Whisker Litter-Robot 4: The Robot Litter Tray That Really Works
Litter-Robot 4
Whisker’s Litter-Robot 4 is a fantastically designed robot litter box that eliminates the need to scoop your cat’s waste. Thanks to its innovative design, waste is separated from the fresh litter and deposited into the drawer below.
When the waste drawer is full, the Whisker app will alert you. Simply remove the bag and replace it with a new one; it’s as quick as that. It’s also incredibly quiet too, so it won’t disturb you.
With five easy buttons and an LED display, the Litter-Robot 4 offers a user-friendly design and a thoughtful app so you may monitor your cat’s toileting behavior and recognize any potential health issues quickly.
Most people would cower at the thought of purchasing a robot litter tray costing over $600. Before trying out theWhisker Litter-Robot 4, I was convinced that no amount of money would be worth it, even if it did mean I wouldn’t have to scoop poop out of a litter tray on a daily basis. Boy was I wrong! If you can afford the investment, it really is worth it.
With self-cleaning technology, app alerts directly to your phone, and reduced waste, the Litter-Robot 4 has certainly piqued my interest in how some potentially gimmicky-sounding technology can really make a difference.
Unboxing the Litter-Robot 4
I expected the Litter-Robot 4 to be big, but I didn’t expect it to be this big. When the box arrived, I wondered how I would handle this on my own. But, despite the monstrosity that sat in my kitchen, the unit was pretty easy to lift out of the box and surprisingly lightweight.
The Litter-Robot 4 was conveniently packed inside a mesh bag with a toggle on it for easy opening. I retrieved it from the bag and there it was in all its insanely huge glory. At this stage, I was impressed and even more taken aback by how easy it was to get started.
Setting up the Litter-Robot 4 is a straightforward process. The package includes an instruction manual that guides you through the assembly and doesn’t require any technical expertise or additional tools. Once assembled, you need to add your preferred clumping litter to the globe, and the Litter-Robot 4 is ready to use.
Though one thing I would add is this: the manual says to place the litter box in your desired location before attaching the power cord and plugging it in. Considering the size of the unit, I found it easier to plug the cable into the back of the Litter-Robot 4, move it to the correct location, and then plug it in a the wall.
That small point aside, I was so relieved to open a product and not have to put it together and follow a 25-page manual (yes, I’m looking at you, Ikea).
Getting Started With the Litter-Robot 4
Installation was easy, as was set up—bonus points for the Litter-Robot 4. I downloaded the Whisker app on my iPhone and, after holding the Wi-Fi button on the device’s panel for a few seconds, the app recognized the robot.
What came next was quite a treat. A somewhat endearing system so you can add your cat’s details to the app.
While it’s not compulsory, you are encouraged to add and edit your cat’s profiles to include information like gender, date of birth, weight, food type, etc. Since the Litter-Robot 4 weighs your cat each time it steps foot in the unit, you can easily keep track of your cat’s toileting habits.
Granted, this sounded a bit funny to me at first, but the idea is that the app will alert you to any inconsistencies and potential health concerns. For example, if your cat has regularly been using the litter box but then doesn’t use it for a while, or there’s a sudden weight change, you might want to take a trip to the vet.
Once you’ve been through the questions on the app, you’re ready to load in your litter (must be clumping) and freak out your cats (temporarily)! Something likeFresh SteporBoxiecatwould be ideal.
There’s a small line on the inside of the Litter-Robot 4 so you know how much litter to put in. Although you don’t have to do this, I mixed a little bit of the cat’s old litter in with the new stuff so that their scent was transferred over. Speaking with Whisker, they recommended the same:
I’d suggest taking a scoop or two from their old litter box, adding it to the litter-robot, and removing the old pan after a day or two. The majority of cats will adjust without any issues when you remove the other option.
When any additional weight is recorded inside the Litter-Robot 4, it performs a cleaning cycle. One of the key advantages of the Litter-Robot 4 is its ability to accommodate multiple cats. With its spacious design and automatic cleaning cycle, it can easily handle the needs of multiple cats in a household. Additionally, the unit includes adjustable settings that allow you to customize the cleaning cycle duration, enabling you to find the optimal balance between waste removal and litter conservation.
