Scoop Away :: About Us

One simple idea can launch a company. Add some elbow grease, a garage band of coworkers and one Catsanova and you've got a company that is still going strong 20 years later. Scoopable litter was the little idea that made a big difference for those who came to use it. To this day it's still what we do best. Why stray from a good idea when it works?

- 1987
- A&M Products brings clumping cat litter to the U.S. They begin production in their garage, but soon invest in the Black Hills Bentonite Company to guarantee a source of high quality clumping clay that is still used today.
- 1990
- Demand grows for clumping litter in grocery stores, and so Catsanova's Scoop Away® litter is introduced. Catsanova is dropped from the name, but Scoop Away® litter forges ahead to become the first national brand of clumping cat litter.

- 1992
- A&M is purchased by First Brands Co. after their $43 million in sales outgrows their garage.
- 1994
- First Brands Co. begins construction of a modern plant in Spring Hill, KS. Scoop Away® litter goes national and is now found at most major grocery store chains.

- 1999
- Clorox enters the picture by purchasing Scoop Away® litter from First Brands Co. and launches a complete line up of easy scooping products.

A few behind the scenes comments from the folks who were there from the beginning:

Handiwork

"We did a lot of manual work. We painted the speckles ourselves. We worked with clouds of dust - you could barely see."

- Maureen, joined A&M Products in 1991

Pride in a Good Product

"Sales grew by leaps and bounds. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to work in that environment."

- Mike, joined A&M Products in 1992

The Purple

"You walk down the aisle and you look for the purple. It's reliable. It's quick and easy."

- Marsha, joined First Brands in 1994

Sticking to What's Important: Easy Scooping

Over the years "the first scoopable litter" got a few facelifts until it became "One Scoop. Done™." We started with tight clumps that make for easy scooping and to this day we make products that deliver on that claim. After all, every cat likes a clean box and every cat owner could use some help keeping it that way.