Right out of the box, the Litter-Robot 4 is impressive
The device arrives in a huge package and its volume is surprising: approximately 75 cm high by 56 cm wide and 68 cm deep. Visually, it is a large dome with a futuristic design, which contrasts radically with a classic litter box. The manufacturing quality is noticeable at first glance: the thick plastic and careful assembly inspire confidence, despite a somewhat "UFO" look in the room.
Because it is clearly not a discreet object, and it was necessary to find a dedicated place for it. In my case, it was placed in my garage connected to the house, where the cat's litter box used to be - except that this machine takes up much more space and needs to be close to an electrical outlet. Indeed, the Litter-Robot 4 works on mains power and does not have an internal battery to take over in the event of a power outage. At nearly 11 kg, moving it frequently for cleaning is not easy either. Suffice to say that it is better to measure your space before falling for this device!
Getting started with the Litter-Robot 4 requires a little time and method. It took me about an hour to install everything correctly, from physical positioning to setting up the mobile application. The connection is made via 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi (with assisted Bluetooth for the initial pairing). The Whisker application (iOS/Android) is essential to fully exploit the litter box: it allows you to launch cycles, monitor the status of the box and even track the weight of your cat when it passes. This last function, made possible by an integrated weight sensor, is intriguing for monitoring the health of my four-legged companion. The system can also recognize the passages of several cats (up to 4 profiles) and individually records their weight and frequency of use. In reality, it remains a statistical gadget, but I admit to having taken a curious look at my cat's weight curves after a few days. The application also sends useful alerts, in particular to warn that the waste drawer is full and needs to be emptied. Once the settings are fine-tuned, the Whisker app proves practical on a daily basis, even if the Litter-Robot can very well be used manually via the physical buttons on the device.
A UFO for your cat
When everything is ready, all that remains is to convince the main person concerned: your cat (aka Rolly Rocket). Each feline has its own personality, and introducing such a UFO into its territory must be done gently. Following the brand's recommendations, I first installed the Litter-Robot 4 next to the old litter box without removing it immediately, so as not to startle her. Let's be honest, I had to gradually get her used to it by luring her with a few treats and she was wary of it for 4 days! Then I moved on to a more radical approach by removing the old litter box, so she didn't really have a choice. Then finally, once reassured, she started using it herself.
Please note that the entrance to the sphere is quite high compared to a traditional litter box, which can confuse a kitten, an elderly or inflexible animal. An optional ramp accessory is available to soften this step and make it easier to enter. In any case, rest assured that no cleaning cycle is triggered while a cat is inside – an essential safety feature.
The Litter-Robot 4 is equipped with sensors that detect the presence and interrupt the rotation if an animal ventures during a cycle, avoiding any risk of a trapped or injured cat. This safety feature allowed me to be quite calm even the first few times when my cat turned around the moving device.
The Litter-Robot 4 keeps its promises
In concrete terms, as soon as the cat has done its business and left the sphere, a countdown adjustable in the app from 7 to 30 minutes starts. Then the magic happens: the globe slowly begins to rotate, like a large silent cement mixer. Inside, the soiled litter is sifted: the urine clumps and droppings are separated and fall by gravity into a sealed collection drawer located under the tank, while the clean litter is kept and put back in place for the next time. The entire operation takes about 5 minutes. This automated cycle avoids having to shovel it out every day, and guarantees clean litter for the next time each time you use it. Note that it is recommended to use clumping litter, and not necessarily the one sold on the brand's website. I particularly appreciated this comfort during short absences: no more guilt at the idea of leaving a dirty litter box when going away for the weekend!
The capacity of the waste drawer (about 5 L of soiled litter) theoretically allows a single cat to go up to fifteen days without emptying, and this turned out to be the case with an average of 2 trips per day. Each emptying is also quite simple: just pull out the drawer like a locker, remove the full bag and put in a new one. I was able to use either the bags provided or ordinary supermarket plastic bags which fit the drawer very well. The app helped me by telling me exactly how full the litter box was and notifying me when it was time to empty it, avoiding any unpleasant surprises.
Cleanliness and odors
This was one of the points that intrigued me the most, and overall I was satisfied on this level. Thanks to the systematic sifting after each pass, the litter space remains cleaner than with a classic litter box. My cat seems to appreciate it in particular because the litter is never saturated or odorous. Indeed, bad odors are very well contained by the Litter-Robot 4, because the collection drawer is closed by a hermetic seal, so that no emanations are released as long as the drawer remains in place. Even after several days without emptying, the smell of dirty litter is barely perceptible when bringing your nose close to the device, where a normal litter box would have infected the room! Of course, when you open the drawer to remove the full bag, the accumulated odors are noticeable, but it's a necessary evil.
It should be noted that there are additional deodorizing cartridges called OdorTrap to place in the drawer, sold separately, which neutralize odors even more over time. Overall, my room remained much healthier and olfactorily neutral than with my old open box.
In terms of noise, the Litter-Robot 4 surprised me with its discretion. The motor and the sliding of the litter produce just a soft murmur in the background (around 50 dB maximum according to the technical sheet). In the quiet, you can hear a slight purring during the cycle, but it's far from being able to bother you, it's even somewhat soothing!
A few flaws all the same
Despite its convincing performance, the Litter-Robot 4 is not without its constraints and drawbacks on a daily basis. The first, obvious, obstacle is its price. Displayed at around 900 euros in France, it represents a very heavy investment for a litter box, even a high-tech one. At this price, we are entitled to expect perfection, but there are still a few points that could be improved.
For example, I noted a problem with a false positive concerning the drawer fill level indicator, or the weight sensor which does not seem to be infallibly precise since my cat's weight sometimes varies by +/- 200 g from one visit to the next.
Another constraint: the device requires periodic maintenance. Of course, you save a lot of time on a daily basis on picking up droppings, but you still have to clean the machine itself from time to time. About once every two months, it is recommended to do a complete cleaning by emptying all the litter, disassembling part of the spherical globe, and cleaning the interior walls, the sieve and the drawer. This operation is a bit tedious given the size of the machine to be handled (the globe is 65 L). I also noticed that a few wet grains could remain stuck in corners of the sieve or at the bottom of the globe after a cycle. Nothing dramatic, but it requires monitoring and cleaning these areas during maintenance, otherwise residues or even blockages may appear.
Another point to consider: the management of the litter outside the machine. Whisker highlights a reduction in litter dragging outside the box thanks to the enclosed shape of the Litter-Robot 4, and it is true that my cat has scattered less than with a classic open litter box. However, a few grains always manage to escape from the entrance when he jumps out. To limit this, I added a floor mat in front of the machine (available as an option) which collects the particles fallen from the paws well. Generally speaking, several useful accessories are sold separately (access ramp, anti-projection barrier, OdorTrap anti-odor capsules, etc.), which further increases the bill if you want a truly optimized installation.
Where to buy it?
The Whisker Litter-Robot 4 is available on the official brand website or on Amazon from 899 euros.
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