Overview
As glamorous as cats are, there are a couple of elements of owning them that make them… not so attractive. Unlike humans, most cats can’t clean up after themself after they use the bathroom.
If you are sick of scooping out your cat litter box, you should look into automatic litter boxes. These are futuristic tools that make cat ownership a breeze.
If you’re in the market for automatic cat litter boxes, the Petsafe litter box is a decent model which offers decent features at a low price. However – there are definitely better models out there.
While the ScoopFree self-cleaning litter box is a great product, I personally recommend the Litter Robot 4 – it’s more expensive, but it offers a whole range of powerful extra features.
Check out our ScoopFree Litter Box reviews for my analysis of this product and a comparison to the Litter Robot.
Specifications/Tech of Petsafe Scoopfree Litter Box
- Removes waste automatically with a rake
- Safety sensor keeps your cat safe
- Uses crystal litter to reduce odor by dehumidifying waste
- A waste trap with a cover hides the waste from sight and smell
- The streamlined, simple design saves space and uses a familiar tray-style shape
- There is a “Smart” version, which gives you an app for some extra bucks
Petsafe ScoopFree Litter Box
The price of “Petsafe ScoopFree Litter Box “” varies, so check the latest price at
How the Petsafe Scoop Free Self-cleaning Cat Litter Box Works
The Petsafe scoop-free litter box does all the dirty work for you automatically.
First of all, you load in a tray of fresh clean cat litter. This uses a specific type of crystal cat litter which absorbs liquids and dehydrates waste from clumps within minutes.
Once the reusable tray is loaded, you simply need to make sure the Petsafe Scoop Free is plugged into your mains electricity.
Now, you just have to wait for your cat to use the tray!
After your cat has finished, a sensor detects it leaving the litter bed. When the sensor detects your cat has completely left the box, it activates a rake mechanism. The rake moves from one end to the other. This raking mechanism scoops up any solid waste and moves it into a separate covered waste compartment.
This minimizes odors (much more effectively than traditional clumping litter) because it hides the solid waste in a closed compartment. The litter also dries out the waste much more effectively than typical litter, which also helps to reduce odor.
When the compartment is full, an indicator light will turn red, letting you know it’s time to empty the compartment.
To empty the compartment, you simply throw away the entire cardboard tray and replace it with a new one.
Now you are ready to repeat the cycle from the start!
PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box Review
Here is a detailed review of various features of the ScoopFree litter box:
Setup Process
The Petsafe is simple to set up. It comes with two main parts that need to be assembled together.
Initially, you have the cleaning mechanism component. This consists of a plastic tray and edges, a plastic waste compartment, and a metallic rake. This part comes fully assembled from the factory, so you don’t have to do any fiddling.
The other component is the replaceable cardboard trays. These are filled with crystal litter and inserted into the main machine.
It’s really easy to get these crystal litter box trays inserted, and the whole setup process can be completed in under 5 minutes. When the litter box is full, switching it out for a new one isn’t much of a chore and only takes a small amount of time to change.
Cat-Friendliness
As all cat owners know, the safety of your cat is your priority. The last thing you want is for your cat to get hurt by an automatic litter box. Thankfully, you can tell that the Petsafe ScoopFree automatic litter box has been designed with your cat’s safety in mind.
It has a safety sensor which is constantly detecting whether a cat is inside the box. The raking mechanism will activate after the cat exits the box, but if your cat enters the ScoopFree system, the rake movement automatically shuts off – so your cat won’t get hurt.
The AC adapter plug is connected to the box with a peculiar shape to minimize the dangers of your cat chewing it or wanting to pull on the cable.
Odor Prevention
The odor prevention is pretty good, but not necessarily as good as the Litter Robot. The crystals soak up the urine smell, and the scoop moves other waste into a trap which reduces the odor (although doesn’t completely remove it).
The disposable tray uses dust-free crystal cat litter, which has good odor control in comparison to standard clay litter, which is a bad mix for sensitive noses.
While the solid waste and old litters are covered up by the covered waste compartment, it isn’t completely removed from the environment. So this device still smells a little bit, but it’s better than traditional litter boxes, which don’t feature a separate compartment.
The Design
The overall design of this litter box is quite different from a lot of automatic litter boxes out there. This uses a more familiar tray design, which I don’t think is as good as other models like the Litter Robot, but it’s still pretty good.
There are a lot of useful design features in this tray depending on your needs, and coming at a low cost; it offers reliable and fair value for your buck.
One cool feature is the adjustable rake timer. This lets you set the time between your cat finishing going to the toilet and the raking mechanism activating. You can set this in 5, 10, or 20-minute cycles.
There is also a manual raking button – you can hit this convenient button at any time to manually make the box push the loose feces away if the automatic one gets stuck. That said, from my test, the automatic sensor in the frame was fine and detected the cat’s business every time.
The Ultra version includes a health counter which tracks the number of times your cat uses the litter tray. You can reset this every day to make sure your cat is having consistent litter box usage. The manufacturers recommend you reset the counter every time the tray is replaced.
This device is not messy or bulky, and when I tested it, I found it makes minimal noise.
Ease of Cleanup
Cleaning this automatic litter box is super easy. All you have to do is replace one of the disposable trays after the litter has been used up. This couldn’t be much easier.
You also need to clean the scooping rake, which can be done pretty easily too. The prongs and tips of the rakes do get dirty, but you won’t find it a hard time to clean them.
Because it uses a disposable tray, you’ll find it’s easier to clean than other litter boxes out there. You just throw away the main tray, so there aren’t many parts to sponge down other than the rake.
