A litter box nowadays is not what you used to think about it. It is not only a box that can be differently shaped, it is an advanced robot with a rotating mechanism that allows you not to clean it for a while and basically does your job automatically. All you have to do is fill the box with litter and clean the wasted drawer when it's full.
Whisker has been on the market for a while. Its Litter-Robot 3 has a high customer rate on Amazon and had been one of the best-selling robot boxes before the company announced the newest, Litter-Robot 4 which took all the best from the previous version and brought a new, advanced box to the next level.
Litter-Robot 4 vs. Litter-Robot 3 specs
| Specs/Models | Litter-Robot 4 | Litter-Robot 3 |
| Cat sensor system | laser-based cat sensor, weight-based cat sensor | weight-based cat sensor |
| Sifting system | rotating sifting system | rotating sifting system |
| Odor control system | Carbon filter on top of the waste drawer, option to use OdorTrap | The carbon filter in front of waste drawer |
| Cycle timer duration (min) | 3 – 30 | 3 – 15 |
| LED display | yes | no |
| Power (V) | 15 | 15 |
| WhisperQuiet cleaning cycle | yes | no |
| Min cat weight (lbs) | 3 | 5 |
| Cat recognition | yes | no |
| Real-time tracking | yes | no |
| Litter level readouts in App | yes | no |
| Weight tracking in App | yes | no |
| Waste drawer fullness readouts in App | percentage full readout plus full alerts | only full alerts |
| Not compatible litters | strictly absorbent, non-clumping, loose-clumping, newspaper-based, or wood-based pellets | strictly absorbent, non-clumping, loose-clumping, newspaper-based, or wood-based pellets |
| WiFi | yes | yes |
| Compatibility | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Safety features | pinch sensor, laser-based cat sensor | pinch sensor, weight-based cat sensor |
| Cycling noise level (dB) | 25 – 35 | 35 – 45 |
| Litter bed size (inch) | 14 x 14 | 14 x 14 |
| Entryway (inch) | 15.75 x 15.75 | 10.25 x 15.25 |
| Footprint (inch) | 22 x 27 | 24.25 x 27 |
| Weight (lbs) | 24 | 24 |
The Litter-Robot 4 is not on sale yet, it is going to be available in August but you can order yours now and wait for it to be shipped in August.
Litter-Robot 3 vs. 4 the difference
- The design. The latest version is more compact yet has a bigger and wider opening which makes it easier for a cat to fit in.
- The controlling panel is on the top while the previous version has it on the bottom. Overall it looks sleeker.
- A different sensor system with the 4th version having additional ones.
- The Litter-Robot 4 has a weight storage indicator and informs when it's full.
- The carbon filter is located on the bottom of the globe above the waste drawer. The Litter Robot 3 has it on the front.
- The mat on the 4th version seems to collect cat litter much better.
- The newer modification is quieter.
- Compared to the oldest model that detects cats from 5+ lbs, the Litter-Robot 4 can detect cats and kittens from 3+ lbs.
How the Litter-Robot works?
Both boxes are equipped with sensors that identify a cat inside. The oldest didn't work with the kitties under 5 pounds, the box couldn't recognize small kittens inside. The newer version claims to be working with cats that weigh 3 lbs and more and that seems to be true, it has additional sensors and is more accurate at detecting a cat inside. There is a timer (7 minutes set on default) that turns on the rotating mechanism once the cat is not inside. When it rotates, the box automatically sifts pet waste channeling it into the waste drawer. The litter robot detects when the drawer is full and notifies a user via the app.
There is a mat on the waste drawer stoop that collects litter and the 4th version seems to be collecting it better compared to the older modification.
The app
Both, the Litter-Robot 3 and 4 have Wi-Fi and work with the app. The app detects a cat's activity, tracks its weight, litter and waste drawer levels, etc. The latest version's app has more features.
Odor-control
The Robor-Litter box has a carbon filter that neutralizes litter odor. The location of the filter is different in the two versions but I assume the Litter robot 4 seems to be covering odor better because the filter is located on the bottom, not on the front.
Litter-Robot has a sealed filtration system and doesn't let odor out neutralizing it with the help of a Carbon filter
Litter-Robot 3
The Litter-Robot 3 is less advanced but still cat-friendly, especially for those who are 5 lbs and up. It doesn't have some extra features, is louder, and is a bit bulkier compared to the 4th model but still is useful if you don't need some extra features and don't want to pay more.
Litter-Robot 4
The Litter-Robot 4 is more advanced but is not available to buy until August. It has a different design, a wider opening so it's easier for a cat to get in, supports Wi-Fi, and overall feels more complete compared to the Litter-Robot 3.
To conclude
The Litter-Robot 3 Connect is not just a litter box, it's a new way of taking care of your cat. It is not suitable for small kitties but is still a good one for those who love to sneak away or hide in tight spaces. Is it worth paying more for one? Absolutely! The Litter-Robot 4 is not available to ship yet but can be ordered already and sent to you in August. The 4th version is when you take all the best from the previous one, add some extras and get a new, upgraded litter box.