Can’t settle the Nature’s Miracle VS PetSafe Self Cleaning Litter Box debate going on in your head? No worries! I’m here to help you make your mind. In this article, I’m presenting you with an in-depth review of both products, as well as pros vs cons comparison so you can better decide what’s right for your needs.
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Table of Contents
Overview
If you’re like me, or any cat owner out there, then you love your little ball of fur to the moon and back. But you know what I’m not particularly crazy about? Cleaning out my cat’s litter box every single day, and I’m ready to bet a million dollars that you agree!
They say you need to scoop out the litter box at least once or twice on a daily basis, and then make the time for a weekly thorough cleanup session with new litter. So what do you do if you’re cursed with a forgetful (or lazy) nature? Do you end up with a smelly house or set alarms to remind you of your cleaning duties?
Well, neither! Nature’s Miracle and PetSafe came up with self-cleaning litter boxes to save cat owners the hassle of cleaning and the nasty consequences of forgetting! The question is, which one should you pick?
I stumbled upon both brands while shopping online after I heard about self-cleaning litter boxes. The two options seem pretty reliable and simple to use, so choosing between them can get confusing.
For this reason, I decided to put together a comparison of Nature’s Miracle VS PetSafe Self Cleaning Litter Box to break down the features of each product, along with the advantages and disadvantages of using them. So let’s get started!
Specifications
First things first, we need to get the technical stuff out of the way.
Nature’s Miracle Self Cleaning Litter Box
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Nature’s Miracle self-cleaning automatic litter box measures at dimensions of 26 inches L (33 inches extended)× 17 inches W × 10 inches H. The product ships at approximately 14 pounds, but the item itself weighs just under 13 pounds with a litter area of 14 × 14 inches.
Once the litter box arrives, you’ll also receive with the package four waste receptacles, four carbon filters, and a measuring scoop for the litter. You should get at least one month of use out of the included supplies, with a possibility of extending this period if you reuse the waste receptacles instead of discarding them after one use.
Nature’s Miracle Self Cleaning Litter Box is mainly powered by electricity from a wall outlet, so you should set up the box in a spot close to a power outlet. This litter box can also run via eight AA batteries, which is pretty handy in the case of a power outage. Unfortunately, the battery backup option isn’t available in the 2.2 version of the device.
This automatic litter box features a digital clock with buttons to set its minutes and seconds, a button to activate sleep mode, as well as an indicator light that goes off when the device enters its different operating modes: standby, normal, cleaning, blockage, or low power.
PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Box
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As for the PetSafe ScoopFree self-cleaning automatic litter box, it has dimensions of 27.5 inches L × 19 inches W × 7 inches H. The package ships at approximately 23 pounds, while the litter box itself weighs about 18 pounds with a litter area of 14 × 14 inches.
The PetSafe Self Cleaning Litter Box doesn’t require manual scooping or changing filters, so it doesn’t come with supplies as measuring scoop.
However, the package does include a single disposable litter tray that you simply throw out when it’s due time. There’s also a lid for sanitary discarding and you receive the brand’s original crystal litter along with the tray. One tray can last up to 30 days for one cat, after that, you’ll have to purchase extra trays separately.
This automatic litter box is solely powered by electricity sourced from a wall outlet. This means you need to set up the handy device somewhere with a power outlet close by since it should always be plugged in to operate.
If you purchase the Ultra version of the PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Box, you’ll also receive a privacy hood. Additionally, the Ultra version features an adjustable timer and a health counter that displays how often your cat uses the box.
Features
Now that we’re done with the specs of Nature’s Miracle and PetSafe ScoopFree self-cleaning litter boxes, it’s time we dig deeper to discuss each of their convenient features.
Nature’s Miracle Self Cleaning Litter Box
Let’s start with Nature’s Miracle automatic litter box:
Efficient Odor Control
Perhaps the star feature of Nature’s Miracle self-cleaning litter box is its ability to effectively keep odors under control. This is possible thanks to the included odor control receptacles and carbon filters.
While it’s true that this box doesn’t come with a cover, which is a red flag for most cat owners due to their concerns that odors will escape, the disposable waste receptacles and carbon filters do a great job of locking in all the unpleasant odors.
The high walls of the box also help prevent your cat from making a mess, and the paw cleaning ramp limits tracking around the box for maximum odor control.
Smart Detection Motion Sensor
In line with the previous point, this litter box will automatically clean up your cat’s waste after each use, so you can rest assured that you won’t have to see or smell your pet’s bathroom break.
The automatic operation is courtesy of the built-in smart detection motion sensor that recognizes when your cat uses the box so it starts to clean accordingly.
This means you won’t have to worry about scheduling cleanups, and your house will become more hygienic.
Night Light and Sleep Mode
Another neat feature of Nature’s Miracle Self Cleaning Litter Box is the built-in night time setting. When activated, the device softly lights up to create nighttime visibility for your furball and facilitate the way for its bathroom business.