Remember to unplug the machine from the mains if you plan on wet cleaning any parts or individual pieces of the litter box.
The amount of time the manufacturers recommend changing the tray depends on the number of cats using the machine.
- A single-cat household = replace every 20-30 days (once a month)
- Two cats = replace every 10-15 days (two weeks)
- Three cats or more = replace every 7-10 days
It also depends on the size and diet of your cats. But, if you see solid kitty litter being left outside the waste trap, then it means it’s full and needs to be replaced.
Overall, this device couldn’t be much easier to clean. Just remember that you need to throw the old litter pan in the bin rather than flushing it down to the toilet due to the characteristics of the material used to make the crystal litter.
Material
There are a few materials used in the construction of the Petsafe ScoopFree litter box.
The rake is made from stainless steel. The actual body and housing of the tray are made from high-quality plastic resin, which makes installation, maintenance, and operation a breeze.
The crystal litter is made from amorphous silica gel, which has high absorbency and is a good choice for keeping things dry after your cat goes for a pee and reducing both any mess or scent spread by the disposable litter. It also won’t irritate your cat’s paws in any way.
Price
There are actually two main versions of the Petsafe Scoop Free litter box: the standard version and the Smart version.
The standard version retails for under $200, whereas the Smart version sells for a little above $200.
If you go for the Smart version, you can expect your cleaning cat litter box to be upgraded with a mobile application that tracks your pet’s litter habits and health. This can alert you of any arising issues with your pet’s urinary and digestive health.
Pros and Cons of Petsafe Scoop-Free Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Pros
- Reduces odor
- Effective scoop mechanism for cleaning the box
- Relatively affordable for a cat family on a smaller budget
- Easy to use
- Space-saving physical design
- Can also buy a covered version with a lid or hood for more privacy for your pet
- No cover so the cat will not feel boxed in and vulnerable
Cons
- No mobile phone app
- Limited storage capacity
- Need to buy replacement trays regularly
- Wasteful and more costly over time as you are constantly throwing away trays.
How Well Does It Control Odors And How Long Does It Last?
The odor control of the Petsafe ScoopFree is pretty good. It is much more effective with urine than solid cat waste, although it still does a decent job. I will say, due to the way the waste trap works, it is not as effective as the Litter Robot – which is a significantly more reliable and stable solution.
From my research, the waste is still kind of exposed to the air of the place you are in rather than being moved into a separate container. This means some of the odor does leak out, even though the waste is dehydrated. I didn’t find this to be an issue with the Litter Robot, which I appreciated more.
As for the length of time it lasts, ultimately, it depends on the number of cats. But for one cat, it is recommended that you change the tray every 20-30 days. This is quite a long time to leave dehydrated cat waste lingering in your room.
This is another reason I prefer the Litter Robot. Because it uses a separate chamber for the waste, you can empty it out more regularly, which leaves fewer odors in your house. It’s also less wasteful and more effective with litter than the Petsafe ScoopFree.
What Does The Tracking And Scatter Situation Look Like?
The tracker checks whenever your cat has finished using the litter tray and will automatically scoop the cat poop. This can be set in automatic cycles or controlled based on your cat’s presence.
There can be a tiny bit of scatter, where some of the ScoopFree crystals are pushed out of the box and end up on the floor. It isn’t a huge problem, but something for you to consider.
Can the Litter Robot Serve as a Better Alternative?
The Litter Robot is an excellent alternative to the Petfree Litter Box. The Litter Robot offers a huge range of extra features which can be highly beneficial for cat owners.
One thing I love about the Litter Robot is the mobile app, which tracks your cat’s toilet behaviors. The app also alerts you when the waste receptacle is full and needs to be emptied.
A further bonus of this app is the ability to notify you of any irregularities in your cat’s behaviors. This can help you to notice urinary or digestive problems early and can even save your cat’s life.
Litter Robot 4
The price of “Litter Robot 4” varies, so check the latest price at
Can You Use Regular Litter in the Scoopfree Litter Box?
You can’t use regular cat litter with the ScoopFree self-cleaning litter. You need to use special crystal litter pellets – which they recommend using their own brand. (Although you can buy off-brand crystal litter too.)
Is The Petsafe ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Litter Box Worth It?
Coming in at around $200, the Petsafe scoop-free litter box offers decent value for money. This device will easily change your life as a cat owner, making it easier, cleaner, and stress-free.
While it is one of the more simple automatic litter box models out there, it still works pretty well – and comes at a relatively affordable price compared to other products on the market.
That said, if you can afford the extra cash, I think the Litter Robot is a better investment. It works more effectively in every way, it will last longer, and also it works out to be more affordable in the long run as you can use less expensive litter with it – rather than the specific crystals needed by the Petsafe Scoop Free.
Why We Advise Using Litter Robot?
I think the Litter Robot has several advantages over the Petsafe, which make it a better purchase for cat owners.
- The odor control is better
- The cleaning system is more effective
- The overall build and performance are better and more innovative
- It has a larger waste receptacle for storage
- Works with more affordable cat litter rather than a disposable litter tray
- Is less wasteful and more economical with litter usage
- It’s compatible with a powerful mobile app for tracking the waste capacity and your cat’s behaviors
Conclusion
Overall, the Petsafe scoop-free litter box may well revolutionize your life as a cat owner. This self-cleaning cat litter box is a great tool for making any cat lover’s life easier and comes at a reasonably affordable price.
That said, if you want to invest in self-cleaning litter boxes, I also recommend having a look at the Litter Robot, which offers a better experience at a fraction of a higher price.
If you are wondering about buying one of these devices, I guess eventually you would want to upgrade to the Litter Robot for your furry friend anyway.
