Let’s face it, cleaning litter boxes isn’t anyone’s idea of a good time. Whether you’re a proud cat parent to one kitty or a bustling multi-cat household, scooping litter isn’t just a chore—it’s a never-ending cycle. That’s where self-cleaning litter boxes, like the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin, come into play.
The ScoopFree SmartSpin steps in as a space-saving, feature-packed solution for those tired of the daily litter maintenance grind. But does it live up to the hype? Jamey and I looked at it from two perspectives (her a single-cat household and me a multi-cat family). Let’s see what we learned. First, though, here’s what we’re talking about today, just so we’re all on the same page:
The ScoopFree® SmartSpin™ Self-Cleaning Litter Box sifts and seals waste with 4x better odor control, keeping your home fresher. The PetSafe® SmartSpin™ app tracks your cat's weight and litter box usage, providing valuable health insights. Its sleek, low-profile design ensures a fresh litter bed after each use, making it ideal for busy, multi-cat households.
⭐ GUARANTEED BEST PRICE ⭐
USE COUPON CODE MEOW60 AT CHECKOUT TO GET $60 OFF
Meet the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin Self-Cleaning Litter Box
The PetSafe SmartSpin is designed for cat owners who want a reliable, easy-to-use self-cleaning litter box without a ton of bells and whistles. This model is sleek, compact, and ideal for homes where space is at a premium. It’s built with both functionality and user convenience in mind, making it a great addition to a modern, cat-friendly household.
Let’s start with some of the top features. Then we’ll dive into the pros and cons.
Top Features of the PetSafe SmartSpin
- Automatic Waste Removal: SmartSpin’s self-cleaning technology sifts through the litter, separating waste and depositing it into a waste compartment.
- Low Entry Design: Perfect for senior cats, kittens, or cats with mobility issues who might struggle with higher-sided boxes.
- Space-Saving Structure: Compact and sleek, making it suitable for small apartments and homes.
- Odor Control System: Comes with a waste drawer and carbon filter designed to keep odors contained.
- User-Friendly App Control: Allows for remote operation and monitoring through an app, so you can keep tabs on your kitty’s bathroom habits from anywhere.
In a rush and don’t want to read the whole post? Check out our video review!
Pros of the PetSafe SmartSpin
Let’s do a quick rundown of the top pros. Then I’ll go over them in a bit more detail.
- Easy Assembly
- Low entry for older cats and kittens
- Space-saving design
- Easy monitoring with app
- Effective odor control
- Good price point
- Outstanding customer support
Easy Assembly
Yes, you have to fully assemble it, which is a drawback. However, aside from one piece that we’ll talk about below, it’s actually very intuitive and straightforward to put together. All of the parts are marked with a little letter sticker and the instructions are actually easy to understand.
For reference’s sake, I measure how easy something is to assemble based on how many times I cry during the process. I cry when I’m frustrated, and I get easily frustrated when putting things together. While I did grumble a bit during one part of the assembly (the litter catcher), I didn’t shed a single tear throughout the entire process. Ergo, it’s easy to assemble. 😀 (Side note, I look for any opportunity possible to use the word “ergo.” It’s just such a fun word.)
Jamey actually timed how long it took her to assemble her unit. She said that it took 25 minutes, including the time it took her to take the pics below. While I had one hiccup, she didn’t have any issues. Everything fit together really smoothly and easily for her.
Low Entry for Senior Cats and Kittens
I’ve seen some reviewers saying that the entrance was still a bit too high for their older cats. It’s roughly one foot off the ground. Out of all of the self-cleaning litter boxes I’ve tried (and I think I’m up to about 6 now), the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin has the lowest entrance so far.
Yes, some competitors sell steps and ramps to make it easier for older cats to get up into the box. However, those add-ons are expensive! If your cat has trouble jumping the 12” into the entrance of the SmartSpin, you could just buy a small step stool (like the plastic ones that they sell for kids’ rooms for like $10) and place it in front of the box. That’s what we did for my senior cat with other litter boxes that didn’t come with a ramp.
Space-Saving Design
Its compact size is a major plus if you’re looking to save space. This unit easily fits into smaller spaces without overwhelming the room. In fact, I’d say it’s easily the most compact of all automatic litter boxes. It’s also among the more stylish options with its wood-colored legs and overall design aesthetics. It whispers “I’m a litter box” rather than screams it.
You can see below in a side-by-side comparison just how much space it takes up compared to the Leo’s Loo and the CatLink self-cleaning litter boxes. All three pics were taken in the same space beneath a counter.
Remote Monitoring with App
With the app, you can keep track of your cat’s litter box activity, which is especially helpful if you want to monitor their health. You can also change the cleaning delay, turn auto clean off and on, and enable a child lock on the button that starts manual cleaning all within the app.
The app set up was really fast and easy but note that this app isn’t the same as the ScoopFree Connectivity app if you’ve used that app previously. It’s a standalone app, so just make sure you’re downloading the right one.
Effective Odor Control
The carbon filter and enclosed waste compartment beneath the unit keep odors down significantly, so you’re not hit with litter box smells when you walk by. It even comes with an essential oil deodorizer for added odor protection.
Good Price Point
Perhaps the biggest “pro” of all, the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin offers great functionality without breaking the bank. Is it cheap? Well, no, not if you’re comparing it to a plain old litter pan. But it is one of the most affordable self-cleaning litter boxes on the market, especially if you’re looking for one from a well-known brand.
