So, you’re looking to upgrade to a self-cleaning litter box. You’ve done your research and know that you want to go with the highest-rated product on the market, used by more than a million pet parents around the globe: Litter-Robot. We applaud your good decision-making!
But which Litter-Robot model is right for you and your cat? Litter-Robot 3 and its smart counterpart Litter-Robot 3 Connect have been around for nearly a decade and garnered 17,000+ 5-star reviews. With the debut of Litter-Robot 4 in 2022, many pet parents are wondering: What changed? Which Litter-Robot is the best? Is the upgrade to Litter-Robot 4 truly worth it?
Let's dive into the difference between Litter-Robot 3 and 4 in terms of design, features, performance, and technology in our comparison of Litter-Robot 3 vs 4 below.
Litter-Robot 3 vs 4 at-a-glance
If you’re looking for a simple way to compare Litter-Robot 4 vs 3, check out our infographics below and our complete Litter-Robot comparison page to find out which is the best Litter-Robot for you.
At $549, Litter-Robot 3 Connect offers a slightly lower price than Litter-Robot 4's $699 price point. However, many cat parents agree that Litter-Robot 4's upgrades, including multi-cat recognition, QuietSift® cleaning cycles, and enhanced SafeCat technology, make the upgrade worth it. Plus, considering the improvements made to the waste drawer, which is now larger and tightly sealed, upgrading to Litter-Robot 4 also means improved odor control and even less cleanup time.
Design and construction
Litter-Robot represents modern pet care at its finest. The best automatic litter box has a sleek, futuristic design that many pet parents are proud to showcase in their home—despite the fact that it’s their cat’s bathroom! Let’s take a look at some of the upgrades of Litter-Robot 4.
Wider globe opening
The Litter-Robot 4 globe has a 15.75’’W opening compared to Litter-Robot 3’s 10.25’’W opening. This presents a more inviting feel for cats that may initially be skeptical of using a covered litter box.
Larger waste drawer
The Litter-Robot 4 waste drawer is 20 percent larger than Litter-Robot 3’s. Because it holds more waste, you’ll empty the waste drawer less often, making Litter-Robot 4 even more hands-off than its predecessors.
Extra-durable globe liner
Many cats like to dig around in their litter, and some even dig their claws into the Litter-Robot globe liner. Litter-Robot 4 features an extra-durable globe liner that provides better protection from a cat’s scratching.
More customization
While Litter-Robot 3 Connect comes in beige or grey, Litter-Robot 4 comes in white or black—plus an array of bezel colors and patterns. You can truly make Litter-Robot 4 your own.
Functionality
Litter-Robot 4 presents many unique functionalities over its predecessors, particularly if you have multiple cats.
Cat weight monitoring
Every time your cat uses Litter-Robot 4, the integrated SmartScale® weighs them and records that information in the Whisker app. The app charts your cat’s daily weight over time, so you can keep tabs on their health.
With Litter-Robot 4, you also benefit from tailored insights with Pet Profile and see cat weight trends over time.
Multi-cat recognition
Compared to Litter-Robot 3, Litter-Robot 4 also features advanced sensor technology and accuracy for individual cat recognition.
Thanks to SmartScale®, pet parents with multiple cats can now identify when each of their cats uses Litter-Robot 4. How does it work? Just set up a pet profile for each of your cats in the Whisker app, as Litter-Robot 4’s weight sensor technology detects the weight of individual cats that weigh a difference of 1 or more pounds. SmartScale® analyzes individual weight data and automatically displays it in your pet profile.
Real-time litter and waste levels
Both Litter-Robot 3 Connect and Litter-Robot 4 users can view their unit’s waste drawer levels in the app, but Litter-Robot 4 also displays real-time litter and waste levels. You can see if the litter level is optimal and know when it’s time to top it off. And, of course, all Litter-Robot models alert you when the waste drawer is full.
Safety
While Litter-Robot 3 Connect features essential cat safety features such as anti-pinch technology and weight-activated sensors, Litter-Robot 4 takes it one step further with advanced sensor technology and accuracy. Thanks to individual cat recognition and SafeCat detection technology with Omnisense, Litter-Robot 4 is able to accurately detect when a cat has entered or exited the unit and immediately stops rotating when motion is detection.
In addition, Litter-Robot features over-torque protection, meaning the motor will immediately stop if the mechanism encounters excessive resistance while rotation, which could indicate a blockage or an unexpected cat presence. Instead of continuing to struggle against the obstruction, Litter-Robot pauses the cleaning cycle, protecting pets from potential injury if they accidentally interfere with the cleaning process. The cycle will not resume until 15 seconds after the cat is no longer detected.
