PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter Review
4.5 pound bags
Silica gel composition
Premium-priced
Pros:
Great moisture retention
Multiple scents to choose from
Affordable (for a silica gel litter)
Cons:
No clumping ability
Easily tracked
Still not cheap
PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter Review
Last Updated by Brandon F. on June 1, 2020
PetSafe has a popular ScoopFree Reusable Litter Tray. However, we will be focusing on the litter that is designed to be used with this litter tray. Also, this silica gel-based litter can be used in any traditional litter box if you don’t happen to own a PetSafe ScoopFree Reusable Litter Tray. Similar to other silica gel litters, this particular product does not offer clumping ability but hopes to compensate for it through great odor control.
Clumping Ability – N/A
As we mentioned earlier, this product does not clump. This isn’t surprising as few, if any, “crystal” cat litters are designed to clump. This makes this type of litter great for “hands-free” litter boxes such as the PetSafe ScoopFree Litter Box. But for those that like to maintain their litter box daily, the ability to clump may be a missed feature.
With this type of litter, you mix around the contents until they no longer keep odor in check. Then, you simply empty the entire contents and refill.
Scent –
We like the subtle scent of PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter. Silica gel inherently has a very little scent. So the smell that is present is from the inclusion of perfumes and not really from the materials used to make the granules of the cat litter. There are currently three different types to choose from: Original Scent, Lavender, and Sensitive.
The original scent is simple and refreshing. If you are someone that likes the smell of lavender, then there is a product made exactly for you. And finally, if you or your cat are sensitive to perfumes, then the Sensitive scent would work best for you.
The silica gel’s secret to odor control comes with its innate ability to soak up nearly all of the moisture. This moisture is what creates the pungent cat waste odors. Silica gel is so good at this that it doesn’t need clumping to lock in the odors.
Overall, we were pretty impressed with how well this crystal cat litter did at locking in odors. It did particularly well with urine. And these odors seem to stay locked in for several days and up to a week or more if you are on a fresh batch.
If you do have multiple cats, however, you may want to have individual litter boxes for each cat. The silica gel is great for fighting odors but can be overwhelmed in busy litter boxes.
Messiness –
Since you aren’t having to worry about scooping, you do save on the headache of spilling litter clumps everywhere. And since the silica gel is so good at absorbing moisture, the gooey cake-like concoction that you may sometimes see with a clay cat litter is not an issue here.
Another good positive of PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter is that it has essentially no dust. You may get a few particulates kicked up when you are first pouring the bag into your litter box but after that, there isn’t much of a concern.
The only complaint that we have with this product when it comes to messiness has to do with its tracking. These small crystal granules are lightweight and can sometimes be a bit jagged. This makes them easy to kick or track out of the box. This may be even more noticeably in cases where your cat likes to dig aggressively in their litter box or if they have long hair that granules will snag on.
Value –
Just about any silica gel-based cat litter is going to run a premium. This is the norm that we have seen no matter which brand you go with.
However, PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter is among the most affordable crystal litters that we have come across. While they still aren’t as cheap as your typical clay cat litters, this product is priced at a level that makes it comparable to some of the higher-end eco-friendly cat litters that we have tested.
Overall Rating –
If you are someone that loves the unique performance attributes of crystal cat litter or is just curious about trying them out, then the PetSafe ScoopFree Crystal Cat Litter is a strong candidate. Most silica gel cat litters that we have tested are more or less the same when it comes to their ability to lock in odor.
With a crystal cat litter, you are sacrificing clumping ability. This can be good if you are someone with a busy schedule that doesn’t always allow you to keep up with your cat’s litter box. But if you value the benefits of a cat litter that can clump, then it may be negative.
Where this product does stand out is that it comes in a few different scents to choose from. And the bigger positive is the price. While this still isn’t a budget cat litter, it is among the cheaper crystal cat litters available online right now.
If you happen to be using a PetSafe ScoopFree Litter Box, this is the “official” cat litter that they recommend that you use with it. However, any crystal cat litter will do. But when focusing just on crystal cat litters, this is a strong choice.