Outstanding Customer Support
Thank you to Jamey for testing this out. Since this was her first automatic litter box, she called PetSafe with a few questions. She didn’t identify herself as a product tester or anything, so they had no idea that we were evaluating their response. It only took about a minute to get a customer service representative (Kevin) on the line.
Jamey asked Kevin what type of litter she could use (clumping only). He also gave a number of tips and tricks to get Milo to start using the SmartSpin. I’ll share those below.
Cons of the PetSafe SmartSpin
Even the best products have their drawbacks.
- Full Assembly Required
- Smaller Litter Tray with Limited Waste Capacity
- Some Issues with Litter Catcher*
- Deodorizer Only Lasts 2 Weeks
Full Assembly Required
While it’s easy to assemble, it does require more setup than some competitors. If you’re looking for something that you can take out of the box, plug it in, and go, this might be a slight drawback.
Honestly, though, I don’t mind that you have to assemble it because it means you can disassemble it should you need to. Like, if you have to move to a new home, it’s easy to take apart and pack up.
Smaller Litter Tray
The litter area is a bit smaller than average, which could be an issue for bigger cats or multi-cat households. The waste drawer fills up relatively quickly, especially if you have multiple cats. You may find yourself emptying it more often than you’d like.
For single-cat households like Jamey’s, this isn’t a huge issue. Yes, you may have to empty it slightly more often than you would with some of the competitor models, but overall you’re still spending significantly less time dealing with litter than with a traditional pan.
Even if you have two cats using it, it’s still not too bad. When you get into 3-4 cats using it, though, you will have to empty the pan more often. Again, it’s still easier than scooping litter. You just lift out the bag, tie it off, throw it out, and replace it.
Some Issues with Litter Catcher*
My one biggest issue with assembly and ongoing use came from the litter catcher. By that, I mean the little piece that goes inside that filters out all the good litter while separating the clumps. I had a hard time figuring out how to install it correctly (this is where my “grumbling” came into play). Once installed, it never really seemed like a tight fit. While it didn’t affect the cleaning cycle itself, my cats did manage to pop it loose quite a few times.
I will add this though, I haven’t seen anyone else complain about this problem, and as mentioned above Jamey didn’t have this issue either. So, it’s most likely something that I did wrong during assembly. Still, if I could have one thing changed about the box, it would be for them to either pre-install that piece or make it easier to lock into place.
Deodorizer Only Lasts 2 Weeks
Another drawback is that the deodorizer only lasts 2 weeks before you have to replace it. At $14.95 per pack of 2 that’s over $180 dollars a year in litter box deodorizer. That said, 2 weeks is fairly standard for litter box deodorizers, so you won’t escape this cost with another box.
Tips to Get Your Cat to Use the SmartSpin
Thank you to Kevin at PetSafe for these tips!
- Place the automatic litter box unplugged beside the old litter box – make sure the area is low-traffic and away from loud noises and commotion
- Place toys, catnip, treats etc. near the new litter box to create positive associations with the area
- Scoop ½ cup of old litter into the new litter box so the cat can catch the scent
- Give them time and space to make their own decision to use the litter box
- Use the same type of litter if possible (must be clumping litter)
- Once they’ve used the litter box a few times then turn on the box to get them used to the cleaning cycle sounds
Understand that it’s very normal for cats to take a while to adjust and you have to let them adapt on their own timeline
FAQS
PetSafe has an awesome list of FAQs with answers directly from the brand on their ScoopFree SmartSpin product page. I’m going to pull a few that I see come up the most (or that are questions that I had myself).
Do you need WiFi or internet for the litter box to work?
Yes, you will need a 2.4Ghz wi-fi to connect the litter box. In other words, you can’t just use your phone’s cell connection.
Is it compatible with any type of trash bag?
According to PetSafe, “The bin fits trash bags fitting 1.6 gallon containers and measuring around 12″ x 22.8″.” They do sell liners designed specifically for the litter box, but you can use pretty much anything that fits.
Will the machine automatically stop the cleaning cycle if it detects my cat entering?
Short and sweet answer- Yes. Long answer- Like most modern self-cleaning litter boxes, the PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin is equipped with safety sensors that automatically senses your cat and pauses the cleaning cycle until they’re no longer detected.
What kind of litter can I use with it?
The ScoopFree SmartSpin is only compatible with clumping litter. You can’t use wood, crystals, pellets, or other types of non-clumping litters.
Final Verdict
The PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin Self-Cleaning Litter Box offers a lot of convenience for a reasonable price. If you’re looking for a compact, reliable self-cleaning litter box with an easy entry for cats of all ages, this model is definitely worth considering. While it does require a bit more assembly and has a smaller litter tray, these drawbacks are minor for most households.
For anyone tired of the endless scoop and dump cycle, the PetSafe SmartSpin is a game-changer that provides a welcome break from litter box duty, all while keeping things tidy and odor-free.
The ScoopFree® SmartSpin™ Self-Cleaning Litter Box sifts and seals waste with 4x better odor control, keeping your home fresher. The PetSafe® SmartSpin™ app tracks your cat's weight and litter box usage, providing valuable health insights. Its sleek, low-profile design ensures a fresh litter bed after each use, making it ideal for busy, multi-cat households.
⭐ GUARANTEED BEST PRICE ⭐
USE COUPON CODE MEOW60 AT CHECKOUT TO GET $60 OFF
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