I Tried the Compact Litter-Robot, and It’s a Brilliant Upgrade for My Cat’s Well-Being

I often joke that I only work as hard as I do because my cat, Calliope, is accustomed to a lifestyle of abundance and ease. (Otherwise, I’d go live in the woods.) While I try to give her the best of everything, her litter box has always been fairly basic. That is, until one of the latest offerings in Whisker’s self-cleaning litter box lineup, the Litter-Robot EVO, came into our lives. And now I know what it truly means to live the good life — at least when it comes to keeping a clean litter box.

Despite it being the more budget-friendly option in the Litter-Robot lineup, the compact Litter-Robot EVO still brings both exquisite form and function in spades. It keeps the core features of the original — like a weight sensor, odor control, and automated cycling — that made the smart litter box so popular. Plus, the connectivity to the Whisker app provides valuable insights into Calliope’s usage that in the beginning I thought would be nice to have but have now transformed into a need-to-have.

Being able to monitor when and how often my baby girl goes to the bathroom helps support her overall care. She can’t tell me in words when something is wrong, but now when the vet asks if I noticed any change in her bathroom habits, I can be confident in my answer. The basic features of the app complement the unit well, but more stats are available with a Whisker+ subscription.

Setting up the Litter-Robot EVO was simple with all components clearly labeled and easily assembled. The unit is also very quiet, with just the sound of falling litter being noticeable. We live near a railroad, so Calliope doesn’t startle easily to begin with, but it being so quiet is why I think she didn’t notice the cycling for the first two days.

When she notices the device in motion, she’ll sometimes investigate. The anti-obstruction sensors instantly pause the cleaning cycle if she pokes her head in. After she uses the bathroom, the sensors also trigger a customizable safety delay (seven minutes by default) before the globe spins to sift the litter. The sifted waste falls into a drawer below and out of sight and smell. Only a few times did a cycle not drop all the sifted waste, but that problem is conveniently solved by manually triggering a cycle directly on the unit or remotely through the app. Dumping the waste when the drawer is full is easy, too.

For kittens, seniors, and cats that just need extra support, a ramp for the Litter-Robot EVO can also be purchased separately.

• Waste Drawer Status Indicators: Notifications in the Whisker app and LCD lights on the unit that indicate when the waste drawer is full or nearly full helps me easily stay on top of maintenance.
• Odor Maintenance: Living in an apartment means that if there is a smelly litter box in one room, then you essentially have one in every room. The Litter-Robot EVO keeps odor in check through its clever carbon filter system and by cordoning off the waste into its own drawer.
• Litter Stays Put: With the globe enclosure, the litter stays inside even if Calliope kicks up a tiny dust storm. Also, the step catches most of the litter that she would otherwise track outside. It makes keeping my home clean and sanitary much easier.

There are a few things you should know about the Litter-Robot EVO: While Calliope has never had trouble adapting to changes with her litter box, those were simple pans, and I wasn’t sure if this spaceship-esque device would throw her off. She took to it easily, but be sure to follow Whisker’s recommendations for helping your cat acclimate to the unit.

Also, the unit reads her weight during every usage, and there were a few times when the reading was way off. However, I noticed this only seemed to happen when she would lean out of the globe onto the step while using it. Lastly, the Litter-Robot EVO is FSA/HSA eligible with a valid Letter of Medical Necessity!

The price of the Litter-Robot compared with a simple litter box is hefty, but I think it’s a worthy long-term investment for the health of your pet and household especially if:

• You keep a busy schedule and, despite your best efforts, find it difficult to stay on top of cleaning the litter box.
• You have a disability, illness, or medical condition (like pregnancy or chronic pain) that without an automated solution would be difficult to manage a litter box.
• You need a hygienic solution to manage your cat’s waste that is low effort and doesn’t disrupt your aesthetic.

Buy: Litter-Robot EVO, $599