When it comes to managing a multi-cat household, finding the right solutions to simplify your daily routine is essential, especially when it comes to cleaning the litter box. That’s where the Litter Robot 4 steps in as a game-changer. In this review, we’ll explore why the Litter Robot 4 is not just an amazing automatic litter box cleaner in general, but a fantastic choice for those with multiple cats.
Before we dive in, let’s just all get on the same page (literally and figuratively) and make sure we’re all thinking about the same product. This is the Litter Robot 4 that I have (in white):
Stop scooping cat litter, neutralize litter box odors, and give kitty a clean bed of litter every time with Litter-Robot 4. Elegantly designed to maximize comfort for cats of all sizes, Litter-Robot 4 features advanced litter-sifting technology, reduced litter tracking, and real-time monitoring of waste and litter levels, plus tracks your cat’s weight with SmartScale® in the Whisker app.
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Litter Robot 4 for Multiple Cats (In-Depth Review)
If you’re a regular reader, chances are you’ve seen our original Litter Robot 4 review. Clair did a fantastic job covering the benefits of this automatic litter box from a single-cat owner.
Today, though, we’re going to look at it from another angle and see how well it performs in a household with more than one cat. We’ll also go over some common questions, like whether you really need a separate Litter Robot for each cat, how to save money on liners, and other little tips & tricks that I’ve learned over the last few months of using the Litter Robot 4.
Litter Robot 4 General Features and Specs
Let’s start by looking at a general list of the features that I think make the Litter-Robot 4 so awesome. I’ll go over my favorite features for multiple cats in more detail in a moment.
- Patented sifting process separates your cat’s waste from the clean litter, tucking the clumps away in a waste drawer beneath the unit.
- QuietSift™ technology makes for nearly silent cleaning cycles. Mine is in my laundry room and I rarely ever hear it go off.
- Works with nearly all brands of litter box liners. I say “nearly all” because there’s always the weird exception, but I haven’t found a brand that it doesn’t work with yet.
- Also works with most garbage bags (obviously, it may not work with teensy-weensy bags, and ginormous contractor bags would be overkill, but it technically does work with them).
- Optional OdorTrap™ System and OdorTrap™ Packs further neutralizes odors
- Compatible with any type of clumping cat litter.
- With a 15.75’’ x 15.75” entryway, it’s big enough for pretty much all cat breeds, including Maine Coon cats.
- The 22’’ x 27’’ footprint takes up about as much space as a traditional large litter box.
- At 24 lbs (empty), it’s light enough to move around and reposition without breaking your back.
Oh, and Zoe would like me to mention that your cats will love the box it comes in. I haven’t been able to put my box in the garage yet because the cats decided it makes a great perch/bed. It’s quite a bulky box. On the other hand, though, it’s kind of like buying an automatic litter box and getting a cat bed for free! 😀
Save $75 on Litter-Robot 4 Kickstart Bundle
What Makes Litter Robot 4 for Multiple Cats An Ideal Option?
I could go on and on about all of the different features and benefits of the Litter Robot 4 in general, but that’s not why you’re here today, is it? So, let’s focus specifically on what I like about it as a multiple-cat owner.
Space-Friendly Design
The Litter-Robot 4 is designed with your convenience in mind. It has roughly the same footprint as a traditional large litter box (give or take an inch). I keep mine in the laundry room, and while it’s taller than my old box, it doesn’t take up any additional floor space. In fact, it kind of feels smaller in a way because it’s more open, if that makes sense.
It also means that if you want to get multiple Litter Robots you’ll have no issue finding room for all of them. Or at least no more issues than you would finding room for several traditional boxes. However, I don’t really think you need multiple boxes. Let me explain…
Frequent cleaning cycles mean you probably don’t actually NEED more than one.
Technically, you’re supposed to have one litter box per cat, plus a spare. Honestly, in all of my years of multi-cat ownership (and at one point, I had 5), I’ve never had more than two litter boxes in my house.
