LITTER ROBOT 4
Whisker has been on the market long enough for us to have an objective opinion of their reliability. This latest model has modernized its design, but also refined a few elements. Our review of the Litter Robot 4 is based on customer feedback from the USA and Canada.
Pour une livraison en France, voir question réponses en bas de page.
- Odor Control 8,5/10.
- Charcoal filter.
- Drawer equipped with odor-sealing strips.
- Customer Satisfaction 90%.
- Very large opening.
- 2-year warranty.
- Deep waste bin that can use standard plastic bags.
- No need for fragrance to eliminate odors.
- Cats starting from 2.8 lb.
- Optimized globe cleaning.
- Il faut commander un accessoire en plus pour éviter que le chat ne balance le sable à l’extérieur.
- Prix
- Pas encore disponible depuis la France.
The Litter Robot 4 is 1.9 Inch narrower in width. It also enlarges its opening, which, on the other hand, may not be the best idea, as the litter tends to escape more easily. The Litter Robot 3 remains more efficient at this level due to its original shape. To address this issue, the manufacturer offers an accessory (litter fence) that will attach at the entrance. In any case, the litter-catch mat will remain your best friend.
Filtration technology.
After the cat’s visit, the new sensors will trigger a rotation cycle. The globe will then rotate on its own to quietly sift the litter and deposit the waste into the drawer at the base of the device. All of this with very little noise. In fact, the motor makes less noise than the movement of the pellets on the surface of the globe. You have 2 things left to do; empty the trash bag every 10 to 20 days depending on the number of cats, and clean the globe once a month.
Assembly and use of the Litter Robot 4.
Upon delivery, the Robot 4 is already assembled. All you have to do is add the clumping litter and plug it in, taking care not to frighten the cat. It possesses many of the same features as the previous “Connect” model (comparison below). Note that the control panel becomes more accessible on top.
- The ideal is to place the Litter-Robot in the same place as the old litter box (at least during the transition).
- Don’t forget that the surface must be flat and firm. No soft, uneven, or unstable ground.
- The sensors also won’t appreciate direct sunlight or too much humidity.
- Make sure the device isn’t pressed against a wall.
- Place the litter mat in front of the device, or completely under it so it remains level. Respect the maximum litter fill line. Do not overfill the globe.
- And there you have it, you’ll just need to press the Power button for the Litter-Robot 4 to calibrate and perform a first cleaning cycle which lasts 2 minutes.
Manage the Litter Robot remotely with Wifi.
- If you have a smartphone, you can download the Whisker app and remotely control the Litter-Robot 4. These functions will be approximately the same as the 3. You can choose to receive notifications. The level of the waste bin and the litter are indicated. You can also view the usage history. You will quickly sort out what is useful and unnecessary for you, but it is true that once notifications are activated, it’s nice to be warned about the fill levels.
- Another area where the app can be useful is the cat’s passage counter, as you will be able to check the frequency and thus prevent any potential digestive or other issue. The sensors will also track its weight over time, allowing you to know if your cat has gained or lost weight to tease it.
The monthly cleaning of the Litter Robot.
Compared to the Litter Robot 3, the biggest changes are mainly in the design, the larger entrance, and the noise reduction. But the precautions for use and cleaning are the same.
It should be noted that the hood of the Litter Robot 4 has no electronics and that the charcoal filter (which must be removed for cleaning), is located under the globe. On the Litter 3, it is located at the trash compartment level.
Also, the interior of the Litter 4’s globe being more uniform, there is less surface for litter to stick and this facilitates cleaning. But this is really just to mention something, as it is a small plus that will not weigh heavily in your final decision. The real differences lie elsewhere.
Litter robot 3 connect – VS – Litter robot 4
Comparison conclusion of L Robot-3 Vs L Robot-4.
- The Litter Robot 3 is less advanced, but still suitable for big cats. It is noisier, but let’s be clear… your vacuum cleaner is louder. In reality, it is noisy especially compared to the others which are particularly quiet. It is also a bit more bulky, but it’s still useful if you don’t need additional features and don’t want to pay more.
