ASPCA Joins Forces With Fresh Step® Litter

NEW YORK, June 5, 2007 — The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) and the makers of Fresh Step® litter today announced that they are partnering again this summer to help raise awareness of the plight of homeless cats and kittens in this country. As the ASPCA marks “Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month” in June, the two organizations will aim to increase awareness about the millions of cats and kittens waiting in shelters for a loving home, and to ultimately increase cat and kitten adoptions.

Approximately eight to 12 million companion animals enter shelters each year, and approximately five to nine million of those animals are euthanized—about 70 percent of those are cats. “The issue of cat overpopulation—which is especially high during the summer months —is an extremely critical one,” said Jo Sullivan, the ASPCA’s Senior Vice President for Development & Communications.

“While cat overpopulation is a concern all year long, the feline reproductive cycle is actually triggered by warm weather and continues throughout the summer months, making overpopulation an even greater problem at this time of year. Curbing this overpopulation—which means highlighting the importance of spay/neuter and adoptions—is one of the most effective ways we can prevent these animals from being at-risk.”

This year, Clorox (the makers of Fresh Step litter) will host the Fresh Step Pet Den, an adoption station, at 12 Animal Planet Expo events this summer to encourage more people to adopt cats and kittens, and provide them with tips on how to care for them once home. ASPCA veterinarians will be on hand at two of these Animal Planet Expo dates: June 16-17, 2007 in Tampa, Fla.; and August 18, 2007 in Philadelphia, Pa., offering their expertise in the Pet Den.

The makers of Fresh Step litter will also make donations to several shelters around the country in support of the ASPCA’s national efforts, including ASPCA® Mission: Orange™—a focused effort by the ASPCA to create a country of humane communities, one community at a time. The makers of Fresh Step litter are also donating advertisements to the 2007 ASPCA® Mission: Orange™ target communities including: Austin, Texas; Gulfport, Miss.; New York, N.Y.; Philadelphia, Pa.; Tampa, Fla.; and Spokane, Wash. that will help encourage adoptions during June’s Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month.

“Through our partnership with the ASPCA, we are committed to finding loving homes for cats and kittens living in shelters,” said David Kellis of Fresh Step litter. “We know from recent research that litter box odor is a common barrier to adoption. Fresh Step with Odor-Eliminating Carbon solves the odor issue, which will hopefully encourage more people to visit their local shelters with the goal of adopting a cat in June.”

To learn more about Fresh Step® Scoopable Cat Litter, please visit http://www.freshstep.com/. For more information about the ASPCA’s Adopt-a-Shelter Cat Month and ASPCA® Mission: Orange™, please visit www.aspca.org. To find out if the Animal Planet Expo is coming to a town near year, please visit. http://www.animal.discovery.com/.