One of the only drawbacks to being a cat owner is having to clean the litter box. I don't think any owner enjoys scooping and washing out a litter box, but it still has to be done. The PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Box makes it easier for pet owners to clean up after their cats.
Cats can be quite particular about their litterbox. If the litterbox that you choose isn't to your cat's liking, he may not want to use it. Cats are known for being finicky, but think about it. Would you want to use a bathroom with a toilet that was way too small or way too big?
Self cleaning litterboxes pose an additional problem. The noise they make and the movement of the automatic components may scare your cat. If the litterbox upsets your cat, he may be reluctant to use it again in the future.
This self cleaning litterbox from PetSafe has a few safety features in place to reduce the chances of it scaring your cat. There are also a couple of different styles to choose from, so you can pick a box that your cat will be comfortable using.
PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litterbox Review
In my video guide above you can see exactly how the box works. The rake scoops solid waste into a covered waste trap. The trap keeps odors down and the waste out of sight. You can also see the safety sensor that stops the rake if your cat is in the box.
The system waits 20 minutes after your cat climbs out of the box before it begins scooping. It also resets the timer if your cat climbs back into the box. This feature is supposed to ensure that the waste has had time to solidify before scooping. Unfortunately, it doesn't always have a chance to solidify, which can cause quite a yucky mess.
Most of the time the system works perfectly. However, if your cat has an especially loose stool, you may need to clean the rake. In my opinion, this is the biggest drawback to this self cleaning litterbox.
In the photo above, you can see the manual button to start the rake. If you need to, you can clean the letterbox at anytime by pressing this button. You'll also see the health counter and the health counter reset button in this photo.
My favorite feature of this product is the health counter that keeps track of how many times your cat uses the litter box. This can be really useful to report your cat's bathroom habits to your vet if there is any trouble. For example, if your cat is urinating more than normal, it may be a sign of a urinary tract infection.
The box itself measures 16.1” W x 27.6” L x 6” H. There are multiple options available, depending on your cat's preference. You can purchase a PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litterbox in three styles:
- Front entry – $199.95
- Top-Entry – $199.95
- Non-Covered – $169.95
As you can see in my video above, this litterbox uses a crystal litter that is much different from traditional cat litter. You must use the crystal litter. Buyers receive 1 crystal cat litter tray with the purchase of this self scooping litterbox. The tray will last up to 30 days for one cat.
The crystal litter is lightweight, and it's 99% dust-free. It is low tracking and also provides odor control. The tray has a built-in plastic liner to keep waster from leaking through. Each tray comes with a lid for easy clean-up when it's time to change the tray.
The crystal litter sounds great, but it's not cheap. As I said, this self cleaning litterbox only works with crystal litter, and will not work with clumping litter. You can buy 3 trays for $66.45 or 8.6 pounds of litter for $23.70. You could also buy a reusable plastic tray with 4.3 pounds of litter for $79.99.
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