You can set the cycle delay to 3 minutes, 7 minutes, or 15+ minutes. I have mine set to 15+ minutes because I have two cats, and the app suggests “15+ minutes for larger clumps or multiple cats”.
It takes around two minutes for a cleaning cycle to complete. The process is almost silent, too, so there are no concerns about it disturbing you.
If a cycle is in progress and your cat steps into the Litter-Robot 4, don’t panic. The device will stop immediately thanks to its four zone SafeCat System. This works continuously to analyze whether a cat is present, ensuring your furry feline doesn’t get trapped or given a fright. Similarly, if a cycle is scheduled, it won’t spin until at least the cycle schedule time has passed.
For example, if your cycle is set to 3 minutes, there must be at least 3 minutes between your cat leaving the device and it starting the clean cycle.
Watching the first cycle was absolutely fascinating. It was really cool to see how the Litter-Robot 4 worked, and I have to say, it’s a pretty genius design. Unlike traditional litter boxes that require manual scooping and cleaning, this unit automatically sifts through the litter after each use, separating the waste from the clean litter. The waste is then deposited into a carbon-filtered drawer located at the unit’s base, eliminating unpleasant odors and minimizing the need for constant maintenance.
Maintaining the Litter-Robot 4
In terms of performance, the Litter-Robot 4 excels at keeping your home odor-free. The waste drawer features a built-in carbon filter that effectively neutralizes unpleasant smells. Maintenance is minimal and hassle-free, too. The waste drawer is easy to access and can be lined with standard garbage bags for effortless disposal (though mine came with some branded bags to get started).
The globe and the rubberized interior can be easily wiped clean with a mild detergent; however, it’s also possible to remove the globe entirely and give it a hose down if waste gets stuck to the unit or there’s dirt build up over time.
you’re able to also purchase additional accessories from Whisker for your Litter-Robot 4, like theLitter-Robot Litter Trap Mat. The heavy-duty mat collects any granules of litter tracked out of the litter box. The mesh layer allows the litter to be easily passed through so you can easily pop open the mat and dispose of any excess waste.
Like the unit, the mat is pretty large, but I found it to be worthwhile since I seem to have cats that scarper out of the box the second they are finished.
Is the Litter-Robot 4 Worth It?
When I first heard about the Litter-Robot 4, I was intrigued. Undoubtedly, I wanted one, but I wasn’t sure I’d be prepared to part with $699 to have a robot clean my cat’s waste. Though it’s an insane amount of money to spend on a litter tray, but I can safely say if I had that kind of cash spare, I’d buy one.
Cat owners will know the chore of scooping waste is not enjoyable. It also takes a long time if you have multiple litter boxes, which can quickly get smelly. The Litter-Robot 4 has removed that chore for me, and I’m a robot litter box convert now.
I left the old litter box out when I first started using the Litter-Robot 4, which meant the transition took a little bit longer for my cats. When I reached out to Whisker, they were extremely helpful and supportive. The day I removed the old box I also added a few scoops of waste into the Litter-Robot 4 (it wasn’t pretty). I turned the cycle off so that Bella and Chilli could pick up the scent and learn that this was the new place to do their business.
That same day, both of my cats used the Litter-Robot 4. A few weeks later, they are using it regularly like any other litter box with no issues, no accidents, and no mess. I now get alerts when they use the unit and how much waste buildup there is. With colored indicators on the side of the device, it’s easy to see what’s going on, when to empty, and when a cycle is about to begin.
The Smart Cat Litter Box
If you’d asked me a month or so ago whether I thought a robot litter box was something I’d want or need, I’d probably have laughed. But after testing out the Litter-Robot 4, I can safely say I am a very happy customer, and my cats are too.
Whisker has designed the Litter-Robot 4 to be easy to use, cat-friendly, and odor-free. Every single detail has been thought about carefully, from the design and size, to the in-app alerts every time your cat uses it.
Yes, it does get some funny looks when friends and family come round, but it’s made my life much easier, and for that I’m grateful.
If an AI can roast you, it can also prep you for emergencies.
These films will leave you questioning humanity, but also wanting more.
Unlock a world of entertainment possibilities with this clever TV hack.
Flagship price, mid-range phone.
These are the best free movies I found on Tubi, but there are heaps more for you to search through.
I plugged random USB devices into my phone and was pleasantly surprised by how many actually worked.
