In 2024, I began my journey into the world of self-cleaning litter boxes after spending the previous year doing heavy research into the seemingly endless array of brands/models that have flooded the market. At the end of this period, it was Whisker that came out on top, with my partner and me pulling the trigger on buying the Litter-Robot 3 Connect, which happened to be the brand’s first model to include app-based controls. I have since upgraded to the Litter-Robot 4 with the Litter-Hopper attachment, and now, in 2026, I’ve made another upgrade to the newest Litter-Robot 5 Pro (which came out alongside the EVO and standard 5 variations). Head below to get a full in-depth rundown on what you can expect with Whisker’s latest generation of the safest and most popular self-cleaning litter boxes on the market.
A new generation with a space-age aesthetic
Ever since getting the newest Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro, my brain (as well as almost every one of my friends and family who have seen it) has pretty much made the same joke in one way or another: “That’s one small step for kitty, and one giant step for kitty kind.” The latest generation of these self-cleaning litter boxes definitely brings along a very similar look to the Litter-Robot 4, which I still prefer as the best option from the brand – one for a cheaper price, but also because the Litter-Hopper attachment that adds in more litter after each cycle is not available on the Litter-Robot 5. But that’s not to say that there aren’t some notable upgrades here, depending on who you ask.
Whether you are going with the previous 4th-generation or the newer 5th-generation models, they still share some key features that all cat parents will enjoy:
- Both models recognize when a cat climbs inside to do their business, waiting for a set period of time (around seven minutes) before beginning the cycle that horizontally rotates the main globe to sift waste from the rest of the litter, letting it drop down into the lower drawer for collection.
- They track just how many times your cat(s) enter and use the box, giving you that data within the companion app to use as you please (which can be especially handy for older cats with health issues)
- On top of tracking the visits/usage, the sensors under the globe are also able to weigh your cat(s), further lending support towards your understanding of their health.
- Through the app, you’ll be getting alerts when the waste bin needs to be emptied, as well as when you’ll need to add more litter to the main globe.
Now, if the above features seem good enough for you, like I said, the Litter-Robot 4 will likely be a much better option – plus, it saves you $100 to $200 over the Litter-Robot 5 and 5 Pro models, though the new EVO is a more compact and cheaper option at $100 less in price than the Litter-Robot 4.
That being said, the Litter-Robot 5 and 5 Pro models do bring along some major new features that I have slowly come to love, even though I initially thought I wouldn’t use them all that much:
- The new generation has been equipped with an easy-to-read LCD screen, letting you get key data/info without needing to open the app like with predecessor models: cat visits, time durations, cleaning cycle info, scoops saved, and more.
- There are also new cameras both inside the globe and outside, letting you watch a livestream feed while you’re away from home, which I have recently been taking advantage of when I have to make trips out of town, and Kraydor cannot tag along.
- On top of the live feed, if you go with the Litter-Robot 5 Pro you’re also getting AI-powered camera support that takes things further with cat facial recognition and saved video footage (two days unless you upgrade with the Whisker+ service within the app, which costs $8 per month after a free trial).
- Both models bring along the WasteID feature that senses when your cat(s) leave behind liquid or solid waste, activating the cycle quicker for solid waste (to keep odors from filling the room), and wait a little longer for liquid waste to clump.
Getting started with the Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro
If you’ve read my past reviews of the Whisker Litter-Robot 3 Connect and the Litter-Robot 4, it should come as no surprise that you’ll have the same unboxing and setup process with the new generation. It comes in a large, but easy-ish to manage box (if you have to bring it up stairs, for example), with a 4-step process to get the box apart and remove the covered/bagged robot. One thing to note here is that the Litter-Robot 5 Pro will be shipped in a box that only says “Litter-Robot 5” on it, so don’t be confused about a possible shipping mistake until you set it up in the app and see the name appear there.
You get all the information you need right from the main cardboard setup instructions that are placed at the top of the box once it is opened, with a QR code that walks you through the app setup. You pretty much need to unwrap the robot, find a place with enough space for it to sit without any of its sides touching anything, plug it in, scan the QR code, and follow the instructions from there.
As this was the third model Kraydor has dealt with since I adopted him, the moment it was filled with litter, he immediately climbed inside and began using his newest throne. Now, for other cats who may not have previous experience, there might be a bit of a learning curve. I gifted my old Litter-Robot 4 to my mother, who is disabled with spinal issues and thus finds it more and more difficult to bend over multiple times a day to scoop a normal litter box for her cat, Izzy. It took Izzy about a week of transitioning to the robot, with the biggest help being my advice that my mom take some solid waste from Izzy’s old litter box (which was sitting right next to the robot) and place it inside the Litter-Robot 4. After a few days, she got the point and exclusively used it instead.
