It All Started With a Kiss

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #yougottabekittenme #CollectiveBias

15 years ago, this month, I wandered into our local Humane Society looking for a puppy. I was a new homeowner, first time out on my own and I REALLY wanted a Beagle, or so I thought. I remember the day so vividly, it was a hot May Saturday afternoon and I was determined to take a peek at the new puppies up for adoption. But when we arrived at the Humane Society the place was crowded. So crowded I couldn’t even make my way to the puppy area!

While we waited for our turn to go back and look at the puppies I started to meander through the cat area to pass the time. But I already had a cat so I was determined to come home with a puppy, a beagle puppy to be exact. It felt like we had been waiting an eternity to see the puppies and somehow I found myself in  the small critter area where they had an abundance of kittens. These kittens were crazy! Bouncing off the walls, tackling each other and meowing.

There was this one kitten, an adorable little cinnamon tabby. He was just sitting there, quietly, staring at me. After a few moments, I opened the kennel door and that little tabby walked right up my arm, around my back, nestled on my shoulder and started giving me kitty kisses. Well, that was it. I never even made it back to the puppies. I ended up walking out with that little guy and taking him home. I decided to name him Sebastian and we have been inseparable ever since.

Sebastian was a lively kitten. The quiet, well-mannered kitten I saw sitting in a cage was not the kitten I brought home. He LOVES to play. We would spend hours playing with Peacock feathers, pom poms, fake mice and more. Sebastian would run through the room and jump as high as he could trying to tackle feathers. Or he’d come tearing through the house batting his pom around. I just loved watching him play.

When I first brought Sebastian home we lived in a townhouse that was recently built. Well, the land used to be farmland so there was a little field mouse issue. One day I came home and Sebastian was sitting under the chair meowing in a sad tone with what I thought was a toy mouse in his paws. As I got closer to check out what was going on I realized it was not a toy mouse but a dead field mouse! Sebastian was crying because his friend had passed. Here Sebastian thought they were playing and that poor little mouse had a heart attack and died. Poor Sebastian, he was crushed.

Sebastian is a very vocal kitty too. If he wants something or feels he needs something he has no problem letting me know about it. In fact, he lets me know every single morning that he needs a can of wet food, even though there is a bowl full of dry food sitting right in front of him. Sebastian also has high standards for his litter box. Not just any litter will do for this boy.

Due to his persistent nature over the years, I have learned how to give him a superb litter box experience. Not only does this make him a happy kitty it also helps to keep my home smelling fresh. See, his litter box is kept in my laundry room which happens to be right next to my kitchen and living room. So if his area is not fresh neither is my home. So how do I accomplish this? I’ll let you in on a few of my secrets….

First off, I always buy the biggest cat box I can find. I figure I like spacious bathrooms so I’m sure my cat would like to have some space while taking care of business too.  And I replace our box every year. Remember, cats have amazing sniffers. Cat boxes are made out of plastic and after constant use plastic will absorb odors. I know I do not like going into smelly restrooms so I can only imagine what Sebastian thinks with his extra sensitive kitty sniffer.

One way I try to cut down on his kitty box absorbing odors is by using a cat box liner. Yes, I know I am using a clumping litter but that litter does still stick to the sides of the box from time to time. And when it’s time to do a whole box change all I have to do is take the liner out and start over. This makes cleanup a snap!

Another trick is I buy 8-gallon trash bags and leave them next to my cat box area with a long handle scooper.  Every night or every other I take a little trash bag, scoop out the soiled litter, tie the bag shut and toss it in the trash can. This helps seal the odor inside the bag. But the most important product you need to have a superb litter box experience is quality litter!

Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze is perfect for our household. For one thing, this is available exclusively at Sam’s Club in 42 lb packages. This is perfect for me! I head to Sam’s Club once a week to pick up fresh fruits and veggies for our home so when I need kitty litter I can just swing by the pet section on our way out and grab some.

Since Sebastian’s kitty box is so close to our main living space having a litter control odors and freshens the air is a must. Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze does just that. No one smells the litter box when they enter our home. No one smells it when they are watching television in our living room, which is maybe 10 feet from the laundry room. And Sebastian seems to be very pleased too! No more little presents left outside the box.

So how does Fresh Step do this? How do they control the odors while freshening the air? Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze harnesses Borate Technology for superior ammonia control which breaks down to mean it inhibits the growth of bacteria which leads to foul odors. The Lemongrass citrus adds a freshness to the air. Combine those two and you have a little kitty spa experience going on in the litter box!

And if that’s not enough to get you heading to the stores how about this…Fresh Step is a huge supporter of animal shelters. Each package of Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze has paw points. Head over to the Fresh Step website and you can redeem those paw points to donate to an animal shelter of your choice or save up and get your kitty something special. This is near and dear to my heart because Sebastian is a shelter kitty.

Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze is only available at Sam’s Club. You’ll find it in the pet section, some Sam’s Clubs will have a designated aisle for pet products. In my Sam’s Club all pet products are located against the wall running from the pharmacy to the freezer section.

During the month of May it’s $3.50 off! Check out the May Instant Savings booklet to see all the items on sale this month. No need to clip a coupon. Just head over to Sam’s Club, pick up Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze and head to the register. Discount will automatically come off at the register!

With warmer temps come funky odors. For us as the temperatures increase, the inside of our car starts to smell foul.  A simple, quick and easy solution to this is to take Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze and fill a clean sock, tie it shut and place under the front seat of the car. Foul odors are absorbed! No longer will your senses be overcome by funky odors when you open your car door.

What other ways could you use Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze around the house?