Basic Instuctions, Suggestions and Tips

A few tips to get the most out of your Forever Tray and the Scoop Free......

Caring for your tray

After prolonged use, there will sometimes be a stain buildup in the main center area of the tray.  This is easily cleaned during a regular litter change.  I personally use Lysol Kitchen cleaner, spray some on and let it soak a couple of minutes, and then scrub lightly with a scotch-brite sponge.  Works great!

For litter changes (see "litter recommedations") I use a minimum of 4lbs, up to 4.5lbs. of Fresh Step or Pet Essentials crystals per litter change (that works out to once a week with our two cats Jack and Stan). Other folks have tried other crystals -- but this is a good starting point.  Another excellent resource for information on virtually everything to do with all things related to automated litterboxes in general and the Scoop Free in particular can be found at www.litterbox-central.com.

Proper alignment of the clear lid

Always make sure that the little white pegs on the sides are above the clear lid.  What lifts the lid are the magnets of the purple cover -- not the pegs. If you've got the tray properly assembled you should only need to touch the clear lid occasionally for cleaning, so you can leave it attached to the purple lid for routine litter changes. Just tilt the Scoop Free up on its end per the manufacturers instructions, leaving the lid attached. It's the magnets that actually lift the lid, and the floating hinge is only there to set it in the tray and locate the lid before you tilt the unit down over the tray.

 (You can see just see the clear lid still attached to the magnets under the purple lid at the top of the photo below)

Basic box maintenance

"Reality vs. advertising" -- don't expect this litterbox to be completely "hands off" as the advertizing claims. While it's very, very good -- the best way to get the most of it is to do an occasional stir of the litter and to rake out excess poops from under the lid. Operative word is "occasional" -- maybe once every few days. It really helps, and is still worlds less trouble and smell than any other box I've found.  There has been a lot written about crystal litter -- but the consensus of everyone (from users like you and me to the manufacturers) is that you can definitely extend the life of the crystals (translation: urine absorbancy) by an occasional rake.  This allows them to release moisture to the air as opposed to keeping it soaked in.

Leakage issues?

If you experience urine leakage, check to see if you might have a "side pee-er". Some cats like to pee on the sides, causing leakage over the top edge of the tray a. (Note: this is also good advice for anyone using the cardboard Scoop Free cartridges as well, as some people have reported this problem no matter what tray or cartridge they use).