Is the Litter Robot 4 truly the answer to every cat owner's prayers?
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.Learn more.
Litter Robot 4 Review: We Tried the Ultimate Smart Litter Box
Updated on Nov. 05, 2024
Common kitty wisdom states that you should own one litter box for every cat in your family, plus one extra to give your most discerning feline friends some variety when doing their business. But what to do when you don’t have the space for multiple litter boxes? Stand by the box at attention, ready to scoop their poop the moment it happens? As the mom of four fur babies, I simply do not have the time to provide that sort of white-gloved service. Could the Litter Robot 4 be the answer to my prayers?
VIA MERCHANT
Litter-Robot 4
Suitable for up to four cats, this marvelous machine will automatically clean the litter after every use, while reducing odors and litter tracking. It also offers pet tracking so you can keep tabs on the health of your furry, four-legged friends.
On This Page
What is the Litter Robot 4?
The Litter Robot 4 is commonly considered to be the self-cleaning litter box to end all self-cleaning litter boxes—the Rolls Royce of automated cat toilets, if you will. And it certainly doesn’t look like any litter box you’ve seen before! Litter Robot has completely reimagined the kitty litter experience, forgoing the traditional sandbox design in lieu of a circular, pod-like design.
The inside of the Litter Robot is a rubber-lined rotating drum; once kitty is done doing their business, it slowly spins to sift away the clean litter, then dumps the clumps and cat poop into a sealed waste compartment at the bottom of the unit. It then rotates in the opposite direction, filtering the clean litter back into the main chamber. The Litter Robot has a built-in charcoal filter to help eliminate odors, too, so your cats will always feel like they’re using a litter box meant exclusively for them.
What truly sets the Litter Robot 4 apart from the rest of the pack is its integrated technology. This self-cleaning litter box connects to your Wi-Fi network, letting you know when your cat has done their business, how full the waste bin is and whether or not you need to add more cat litter. It also records the weight of whichever cat is using the box, so you can keep track of their bathroom habits and notice any changes (i.e., things your cat wishes they could tell you), which could signal health issues.
Litter Robot 4 Product Features
I must confess, this isn’t my first dalliance with the Litter Robot 4—I purchased their original model waaaaaay back in 2005, and my cats at the time did not take very kindly to it. The first Litter Robot was quite noisy, which frequently startled them, making them think it was something more in line with killer robots or diabolical cat traps than a litter box. However, nearly two decades of redesigns and improvements on the initial idea have completely changed everything, making the Litter Robot 4 feel like something light years ahead of the original. Here are some of the next-gen features that make this high-tech pet gadget a game changer.
App Functionality and Monitoring Features
You’ll always know the state of your litter box—and your kitty cat’s health—thanks to the Wi-Fi connectivity of the Litter Robot 4. Once you’ve downloaded the company’s Whisker app to your smartphone, you’ll receive regular updates on how often your cats use the litter box, their current weight, and how full the waste tray is. The app records and stores usage information so you can see your cat’s litter box habits over time, which can help you catch health problems at their onset.
Using the app, you can customize many of the Litter Robot 4’s functions, like how quickly the clean cycle activates after your cat leaves the robot (between 3 and 30 minutes), motion-sensitive light settings, sleep mode, and locking the manual control panel on the robot.
Size and Cat Comfort
The Litter-Robot 4’s open front makes it easier for cats to enter and exit, but its 14-inch litter bed may feel cramped for larger cats or those that dislike confined spaces. If you have a big cat, measure a similar space before purchasing or check it out at local retailers.
Whisper-Quiet Operation
Unlike the original, the Litter-Robot 4 operates so quietly you might not notice it—unless your cat makes a racket while using it like mine does.
Odor Control and Cleaning
With four cats, litter box odor is a constant battle, so I prioritized odor control when choosing the Litter-Robot 4. Its odor control is excellent. I set it to cycle three minutes after use, dumping clumps into a sealed chamber below. The charcoal filter helps keep smells at bay, but periodic deep cleaning is necessary, especially in multi-cat households. Whisker recommends basic cleaning every 1-3 months and deep cleaning at least every three months.
Cat Detection Safety Feature
There is no need to worry about your cat getting trapped during a clean cycle. Sensors detect when cats step onto the litter box and pause any operation until they’ve left the area. The detectors also track your cat’s weight, which is helpful in multi-cat homes for monitoring usage.
Adjustment Period
It may take time for your cat to adjust to the Litter-Robot. Introducing it gradually—initially with manual cycles—can help skittish cats feel more comfortable. An added perk: the night light can be set to on, off, or automatic.
How We Tested It
The first order of business with the Litter Robot 4 is figuring out where you’re going to put it, which is trickier than it sounds. Though its size is clearly advertised on its website (29-1/2 inches tall and 22 inches wide, to be exact), you won’t fully appreciate how massive the Litter Robot 4 is until an intimidatingly-large box arrives at your doorstep. Though difficult to lift and carry, there are two significant positives: The box is gargantuan because the Litter Robot 4 arrives fully assembled, and its presence will keep your kitties fully occupied while you set up their new litter box.
I’ve always kept my litter boxes in the bathroom, but the Litter Robot is too large to fit in mine. I ended up setting mine up in the corner of my living room, where my cats spend the majority of their days sleeping and scratching themselves. I’m not thrilled with the situation, but things like this are par for the course when you’re a city apartment dweller. Fortunately, the Litter Robot 4 is—dare I say it?— good looking, with a sleek modernist design that helps distract you from the fact you have a toilet in your living room.
I fully expected the set-up of a space-age litter box to be confusing, which is why I was extra grateful for the helpful instructional videos accessible via QR code. After plugging it in I downloaded the Whisker App and synced my litter box to my phone, which is something I never imagined doing, but we live in remarkable times.