Additionally, Nature’s Miracle litter box features a sleep mode that enables you to turn off its operation for nine hours while you sleep. This is a huge plus if you’re one to keep your cat’s litter box in the bedroom since you won’t get disturbed by the produced sounds (more on this at the Cons section).
Your Choice of Litter
Many self-cleaning litter boxes on the market kind of force you to use a specific brand or type of litter (PetSafe, I’m looking at you). Luckily, this isn’t the case with Nature’s Miracle litter box as it can work with whatever litter you prefer, or let’s be real, whatever litter your cat prefers.
This can be such an advantage when you’re trying to get your cat off its old litter box and on to the new one. The transition is often tricky so it helps if at least the type of litter doesn’t change.
Keep in mind that you should use litter from a high-quality brand to clump easily. This is regardless of the kind of litter box you buy for your cat.
PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Box
Time to jump into the features of the PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self Cleaning Litter Box:
Uses Crystals Litter
The PetSafe litter box uses waste trays loaded with crystals litter of the same brand. While this may be a bit problematic for some cats when they’re used to another type of litter, PetSafe’s crystals litter are of high quality and it shouldn’t take too long for your cat to get accustomed to it.
In fact, there are a few additional benefits to PetSafe’s crystals litter. When the cat’s urine drops to the bottom of the tray, the crystals will efficiently remove the smell by absorbing moisture as well as dehydrating solid waste.
These crystals are also low tracking and 99% free of dust. They won’t stick to your cat’s paws or face, so you won’t find the floor covered in litter. Even if a little litter got outside the box, the blue color of the crystals makes it easier for you to spot it and quickly clean up.
Moreover, you won’t have to worry about making a mess during refills since the trays come pre-portioned and ready to use.
Leak Protection
In line with features of cleanliness, I should highlight that PetSafe ScoopFree self-cleaning litter box offers reliable leak protection. The disposable trays are lined with plastic to prevent leaking and keep your floor waste-free.
Safety Sensors
One of the most impressive aspects of the PetSafe ScoopFree litter box is the integrated heat-based sensor system that ensures the safety of your feline friend.
The built-in sensors won’t allow the rakes to work until your cat is off the box. The box will wait for 20 minutes after it detects that your cat left the litter area then it’ll automatically start cleaning. If your cat gets intrigued by the rakes, the safety sensors will once again shut down the operation.
Adjustable Timer
A feature that’s exclusive to the Ultra version of the PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Box is the built-in rack timer. You know the 20-minute waiting period we just talked about? Well, what if you don’t want to sit around that long with your cat’s waste on display?
Obviously, this won’t be a problem if you’re outside the house, but when you’re at home, it can be a bit gross. The Ultra litter box lets you shorten the waiting time before cleaning to 5 or 10 minutes.
Health Counter
Another exclusive feature of the Ultra litter box is the health counter. This counter helps you monitor your cat’s health by keeping track of the number of times it uses the box.
Now, this counter won’t tell you how much “life” the litter tray has left or when you should replace it. But it may alert you to visit the vet if your furry feline is using the box too frequently or just barely.
Use
Both Nature’s Miracle and PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Boxes are pretty straightforward when it comes to usage. But there are still a couple of differences.
On one hand, Nature’s Miracle litter box has 3 modes: On/Off/Clean. To have the litter box function automatically, you’ll need to press the button for the On mode. But if you want to operate it manually (or if your cat is a bit hesitant) leave the device on Off and simply run it yourself via Clean mode whenever you see fit.
Nature’s Miracle litter box has an indicator that’ll let you know when it’s time to replace the waste receptacle, which is generally a weekly task.
On the other hand, the PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra litter box waits for 5, 10, or 20 minutes before it starts to automatically clean the litter area to ensure the safety of your car. It also includes an option for manually starting a cleanup round at any time you prefer.
When the time comes for you to replace the waste tray, all you need to do is slide it out, cover it with the included lid, and just throw it away.
Nature’s Miracle Self Cleaning Litter Box – Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons to sum things up:
Pros
- Good odor control
- Easy to set up
- Sleep mode
- Night light
- Can use any litter type
- More affordable
Cons
- Tends to get blocked
- No privacy hood
- Raking time isn’t adjustable
PetSafe ScoopFree Self Cleaning Litter Box – Pros and Cons
Here are the pros and cons to sum things up:
Pros
- High-quality PetSafe crystals litter
- Less dust
- Less litter tracking
- Easy to clean
- Minimal leakage
- Low maintenance
- Adjustable raking time
- Health counter
- Comes with a privacy hood
Cons
- Expensive litter trays
- Uses crystals only
Final Verdict
So which litter box is the winner between Nature’s Miracle VS PetSafe Self Cleaning Litter Box? Well, personally, my vote goes for the PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Litter Box.
It may be the more expensive option, but I think it makes up for the price with many handy features regarding safety and operation. It’s also highly customizable and more stylish!
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My name is Ken and I’m one of the staff writers at Petloverguy.com. I’ve cared for pets most of my life starting with hamsters, turtles, and snakes. Then moving up to parakeets, guinea pigs, and even ducks.
I currently live with two yorkies and a chihuahua mix.