{"id":2873,"date":"2021-02-06T00:54:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-06T00:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/?p=1337865"},"modified":"2021-02-06T00:54:35","modified_gmt":"2021-02-06T00:54:35","slug":"review-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=2873","title":{"rendered":"Review: The Litter-Robot is worth the $499 to never scoop cat poop again"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Ask any person living with cats about the worst part of their cohabitation, and their answer will likely relate to scooping litter. It sucks, especially in a multi-cat home, and even more so in a small apartment.<\/p>\n<p>Then I got my hands on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.litter-robot.com\/litter-robot-iii-open-air-with-connect.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Litter-Robot 3 Connect<\/a>. Long story short: it has been an absolute game-changer for my home, and I can\u2019t imagine ever going back to a regular old litter box. Even if the $499 price&nbsp;($449 for the wi-fi-less version) is a tough pill to swallow, the convenience of almost never having to think about litter is worth it.<\/p>\n<p>I took my time before writing this review because I wanted to make sure the experience actually held up over an extended period. It\u2019s been four months since I received my unit, and with regular usage by two cats, it\u2019s largely been smooth sailing since.<\/p>\n<p>I should add the disclaimer that I have not tested any other automated litter boxes. I chose to try the Litter-Robot due to the length of time it\u2019s been on the market, but I can\u2019t tell you whether the Litter-Robot is the best such device. I also can\u2019t guarantee your cats will get used to it. I can only confirm that in my home, it\u2019s performed its job with aplomb.<\/p>\n<p>If you haven\u2019t seen a Litter-Robot in action, here\u2019s how it works:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Add clumping litter into the basin.<\/li>\n<li>Wait for your cat to poop or pee.<\/li>\n<li>After 7 minutes (or 3 or 15 minutes, depending on your settings), watch as the Litter Robot\u2019s \u2018globe\u2019 rotates to sift through the litter and then dumps clumps of pee and poop into a receptacle bag underneath the globe.<\/li>\n<li>About once or twice a week, depending on how many cats you have, dump out the collected litter and add fresh litter to the machine.<\/li>\n<li>Clean the globe (not as hard as it seems) and replace the carbon filter every few months.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This official video might make it clearer:<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/e4PaCFL1js0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen>[embedded content]<\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Despite the marketing talk, the promises above largely reflect my own experience.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d learned of the Litter-Robot shortly after we adopted our first cat (Parsnip, a languorously loveable lapcat), but had largely dismissed it for its price. After getting our second cat (Pomeline, a fabulous fireball of a feline) and moving to a smaller apartment, my girlfriend and I thought we could use a break from all the scooping (have I mentioned scooping is no fun?).<\/p>\n<p>Be warned: this thing is huge, and more so if you get the optional ramp (Parsnip is an old man and needs a little help). The Litter-Robot takes up a massive footprint compared to a regular litter box. But in practice, this ended up being less of an issue than I thought it would be.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1337871 lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4ba5df1.png\" alt width=\"777\" height=\"858\" sizes=\"(max-width: 777px) 100vw, 777px\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4ba5df1.png 777w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4ba5df1-190x210.png 190w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4ba5df1-245x270.png 245w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4ba5df1-122x135.png 122w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2021\/02\/06\/review-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2021%2F02%2F06%2Freview-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Parsnip, my co-reviewer. Also Ozzie in the background. She did get to try the Litter-Robot, even if she did try to eat some of the litter.\" data-title=\"Share Parsnip, my co-reviewer. Also Ozzie in the background. She did get to try the Litter-Robot, even if she did try to eat some of the litter. on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Parsnip, my co-reviewer. Also Ozzie in the background. She did get to try the Litter-Robot, even if she did try to eat some of the litter. on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Parsnip, my co-reviewer. Also Ozzie in the background. She did get to try the Litter-Robot, even if she did try to eat some of the litter.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>After all, having two cats used to mean having two litter boxes. Like many cats, Parsnip and Pomeline preferred to use their own designated potty. But because the Litter-Robot automatically cleans itself after use, Parsnip and Pomeline have had little issue with sharing.<\/p>\n<p>If anything, the cats seem to prefer sharing the Litter-Robot to having their separate litter boxes adjacent to one another, and the Litter-Robot\u2019s footprint does not seem so large when you consider one unit can replace two or more regular litter boxes.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also helped avoid having accidents outside the litter box. Parsnip is particularly picky; if the litter box was dirty when nature called, he would often decide to take his business elsewhere. Pomeline not being familiar with the proper use of a bathtub, occasionally believed it to be a giant litter box. But since they\u2019ve acclimated to the Litter-Robot, we have suffered far fewer of these accidents.<\/p>\n<p>The Litter-Robot has helped our home&nbsp;<em>smell&nbsp;<\/em>cleaner too. Despite the fact the litter is stored within the unit, used litter is sealed under the globe with a carbon filter that effectively traps smells. As a testament to this effectiveness, the Litter-Robot has been positioned right next to my bed (again, small apartment) this whole time, rarely revealing unpleasant scents unless someone just used the bathroom.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1337870 lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4b89a48.png\" alt width=\"869\" height=\"823\" sizes=\"(max-width: 869px) 100vw, 869px\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4b89a48.png 869w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4b89a48-222x210.png 222w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4b89a48-285x270.png 285w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4b89a48-143x135.png 143w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4b89a48-796x754.png 796w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2021\/02\/06\/review-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2021%2F02%2F06%2Freview-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: Pomeline, the youngest reviewer, ready to hunt an imaginary something off in the distance.