The catch
PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
The room sees more of an open litter area.
Side by side
PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky vs SmartSpin Compared: OpenSky suits a preference for an open top and cats above SmartSpin’s limit
Quick verdict
OpenSky is the pick for a cat that resists an enclosed globe or goes beyond SmartSpin’s documented 25 lb limit. SmartSpin is the pick when your cat accepts an enclosed entry and its six-liter drawer works with your household routine.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
If a cat balks at a globe, the open layout wins
SmartSpin has a spherical enclosure, whereas OpenSky leaves the top open, so OpenSky is the one for a cat that already avoids covered boxes. SmartSpin is still a reasonable choice when the cat accepts that layout. Keep a familiar box available and give the cat time, because a manufacturer’s claim about acceptance cannot predict how an individual cat will behave.
Where this comes from
The design of the entry gives a hypothesis about fit, and no guaranteed acceptance rate.
The catch
PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
A hesitant cat may be put off by the enclosure.
PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
- Why pick it
- Leave the top open for getting in and turning
- Rely on the documented allowance of up to 33 lb
- The catch
- The room sees more of an open litter area.
PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
- Why pick it
- Have the litter area enclosed
- Follow visits and weight in the Pet Companion app
- The catch
- A hesitant cat may be put off by the enclosure.
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What this page compares
Two app-connected PetSafe boxes, compared on cat acceptance, documented limits for large cats and waste drawer volume.
OpenSky is the pick for a cat that resists an enclosed globe or goes beyond SmartSpin’s documented 25 lb limit. SmartSpin is the pick when your cat accepts an enclosed entry and its six-liter drawer works with your household routine.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Cat dislikes covered boxes
The top stays open on OpenSky.
- PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
- Better fit
- PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
- Caution
An adult cat over 25 lb
The documented upper limit for SmartSpin is 25 lb.
- PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
- Better fit
- PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
- Not suitable
Want to see weight and visit records remotely
Connected records come with both.
- PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
- Good
- PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
- Good
Prefer a waste drawer documented as bigger
SmartSpin is listed at 6 L, OpenSky at 8.5 L. Volume doesn't establish the days between emptying.
- PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
- Better fit
- PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
- Good
In practice
Differences you will notice
If a cat balks at a globe, the open layout wins
SmartSpin has a spherical enclosure, whereas OpenSky leaves the top open, so OpenSky is the one for a cat that already avoids covered boxes. SmartSpin is still a reasonable choice when the cat accepts that layout. Keep a familiar box available and give the cat time, because a manufacturer’s claim about acceptance cannot predict how an individual cat will behave.
How we worked this out
The design of the entry gives a hypothesis about fit, and no guaranteed acceptance rate.
When a cat tops 25 lb, the documented pick shifts
OpenSky is listed by PetSafe for cats up to 33 lb, and SmartSpin for cats up to 25 lb. A cat whose weight falls between those figures can only be supported by OpenSky in this pair. Check turning space and the minimum operating requirements on their own, since an upper weight allowance says nothing about whether a kitten is eligible or a cat can move easily.
How we worked this out
The maximum-weight range where the two do not overlap runs from above 25 lb through 33 lb.
A bigger drawer does not promise longer unattended care
On paper OpenSky’s drawer is 8.5 L and SmartSpin’s is 6 L, a nominal gap of 2.5 L. How fast either one fills depends on clump size, the litter you choose and the number of visits. If the extra volume helps you, pick OpenSky, and still check both on a routine. The two-week OpenSky example is for one cat, although the product supports multi-cat homes.
How we worked this out
8.5 minus 6 equals 2.5 L. No storage duration is calculated from volume.
Option A
PetSafe, ZAL00-18120
ScoopFree OpenSky
Clumping litter is the documented fit, and waste goes into sealed storage.
- Best for
- Leave the top open for getting in and turning
Facts we checked
- Cat entry: Open-top automatic sifting design
- Maximum documented cat weight: Manufacturer supports cats up to 33 lb
- Waste volume: 8.5 L waste drawer
- Remote records: Weight and visit records through the app on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
Option B
PetSafe, SmartSpin
PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
Cats need to weigh at least 3.5 pounds for automatic cycles, and the cabinet is 20.9 inches wide.
- Best for
- Have the litter area enclosed
Facts we checked
- Cat entry: Enclosed spherical sifting design with an entry about 12 in above the floor
- Maximum documented cat weight: Manufacturer supports cats up to 25 lb
- Waste volume: 6 L sealed waste drawer
- Remote records: Weight and visit records through the Pet Companion app on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky | PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cat entry | Open-top automatic sifting design | Enclosed spherical sifting design with an entry about 12 in above the floor | Automation only has value if the cat will willingly go in and turn around. |
| Maximum documented cat weight | Manufacturer supports cats up to 33 lb | Manufacturer supports cats up to 25 lb | Upper weight limits are not the same, and that doesn't prove comfort for every body shape. |
| Waste volume | 8.5 L waste drawer | 6 L sealed waste drawer | A nominal volume is no guarantee of the time between emptying. |
| Remote records | Weight and visit records through the app on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Weight and visit records through the Pet Companion app on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi | Both of them connect on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. |
| Household scope | Single or multi-cat households, with a two-week drawer example stated for one cat | Manufacturer describes multi-cat use | It would be wrong to describe either as limited to one cat. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
- The missing minimum isn't supplied by a published upper weight.
With PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
- In nominal volume the waste drawer is smaller by 2.5 L.
Change of plan
When the answer changes
My cat won't go through an enclosed entrance
Go with PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky. That physical preference is addressed by the open top.
A globe is fine with my cat, and six liters is enough
Go with PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin. The connected enclosed-box routine is what SmartSpin covers.
Decision guide
How to decide
A cat that resists an enclosed globe, or one that exceeds SmartSpin’s documented 25 lb limit, points to OpenSky. A cat that accepts an enclosed entry, plus a six-liter drawer that fits the household routine, points to SmartSpin.
If a cat balks at a globe, the open layout wins
SmartSpin has a spherical enclosure, whereas OpenSky leaves the top open, so OpenSky is the one for a cat that already avoids covered boxes. SmartSpin is still a reasonable choice when the cat accepts that layout. Keep a familiar box available and give the cat time, because a manufacturer’s claim about acceptance cannot predict how an individual cat will behave.
When a cat tops 25 lb, the documented pick shifts
OpenSky is listed by PetSafe for cats up to 33 lb, and SmartSpin for cats up to 25 lb. A cat whose weight falls between those figures can only be supported by OpenSky in this pair. Check turning space and the minimum operating requirements on their own, since an upper weight allowance says nothing about whether a kitten is eligible or a cat can move easily.
A bigger drawer does not promise longer unattended care
On paper OpenSky’s drawer is 8.5 L and SmartSpin’s is 6 L, a nominal gap of 2.5 L. How fast either one fills depends on clump size, the litter you choose and the number of visits. If the extra volume helps you, pick OpenSky, and still check both on a routine. The two-week OpenSky example is for one cat, although the product supports multi-cat homes.
What this page can’t tell you
- Cleaning, noise and odor were not compared in any matched test. Documented features and operating limits are the basis for the recommendations.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the automatic litter boxes we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky |
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| PetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
PetSafe ScoopFree OpenSky
Leave the top open for getting in and turning
See price & reviews on AmazonPetSafe ScoopFree SmartSpin
Have the litter area enclosed
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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