by Whisker
This manual will help users make the most of their Litter-Robot. It provides installation procedures, useful tips, and advice for helping cats adapt to their new automatic self-cleaning litter box.
Whisker is committed to providing a better life for pets and their parents. As a leading innovator in pet technology and sophisticated pet accessories, Whisker continuously strives to enrich the lives of pets while solving problems and providing smarter insights for pet parents.
Enjoy your Litter-Robot and a better life with your pets!
Jacob, President & CEO
Brad, Founder & Chief Inventor
The Litter-Robot 4 consists of several key components:
Height | Width | Depth | Weight | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Overall Product | 75cm | 56cm | 68.6cm | 10.9kg |
Waste Drawer | 14cm | 34.3cm | 23.5cm | |
Entry | 40cm | 40cm | ||
Inside Globe | 40-43cm (depending on litter level) | 48.3cm | 45.7cm | |
Litter Bed | 35.5cm | 35.5cm | ||
Floor to Step (Optional) | 17.5cm | |||
Step (Optional) to Entry | 11.4cm | |||
Floor to Entry | 30.5cm |
Note: The image of the waste drawer is shown with standard handles. Optional steps and step mats make entry and exit easier.
The Litter-Robot comes fully assembled and ready to use. Follow these steps to get started:
Do not use fully absorbent, non-clumping, loosely clumping, newspaper-based, or wood-based pellet litter.
Fill the globe with clumping litter through the round opening until it reaches the raised MAX fill line when spread flat (approximately 3.6-4.5 kg or 4L by volume). Be careful not to overfill the globe.
The Litter-Robot's litter sifting system requires clumping litter to function properly. High-quality clay clumping litter (bentonite) is recommended. Small litter beads and crystals that can pass through the sieve also work (these types of litter should be changed periodically). Translucent or white litter (most commonly crystal litter) can affect the accuracy of the litter level and Waste Drawer Full Indicator (DFI).
If using alternative litter not listed here, contact customer experience to confirm compatibility.
Tip: When first filling the Litter-Robot, it is best to continue using the brand of litter previously used (as long as it is clumping). Introducing new litter at the same time as adapting to a new litter box can increase your cat's anxiety. However, if you are currently using non-clumping litter, you must switch to clumping litter.
Plug the small end of the power supply into the power inlet at the back of the base. Then, plug the AC/DC adapter into a wall outlet.
Locate and press the Power Button (⏻).
Congratulations! Your Litter-Robot is now ready to use. However, it is recommended to keep the unit powered off until your cat becomes accustomed to and starts using the Litter-Robot.
Most cats adapt quickly to the Litter-Robot. Here are some ways to facilitate the transition:
Once your cat consistently uses the Litter-Robot, you can leave the unit on automatic mode and remove the old litter box.
Congratulations! You have successfully introduced your cat to the Litter-Robot. Enjoy the freedom from scooping!
When the blue light bar on the dashboard flashes, empty the waste drawer. The frequency of emptying the waste drawer depends on the number and size of your cats. For two average-sized cats, twice a week is typical. For one cat, once a week is usually sufficient.
After removing the waste drawer, gather the edges of the liner bag and dispose of it. You can use custom Litter-Robot waste drawer liners or 37-49L trash bags.
To install a new waste drawer liner, open the bag and wrap the opening around the rim of the waste drawer. Push the rest of the bag down into the bottom of the waste drawer. When reinserting the drawer, be careful not to push the unit against a wall or into a corner (it must not touch a wall for accurate weight measurement). Then, press the Reset button to zero out the weight sensors.
Check the litter level once a week or each time you empty the waste drawer. Add enough litter to reach the raised MAX fill line inside the globe, being careful not to overfill to avoid waste. After adding or removing litter, press the Reset button to zero out the weight sensors.
Any action that affects the unit's weight or placement (including emptying the waste drawer, adding or removing litter, cleaning or moving the unit) requires pressing the Reset button to ensure the weight sensors detect the cat and perform cycles correctly.
For information on carbon filters, base seal strips, waste drawer liners, and how to clean the Litter-Robot, refer to the "Use and Care" section.
When your cat exits the globe, the Litter-Robot automatically performs a cleaning cycle. The sifting system separates clumps from clean litter and deposits them into the waste drawer below. A cleaning cycle takes 2 minutes to complete. You can also initiate a cleaning cycle by pressing the Cycle button.
During a cleaning cycle, pressing any button will pause the cycle. Pressing the Cycle button again will resume the cycle. Pressing the Reset or Empty button will stop the cycle and return the globe to the home position.
When the globe is in the home position and the dashboard light bar is blue, the Litter-Robot is ready for use.