My cleaning experience with the Litter-Robot 5 Pro
Just like with my previous reviews, I haven’t found any major disappointments after upgrading to the Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro, though there have been a few minor things that some folks may find as an annoyance, though the brand has come out with some recent updates to the software that has smoothed things out further.
To start, while the brand makes no such claim, I have found that the Litter-Robot 5 Pro (and I assume the other 5th-generation models) operates more quietly and smoothly, with the globe’s cycling seemingly gliding like butter as it sifts out the waste. The waste bin is coming with a larger capacity, so I’ve only been emptying it out every seven to ten days.
One thing here that I have noticed is that the software sometimes gives me alerts that the bin is full when it’s only holding half its capacity, which mostly affects its automatic cycling ability, needing me to hit the appropriate button to reset/recalibrate its system before it will go back to cycling as normal. This has changed a bit more since I was told of the new updates, so be sure to give it some room to improve as time goes on. Still, like its older siblings, it’s been one of my favorite pieces of tech within my more and more “automated” household.
I also got a pack of specially designed waste-bin liners that seem far better than using a standard small trash bag like I usually do, but once those run out, rather than adding the costs of purchasing those liners to my weekly tallies, I’ve just gone back to using the same small trash bags that work just as well.
The companion app experience has also evolved with this new generation, being further fleshed out with more information than predecessors, as should be expected. Most notably, when tapping on the “history” section, it now shows you “yesterday’s overview,” where you get more in-depth information on cat visits the day before (to compare with the day of) and how often feces vs. urine was collected into the waste bin. You also get a graph to show weekly and monthly cycle amounts, as well as your cat’s tracked weight. However, I have spied quite a few times that the sensors mislabel urine to solid waste, so things aren’t perfect in that regard.
Aside from those little hiccups, I’ve only got praise for the upgrades. The actual construction makes this model feel far more sturdy than the Litter-Robot 4, and especially the Litter-Robot 3 Connect. What’s more, it doesn’t become as fussy about being placed on a carpet or mat as the past models did. Like past models, though, it provides enough room for most cats to easily access it, but larger cats (especially Maine Coons and any cats over 30 pounds) may find it much more cramped, and are likely to stand partially outside the globe more than your average-sized breeds.
The carbon filter seems to be doing a much better job at odor control, though, like the Litter-Robot 4, any smells you notice are more than likely from it sitting in the main chamber while waiting to be cycled to the waste bin.
One thing I have really loved is the LCD screen addition, as this allows me to see real-time information without needing to open the app, including when anything goes wrong, coinciding with a color-dictated light, too. For example, when the waste bin becomes full, and the robot fails to automatically cycle, there is an easy-to-notice red light and accompanying message on the screen to alert you. I do prefer the raised buttons from the previous 4th-generation model, with the indented buttons on this new generation also sometimes requiring a second press before registering the command. I am a little sad that you can’t also adjust settings from the dashboard or LCD screen, but this is a very minor gripe, as those adjustments are easily made from the app controls.
My final thoughts on the Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro
All in all, despite the minor cons I’ve spotted and listed above, Whisker’s 26 years of experience continue to drive improvements, generation after generation, and cat owners everywhere reap the benefits. After years of having one in my home, I cannot ever picture myself going back to a typical box that I have to manually scoop multiple times a day to keep my apartment from reeking, or even some of the “tumbler” boxes that still required me to get involved with every time I noticed the litter was used (not to mention their constantly needing cleaning after several tumbles).
I know the prices from this brand definitely sit at much higher and premium levels, but you’re getting every single bang for your buck here, especially after all my research, where the more budget-friendly and bargain-bin brands have proven track records that risk hurting or even killing cats (particularly those vertically cycling along a Y-axis rather than Whisker’s X-axis pathways).
You can find the Whisker Litter-Robot 5 starting from $799 shipped, while the AI-supported Litter-Robot 5 Pro sits higher, starting from $899 shipped. As I mentioned, there is the brand’s most compact design in the equally new Litter-Robot EVO, which is a nice option for folks in smaller living quarters, and that model also bears the smallest price tag starting from $599 shipped. You can also find tons of varying bundle options that regularly benefit from discounts on the landing page here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Comments