- The interior of the Robot 4 is a bit easier to clean, the pellets have no obstacles in which to get stuck. Let’s say that the 3 needs a bit more attention at this level.
- The huge entrance of the Litter 4 might give the impression that the cat is more comfortable, but the cats haven’t really confirmed this with explicit words and their facial expressions haven’t betrayed a huge happiness about this change either.
Verdict of Litter robot 4.
Verdict :
Is it worth paying more for a new light panel, and a larger opening? The answer is no. The opening of the previous model was already larger than average and we only noted one complaint at this level.
However, the answer will be YES if your cats weigh less than 2.3kg, if the “noise” bothers you, if you appreciate the more intuitive menu access, Ease of Cleaning or simply prefer its design. The Litter Robot 4 is primarily a major makeover, but its new sensors can also make a difference in the long run.
A real evolution for some of you, for others, it’s cheaper to go with the Petsafe Litter which accommodates large cats in its roofless version.
The waste drawer is sealed, and a charcoal filter is also present to reduce odors.
You also have the option to replace the charcoal filter with OdorTrap™ packs that use vegetable oils to attract and destroy odor molecules with natural chemistry.
So to answer this question more directly, yes, this litter robot does quite a good job at reducing odors. But no, no model completely eliminates odors.
The Litter-Robot 4 does not require special litter or exclusive consumables like several other self-cleaning litter boxes on the market.
But it will be much more efficient with clumping litter.
Litter beads and crystals small enough to pass through the mesh will also work in the Litter-Robot 4.
Litters that are strictly absorbent, non-clumping, newspaper-based, or wood-pellet based will not work, as they interfere with the sifting process.
Kittens weighing 1.3 kg or more can safely use the Litter-Robot 4 in automatic mode. If your kitten does not reach this minimum weight, it can still use the Litter-Robot while it’s turned off to operate in “manual” mode.
Absolutely. This strategy can be an effective way to introduce a kitten to the Litter-Robot 4 and make them comfortable with it. Using this method, you ensure the safety of your kitten while it becomes familiar with the Litter-Robot from a young age, which can help encourage its use as they grow and reach the minimum weight for automatic use. It’s also a good way to make sure the Litter-Robot stays clean and functional without posing any risk to your kitten.
The app can associate with multiple Litter-Robots with integrated WiFi. You can use multiple devices to connect to the app using the same account.
Summary of customer feedback:
Translation: “Copies of relevant customer feedback between 2021 and 2023 from the official website.”
01/20/03 Par Agitha :
- In concrete terms… it changes my life. I’ll start by saying that I am really happy with my choice of the Litter Robot 4! My two 6-year-old cats adapted instantly. However, after a few months of use, there are some points that need improvement.
- The litter fence may or may not prevent waste from coming out of the Litter Robot, but the gravel gets stuck on it, and there is almost always litter on the floor from the moment my cats jump out of the box.
- If the Litter Robot encounters a problem and requires manual intervention to fix it, you will only receive one notification through the app and no reminders. So, if you forget the notification, you could go days without the problem being fixed. The app should keep and display notifications for unresolved issues.
- The full drawer sensor is not very accurate. I have gotten into the habit of intervening every week, but this sensor doesn’t serve me much. These are minor details compared to what this machine brings to me. The customer support is responsive, and people are constantly working on improving the app. You can tell they are putting a lot of effort into this robot! 😉
- More reviews on https://www.litter-robot.com
01/20/03
The only problem I have with the new model is the scale function. It doesn’t seem to work well with lighter cat litter. Even when the litter is full, it keeps informing me that there’s not enough litter. Because of this, it appears to have difficulty detecting the true weight of my cats. There’s a difference of 2 kg! There doesn’t seem to be a way to calibrate the scale as far as I’ve found, so it’s frustrating. The other improvements are excellent though.
