You’re tired of scooping and ready to upgrade to a self-cleaning litter box; or perhaps you’re already a fan of Litter-Robot 4—the highest-rated automatic litter box on the market—and wondering if upgrading to Whisker’s newest model, Litter-Robot 5, is worth it.
So, which Litter-Robot model is right for you and your cat? While Litter-Robot 4 is a tried-and-true option with over 10,000 5-star reviews since its debut in 2022, the latest and greatest Litter-Robot 5 has many new features that speak to its designation as the most advanced Litter-Robot ever. What changed? Which Litter-Robot is the best? Is the upgrade to Litter-Robot 5 truly worth it?
Let's dive into the difference between Litter-Robot 4 and 5 in terms of design, features, performance, and technology in our comparison of Litter-Robot 4 vs 5 below.
In this article
Litter-Robot® 4 vs 5 at-a-glance
If you’re looking for a simple way to compare Litter-Robot 5 vs 4, check out our infographics below and our complete Litter-Robot comparison page to find out which is the best Litter-Robot for you.
| Litter-Robot 4 | Litter-Robot 5 | Litter-Robot 5 Pro | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price – MSRP | $699 | $799 | $899 |
| Number of cats supported | 4 cats | 5 cats | 5 cats |
| Weight limit | 3–25 | 3–30 | 3–30 |
| Waste drawer capacity | Empty every ~8 days for 1 cat | Empty every ~10 days for 1 cat | Empty every ~10 days for 1 cat |
| Use on any type of flooring | Required Carpet Tray add-on | ✓ | ✓ |
| LitterHopper autofill accessory compatibility | ✓ | Coming soon | Coming soon |
| Waste type identification | – | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dual camera system | – | – | ✓ |
| AI-visual cat identification | – | – | ✓ with Whisker+ |
At $699, Litter-Robot 4 offers a slightly lower price than Litter-Robot 5's $799 base price. However, many cat parents agree that Litter-Robot 5's new features, including WasteID™ to detect waste type, an upgraded LCD display, and dual built-in cameras (when you choose Pro), make the upgrade worth it. Plus, with the extra large waste drawer and premium finishes, upgrading to Litter-Robot 5 also means less frequent emptying and a more attractive appliance in your home.
Compare modelsNew core features of Litter-Robot® 5 / Pro
WasteID™ (coming soon) for improved odor control
While Litter-Robot 4 offers excellent odor control with a tightly sealed waste drawer and carbon filter, Litter-Robot 5 takes this a step further with an industry-first technology called WasteID.
This technology distinguishes between urine and feces for enhanced odor control:
- For urine, Litter-Robot 5 waits to cycle so clumps can form properly.
- For solid waste, it cycles quickly to contain odors right away.
WasteID also unlocks advanced routine monitoring in the Whisker app, giving you deeper insights into your cat’s litter box habits.
AI-powered dual cameras for enhanced cat insights
Litter-Robot 5 Pro features two integrated, night-vision-equipped 1080p HD cameras, so you can access real-time streaming, recording, and cat activity tracking from anywhere, just like a normal pet camera, now integrated within Litter-Robot.
For multi-cat parents, that means the front-facing camera enables enhanced cat recognition and the litter bed facing camera captures activity inside the globe, providing visual indicators that can help you spot potential issues early.
Visual cat identification for similar cats in multi-cat households
Litter-Robot 5 Pro users with a Whisker+ membership can enjoy AI-powered facial recognition, which tracks and visually IDs each cat for accurate individualized insights. (Designed for homes with up to 5 cats.)
This feature is especially useful for households with two cats that have similar appearances and weights.
The integrated cameras analyze each cat’s unique facial features to tell them apart, so you always know which cat used the litter box and when. This enables better tracking of each cat’s habits to help you detect anomalies early.
Plus, the recognition algorithm improves accuracy over time as it continues learning from your cats—so it only gets better from here.
Shop Whisker automatic litter boxesInner workings
Enhanced SmartScale® cat weight system
SmartScale—the Litter-Robot built-in weight scale—uses integrated weight sensors to weigh your cat and display trends over time within the Whisker app.
Litter-Robot 5 features an enhanced weight scale that allows cats weighing 3-30 lbs to use this self-cleaning litter box, meaning it’s better for large cats. In contrast, cats must weigh 3-25 lbs to use Litter-Robot 4.
Additional headroom
Tall cats have more room to do their business in Litter-Robot 5, which features an interior globe height of up to 19’’ (depending on litter level), making Litter-Robot 5 more comfortable for large cats like Maine Coons, Siberians, or Norwegian Forest cats. Both Litter-Robot models offer a spacious 15.7” globe opening width, so both models are plenty comfortable and inviting for all types of cats.
Better waste distribution --> more days before emptying
With Litter-Robot 5, you can go up to 10 days before emptying the waste drawer in a single cat household, compared to 8 days with Litter-Robot 4 thanks to an extra large waste drawer and better waste distribution. By extension, the maximum recommendation of cats per unit increased from 4 to 5 with our latest model.
Integrated carpet tray
Litter-Robot 5 can be placed on any type of flooring, including carpet and rugs, thanks to a built-in carpet tray; there is no need for additional accessories.
If you use Litter-Robot 4 on carpet or uneven flooring, we recommend purchasing a Carpet Tray accessory to improve the accuracy of SmartScale weight readings.
Design evolution
Appliance-grade finish
Crafted with precision material made of ABS plastic, Litter-Robot 5 offers a sleeker, more premium look that belongs right at home with the best of your household appliances.
