'I tried Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 to see if it could end the daily cat litter nightmare for good'
The Litter-Robot 4 is a self-cleaning automatic cat litter tray that promises to do the scooping for you. But is it worth the £749 price tag? I tried it out with my cat Theo to see
My cat, Theo, is my best mate in the whole wide world. He's fluffy, has a knack for waking me up with ear-splitting yowls, and every morning and night, he curls up on my chest and purrs away contentedly in bed. We both have a habit of yelling at people to eat - we're practically two peas in a pod.
But as they say, with great love comes great responsibility - and the less glamorous side of pet ownership: scooping up poo. Any cat owner can attest to the sheer agony of cleaning out clumped-together litter and its accompanying stench.
Not to mention vacuuming up the mountain of litter he scatters all over my flat.
Thankfully, the modern world has been constructed to help us find solutions to these kinds of problems, which led me to discover Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 (£749). This automatic cat litter box claims to put an end to the poop-scooping nightmare once and for all with its self-cleaning feature, while providing fresh litter for your cat and trapping the odour, reports MyLondon.
For those looking for more budget-friendly options, there's the PetSafe ScoopFree Covered Self-Cleaning Litter Box available on Amazon for £169.56 (down from £269.99). While it does offer the odour-removal feature, it has a slightly lower user-rating at 3.9 out of 5,448 ratings.
Alternatively, the Yaheetech Decorative Litter Box Enclosure is priced at £49.39 from B&Q. Although it's not automatic (meaning you'll still have to do most of the dirty work yourself) and doesn't come with the odour-trap feature, it's a decent low-tech solution.
I put Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 to the test to see if it could finally liberate me from the daily chore of vacuuming up litter off the floor. Here's what I thought:
Litter-Robot 4: Setting Up
Given the advertised features, I fully anticipated needing a Master's Degree to get it up and running. To my relief, it was quite simple.
On a scale of 'my mum could do it without calling me for help' to 'Einstein would have a hard time with this', it definitely falls into the 'she'd need a quick WhatsApp chat to figure it out' category.
The Litter-Robot 4 arrives in a massive box as it comes pre-assembled. Simply remove the tape, decide if you want the small litter guard, and plug it in.
It appears robust, but one potential drawback is its size. While it's roughly the same width as my regular litter tray (56cm), it's about twice as tall (75cm), so ensure you have an appropriate place for it.
It also weighs 10.4kg without litter, equivalent to about two male cats.
When it comes to filling it with litter, there's an unmistakable line to reach - although you do need fine, non-clumping litter for optimal performance. To help your cat adjust to the new box, I'd recommend keeping the new litter in your original litter box for a week prior.
Once the Litter Robot is assembled, simply follow the instructions in the booklet which involve downloading the app.
The app and functionality
This is where things get interesting. After a straightforward setup process on the app, you can virtually control the entire Litter-Robot 4 via your app.
One thing to note is that it defaults to American dates and measurements, which can be slightly irritating. But once you've navigated past that, you're onto a winner.
The app provides information on the litter's fullness, the amount of waste, and even allows you to schedule a cleaning cycle from your phone. The real game-changer is the app's ability to monitor your cat's health.
While it doesn't replace a vet visit when something seems amiss, having an early warning system can be reassuring.
During my fortnight with the Litter-Robot 4, I encountered no issues with the app. It performed as expected, providing near-perfect readings of his weight.
Once the Litter-Robot was set up, the next hurdle was getting my cats to adapt. Theo, being a timid 14 year old, posed a challenge.
Fortunately, Whisker offers a useful guide on how to familiarise your feline with their new oversized toilet. Following the instructions, I placed the litter next to his regular one for a week without cleaning the old one.
After about a week, I removed the old one and crossed my fingers. Thankfully, we avoided any floor mishaps.
Would I recommend the Litter-Robot 4?
Absolutely. Although the Litter-Robot 4 is certainly an investment.
You're paying for daily convenience. If you have multiple cats, they can all use the same unit, making the cost more bearable.
