SmartScoop Self Scooping Litter Box Full Review

Star rating: 3.0 | SmartScoop Self-Scooping Litter Box is an automatic solution that allows you to forget about the daily task of scooping your cat litter box. Automatic litter boxes are a good option to keep the litter box from smelling because they don’t allow the feces or urine to sit for too long.

The SmartScoop rake automatically cleans the litter box 15 minutes after your cat uses it. The rake pushes the waste into a bin where a carbon filter eliminates the odor.

The unit is easy to clean and it uses clumping litter to get optimum results. It is powered with an AC adapter that is included.

FEATURES

• It automatically scoops your cat litter box for you, saving your time.
• Easy to empty and clean.
• It works with any clumping litter
• A carbon filter prevents odor
• All parts are removable for easy cleaning
• Includes a six-month supply of 6 carbon filters, 24 no-touch-waste biodegradable bags for easy disposal, a litter ramp, and a litter catching mat.
• Dimensions: 25.5″Long  x 16.8″ Wide x 7.5″ High
• Litter area: 14” W x 16” D
• One-year warranty

The SmartScoop package includes:

√ Litter pan
√ Waste bin and tray
√ Motor unit
√ Litter rake
√ 6 Activated Carbon Filters
√ 24 No-Touch Waste biodegradable bags
√ AC adapter
√ Waste deflector
√ Litter rake comb
√ Ramp
√ Litter catching mat

HOW IT WORKS:

SmartScoop rake starts cleaning 15 minutes after your cat uses the litter box; this way it allows the clumps to form. The rake will move forward scooping the clumps into a waste container. As a safety measure, if your cat re-enters the litter box during those 15 minutes, the timer will reset.

The waste container is lined with a no-touch waste bag for easy disposal. Once the bag gets full, just remove it and toss it. The bagged waste won’t smell because it’s covered by the activated carbon filter.
According to the manufacturer, if you have one cat, you will have to replace the no-touch waste bags about once a week and the activated carbon filter about once a month on average.

MODE INDICATOR LIGHT 

• Green, solid: Unit is powered on and ready to operate if any cat activity.
• Green, blinking: Sensors have detected a cat and the unit is waiting 15 minutes to begin a cleaning cycle.
• Red, solid: The unit has encountered excessive resistance and it’s blocked.
• Red, blinking: Last cleaning cycle failed to finish. Sensors have detected a cat and the unit is waiting 15 minutes to start a new cleaning cycle.

USEFUL TIPS

• Make sure that the litter is at the perfect level. Follow carefully the instructions on this point.
• Make sure to keep the unit either on a tiled or hardwood floor or if carpeted, put the paper down to catch the spilled litter. Occasionally a clump could fall in the wrong direction so it’s better to have that on paper than a rug or carpet.
• Make sure to correctly assemble the unit or it won’t work properly.
• It is crucial to use the clumping type litter recommended by the manufacturer to guarantee the performance of the machine.

VIDEO HOW THE SMARTSCOOP WORKS:

 Video courtesy of  Laura Bennett

PROS AND CONS OF THE SMARTSCOOP LITTER BOX?

The following Pros and Cons will help you to decide if this auto litter box is what you need for your cat:

PROS

• Easy to setup
• Easy to empty and dispose of.
• 15 minutes delay allows the litter to clump for better cleaning.
• As a safety measure unit resets if your cat re-enters the litter box.
• It works with common bags; you don’t need to spend money on expensive trays.
• The litter box has a good size.
• It is easy to be adopted by cats.
• The motor is outside the box, away from litter.
• It uses biodegradable bags.
• Carbon filter reduces odor
• A thin rake prevents feces from getting caught.
• All parts are removable for easy cleaning.

CONS

• The unit still needs some scrapping on the bottom once in a while.
• The machine can’t handle big litter clumps, they flop off the side and go into the floor.
• The rake sometimes bends when scooping causing the motor to stop.
• The motor is a little noisy.
• Not good for cats that use the corners of the litter box area.
• Not powerful motor (very important not to overfill the litter box)
• The waste compartment is small.

CONCLUSION:

Like most automatic litter boxes in the market, the SmartScoop self-scooping litter box needs periodic maintenance to keep it clean and fresh. The unit works fine if your cat uses the center area and not the corners and if it does not urinate a lot. Also, as all automatic cat litter boxes with rakes, the SmartScoop collects much better firm stools. For these reasons:

√ I recommend the SmartScoop only for:

• A cat that doesn’t use mostly the corners on your current litter box and does not urinate a lot.
• A small or a regular-sized cat
• Cat owners willing to do the maintenance of the automatic litter box (clear up behind rake or end of the tray, leveling litter bed, scraping the bottom if stuck clumps, etc.)

x I don’t recommend this unit:

• If your cat has a disease that makes it urinate a lot (e.g. chronic kidney disease or diabetes) or with soft stools.
• If your cat is a vigorous litter kicker
• For multi-cat houses (learn how to choose a self-cleaning litter box for multi-cat use)
• In case you don’t want to do extra scooping or scraping of the litter box.

xx I absolutely don’t recommend this unit:

• For cats that always chew on things.