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We give Litter-Robot 4 a rating of 4.85 out of 5 stars.
When it comes to automatic litter boxes, there is one brand that has always reigned king: Litter-Robot by Whisker.
This quintessential auto-cleaning litter box has long been celebrated for its ease of use, odor control, and simplicity. The newest model, the Litter-Robot 4, offers all these great benefits along with a sleek and compact design that takes up no more space on the floor than a large litter pan.
Of course, fame often comes with a higher price tag. So, is this popular automatic litter box worth the investment?
With the help of my cat, Makoa, I tested Whisker’s newest model to see if it lives up to the hype. Keep reading to find out what we discovered and to see my full Litter-Robot 4 review.
Overview
| Product Type: | Automatic litter box |
| Best Suited For: | Cats and kittens over 3 pounds |
| Price Range: | Higher end of the price range |
| Contents: | Litter box, extra waste bags, power cord, manual |
| Specs: | 22” wide by 27” long by 29” tall; 24lbs when empty |
| Options: | White or black body; 8 ring color options available |
| Assembly: | Comes fully assembled |
| Litter Requirements: | Clumping clay |
| Cleaning: | Easy to take apart for cleaning |
Our Experience
I was very excited going into this review. The Litter-Robot, after all, is one of the most famous automatic litter box options in America. I have always been intrigued by this company and was interested to see if all the innovation and experience that went into the design of this new model would pay off.
Assembling and getting started with the product was super simple. The “assembly” aspect consisted of removing a few pieces of tape and attaching the power cord. From there, I used the quick start guide to power it on and download the app. I did have to unplug and restart the unit to get it to go into WiFi mode, but from that point, everything went smoothly.
As soon as I added the litter, Makoa was ready to get testing! He did his business immediately. I’m not sure whether this speaks more to his willingness to pee in anything litter-like or his approval of the wide-mouth design, but either way, he seemed happy about the new unit.
I was impressed with the compact design. It takes up much less floor space than the previous auto litter box I tested and easily fits into the corner of my laundry room.
But what I love most about the design is that large, angled opening. This is the first automatic litter box I’ve tested that is easy to fill with litter. Instead of having to pour the litter into a small bowl and then dump it in over and over, I can simply pour straight from the box with this unit. This takes a lot of the hassle out of maintaining the unit.
The connected app is easy to use, as well. The interface is clean and intuitive to navigate. It doesn’t have any misunderstandings some other international apps have because this one is designed and coded in America and doesn’t require translation.
What I like most about this litter box system is that it’s very much set-and-forget. The app notifies me once each auto-clean cycle is complete, but other than that, it’s hands-off. So is the unit itself, only requiring attention when the litter gets low and the waste bin is full.
According to the product information, the waste bin should only need to be emptied about once per week for one cat households. I’ve found that it typically lasts Makoa about 10 days before it needs to be emptied. I usually top off the litter at this time too.
As far as odor control, I was surprised by how well this unit performs. The waste is stored in a pull-out drawer below the cylinder.
This drawer is tightly sealed and features a carbon filter on the top that helps absorb odors. I noticed a slightly moist scent after about a week, but no discernable litter odors. Even after 10 days and a full waste bin, my laundry room was largely stink-free.
The litter I use is all-natural clay and baking soda with zero added fragrances or additional odor-control ingredients. So, the fact that there was basically no odor after over a week, was pretty impressive.
The only real complaint I have about this unit is that, occasionally, the weight sensor gets stuck. I talked to the very courteous and helpful Whisker tech team and found the cause of the issue to be the heavier weight of the litter I use.
Switching to a lighter clay litter would resolve the problem. So, if you have a favorite hefty litter brand that you love, just know that it can cause some issues with the sensitive sensors in this unit.
Overall, though, I have been very impressed with the Litter-Robot 4. It does a good job sifting the litter, a great job sealing in odors and takes almost all the labor out of litter box maintenance while helping cat parents keep a closer eye on their cat’s weight and potty habits.
Pros & Cons
- Easy to use
- Quiet operation
- Large opening
- Set and forget
- Sealed odor compartment
- Can use regular trash bags
- (but can work in semi-automatic mode)
- Some litter may not be suitable
Key Features
Pet and People-Friendly Design
The Litter-Robot 4 was designed to be easy to use, for both cats and their people.
The opening of this auto-litter box is much larger than the competitors. For fearful cats and those not used to automatic litter boxes, this feature can help ease the transition from pan to robot. It’s also a great option for large cats and tubby tabbies who might struggle with tight openings and compact litter areas.
This large opening also makes it much easier to add litter. The wide, 15.75-inch diameter opening is angled up, making it possible to pour litter straight from the box or container into the litter area.