This also makes Litter-Robot 5 sturdier than Litter-Robot 4, especially on moving pieces like the bonnet or the waste drawer. Its design is so sleek, it disappears in your room—yet it’s equally worthy of a showcase.
Sturdy metalized handles
Applied with a metal coating, the Litter-Robot 5 handles (bonnet release latches) are redesigned and offer a distinctive aesthetic upgrade—another subtle yet premium touch to round out our design enhancements. Furthermore, the bonnet itself has a weight that offers a satisfying open/shut experience.
Night light color customization
Both models come with an LED automatic night light that benefits your cats in the dark, but Litter-Robot 5 users can customize their light settings in the Whisker app. You can set the brightness and color, with hundreds of hues to choose from depending on your and your cat’s mood.
Improved convenience of maintenance
Refined sifting
The Litter-Robot patented sifting process is further refined in Litter-Robot 5, with a redesigned septum that allows for better distribution of waste clumps in the drawer. This results in less frequent emptying of the waste drawer.
Scratch-proof properties
Pet parents with cats that like to claw, rejoice! The Litter-Robot 5 globe features scratch-resistant ABS plastic and a globe liner that has been reduced in size to prevent tearing and exposure to cat claws while digging. As a result, the Litter-Robot 5 globe interior is more durable than Litter-Robot 4, especially for households with cats that like to scratch.
Easier to clean
All Litter-Robot models are built with a modular design for simple upkeep. Over Litter-Robot 4’s lifetime, it was noted that sensor cleaning is one of the most common maintenance tasks to keep the self-cleaning litter box functioning accurately. With Litter-Robot 5, access to the curtain sensor lens at the top of the bezel is improved, meaning it can be gently wiped with a clean, dry microfiber cloth to remove dust, fur, or other debris effortlessly for easier maintenance.
LCD display for easier monitoring
A brilliant full color LCD display makes it easy to onboard and receive real-time updates on Litter-Robot 5. Follow prompts, see your cat’s weight, and get information about your cats’ visits all through the easy-to-read screen.
The LCD display makes it easier to understand what’s going on with your robot if you encounter any errors during operation—no more having to decipher light bar codes.
Future-proof engineering
Braided cord for enhanced cat safety
All Litter-Robot 5 models (and newer Litter-Robot 4 models) include an extra durable braided power cord, providing peace of mind for those with pets that like to chew.
Electronics safely tucked away
In Litter-Robot 5, a structural bezel protects the electronics from accidental damage. If you want to install a custom bezel, there’s no need to get near your Litter-Robot’s most sensitive components. The bezel is easy to remove and snap back on.
LitterHopper compartment & integrated kickstand
Litter-Robot 4 can be equipped with LitterHopper, a premium accessory that automatically dispenses fresh cat litter into the globe, ensuring litter is at the optimal level for your cat’s use. Removing yet another litter box-related chore, this makes Litter-Robot 4 more convenient to maintain on a daily basis.
While this popular accessory is not yet compatible with Litter-Robot 5, our latest self-cleaning litter box model comes with a pre-planned compartment for this accessory, which will be released for Litter-Robot 5 soon. This model also includes an integrated anti-tip guard for when LitterHopper is installed.
Globe liner replacement
Should the flexible globe liner ever need to be replaced, the removal and installation process is much simpler in Litter-Robot 5.
The Litter-Robot® 5 Pro difference
AI-powered facial recognition
The front-facing camera on Litter-Robot 5 Pro uses cat facial recognition technology to identify specific cats in the home (with a Whisker+ membership), tagging videos for each pet so that you can easily find and watch videos.
The camera analyzes each cat’s unique facial features to tell them apart, and the recognition algorithm improves accuracy over time as it continues learning from your cats.
This allows you to better track individual cat behavior and habits, making it easier to detect anomalies in a multi-cat household.
Streaming and event recording
The Whisker camera streams high definition 1080p video so you can remotely monitor your pets. (5 minutes of streaming per day; upgrade to Whisker+ for unlimited streaming.) Its low-light performance allows for cat monitoring day or night, and it will automatically detect a cat's face in the frame to start recording. Plus, you can access a video log of every cat detected by the camera from within the Whisker app.
Litter bed camera
Stream video from the inside-facing camera to see activity inside the automatic litter box’s globe, providing visual indicators that can help you spot irregularities or changes in bathroom behavior/habits.
That makes it easier to identify:
- If your cat is straining to urinate
- Unusual posture when eliminating
- Diarrhea or blood in stool or urine
- Excessive digging or duration of visit
And so much more.
PetTag precision
Litter-Robot 5 Pro integrates with PetTag; this optional accessory is a lightweight tag that identifies your cat using RFID technology, allowing for more personalized care, effortless pet tracking, and total peace of mind.
This accessory is especially useful for multi-cat households with two cats that look alike and weigh similarly. With the power of RFID technology, these similar-looking cats can now be better identified, allowing you to get more accurate insights into each cat’s habits.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Litter-Robot 5 improves upon the same technology and features that make Litter-Robot 4 a success with:
- WasteID bathroom type recognition technology (coming soon)
- Slightly larger interior globe space
- Improved and waste drawer size (for less frequent emptying)
- Brilliant LCD display screen
- Expanded cat weight range of 3-30 lbs
- Accommodations for up to 5 cats
- AI-powered dual cameras (with Pro)
No matter which Litter-Robot model you choose, you’re getting a thoughtfully designed, high-quality product that allows you to stop scooping the litter box and provides your cat with a fresh bed of litter for every use.
Shop Whisker automatic litter boxes
