'I put Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 to the test following years of cleaning up cat litter'
The Litter-Robot 4 is an automatic cat litter tray that you can control from your phone
My cat Theo is my best friend in the world - he's fluffy, has a habit of waking me up with loud meows, and every morning and night, he settles on my chest and purrs contentedly in bed. We both shout at people to eat - we're kindred spirits.
However, this affection comes with its fair share of responsibilities, including dealing with his waste. This involves scooping up his mess, vacuuming copious amounts of litter scattered around my flat, and cleaning out the clumped-together litter... any cat owner can attest to the unpleasantness of this task and the accompanying odour.
In our modern world, we seek solutions to such issues, which led me to discover Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 priced at £749. This automatic cat litter box claims to eliminate the need for scooping due to its self-cleaning feature, while providing fresh litter for your cat and containing the smell.
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For those looking for more affordable options, the PetSafe ScoopFree Covered Self-Cleaning Litter Box from Amazon, priced at £179.99, could be an alternative. Although it does offer odour control, it has a lower user-rating of 3.9 out of 5,448 ratings, as reported by MyLondon.
Another option is the Yaheetech Grey Enclosed Cat Litter Box, available from B&Q for £45.99. While this isn't an automatic model, meaning you'll still have to do most of the work yourself, and it doesn't have the odour-trapping feature, it serves as a decent low-tech solution.
The automatic cat litter aims to solve the scooping up cat poop problem forever thanks to its self-cleaning capabilities, while producing fresh litter for your cat and trapping the odour.
I decided to put Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 to the test to see if it could finally put an end to my daily routine of vacuuming litter off the floor. Here are my thoughts:
Litter-Robot 4: Setting Up
Given the advertised features, I anticipated needing a Master's Degree to set it up. Fortunately, it was quite straightforward. On a scale from 'my mum could do it without calling me over' to 'Einstein would have difficulty with this', it definitely falls into the 'she would need a brief WhatsApp chat to figure it out' category.
The Litter-Robot 4 arrives in a large box as it comes pre-assembled. Simply remove the tape, decide if you want the small litter guard and plug it in. It appears robust, but one potential drawback is its size. While it's roughly the same width as my regular litter tray (56cm), it's about twice as tall (75cm), so ensure you have an appropriate place for it. It also weighs 10.4kg without litter, equivalent to two male cats.
There's a distinct litter fill line that's impossible to overlook - fine, non-clumping litter is required for optimal performance. To help your cat recognise the scent of their old litter during the transition period, I'd recommend keeping it in your original litter box for a week prior. Once the Litter Robot is assembled, simply follow the instructions in the booklet which involve downloading the app.
The app and functionality
This is where things get interesting. After a very simple setup process on the app, you can essentially control the entire Litter-Robot 4 via your app. One thing to note is that it defaults to American dates and measurements, which can be slightly irritating. But once that's sorted, you're good to go.
The app provides information on the litter's fullness, the amount of waste, and even allows you to set a cleaning cycle from your phone. The real game-changer is the app's ability to monitor your cat's health. While it doesn't replace a vet visit when something seems amiss, having an early warning system can certainly provide peace of mind.
During my fortnight with the Litter-Robot 4, I encountered no issues with the app. It performed as expected, providing near-perfect readings of his weight. Once the Litter-Robot is operational, the next hurdle is acclimatising your cats. Theo, being a timid 14 year old, posed a unique challenge.
Fortunately, Whisker offers a useful guide on how to familiarise your feline with their new oversized toilet. Following the guide, I placed the litter next to his usual one for a week without cleaning the old one. After about a week, I removed the old one and anxiously awaited the outcome. Thankfully, there were no accidents outside the box.
Would I recommend the Litter-Robot 4?
Absolutely. One thing to keep in mind is that it is an investment. What you're paying for is daily convenience. If you have multiple cats, they can all use the same unit, which makes the cost more bearable. But considering the high-quality functionality, the absence of odour, and the elimination of daily poo scooping, I'm pleased to say the Litter-Robot 4 is worth its price tag.