Given its top-notch functionality, absence of odour, and the freedom from daily poop-scooping duties, I'm pleased to say it's certainly worth the price tag.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
'Digital photo frames are perfect for Father's Day - they're so good I got four'
Currently half price at Amazon, this is a gift that combines sentimentality and technology Father's Day is an opportunity to show the men in our lives how much they mean to us. And while whiskey, aftershave and grooming sets are all worthy gifts, they can sometimes feel a bit repetitive. Dor those looking for a gift a little outside of the usual suspects this June, I've got the perfect present idea. The Frameo 10.1 inch digital photo frame from Amazon, is the ultimate combination of thoughtful and practical. And the best part is that they're currently half price, making them cheaper than they were on Black Friday. And if you've left it last minute and happen to be a Prime member, next day delivery is free, too. Usually £99.98, the frames are currently reduced to £49.98, saving 50% on the RRP for the plain black frame. Those wanting something slightly more premium looking could opt for one of the wood effect frames for £69.98, but the sleek black version will fit in with most decor choices with ease. The frame is really easy to set up. After plugging it in, it walks you through the set up, which includes downloading the compatible free Frameo app, which is what the owner, and their family and friends can use to upload images to the frame. There are other similar apps available, for example Kodak has their own digital photo frame available at Argos for £79.99. Their version uses its own app, and has earned 14 reviews from shoppers, one of which wrote: 'Bought this as a christmas present for my parents and they love it, it's so nice to be able to share photos with them while I'm away from home.' Digital Photo Frame £99.98 £49.98 Amazon Buy here Product Description For a more premium option, the AURA Carver Mat 10.1 Inch Digital Photo Frame is £179 and uses Photo Match to share images. Personally, I've only ever used the Frameo app and find it really easy to navigate. So easy in fact, that when I gifted both sets of grandparents the frame, they were able to set it up themselves with no assistance. Once set up, the Frameo app allows unlimited user connections via a pin code, so each family member can send photos and videos to the frame from anywhere in the world. The frame has a large 32GB storage, which allows for approximately 60,000 photos. For context, I'm a content creator and serial photo taker and haven't quite hit that number on my camera roll in five years. It's ample for the average person. The quality of the photos is great, too, with a 1280x800 HD IPS screen with vibrant colours. It's also touchscreen, so you can browse through photos, delete pictures or videos, and pause the slideshow in seconds. Again, even the most tech-wary users can manage it. A few other standout features are that it can be freestanding or wall mounted, and auto rotates between portrait and landscape. Users can also choose how long each image stays on the screen, and can set it to turn on and off at certain times of the day. My nan recently told me hers comes on at around 5pm, and switches off when she heads to bed at 10pm. My grandparents loved their frames so much, I decided to get my mum one for Mother's Day this year and it was gratefully received. She loves how my brother, sister and I can send her photos of her kids, grandchildren, dogs, family days out, holidays and more. And for the security conscious, the Frameo app doesn't store or access your media either, ensuring it remains private - ideal for my sister-in-law who has her frame on her bedside displaying photos of her little boy. The Amazon frame has a 4.5 star rating based on more than 400 reviews, too. One said: 'This is the fourth Frameo picture frame I have purchased. They have all been excellent and I love the large screen on this model. The picture quality is outstanding. Everyone who sees it is captivated. I believe these offer good value for money. It is easy to use, has some useful features, and I appreciate the SD card slot which makes it easy to transfer images from my PC. I've never had a problem with the touch screen. The only downsides are: it takes a while to boot up; I would appreciate more options for display order, including the ability to remember where it left off when it goes to sleep (if you set a sleep interval); and the ability to display the file name or other selected metadata from the image.' Another said: 'This is my third Frameo digital frame. I bought the first one for myself and I was amazed by the quality of pictures and the product itself. The second one was a gift for my Dad and the third one a gift for my son's grandmother. Frame always comes in a very nice box, it looks already like a gift. The screen and photos look clear and bright. The Frameo app is quick and easy to use. I like the fact i can add photos and videos as well. Sleeping mode is a great advantage so you don't have to always turn it on and off. My family is more than happy that i can share with them live pictures in the app. We all admire modern design, I can also add that the wood style looks even more fancy than I expected. Overall I think its a great product and value for money.' While the Frameo app is free, there are some paid extras, which saw one shopper leave a three star review. They wrote: 'Brought this as a Xmas present, good clear picture, lots of settings, loses some stars as you can only transfer a few photos wirelessly at a time unless you pay for the premium software. Lots of storage built in! Finally the mains adapter could have been longer as if you're wall mounting it then it has to be fairly close to a mains plug.' For fathers in particular, this is a gift that combines family sentimentality and technology. I know my dad loves gadgets, and has often mentioned what a great gift mum's frame was, so for that reason, I think this is one of the best, most considerate and unexpectedly fabulous gifts you can get the father figure in your life this June. Shop the half price digital photo frame on Amazon here.
