Installation / FAQ
Your Forever Litter Tray is designed to be reliable and easy to use. If you run into trouble or are just looking for helpful tips, we’ve got you covered. Can’t find your answer here? Contact us directly for customer support.
Which Model is yours?
We have two versions of our tray in circulation. Click the image to go to the support and cleaning page for your installation and cleaning guide.
Installation
How To Install
Your Forever Litter Tray can be easily installed in just a few minutes. For those who prefer pictures, the below graphics show installation on the latest 2nd Generation machine, however installation is similar on all versions of Scoopfree. For those who prefer a video with more details, please click on our Installation Video above.
Slide Your Forever Litter Tray Under The Machine
Slide the flap up onto the cover using our
exclusive clip design
FILL YOUR TRAY TO THE FILL LINE WITH GOOD QUALITY CRYSTAL LITTER
Compatible With All ScoopFree Self-Cleaning Machines
The Forever Litter Tray fits all versions of PetSafe ScoopFree machines: 1st generation, 2nd generation and the ScoopFree Smart. Our unique clip-on odor control flap is easy to attach, and doesn’t use magnets, so it doesn’t fall off! Please watch our Installation Video to see how it attaches.
Cleaning & Care
WHAT HAPPENED TO THAT LITTLE "POOP COMPARTMENT" AT THE END OF THE TRAY?
We eliminated it to make room for a larger poop storage area, and make it much easier to clean and empty.
Why? Based on 18 years of experience, customer feedback and extensive experimentation, we came to the conclusion that the tiny poop compartment was designed (nearly 20 years ago) for a disposable cardboard tray, that will never be scooped or cleaned out (hence the brand name Scoopfree).
It doesn’t really serve any useful purpose in a reusable tray, so we got rid of it. People investing in a reusable tray already know some scooping will be involved, but they want something that’s intelligently designed, easy to use and clean — not just a copy of a 20 year old design of a disposable cardboard cartridge. This also results in a much larger, more usable, and easier to clean poop storage area.
Cleaning Your Forever Tray
- High strength and rigidity, so it will keep its shape and fit perfectly for many years
- Extremely hard, non-porous and glossy surface is as easy to clean and maintain as stainless when using our recommended cleaning instructions.
- We use the highest quality, 100% recycled ABS, to reduce environmental impact. This means it can also be recycled at the end of its life (easily 10 years or more).
Make sure to dry the tray completely before putting in fresh crystals, as any residual moisture will reduce the life of your crystals.
While you’re at it, give the bottom edge of your clip-on flap a quick wipe down with the same white vinegar and water solution in a paper towel.
With our exclusive clip-on flap attachment design, there’s no need to unclip it from the lid for cleaning – you can just leave it attached and clean it as an integral part of the lid.
As cats tend to urinate in the same spot, some users may notice a buildup of urine solids in one spot. This is very easily cleaned and deodorized by pouring in one cup of white vinegar with one cup of water, soaking for a couple of hours, and then wiping clean. If there’s an extra heavy buildup you may need to repeat the process – but the white vinegar and water solution is all you’ll need. No harsh chemicals are required!
Controlling Odors
Everyone wants that magic solution for controlling odors and at the same time getting the longest life from their litter with the least effort. Below are some solutions we’ve learned through the years:
Choice of litter: Quality is important. Cheap crystal litter won’t absorb as well as premium litters and so won’t last as long. A good quality crystal will last much longer and perform better. Scented brands only mask odor for you as a human, but not your cat. They smell a lot better than we do.
Rake and Stir: Very important!! This takes minimal effort and reaps huge benefits for you, your cat, and your pocketbook. Please watch our Cleaning and Care video for more on our recommended “rake and stir” technique).
Choice of Food: Just like for us humans, different foods for cats can produce some horrible smells — but there’s no reason you can’t find a good, healthy food (see \”Food Tips\” below for some further info)
Regular box cleaning: This seems like a no-brainer, but many people neglect the box and don’t understand why it stinks. If you use all the above tips (including Rake and Stir) and then learn when \”it’s time\” to change the box, everyone will be happier. Your cat smells a stinky litter box way before our noses detect it.
Baking soda: Many people find sprinkling a light dusting of baking soda in their trays after the tray is dry, just before pouring the crystals in at changing time helps keep odors down.
Ventilation: Make sure the box is in a well vented area. An ideal room is one with a vent fan and a window that you can open to the outdoors. Fresh air is your friend, especially in allowing your crystal litter to release moisture (see \”Moisture and Your Crystal Litter\” below for more details). You and your cat will appreciate a well vented litter box area, and your crystals will last much longer between changes.
Food Tips
Cats are family. We love them as much as we love our children, or we have cats instead of children. We shelter them, play with them, talk to them, cuddle them and feed them. But what, exactly, are we feeding them?
Here’s a link to some good information on cat food from Consumer Affairs.
Rake Tips
If you find you’re getting \”stuff\” stuck to your rake (or that it may be starting to rust) we suggest a good cleaning (including possibly a ScotchBrite pad or light steel wool). Be careful not to bend any rake tines, as they bend easily. Then spray a light coating of non-stick cooking spray after cleaning. It will help prevent rust, will make the rake more \”slippery\”, and won’t harm your cat! Re-apply the spray periodically to prevent further rust and keep the rake slippery.
Crystal Litter Information & Tips
WHICH CRYSTAL LITTER TO CHOOSE?
The Petsafe ScoopFree system was designed entirely around the use of crystal litter, using a very specific amount per change for best performance. Using other types of litter such as clay or clumping versions will damage your expensive machine and generally won’t work.
