembered. Our 2 19 year olds just passed away and was looking for other uses for this product since we buy 10 bags at a time when I ran across this article. Even with kidney issues the last couple of years, which produce lots of urine, these crystals were unsurpassed in quality of controlling odor. The litter box was kept in a corner of our bedroom, which should clearly show we always had a fresh scent. During the end years we did clean and empty the box every 2 weeks instead of once a month. We also used a 10” sided clear storage container to allow them more room, which also made it easier to keep up with maintenance.
Do not sell short this amazing litter……several of my friends began using it when they saw our success.
Hi Betsy,
Thanks for bringing this to my attention, you make a good point and we’ll add this product to the review in the 2020 update we have planned for it
Some cats may be more sensitive to scents than others but most customers have no problem with it
I’ve never heard of Fresh step but it does look pretty awesome
Do you think the fragrance would deter cats from using the litter box