\" data-title=\"Share Pomeline, the youngest reviewer, ready to hunt an imaginary something off in the distance. on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share Pomeline, the youngest reviewer, ready to hunt an imaginary something off in the distance. on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>Pomeline, the youngest reviewer, ready to hunt an imaginary something off in the distance.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>More importantly, it\u2019s much less smelly than our old pair of litter boxes (and we\u2019ve been through a few different kinds), even though we scooped multiple times a day. Comparing the Litter-Robot to a regular litter box feels like comparing a flushable toilet to a porta-potty.<\/p>\n<p>As a bonus, the Litter-Robot has also meant less litter falls on my floor due to scooping, and the optional ramp catches litter my cats might otherwise track around the home. As another bonus, our dog Ozzie has fewer opportunities to eat litter, a rather unseemingly vice of hers.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1337868 lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f.png\" alt width=\"1427\" height=\"1431\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1427px) 100vw, 1427px\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f.png 1427w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-96x96.png 96w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-209x210.png 209w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-269x270.png 269w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-135x135.png 135w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-796x798.png 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-192x192.png 192w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Snag_4a1749f-470x470.png 470w\"><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<p>The Wi-Fi features of the Connect version I tested enough are useful enough to be worth the $50 premium. The app\u2019s main use is sending a notification to your phone when the litter box is full or if a cycle was interrupted (such as if one of the cats had tried to get in mid-rotation). You can also track your cat\u2019s bathroom habits, although this is much less useful when you have two furbabies, as the Litter-Robot can\u2019t tell them apart. Adding a microchip sensor to a future model could help improve this functionality.<\/p>\n<p>There were occasional hangups. Most commonly, the built-in scale sometimes would not register when someone used the bathroom. I notice it happen maybe once or twice a week.<\/p>\n<p>No big deal. Simply press the cycle button on the machine or in the app and go about your business; it\u2019s still much better than the mess of constant scooping.<\/p>\n<p>On another occasion, some debris had gotten stuck in the device\u2019s pinch sensor (which helps prevent your cat from getting, well, pinched). This required me to take apart the unit \u2014 no screws needed \u2014 to dislodge the debris.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\" wp-image-1337869 lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Screenshot_20210205-190531.png\" alt width=\"369\" height=\"799\" sizes=\"(max-width: 369px) 100vw, 369px\" data-lazy=\"true\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Screenshot_20210205-190531.png 1080w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Screenshot_20210205-190531-97x210.png 97w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Screenshot_20210205-190531-125x270.png 125w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Screenshot_20210205-190531-62x135.png 62w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/02\/Screenshot_20210205-190531-796x1725.png 796w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2021\/02\/06\/review-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again\/#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fthenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2021%2F02%2F06%2Freview-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: The app provides some useful insights and remote controls. And yes, for some reason I named my Litter-Robot Benji.\" data-title=\"Share The app provides some useful insights and remote controls. And yes, for some reason I named my Litter-Robot Benji. on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share The app provides some useful insights and remote controls. And yes, for some reason I named my Litter-Robot Benji. on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>The app provides some useful insights and remote controls. And yes, for some reason I named my Litter-Robot Benji.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>I should also note that you will need to use a litter that clumps well and isn\u2019t too light (the latter to help the weight sensor work properly). I\u2019ve used Dr. Elsey\u2019s (clay) and World\u2019s Best Litter (corn) without a hitch.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, you might want to give it at least a couple of weeks for your cats to get fully acclimated. Although Pomeline got used to the Litter-Robot right away, it took Parsnip a couple of weeks to get the hang of having to climb a ramp in order to use a bathroom; I often had to carry him into the chamber while he figured things out. And there\u2019s&nbsp;always the risk your cats just won\u2019t get used to it.<\/p>\n<p>But those caveats have barely registered in the long term. Yes, you\u2019ll still have to toss the litter bag once or twice a week and clean the full unit every few months, but that\u2019s still far less regular upkeep and daily interaction with poop than with a regular litter box.<\/p>\n<p>The Litter-Robot turned one of the most unpleasant parts of living with cats into something I rarely even think about. If you can afford to spend $499 for the added convenience, cleanliness, and peace of mind of never having to scoop again, this fanciest of litter boxes is well worth the price of admission.<\/p>\n<p><i>Did you know we have a newsletter all about consumer tech? It\u2019s called Plugged In \u2013 <a href=\"https:\/\/mailchi.mp\/thenextweb\/plugged-in\">and you can subscribe to it right here<\/a>. <\/i><\/p>\n<p class=\"c-post-pubDate\"> Published February 6, 2021 \u2014 00:54 UTC <\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/plugged\/2021\/02\/06\/review-the-litter-robot-is-worth-the-499-to-never-scoop-cat-poop-again\/\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ask any person living with cats about the worst part of their cohabitation, and their answer will likely relate to scooping litter. It sucks, especially in a multi-cat home, and even more&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2873\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}