You are currently viewing ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box: What Your Cat Needs?

ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box: What Your Cat Needs?

Published by Annie Anderson
Last updated: February 16, 2024

I love my cats a LOT, but one of the most irritating problems I went through was cleaning their litter. Not only was it time-consuming, but I was so bothered by the smell! I knew I had to keep doing it, and it was worth the work for happy cats.

But I started looking for good litter boxes that help lessen my cleaning woes. I stumbled upon the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box, which had interesting features that claimed to make life easier for cat owners! I wondered if the litter box was worth the investment, so I decided to try it out myself.

If you’re still unsure if ScoopFree is a good buy, read on for my comprehensive review.

1 icon medal meowkai

ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box

**Below, you’ll find more detailed review, but you can also click links above to see current prices and read customer’s reviews on Amazon.

ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box Overview

Get 30% OFF
Your First Auto-Ship Order

The ScoopFree is not to be confused with the PetZone Scoop Free Litter Box! This is an ULTRA Self-Cleaning Litter Box, which has different features compared to other units of its kind. Instead of using the usually clumping litter, it uses blue crystals, which is what absorbs urine and controls odors.

Just like other units though, the litter box has a rake to clean the litter by pushing all waste to a compartment. You can set it to push waste away every five, ten, or up to 20 minutes after the cats use the box.

It’s known as one of the best self-cleaning litter boxes available because of the unique blue crystals it uses. Popular networks like Animal Planet support the unit! Plus, it has a good design for both cats and owners to take advantage of.

About Blue Crystal Litter

What’s blue crystal litter in the first place and how does it differ from the typical clumping litter, though?

I’m sure you’re familiar with this premium type of cat litter, using silica gel. It starts in solid crystals, they will turn to a gel and congeals after urination. Your cat will use it to cover its stool as well, concealing the odors his waste emits.

While it’s a bit more expensive to purchase, these kinds of cat litter last longer compared to usual clumping litter. It’s also easier to maintain, given the fact that it controls odors well and efficiently absorbs all liquids. It’s the reason why ScoopFree decided to use blue crystal litter on their litter boxes for better performance.

Design and Appearance

I like how well the ScoopFree litter box is designed. Yes, the body is built with plastic, but it’s built with sturdiness in mind, looking durable and with heavy-duty materials.

Furthermore, it features a rake made of stainless steel, which would scrape up all waste easily. This is compared to the usual plastic rakes, which break under pressure or won’t catch all waste as well as steel.

As for the controls, it has an understandable interface so you can easily set the times you want it to clean. It also has a counter to know how frequent your cat uses the litter box.

It’s closed with transparent walls for more privacy but a bit more light to lessen the stuffy feeling for cats. Its walls also lessen the chances of stray urine spray and litter crystal messes.

Features and Specifications

Here are my favorite features and necessary specifications the unit offers:

  • Scoops from the litter box on its own after cats use it
  • Has a manual cleaning button as needed
  • Uses blue crystals, which are low-tracking and dust-free
  • Absorbs cat urine and feces better, reducing odors
  • The raking system is reliable, made with stainless steel
  • Has a privacy hood, health counter, and an adjustable rake delay
  • Cleans conveniently and without any issues, easy to dispose of tray and litter

Here are the measurements and important dimensions:

  • Product dimensions (WxLxH): 19x27x7 inches
  • Tray dimensions (WxLxH): 14x22x2 inches
  • Litter area dimensions: 14×14 inches
  • Weight: 22.5 pounds when fully assembled
  • Comes with disposable trays in different scents
  • Includes a money-back guarantee and one-year limited warranty
  • Easy to install, only requiring a power outlet

How ScoopFree Works

When cats use the ScoopFree Litter Box, the blue crystal litter would absorb the waste, deodorizing it along the way. After a few minutes (depending on how long you set it for), the cleaning process begins.

Using the stainless steel rake, the unit would run through crystals, removing the waste and leveling it out again. Since the crystals don’t clump, you won’t have to worry about wasting unused crystals when cleaning urine.

If your cat passes stool, then the rake would push these clumps to a waste trap. This collects all clumps and would close right after the rake goes back to its original position. The waste trap is open and locked through magnets to make sure that it won’t open up from pesky cats.

Furthermore, the waste trap has more crystals to ensure little odor when you need to take out the tray. Fortunately, the rake and unit won’t jam, since it changes directions as it rakes the waste to the tray.

Do The Cats Like It?

The cats are comfortable with the litter box, though this depends on how your cat acts. It also depends on how big your cat is since it has a smallish tray. Because of that, larger cats won’t have much room to move around to find a comfy spot.

With my cats, they’re not that big and weigh less than ten pounds, so they had an area to move around. It’s adequate for two cats without wasting too much money on cartridges and disposable trays.

They adapted to the unit quickly actually, not feeling any fear from the movement or noise during cleaning. Some cats may be spooked, but most would most likely just be curious and wait until it’s their turn to use the box!

Pros and Cons

These are the things I loved and hated about the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box:

Pros

  • Very easy to set up and assemble
  • Scooped efficiently without a huge risk of jamming compared to other litter boxes
  • Great odor control with blue crystals, doesn’t track or dust compared to clumping litter
  • Can adjust the time of cleaning between 5 to 20 minutes
  • Has a counter to monitor how many times your cat used the litter box
  • Comes with a privacy hood and top entry lid

Cons

  • You’ll need to purchase cartridges to maintain its system, which gets pricey!
  • Some waste MIGHT get caught on the rake, especially if your cat loves to dig
  • The waste trap isn’t sealed, can cause messes from cats or odor problems
  • You’ll need to stir crystals often to prevent your cat from using the same spot
  • Not the best for large cats with its small litter area

Tips on Using Scoop Free Litter Boxes

Here are some helpful tips you can follow to use the litter box better:

  • Lengthening the cartridge’s lifespan is fairly easy, saving you on maintenance costs. Simply stir your litter daily, facilitating even crystal absorption and for cats to use different spots of the tray
  • The blue crystal litter requires better air circulation to help lessen the odors, as it works with evaporation. I recommend you place the unit near a door, window, or to put a fan above your box for consistent airflow
  • For cats who love to dig, check the indicator lights now and then to prevent litter pile blockage
  • If your cats are used to clumping litter, pour a few crystals to his old litter box, mixing it with his usual litter. Let him use his regular box for a few days with the crystal-clumping litter mix
  • You can also eliminate odors more by sprinkling baking powder on the litter crystals and/or underneath its waste tray. Air filters or odor absorbers work just as well, removing odors entirely

Is the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box Worth It?

All in all, I believe that the ScoopFree IS worth the investment, having an excellent system and programming. This ends up with efficient and accurate waste cleaning, which removes almost all waste without any issue. It follows the time of cleaning cycles and has strong detectors to ensure it doesn’t disturb your cat.

However, it may not be recommended for cats who love to dig and scratch. Their digging can create huge clumps that block motion sensors OR scratch the litter box’s bottom. Furthermore, it doesn’t have a huge litter size, which isn’t suitable for larger cats.

If you have two small cats who are “tame” with their toilet habits, then this one’s definitely for you. Just be wary of the maintenance costs, too!

Wrapping It Up

Hopefully, my review on the ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Litter Box gave you an idea on what to expect. For those who want to purchase it for their cats, check out the latest deals on it now.

If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences with this litter box, then comment below. All your thoughts are much appreciated!

Leave a Reply