If a cat re-enters the globe during the cycle delay countdown (red light bar illuminated), the cat sensor detects the cat's presence, and the unit will not perform a cycle while the cat is inside (see page 21). A new countdown begins when the cat exits.
The empty cycle allows users to easily dispose of all litter from the globe into the waste drawer. Use this cycle to replace all litter or before cleaning the globe (see page 31).
With the blue light bar illuminated and the globe in the home position, press the Empty button to start the empty cycle.
During the empty cycle, pressing the Cycle, Reset, Empty, or Connect button will pause the cycle. Pressing the Cycle button will resume the cycle. Pressing the Reset button will stop the cycle and return the globe to the home position.
Important: Supervise the operation during the empty cycle to prevent cats from entering.
The Litter-Robot dashboard features five buttons and a light bar for controlling and monitoring the unit.
The light bar on the dashboard provides visual indications of the Litter-Robot's status:
For the latest light code list based on new firmware updates, please refer to whiskersupport.com/litter-robot-4.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with a curtain sensor that spans the entire opening of the unit and detects when a cat enters or exits the globe while it is in the home position. If the curtain sensor is activated during a cycle, the globe will stop. If it remains activated for more than 15 seconds, the globe will resume rotation. If the unit is not cycling, check the bezel for debris (cat hair, dust, etc.) that may be obstructing the curtain sensor. To clean, wipe the bezel and curtain sensor opening with a dry cloth.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with a weight sensor in the base, used to detect and measure additional weight inside the globe while in the home position. If additional weight is detected during a cycle, the globe will stop. If the additional weight is removed, the globe will resume rotation after 15 seconds.
Each time the unit is powered on or a cleaning cycle is completed, the weight sensor measures the unit's weight to establish a baseline or "zero point." The weight scale can be "zeroed" at any time by pressing the Reset button. After performing actions that affect the unit's weight, such as adding litter or emptying the waste drawer, press the Reset button to zero out the weight scale. Press the button firmly and quickly, then observe the flashing blue light bar to confirm the weight scale has zeroed. Be careful not to lean on the unit when pressing the button, as your weight will affect the measurement. To improve the accuracy of the weight scale, place the unit on a firm, level surface. If placing the unit on carpet, the accuracy of the weight scale may be reduced. It is recommended to use a carpet tray part available from Litter-Robot.com.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with a motion sensor that monitors the waste drawer. If movement is detected in the waste drawer while the globe is in the home position, the unit will rotate the globe to the position where waste is discharged from the waste port into the waste drawer.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with a distance sensor at the top of the unit, looking down, used to detect the litter level in the waste drawer. During each cleaning cycle, the DFI sensor measures the litter level in the waste drawer as the waste port passes over the waste drawer.
When the waste drawer is full, the light bar will flash blue.
After checking or emptying the waste drawer, press the Reset button to clear the indicator. To zero out the weight scale, press Reset again. The weight scale will automatically zero out after each cleaning cycle.
The distance sensor is also used to measure the litter level inside the unit. If the unit is connected via the Whisker App (see page 26), it will send alerts when the litter level is above or below a specified threshold.
Cats generally have excellent night vision, but aging and illness can reduce their vision in dark areas. The Litter-Robot arrives with the automatic night light feature activated. The night light automatically turns on when the light sensor on the dashboard detects low light conditions.
Press and hold the Reset button for 3 seconds to enter or exit automatic night light setting mode. The light bar will indicate the current setting. Then, press the Reset button briefly to cycle through the settings shown below. Once you have selected your desired setting, press and hold the Reset button for 3 seconds to save the setting.
This mode deactivates the cat sensor for a set period, preventing the unit from performing automatic cycles. Sleep mode is useful if the unit is in a bedroom or an area where you do not want cycles to occur during specific times of the day.
The unit is programmed with a default 8-hour sleep time, which repeats every 24 hours. The start time is determined by when the mode is first set.
Press and hold the Cycle button for 3 seconds to activate sleep mode. The light bar will turn purple, indicating sleep mode. The light bar will remain purple during the sleep time and will turn blue when the sleep time expires.
During sleep mode, the unit monitors cat usage but does not perform cleaning cycles. If no cat usage is detected when sleep mode expires, the unit will return to ready mode (indicated by a blue light bar) and operate in automatic mode for the remaining 24 hours.
If cat usage is detected during sleep mode, the unit will perform a cleaning cycle when sleep mode expires. The globe will return to the home position, the light bar will turn blue, and the unit will operate in automatic mode for the remaining 24 hours.
Press and hold the Cycle button for 3 seconds to deactivate sleep mode. The light bar will change from purple to blue, or if the unit is not in sleep mode, the light bar will flash purple temporarily.
The Whisker App (see page 26) provides customizable sleep mode programming options.
