The Litter-Robot 4 is here to solve all your cat parent problems.
No, it won't stop your cat looking at you disdainfully every time you try to show them some love. However, the automatic, self-cleaning litter box will detect when your cat has done their business and scoop all the mess away for you. Which means no more daily scooping!
It also traps odours and stops litter tracking (when litter clings to your cat's paws and fur), making it a real gift for busy cat owners (and their furry friends).
The Litter-Robot 4 has only just arrived in the UK, but our Good Housekeeping Institute colleagues in the US have already tried it out and are big fans of the tech. They found their fussy felines took to it with minimal suspicion and, thanks to the sleek design and odour-control, it will fit in nicely with your interiors. You just need to make sure you have room for it before you buy as it's an impressive piece of kit – its footprint is W: 56 cm x H: 68.6 cm.
Here's everything else you need to know about the self-cleaning robot before you shop.
How does the Litter-Robot 4 work?
If you’ve never used an automatic cat litter box before, picture this: Your cat jumps in to do its business and a sensor registers that it's been in there. Nothing happens immediately, giving the cat a chance to scratch and leave, and the litter some time to clump. Then, the machine gets busy raking or sifting to separate the clumps from the clean clay litter.
The Litter-Robot 4, which is designed to be used with up to four cats, works a little differently to others in that the entire dome rotates to do the cleaning. After the cat has used it — the default setting is seven minutes later, but you can set it to clean after only a few minutes or to wait 15 minutes, depending on preference — the dome slowly rotates. The clean litter passes through a large sieve and the clumps are directed to a chute, which sends them to an odour-trapping bin below. The dome rotates back again, closing the waste chute and clean litter is filtered back into the litter box. Smart, right?
The whole cleaning process is, we're told, quiet. Sometimes, you may hear the litter sifting, but that sounds quite soothing to be honest.
Oh, and it connects to the Whisker app so you can keep track of waste drawer levels, your cat's bathroom habits, and and even their weight, from your phone.
Note that cats will need to transition to an automatic litter box slowly. Experts advise setting it up near their old litter box while your cat is out of the room and then letting them explore it before you activate the self-cleaning abilities. Leave their old litter box there while they get used to the new one.
What are the benefits of the Litter-Robot 4?
It offers peace of mind for cat parents when they go away for the weekend. Instead of coming home to a full litter tray, you can be safe in the knowledge your precious furbies will have a clean bathroom while you're away – and you can check in on them from your phone.
It's also ideal if you hate the hands-on chore of scooping. It only requires you to empty the bin, and the app alerts you when the bin is full. You can also line the Litter-Robot 4 waste bin with liner bags that make the dumping even easier, or reuse plastic shopping bags for that purpose.
Cat owners who don't want any visitors to glimpse a dirty box, or smell it, will also be fans, as it hides all the pee and poop under the dome.
It's also made for your cat's comfort (we know they're the real VIPs) and uses lasers and weight sensor technology to provide an invisible safety curtain when they're going about their business. Plus, the dome always remains open during rotation to make sure a cat can never get stuck inside.
Where to shop the Litter-Robot 4
The Litter-Robot 4 is now available to shop in the UK on the brand's website. Prices start at £749 for the individual litter box, but from 1 November to 3 January, you can get £80 off all Litter-Robot bundles for the festive season, making it the perfect gift (or self-gift) for cat owners and their feline friends this Christmas.
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