After filling the Litter Robot 4 with my favorite litter (we swear by Naturally Fresh!), I sat back patiently waiting for my cat children to check it out, praying that they wouldn’t find it too ominous or intimidating. Many pet experts recommend a number of steps to help acclimate cats to a new litter box, but fortunately, all four of my boys ended up taking to it immediately. Within a week, my cats stopped using one of their traditional litter boxes entirely, preferring the constant cleanliness of the Litter Robot 4 to a litter box staffed by measly, fallible humans.
Daily Use and Maintenance
The primary goal of a self-cleaning litter box like the Litter Robot 4 is to eliminate the hassle of scooping and daily maintenance, and boy oh boy does it succeed. There are only two issues I need to deal with on a day-to-day basis. One is sweeping the floor outside the opening, as someone (who shall remain nameless) loves kicking litter out of the box after using it while screaming loudly for no good reason.
The second: I press a button to manually force a cycle before I go to bed at night, just to make sure there’s no wet litter that’s gotten stuck to the bottom. If there is, I use a standard litter box scoop to knock it loose midcycle so that it falls through the trap door into the waste chamber below. The Litter Robot 4 does all the rest!
With four cats, I need to empty the waste tray every three days or so. Though Litter Robot sells special odor-proof bags you can use to line the drawer, I use standard 13-gallon kitchen trash bags, which fit perfectly. All I need to do to clean is pull out the drawer, cinch up the bag and toss it in the trash. Easy peasy.
Pros
- Truly self-cleaning
- Good for pregnant people who should avoid cat litter, or those with accessibility issues
- Whisper-quiet
- Excellent odor control
- Comes pre-assembled
- Easy setup
- Cat detector technology for safety
- Integrated app for monitoring bathroom usage, litter box capacity and nighttime activity
- Customizable settings for single or multi-cat households
- Aesthetic design
Cons
- Quite large
- Some cats may take time to get used to it
- Still requires a little cleaning for certain messes
- Not for kittens under 3 pounds
- Warranty limited to 1 year
- This high-tech gadget comes with a hefty price tag of $700
Why You Should Trust Us
Allison Robicelli is an award-winning writer, author and product tester specializing in home goods, kitchen equipment and pet supplies. With nearly 20 years of experience testing and vetting appliances, she’s also a lifelong DIYer. Her work has appeared in MyDomaine, Epicurious, Food Network, Family Handyman, Reader’s Digest, Taste of Home and more.
Sean Tirman, Content Updates Editor at Family Handyman, updated and contributed research to this piece. Sean has written shopping guides since 2016 and is a former associate editor at Gear Patrol.
What Other Users Had to Say
“Honestly this cat box has changed both my cat’s and my family’s life,” says a verified five-star reviewer on Whisker’s site. “My house is now clean, no tracks and litter all over and smells good. We’ve only been using the Litter Robot for two months but what an unbelievable difference it has made in all of our lives already.”
“The cats love it. I love it. After trying another brand and throwing my money away I really appreciate everything about this one,” says Heather in her five-star Chewy review. “Also between being able to use my own garbage sacks in it and the minimal amount of litter it uses I will probably save some of what I spent on it plus I have spent zero time messing with it trying to make it work.”
“Why, oh why did we wait so long to get a litter robot?” says Hollie in her verified five-star review on Whisker’s site. “All 3 of our kitties took to it right away. It’s wonderful that they have a clean box every time. The time saved by scooping is great, not to mention we use less litter now.”
FAQ
Can you use any litter with Litter-Robot 4?
“Litter-Robot works well with almost any clumping or scoopable litter,” says Whisker. “Litter beads and crystals that are small enough to pass through the screen will also work.”
How many cats can use Litter-Robot 4?
Litter-Robot 4 is designed for households with up to four cats.
Is Litter-Robot 4 worth the upgrade?
With an MSRP of $700, Litter-Robot 4 is an investment, but many users report it’s worth it. The larger opening makes it easier for cats to use, the waste drawer liner is simpler to replace, and it operates much quieter than previous models.
Product Comparison: Litter Robot 3 vs. 4
If you’re debating between purchasing the Litter Robot 3 or Litter Robot 4, or wondering how the 3 stacks up to the new-and-improved Litter Robot 4, here’s a quick overview of what’s changed. (You can check out the full comparison on the Whisker website):
- Wider opening for easier cat access
- Sleeker design that disguises the fact that it’s literally a toilet
- Better odor control thanks to deeper waster drawer with tighter-fitting seal
- LowDust screen reduces amount of dust
- Enhanced sensors to detect and provide real-time litter and waste levels
- Quieter (practically silent!)
- Five cycle delay settings (set timer to clean 3, 7, 15, 25 or 30 minutes after cat has exited)
- New color options include black or white (previously gray or beige)
- Lower weight threshold means cats as small as 3 pounds can now use the Robot
Final Verdict
Is the Litter Robot 4 a splurge? Absolutely. This self-cleaning litter box is not cheap, and it’s hard to spend that sort of money on something unless you’re absolutely, positively sure that it works. And after over two months of use, I can confidently say that the Litter Robot 4 not only works, but exceeds expectations. If you’re a single cat household, it might be more of a luxury purchase, unless you really, really hate scooping litter. But for a multi-cat household like mine, it’s an absolute godsend.
Where to Buy the Litter Robot 4
VIA MERCHANT
Litter-Robot 4
Cleaning kitty litter can be a major pain. But this automated litter box will handle all that dirty business. With its automatic, self-cleaning technology, it quietly provides a fresh bed of litter after every use, while reducing odor and litter tracking.
Purchase the Litter Robot 4 from the Whisker website or Chewy for $700. We think the this product is purrr-fect for almost any kind of cat owner.