Cycle delay is the time elapsed from when a cat exits the globe until the unit begins a cleaning cycle. It can be set to 3, 7, 15, 25, or 30 minutes. The default cycle delay is 7 minutes.
If minimizing odors is important or if you need to minimize the time other pets, such as dogs, have access to waste, reduce the cycle delay. However, if you reduce the cycle delay, the cleaning effectiveness may be reduced if there is not enough time for clumping. If using low-quality clumping litter that requires more time to clump, extend the cycle delay.
Press and hold the Empty button for 3 seconds to enter or exit cycle delay setting mode. The light bar will indicate the current cycle delay setting. Then, press the Empty button briefly to cycle through the settings shown below. Once you have selected your desired setting, press and hold the Empty button for 3 seconds to save the setting.
Dashboard lock disables button functions to prevent unwanted changes. The Litter-Robot operates normally in automatic mode while the dashboard is locked.
Press and hold the Cycle + Reset buttons for 3 seconds to activate or deactivate dashboard lock mode. The light bar will flash red temporarily to confirm the status change.
When any button is pressed while in dashboard lock mode, the light bar will flash red. This indicates that the dashboard is locked.
Even in dashboard lock mode, you can turn the unit off by pressing and holding the Power button for 3 seconds.
The Whisker App provides convenient, customizable programming options for your Litter-Robot from your phone. Monitor and control your Litter-Robot, receive alerts, and compare weekly and monthly statistics to gain insights into your cat's health.
The bonnet acts as a cover and guard for the waste port when the globe rotates. If the bonnet is not installed, the globe will not rotate (see Dashboard - Light Bar - Flashing Yellow Light Bar on page 20).
The bonnet can be opened (rotated up) or closed (rotated down) to access the globe and waste drawer.
The Litter-Robot's cat detection system is a combination of optical sensors and weight sensors that detect cats attempting to enter the unit during a cycle. If a cat attempts to enter the unit during a cycle, the globe will stop, and the light bar will turn red, indicating that the cycle has been interrupted. The cycle will resume after 15 seconds if no further cat detection occurs.
The Litter-Robot is also equipped with a motion sensor that monitors the waste drawer. If movement is detected in the waste drawer while the globe is in the home position, the unit will rotate the globe to the position where waste is discharged from the waste port into the waste drawer.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with pinch detect sensors on both sides of the waste drawer chute to ensure cat safety during use. These sensors constantly monitor for potential pinch conditions.
If a potential pinch condition is detected during a cycle, the globe will stop and rotate counter-clockwise for 5 seconds. After a 2-second pause, the unit will attempt to continue the cycle.
While the globe rotates counter-clockwise, the light bar will display a rotating flashing yellow pattern.
Note: Ensure there is no excessive litter on the dual pinch detect bars.
If the globe gets stuck or overloaded during rotation, the motor will stop and rotate counter-clockwise for 5 seconds. After a 2-second pause, the unit will attempt to continue the cycle.
If the globe cannot continue the cycle after three attempts, the globe will stop, and the light bar will display an error code via a partially flashing yellow/red light bar.
If the globe experiences a jam or overload and can complete a cleaning cycle, the dashboard will return to ready mode (blue light bar). The unit will continue to operate in automatic mode.
If the light bar displays a jam or overload error, turn off the unit and remove the bonnet and globe. Check for gear/motor obstructions. Reassemble the unit and ensure proper litter levels. Turn on the unit and allow it to perform a cycle. If the problem persists, contact customer experience.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with a USB power port on the bezel behind the bonnet. This port provides 5V (1A) power to external USB devices.
The Litter-Robot can be equipped with a backup battery. Using a sealed 12VDC, 1.3Ah battery allows the unit to continue operating during power outages. If power to the Litter-Robot is interrupted, the unit will automatically switch to backup battery mode, and the power button LED will flash blue while all other dashboard light bar lights are blue.
Note: To save energy, Wi-Fi and night light functions are disabled in battery backup mode. The light bar display intensity is reduced by 50%, and the night light function is disabled to save energy.
The battery pocket and connector are located in the motor compartment of the base. Backup battery kits can be ordered from litter-robot.com. Note: Using parts not sold by litter-robot.com, whisker.com, or our authorized dealers is not approved or warranted by Whisker. Whisker is not responsible for accidents or injuries caused by using non-Whisker manufactured parts. Modifying or using the Litter-Robot without authorization will void the warranty.
The Litter-Robot is shipped with a waste drawer liner installed. This liner is specially designed for the Litter-Robot, but 37-49L trash bags can also be used (white or clear trash bags are recommended).
The Litter-Robot is equipped with a flexible carbon filter pad installed on the exterior bottom part of the globe. This filter is located directly above the waste drawer and absorbs odors. The carbon filter can be easily removed and installed by opening the bonnet when the globe is in the waste position after a cleaning cycle has started. Replace the carbon filter as needed. Under normal use, one filter should last approximately 1 month. The unit does not require a carbon filter to operate.