Daily Mail
13 hours ago
- Daily Mail
City dubbed 'Silicon Hills' sees college grads flock there for 'insane' deals including 2 months FREE rent
A Texas city with a booming tech industry has been dubbed the best place for young adults to move after college for its shockingly affordable rental options. Austin, the capital of the Lone Star State, is the ideal location to launch into post-graduate life for its astonishing income-to-rent ratio and significant number of available homes, according to The digital real estate marketplace crunched numbers from 318 US cities in the 50 largest metropolitan areas, each with populations of more than 75,000 people, to determine the top 10 rental markets for the up-and-coming demographic. Experts considered affordability for the 25 to 34 age group, number of open rentals, job opportunities in the area and occupation stability. Silicon Hills - a nickname the city earned for attracting business including Dell, IBM, Amazon, Google, Oracle and Apple - earned its spot at the top of that list. 'Austin has always been such a desirable destination for people to move to,' Brad Pauly, the founder of Pauly Presley Realty, told 'Heck, I moved here from Houston 30 years ago and I've never wanted to leave just because it's such a great city.' Every year, Pauly's firm rents out roughly 500 homes in the Austin Metropolitan area. Clients are generally in their 20s and 30s and come to the city for work, he said. 'Austin's always kind of been a 'younger town' because the workforce in tech is younger,' he explained. 'Some are looking for those four-bedroom affordable homes that you can get for around 2,200 bucks a month. And then all the way to your downtown high-rise dwellers, who are just looking for a penthouse in the sky.' He said the Central Texas hub has always been uniquely tailored to a freshly-graduated age group, as there are a variety of outdoor recreational options and a bustling 'party scene'. 'And of course, another thing that a lot of people love about this town is the affordability factor,' he explained. Austin's median rent price is $1,450 per month, $249 less than the national average of $1,699, reported. Earning an average annual income of $95,475 - 15.6 percent higher than the average across the top 50 metropolitan areas - residents can afford a median rent of $2,560. However, the average rent is only $1,470, meaning the city has the lowest rent-to-income ratio on the list. This ratio reflects the portion of someone's income that must go towards rent each month. Austin's is only 18.9 percent, meaning less than a quarter of people's incomes are contributing the their living accommodations, giving residents more freedom with their wages. The average across the top 50 metros is 24.9 percent. Every city that made it to the top 10 places for recent graduates - including Raleigh, North Carolina and Minneapolis, Minnesota - had lower ratios than this average. But what sets Austin apart is its significantly higher vacancy rate than any other city named by Also regarded as the 'Live Music Capital of the World,' 29.4 percent of rentals are available. 'That percentage, I imagine, is going to go up as more and more apartment complexes become available,' Pauly explained, pointing to a housing situation created by the pandemic. During COVID, the Austin area was essentially grid locked in terms of real estate and had 'almost negative inventory', he said. People swarmed Austin from across the country as it was an affordable place to live and had less strict protocols than other places in the US. 'All the occupancy rates for apartment complexes in 2021, 2022 were 99 percent,' the realtor added. 'Austin had almost no inventory in terms of leasing or properties to buy, which is one of the reasons the market appreciated so fast here in such a short amount of time. 'And so at the time it was, 'oh, we need housing, right?' So I can't tell you how many developers started building homes, developing complexes, which are still coming along today.' Developers went into overdrive - and luxurious apartment complexes started popping up throughout the city and nearby areas. Residents also started selling their homes and dropping their leases as COVID eased up, suddenly creating a wide-open housing market. More rental options became available in the capital and its surrounding cities, but less people started moving in, Pauly said. In 2020, roughly 48,800 people from other states moved to the Austin Metropolitan Statistical Area, according to the Austin Chamber of Commerce. But in 2024, under 14,000 people ventured into the city. In fact, Austin was among the top five US cities that people were fleeing from just last year, according to a PODS survey. There was improvement this year, as it was in the top 20 cities with the highest move out rates. Although data shows Austin is a favorable place to rent, it is not an ideal market for prospective home buyers. 