Other cat-friendly features include an automatic light that illuminates the litter, a front step for easy access even for older kitties, and quiet operation that can be delayed to accommodate fearful cats.
For humans, this automatic litter box has plenty to offer. The compact design makes it about as easy to place as a traditional litter pan and the colorful ring options help it blend in with your decor. And the connected app keeps you updated about litter levels, waste bin levels, and usage.
Easily Monitor Your Cat or Cats
Litter-Robot 4 makes it easy to keep an eye on your cat’s bathroom habits. The robot’s multiple sensors help monitor your cat’s weight and log their bathroom usage throughout the day.
The app will even alert you if there is a sudden change in your cat’s bathroom habits, allowing you to intervene before common kitty issues, like kidney and bladder infections, become severe.
Best of all, these great features are available to multi-cat households.
Each Litter-Robot 4 can differentiate between up to four cats based on weight. It will track each cat’s bathroom habits and weekly weight separately, allowing you to get individual feedback on health and bathroom usage.
While this auto-litter box’s monitoring features are more limited than those of other products, the simplicity of the app and robot make it a great option for healthy cats and kittens.
Both the app and litter box are easy to set up and use. Once everything is up and going, you can set and forget this unit knowing it will notify you when litter needs to be added and the waste bin needs to be dumped.
Accessories for Easy Customization
The Litter-Robot 4 comes with a number of useful accessories and customization options.
The litter box itself is available in white or black and the ring around the front is available in eight different colors. These include mint, lilac, marble, and woodgrain.
Beyond the customization included in every order, you have the option to add accessories to fit your and your cat’s needs.
One of the most useful of these is the litter hopper. This addition attaches to the back of the robot and holds extra litter that is dispensed automatically as needed. It is a great option for cat owners looking to make litter box maintenance even more hands-off.
Other great add-ons include the Litter-Robot Litter Trap mat, OdorTrap Packs, the easy-access ramp, and the Litter-Robot storage cabinet.
About Whisker
Brad Baxter created the first version of the Litter-Robot in the early 2000s. Today, he and the Whisker company are still delivering quality automated cat products to make cat ownership less messy and more enjoyable.
| Manufacturing: | Designed and manufactured in the USA |
| Headquarters: | Auburn Hills, Michigan |
| Warranty: | 1-year warranty |
| Shipping: | Free shipping to the continental US |
Is the Litter-Robot 4 a Good Value?
As the highest-rated automatic litter box on the market, the Litter-Robot’s higher price tag is not surprising.
But the quality, impressive design, many features, and the fact that this product is made in the USA make it well worth the price, in my opinion.
How We Tested
My eighteen-month-old Domestic Shorthair, Makoa, and I are no strangers to automatic litter boxes. We have tested quite a few models and know what separates the great buys from the less worthy.
To test the Litter-Robot, I used it as most cat owners would. I set it up and installed the app on my phone. Then, I placed it in my laundry room, where my litter box normally sits, and took diligent notes.
From there, it was up to Makoa to test the product’s cleaning abilities, odor control, and many other features.
For over a week, I kept tabs on how well the litter box cleaned after each use, how well the app tracked usage and litter and waste levels, and paid special attention to odors in the room.
I compared my findings to the other litter boxes I have tested and the expectations most owners would have when using an automatic litter box in this price range.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How does this litter robot compare to the Litter-Robot 3 Connect?
The Litter-Robot 4 has many of the same great features as the Litter-Robot 3 Connect plus a larger opening, large waste bin, additional safety and tracking sensors, and a new odor control system.
How big is the Litter-Robot 4?
The base of this automated litter box takes up about as much floor space as a large litter pan. The cylinder piece is a bit wider and much taller, requiring more open space above and around the base than a typical litter box. However, compared to most cylinder-style automatic boxes, this one is remarkably compact.
Can kittens use this litter box?
Kittens under 3 pounds should only use this litter box while it is powered off. The Litter-Robot 4 does not have a kitten setting that turns off automatic cleaning. However, you can still use the automated cleaning features by manually turning the litter box on after the kitten has used it and has safely exited the box.
Is Litter-Robot 4 safe for my cat?
Yes, this litter box utilizes Whisker’s Safe Cat System, which consists of lasers to monitor four safety areas, weight sensors, and anti-pinch sensors to stop rotation anytime a cat is present and resume only when the box is clear.
Conclusion
If you’re on the hunt for a quality automatic litter box, I highly recommend checking out the king of auto litter boxes, the Litter-Robot 4 by Whisker.
This compact box has just enough features to take the labor out of litter box maintenance while effectively sealing in odors and helping you track your cat’s health. The small footprint makes it a great option for any household while the large opening and intelligent design offer many perks to cats and cat owners alike.
