Litter Robot 4 review

Is the Litter Robot 4 worth it? 

No matter how adorable your cat is, scooping litter is nobody's favorite task. The Litter Robot 4 is a self-cleaning litter box that takes care of the mess, so you can focus on playing with your cat. 

The manufacturer claims that you'll never need to scoop again with the Litter Robot. It also says that this product reduces litter tracking and odor. What's more, it shouldn't take longer than a week for your cat to acclimate. 

The BestReviews Testing Lab wanted to assess these claims, so they trialed the Litter Robot 4 to see if it stands up to scrutiny. 

Testing the Litter Robot 4

The BestReviews Testing Lab tries out products over a long period of time in real-world conditions to see how they really perform. For this article, they tested the Litter Robot in a home with two cats. They looked at how effective it was at dealing with litter and how convenient it was to use. 

What is the Litter Robot 4?

The Litter Robot is a self-cleaning litter box. This means it automatically separates solid waste and clumped litter from clean litter, so your scooping days are over. 

See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best self-cleaning litter boxes.

Litter Robot 4 price and where to buy

The Litter Robot 4 costs $699 from Litter Robot. 

How to use the Litter Robot 4

When you get your Litter Robot, all you need to do is remove it from the box, plug it into the outlet, add litter and line the drawer with a trash bag. If you want to use the app (which lets you get the most out of this litter box), you'll also need to download it and connect to the unit via Wi-Fi. 

After that, it works automatically. It cycles on its own seven minutes after detecting a cat entering, but you can change the wait time to 3, 15, 25 or 30 minutes. You can also use a button on the exterior of the unit to cycle it manually. 

The separated waste falls into a drawer in the base of the litter box. The drawer is large enough that you may only need to empty it once every two weeks if you have one cat — or more regularly for multi-cat households. 

Litter Robot 4 benefits

No more scooping

The manufacturer of the Litter Robot claims that you'll never have to scoop litter again and this is true. It does a great job of separating the solid waste and clumps from the clean litter, so there really is no need to scoop. Of course, the same could be said of any effective self-cleaning litter box — if you're still having to scoop, then there's something wrong. 

Reduced odor

This litter box has an odor trap system with a sealed waste drawer and a carbon filter of Litter Robot-compatible Odor Trap packs. This does an excellent job of trapping odor so the box doesn't smell. The only time you might notice odors is when the waste drawer is nearing capacity. Not all similar models have odor-filtering systems. 

Easy to clean

Emptying the waste is simple: just pull out the drawer and remove the bag you've used to line it. You can buy Litter Robot drawer liner bags, but it's also fine to use a regular trash bag. Its modular design means the Litter Robot is easy to take apart and wipe down the interior, which you might want to do every one to three months. Not all self-cleaning litter boxes or covered litter boxes come apart this way, making them tougher to keep clean. 

Suitable for multi-cat homes

The Litter Robot is suitable for multi-cat homes with up to four cats. Although the testing lab only used it in a home with two cats, there's no reason why it wouldn't accommodate four. As with any litter box, some squabbles over territory are normal. 

Cats get used to it quickly

The manufacturer claims that cats get used to it within a week and this seems true with most cats. You can try taking some used litter from their old box and sprinkling it into their new one so their scent encourages them to use the new box. 

Runs quietly

While some self-cleaning litter boxes run loudly enough to be distracting or to scare skittish cats, this one runs notably quietly. You shouldn't be able to hear it running from the next room and even in the same room, it's quiet enough to take calls while it's cycling. 

Litter Robot 4 drawbacks

Doesn't work with every type of litter

Although it works with most clumping or scoopable litters, it isn't compatible with every type of litter. It must be small enough to pass through the screen, which means some litter beads and crystal litters work, but not all. It doesn't work with non-clumping, loose-clumping, strictly absorbent, wood-based or newspaper-based litters. 

You may need to adjust the wait time

The default wait time between when your cat enters the box and when the cleaning cycle runs is seven minutes, but that isn't always enough time to let waste solidify and litter clump. Therefore, you might need to experiment with switching to a longer wait time. 

Could stop litter tracking more effectively

The manufacturer claims that it minimizes litter tracking. While it does have an integrated fence and step to reduce tracking, it doesn't do a better job than other litter boxes at minimizing tracking. You can buy a litter trap mat separately, but that's an additional cost. 

Only two color options

The Litter Robot 4 only comes in black or white. It would be nice to have some more color options. 

Should you get the Litter Robot 4?

The Litter Robot 4 isn't cheap, but if you have the budget and you dislike cleaning out litter boxes, it's absolutely worth buying. Just like the manufacturer claims, you'll never have to scoop another bit of waste out of your cat's litter tray as long as you have this product. It runs quietly and reduces odor, both of which are big bonuses. 

Of course, it isn't right for everyone. Some people might not feel like the cost is justified simply to avoid scooping litter, while others might not like the way it looks or think it takes up too much space. It's up to you to weigh up the pros and cons and decide if you should get the Litter Robot.