After independent lab testing, the crystal litter we’ve found that works best is Fresh Step Crystals. The best pricing and availability for U.S. customers is from Target and Walmart.
Your choice in crystal litter is extremely important, and can be the difference between a litter box that is easy to keep clean and odor free (which your cat loves!) or one that’s a perpetual stinky mess that needs way too much work. Not all crystal litters are the same, and quality (meaning absorbency, odor control and dust) varies greatly.
Here are the most important tips we’ve learned:
Size of crystals: The ideal size range for crystals in a Petsafe Scoopfree is in the 1mm to 4mm size. As you don’t carry a micrometer in your pocket, what that means is that the cheap bargain brands with the huge crystals won’t work well, for a couple of reasons. As these are typically made as cheaply as possible, their absorbency capability is at the bottom of the scale. The other factor to keep in mind is that the ScoopFree® machine’s rake is designed to work best with crystals in the size range mentioned above, so if the crystals are too large the rake will just push them to the end of the box where they’ll just pile up. Be wary also of the fine, sand-like crystal litters, as these are also cheaply made and will quickly turn to sludge on the bottom of your tray.
Ideal quantity per change: We’ve taken care of the guess work on this for you. Just fill your Forever Litter Tray to the Fill Line on the side of the tray, and you’re all set. We recommend against overfilling your tray beyond that, as it can eventually cause damage.
MOISTURE AND YOUR CRYSTAL LITTER
The biggest variable in odor control in cat litter is your choice of crystal litter. Using a premium quality litter and doing an occasional \”rake and stir\” (please see our Cleaning and Care Video) will extend the life of your litter significantly, and at the same time reduce odor. Occasional \”stirring\” will allow them to release moisture to the air (not urine, but water vapor) and will allow them to then be able to absorb more liquid and odor. This ability to \”off gas\” and then absorb more again is the significant difference between silica crystals and conventional litters.
The operative word is \”occasional\” — once a day is ideal, but every other day is fine. It can make a huge difference, and just spending 30 seconds for a \”rake and stir\” results in less trouble and smell. Cats tend to always urinate in the same spot, so what we mean by \”stir\” is to rake up the crystals from this dampest spot and distribute (really mix them in) with the dry crystals and \”off gas\” water vapor, extending crystal life significantly. Remember, moisture is the enemy of your crystal cat litter. Placement of your litter box in a dry, well-ventilated area will pay huge dividends in getting the most out of it.
REDUCING DUST
Sadly, dust seems to be a component of just about all cat litters. Clay litter has a particularly bad reputation for dust, and crystal litter isn’t completely immune from producing dust, especially the cheaper brands.
The time when the dust is most noticeable is when pouring into the litter box or tray. You can reduce this significantly by laying the bag down in the tray before opening and sliding the litter out, instead of pouring it in from above.
IS CRYSTAL LITTER SAFE FOR ME AND MY CAT?
This is one of the more common mix-ups we get questions about, as people confuse Crystalline silica with Silica Gel Crystals. Crystalline silica is a form of quartz similar in some ways to asbestos, that occurs commonly in nature and is most commonly found in CLAY types of litter. Long term airborne exposure to crystalline silica can be dangerous. The amount of airborne crystalline silica is regulated by OSHA, and in clay litters the amount must be less than 1% to meet specific OSHA limits. Clay litter manufacturers regularly test their incoming clays to make sure those limits are not exceeded. (Please visit www.osha.gov for more information about crystalline silica).
There are NO silica gel cat litters that contain crystalline silica. Silica gel crystals (also known as amorphous silica), is a different, manufactured compound which has an excellent safety record and has been on the market for over a couple of decades.
It is made of other elements entirely, with a chemical composition similar to sand. Silica gel is so safe it is used in medicine bottles to keep medications dry, and was used during WW1 and WW2 in gas masks.
Troubleshooting
My Rake Stops in Mid-Cycle
Your rake has just mysteriously stopped in mid cycle, and the light is blinking! Turning the power off and then back on sends the rake back to the \”home\” position, but when you try to cycle the machine it just happens again.
Not to worry – you just need to clean the two little electric eyes on either side in the middle of the box and everything will start working again.
These electric eyes are designed for your kitty’s safety. Basically once the timer is tripped for the rake to cycle, the electric eyes are there to ensure your cat isn’t in the box in front of the advancing rake. If they detect something between them, they stop the machine.
That “something” could be either your cat, or litter that’s piled too high in the box and blocking the eye or……just dirt! If it’s dirt, all you need is a damp cotton swab to clean them out, and you should be all good to go again.
If this doesn’t work for you then there may be something else going on, but it’s very rare, so try these steps first. If this doesn’t fix the problem then just drop us a message via our Support link below and one of our team will get back to you asap to brainstorm possible solutions.
My Rake Jams on the Flap Attached to the Lid
The lid for the earlier first generation (purple or taupe cover) ScoopFree machine can be a little complicated to install if you don’t know the trick. It’s designed to “lock” into the machine using the little pegs on either side, which aren’t actually round, but have one flat side.
When reattaching the lid to the machine, hold the lid in a vertical position as shown in the diagram, then slide the pegs into place, ensuring they go all the way in. Then let the lid rotate down into place. The pegs should then be fully engaged in the machine.
If the pegs aren’t fully engaged in the lid it can interfere with the rake, and also fall out of that end of the machine.
OUR DEDICATED U.S. BASED SUPPORT TEAM IS HERE TO HELP!
Problem? Question? Please drop us a note and we’ll respond within 24 hours.