Performance
Litter-Robot offers impressive odor control—we are dealing with cat poop, after all. Let’s see how Litter-Robot 4 upped the ante and if it's the best automatic litter box in that regard.
Odor management
All Litter-Robot models have a fully enclosed waste drawer and carbon filter that reduces odors. Litter-Robot 4’s waste drawer is also tightly sealed, providing maximum odor control. The integrated OdorTrap® system allows pet parents to easily add (optional) OdorTrap® Packs to their unit, which use natural chemistry to eliminate odors.
Quiet operation
With QuietSift® technology, Litter-Robot 4 cleaning cycles are discreet and less likely to bother skittish cats. Plus, you can keep your Litter-Robot in any room of the house without worrying about the noise (or the smell!).
Technology
Our patented sifting technology is what makes Litter-Robot, Litter-Robot. This is the core of our product and why it’s such an effective (not to mention highly rated) self-cleaning solution for cats. But how has Litter-Robot 4 improved upon its other integrated technologies?
Advanced SafeCat system with OmniSense® detection
All Litter-Robot models have weight-activated technology that detects when cats enter and exit the globe. Litter-Robot 4 advances this safety system with additional laser detection in multiple zones.
Low-dust litter-sifting technology
The enhanced litter-sifting technology of Litter-Robot 4 limits dust and ensures a clean place for your cat’s paws. Especially when used with low-dust cat litter, you won’t have to worry about your cat tracking litter around the house.
Is it worth upgrading to Litter-Robot 4?
That is the million-dollar question. (Well, more like the $699 question.) Considering the upgraded features and new technology outlined above, is it still worth it to pay more for Litter-Robot 4?
What pet parents say
We’ll let our customers do the talking. As of this writing, Litter-Robot 4 has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5, with 10,000+ 5-star reviews.
Pet parents say it is “life-changing,” “a game changer,” and “expensive but worth it.”
Forbes reviewer Lindsay Boyers compares the two models in her March 2024 writeup. As a user of Litter-Robot 3 Connect and later Litter-Robot 4, she ultimately calls Litter-Robot 4 a “massive upgrade.”
"Litter-Robot 4 is considerably better with odor control, plus it holds more waste and is much quieter, which I believe are worth the extra cost." - Lindsay Boyers for Forbes
Even the Reddit community agrees that Litter-Robot 4 is worth the upgrade and most Litter-Robot 4 reviews mention how well-worth the investment it is. Users say that it is quieter, it’s easier to replace the waste drawer liner, and the larger opening is better for their cats.
Cost and value
At $699, Litter-Robot 4 is more expensive than its predecessors. (Litter-Robot 3 is $499 and Litter-Robot 3 Connect is $549.) Many pet parents agree that the $150 price difference between the smart models is small compared to the number of upgrades received.
Then there are the long-term cost benefits of owning any Litter-Robot model: saving money on cat litter and—arguably the most precious commodity of all—saving time. Due to the efficient litter-sifting process, studies show that Litter-Robot uses far less litter than a traditional litter box, meaning additional savings in the long term. Plus, dropping the daily chore of scooping the litter box? Invaluable.
Despite that, cost is a very important factor in the decision-making process. Here are a few examples of when purchasing Litter-Robot 3 might be preferable to Litter-Robot 4:
- You only have one cat
- You don’t want to use an app
- A slightly louder motor won’t bother you or your cat
Conclusion
Many Litter-Robot 4 buyers agree that the upgrade is well worth it but, ultimately, the best Litter-Robot for you is entirely dependent on your needs. If you are tech-savvy and like to get more insights into your cat's usage and health, Litter-Robot 4 will provide the info you need. If not, Litter-Robot 3 Connect with certainly do the trick and you still won't have to scoop poop ever again!
Where to buy Litter-Robot
Litter-Robot is now available both locally and internationally! Visit our international page to find all the countries we deliver to and our authorized resellers, or visit our official sites:
- Litter-Robot US
- Litter-Robot Canada
- Litter-Robot UK
- Litter-Robot Europe
- Litter-Robot France
- And much more coming soon!
You can also find Litter-Robot near you with our local retailers including Best Buy, PetSmart, Hollywood Feed, Chewy, and Costco.
And if you want to save, our Litter-Robot Bundles and active Litter-Robot promotions also provide a cheaper option. Seriously, if you want to save on a long-term investment, Litter-Robot Bundles will save you effort and money.
And a little secret… keep an eye out for our early Black-Friday sales and discounts.