Replacement carbon filters and other odor-absorbing parts can be ordered from litter-robot.com.
The Litter-Robot is equipped with brush-type seal strips on both the top and bottom of the base. These seal strips help contain odors from the waste drawer.
If the seal strip is worn flat or detached, replace it. When replacing the seal strip, trim any loose edges to make it last longer. Be careful not to wet the strip when cleaning the base, as wetting can cause the strip to detach. Replacement seal strips can be ordered from litter-robot.com.
Important: Supervise the operation during the empty cycle to prevent cats from entering. If the unit has no litter, it may not detect a cat.
For quick cleaning (without removing litter), you can wipe the inside and upper half of the globe with Litter-Robot Cleaner Wipes or disposable wipes. You can manually rotate the globe to the position behind the sieve to access the flexible globe liner surface for cleaning stains. It dries almost immediately, so the Litter-Robot can be used right away.
Litter-Robot Cleaner Spray and Wipes can be ordered from litter-robot.com.
To clean easily, remove the globe.
Note: The unit will not operate if the bonnet is not installed.
For videos and other useful information, please visit whiskersupport.com/litter-robot-4.
Cats are generally curious and will explore new objects. Cats already accustomed to covered litter boxes may explore more quickly.
It is best to place the Litter-Robot in the same location as the old litter box. You can temporarily leave the old litter box near the Litter-Robot. Scoop a shovel of litter from the old litter box and add it to the clean litter in the Litter-Robot. The familiar scent will encourage your cat to explore.
Once your cat enters and feels the litter under their paws, they will know what to do.
Kittens or adult cats weighing less than 1.36 kg (3 lbs) should not use the Litter-Robot in unsupervised automatic mode. If a cat's weight is too light and small, the cat detection system may not activate. For automatic mode, a cat must weigh at least 1.36 kg (3 lbs).
It is best to operate the Litter-Robot in "semi-automatic" mode with the unit turned off. Once you confirm your kitten has used the Litter-Robot, turn it on. Press the Cycle button to start a cleaning cycle. Once completed (2 minutes), turn it off. This ensures your kitten's safety while they get used to the Litter-Robot at a young age, and you won't have to scoop the litter box!
Caution: Keep the Litter-Robot off and only start cleaning cycles manually until you are confident that all cats in your household are heavy enough to activate the cat detection system.
If you and your cat are not completely satisfied, you can return the Litter-Robot within 90 days for a full refund of the purchase price. You are only responsible for return shipping costs. If you purchased the Litter-Robot through a retailer other than Whisker, you must arrange the return with that retailer according to their return policy. To request an RMA (Return Authorization) number, please contact customer experience. Whisker cannot accept returns without an RMA number.
The Litter-Robot cat detection system detects cats before they enter the globe and stops the motor. If a cat exits the globe, the Litter-Robot will wait 15 seconds before attempting to resume the cycle. Refer to the OmniSense Cat Detection System on page 27.
No, the globe has no rakes or wires that could injure or harm your cat. The Litter-Robot is designed with your cat's safety in mind.
No, there are no electrical components inside the globe. The Litter-Robot operates safely at 15VDC, using an adapter very similar to those you might have for a radio clock or cell phone charger.
No, the globe will not rotate while your cat is inside. The Litter-Robot cat detection system activates whenever a cat enters or re-enters the globe, resetting the countdown timer so that the cleaning cycle does not start for the next 7 minutes.
If the globe gets stuck or an excessive load occurs, the unit uses overload detection (see page 28) to detect the condition. Additionally, the Litter-Robot is equipped with a pinch detect safety feature (see page 28).
No, the Litter-Robot only requires clumping litter. High-quality clay-based clumping litter (bentonite) is recommended. Lighter litters like corn or wheat can pass through the sieve effectively. Some silica gel litter beads and crystals can be used with the Litter-Robot as long as they can pass through the sieve. Translucent or white litter (most commonly crystal litter) can affect the accuracy of the litter level and Waste Drawer Full Indicator (DFI).
Litters that do not work with the Litter-Robot include fully absorbent, non-clumping, or loosely clumping litter, newspaper-based litter, pine-based litter, and absorbent wood pellet litter.
Purchase with confidence, as your investment is supported by a 90-day in-home trial period. If you or your cat are not satisfied with the Litter-Robot, you can return it for a full refund of the purchase price. You are only responsible for return shipping costs.
If you purchased the Litter-Robot through a retailer other than Whisker, you must arrange the return with that retailer according to their return policy.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Whisker! To get started and troubleshoot issues, visit the support site.
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