Cat-Loving Crooner Kellie Pickler Helps Design Sweater That Will Have Feline Fashionistas Saying "Me-Wow"

OAKLAND, Calif., Jan. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dog lovers are never shy about publicly parading their pooch pride. But too often cat affection is locked behind closed doors.  No more, says the makers of Fresh Step^® litter.

In honor of Cat Appreciation Month this February, the makers of Fresh Step litter have teamed up with cat-loving country star Kellie Pickler to ask cat lovers to flood Facebook with images of them wearing their favorite cat-centric clothing.

Don't have any kitty couture? No problem. The Fresh Step brand has partnered with Pickler and fashion designer Geren Ford to design a must-have limited-edition cat sweater.  The sweater will be available for purchase online at www.aspcaonlinestore.com, with 100 percent of proceeds benefiting the ASPCA^® (The American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®).  Cat lovers who aren't in the market for a new sweater can get in on the fun, too.  The Fresh Step Facebook page houses an online application that lets people digitally place the Pickler sweater onto a photo of themselves on Facebook.  The Fresh Step litter team will donate $1 to the ASPCA for every photo posted, through March 15, 2012, up to $100,000.

"It's time for cat lovers to truly display their cat pride," said Pickler, whose new album "100 Proof" launches this week. "I collaborated with fellow cat lover and designer Geren Ford to create a sweater that we hope any cat parent would wear to show their kitty pride and that all animal lovers can wear in support of the ASPCA."

The oatmeal heather-colored tunic "Kitty Crooner" sweater with green sequin embellishments celebrates Pickler's country roots and gives wearers a modern vintage look.  The sweater will be available for purchase at www.aspcaonlinestore.com for $35 while supplies last.

Public Displays of Online Cat-fection Ignite "Purrs" Nationwide

In addition to the limited-edition sweater, Fresh Step will offer four digital sweater options for cat lovers to dress up their social media self at www.facebook.com/freshstep.  On top of the "Kitty Crooner" design, fashion designer Geren Ford created three other fun digital cat sweaters – a fashion-forward piece, a kitschy sweater and one that's just plain cute.  Facebook visitors can place the sweaters over their uploaded pictures and resize all elements of the sweater to get that catwalk-ready fit.  Once done, it is easy to share the photo with friends or to make it a profile picture.  Simply "trying on" these digital sweaters will activate the $1 donation to the ASPCA, up to $100,000.

"Cats are pretty much the coolest animals alive. They're mysterious, finicky and funny," said David Kargas, a spokesperson for the Fresh Step litter brand and owner of two cats.  "Rather than keeping that love behind closed doors or in the anonymity of YouTube channels, we want to bring it out into the open and invite people to show just how much they love cats.  And while they do it, they can do some good too, as Fresh Step will support the ASPCA's programs in their honor."

Animal lovers will also have the opportunity to win Pickler's very own "Kitty Crooner" sweater.  After launching the sweater during a series of media interviews, Pickler will autograph the sweater, which will then be sold in an auction at www.charitybuzz.com/aspca through Feb. 14. Included in the auction package are two tickets to an upcoming Pickler concert, a meet-and-greet with Pickler at that concert, and an autographed copy of her new CD "100 Proof".All proceeds from the auction will benefit the ASPCA.

"We cannot think of a better time to show your affection for cats than the month of February, when love is already in the air," said Elysia Howard, vice president of marketing and licensing for the ASPCA. "But on a more serious note, it's fun and creative programs like these that help the ASPCA step in and provide assistance to animal welfare groups across the country when they are in need. We are excited to see all of the amazing examples of cat pride roll in during the campaign, and we are thankful for the generous contributions that help us continue our life-saving work."

The makers of Fresh Step litter are committed to helping cats and, since 2001, have donated more than $2.5 million to the ASPCA.

About Fresh Step® Litter

Fresh Step^® Litter is a product of The Clorox Pet Products Company, a subsidiary of The Clorox Company, headquartered in Oakland, Calif.  The Clorox Company is a leading manufacturer and marketer of consumer products with 8,100 employees and fiscal year 2011 revenues of $5.2 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products, Green Works^® naturally derived home care products, Pine-Sol^® cleaners, Poett^® home care products, Fresh Step^® cat litter, Kingsford^®charcoal, Hidden Valley^® and K C Masterpiece^® dressings and sauces, Brita^® water-filtration products, Glad^® bags, wraps and containers, and Burt's Bees^® natural personal care products. Follow Fresh Step on Facebook at www.facebook.com/freshstep or on Twitter at @freshsteplitter.

About Kellie Pickler

Kellie Pickler grew up immersed in country music in the small town of Albemarle, North Carolina with the words of Tammy Wynette, Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, and Dolly Parton shaping her musical footing.   At the age of 19, she gained fame as a contestant on the fifth season of American Idol where it was evident to all that she was a star.  In 2006, she signed to 19 Recordings and BNA Records to release her debut, Small Town Girl, which has gone on to sell over 800,000 copies worldwide and produce three singles, "Red High Heels," "I Wonder," and "Things That Never Cross a Man's Mind."  In 2008, Pickler released her self-titled sophomore record featuring country radio hits "Don't You Know You're Beautiful," "Best Days of Your Life" (co-written with Taylor Swift and her first Top 10), and "Didn't You Know How Much I Loved You."  Having established herself as not only a powerful vocalist but also a songwriter, Pickler recently wrapped up in the studio with famed producer Frank Liddell (known for his work with Miranda Lambert) and Luke Wooten to record her January 24, 2012 release,100 Proof.  Pickler has co-written six of the 11 tracks on the album with the lead single, "Tough," serving as the lead single.  For more information, please visit www.kelliepickler.com.

About the ASPCA®

Founded in 1866, the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) is the first humane organization established in the Americas and serves as the nation's leading voice for animal welfare. One million supporters strong, the ASPCA's mission is to provide effective means for the prevention of cruelty to animals throughout the United States. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation, the ASPCA is a national leader in the areas of anti-cruelty, community outreach and animal health services. The ASPCA, which is headquartered in New York City, offers a wide range of programs, including a mobile clinic outreach initiative, its own humane law enforcement team, and a groundbreaking veterinary forensics team and mobile animal CSI unit. For more information, please visit www.aspca.org. To become a fan of the ASPCA on Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/aspca. To follow the ASPCA on Twitter, go to http://www.twitter.com/aspca.

Media Contacts:

David Kargas, Clorox
510.271.7492
[email protected]

Apryl Ehmann, PDC PR
740.707.5478
[email protected]

SOURCE The Clorox Company