Well, that’s not entirely true. When my cat Mally was very elderly (she lived to the ripe age of 22) we did get her a separate box that we kept downstairs. This was especially useful for managing cat poop, as older cats may need more frequent access to a litter box. But other than that, we’ve always had two boxes regardless of how many kitties we had.
Now, I know that there are reasons beyond “odor control” for recommending one box per cat. Some experts claim it reduces “territorial disputes.” Others say that it prevents accidents outside the litter box since there’s no line to the bathroom. To me, though, it really does come down to odor control.
When three cats use one box, it doesn’t really matter how often you clean it, it’s still going to get really stinky really fast. Unless, of course, you clean it right away. And that’s exactly what the Litter Robot 4 does. It’s kind of like a bathroom attendant at a fancy restaurant, constantly cleaning up after each person (or, in this case, cat) does their “business.”
Save Money on Litter
When you have multiple cats, litter can get REALLY expensive REALLY fast. Most automatic litter boxes are compatible with any type of clumping cat litter, so I wasn’t really worried about needing to buy a special litter or anything.
I was, however, a little concerned that it would take a lot more litter to fill the box. In all honesty, yes, you will need to use a bit more when you’re filling the box the first time. Not too much more, but it definitely took more than my traditional litter box.
However, after that, you’ll definitely start to notice the savings really quickly! Before switching to automatic litter boxes, I felt like I was buying litter every other day. That’s an exaggeration, but I went through at least 25 lbs. every 5 days or so. Now, I go through maybe 25 lbs. every 10 days, and there is always fresh litter (and ONLY fresh litter) in the box.
There are other upsides to the Litter Robot 4, but in terms of multiple cat households these are the three that really stand out to me.
See the Litter Robot 4 in action below.
Drawbacks to Using the Litter Robot 4 for Multiple Cats
While I really do think the Litter Robot 4 is a boon for multi-cat households, it’s not perfect. Nothing ever is. Well, except chocolate. Even really bad chocolate is still pretty perfect. 😀 Let’s look at some of the “cons.”
It’s pricey
Let’s not pretend that this baby is a cheap litter box. You know it’s expensive. I know it’s expensive. I could say that it’s totally worth the high price. I could say that it’s really a bargain considering how much time, energy, and litter you’ll save. But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s freaking expensive.
I will say this, though- it may not be a cheap box…but it’s also not a CHEAP box. Does that make sense? In other words, you really are getting what you pay for here. In all fairness, I should also mention that while it’s expensive for a litter box, it’s not particularly expensive for an automatic litter box.
It’s hard to tell your cats apart in the app
The Whisker app is pretty awesome overall. Definitely the most user-friendly app out of all of the automatic litter boxes that I’ve tried. However, it doesn’t really differentiate well between different cats.
Sure, you can create pet profiles for each kitty. But don’t expect the app to say “Zoe used the potty at 11AM and weighs 15 lbs today,” and “Alex used the potty at 5AM and weighs 9 lbs today” or anything quite so detailed.
Now, if all of your cats weigh significantly different amounts, then the app is pretty handy for tracking potty habits. I have a kitten (Leia), a “healthy weight” cat (Alex), and a “chonky” cat (Zoe). Right now, I can tell who’s who on the app. But once Leia reaches adulthood, I won’t be able to tell her and Alex apart.
All of that said, I don’t really consider this to be a drawback of the litter box itself. The app and its features are kind of a “bonus” to me, especially given that the LR4 works REALLY well without the app thanks to its touch panel. Still, I felt I should mention it since Whisker calls out their SmartScale® as a selling point.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m REALLY happy with the Litter Robot 4. I have very few complaints, and those that I do have aren’t really related to how the litter box itself works.
As someone who has had multiple cats for more than a quarter of a century now, I can honestly say that using an automatic litter box is a bazillion-gazillion-lots-of-other-made-up-illions times easier than dealing with a traditional litter pan. I don’t think I could ever go back to scooping litter again. The Litter Robot 4 for multiple cats is something I can confidently recommend.
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