'It's mainly due to the higher interest rates. So the Austin sales market is slow right now,' Pauly explained. 'But all that's going to take for that to change is for mortgage rates to come down even a half point. 'You can get some great deals now in Austin. In a lot of ways, it's more cost-effective to rent than buy right now in Austin - especially in apartment complexes.' The Howard apartments is incentivizing renters with two and a half free months of rent. Located in Manor, just about 15 minutes away from Austin, a 575-sqaure-foot one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is listed at about $1,300 per month. In comparison, renters should expect to pay anywhere from $3,234 to $6,781 for a similar apartment in Manhattan, according to The Lakes apartment complex in Austin is also offering a rent break to lure people in - six weeks of free rent, according to its website. The Prado in Dell Valle, just about 15 minutes away from Austin, is offering 8 weeks without pay. 'It's these lease-up deals. They try as hard as they can to lease up their properties as quickly as they can without reducing the actual effective lease rate by giving free months of rent,' Pauly summarized. But he is not sure how long these sweet deals will last. 'That's the million-dollar question. It really is, because there's still people moving to Austin, even though we had a net loss of residents last year,' he explained.
Auto Blog
13 hours ago
- Auto Blog
Amazon is selling an 'extremely durable' $99 DeWalt work light for just $59, and shoppers say it's the best
Autoblog aims to feature only the best products and services. If you buy something via one of our links, we may earn a commission. Wrenching in the dark is a futile effort, and holding a cheap, dimly lit flashlight isn't much of an improvement. Luckily, DeWalt, who makes some of our favorite power tools and car accessories, has the perfect addition for your toolbox. The DeWalt LED Work Light is on sale for $59 at Amazon, down from its usual $99. This means you'll save 40% on this highly-rated piece of quality equipment. For this price, you can't argue with the utility of a work light with multiple ways for convenient attachment. A belt clip, magnetic handle, and hook give you several options to free up both hands, whether you're working under the hood or anywhere else. While some shoppers have complained about a lack of compatibility with DeWalt's swappable proprietary batteries, this light does run for up to 6.5 hours on a single charge. Dewalt LED Work Light, $59 (was $99) at Amazon Unlike standard flashlights which on average produce only 100 lumens of brightness, this DeWalt model shines up to 1,000 lumens from a pair of 3.6-volt batteries, each with a 4,000mAh capacity. Not only is it compact and lightweight, but it's easy to charge, relying on the same USB-C connector used by most phones, laptops, and tablets. It's also quite fast, with the internal lithium pack taking just 75 minutes to fully charge from zero. While the cable is included, you will need to bring your own power supply brick. 'I have tried dozens of flashlights and spent quite a bit of money on batteries and nothing comes close to this one,' said one shopper. 'It has three levels of brightness, is rechargeable, has a clip that also doubles as an adjustable stand, and the light itself swivels, too. So you can either stand it up, hang it up, or clip it to your belt or pants. It's also extremely durable and illuminates a large area.' 'Well-made. Extremely bright and compact size,' said another customer. 'Easily fits in your tool box, pocket, etc. It can be set up to stand, swivel, clip onto something and hang, as well as attach to ferrous surfaces with magnets.' Pick up this $59 DeWalt LED Work Light and put it in your pocket at a steep 40% off discount before this limited-time offer comes to an end! About the Author Gabe Carey View Profile
