Litter-Robot 4 vs 5: which one to buy

Litter-Robot 4 vs 5 comes down to cat count, cat size and whether you want a camera. The 4 costs $699, the 5 costs $799 and the 5 Pro costs $899 at Whisker.

Researched by Riley Hart · updated Oct 15, 2026 · How we research

Short answer

Buy the Litter-Robot 4 if you have up to 4 cats under 25 lbs and want the best value; reviewers still rate it highly and BGR found it more reliable than the 5 Pro. Buy the Litter-Robot 5 if you have 5 cats, a cat over 25 lbs, or the box sits on carpet. Pay for the 5 Pro only if you want a live camera and your cats look clearly different.

Feature	Litter-Robot 4	Litter-Robot 5	Litter-Robot 5 Pro
US price	$699	$799	$899
Release	2022	Oct 21, 2025 (ships Nov 3, 2025)	Oct 21, 2025 (ships Nov 3, 2025)
Max cats	4	5	5
Cat weight range	3 to 25 lbs	3 to 30 lbs	3 to 30 lbs
Drawer emptying (1 cat)	About every 8 days	About every 10 days	About every 10 days
Interior globe height	16.5 in	17.5 in	17.5 in
Empty weight	24 lbs	28.7 lbs	29.6 lbs
Cameras	None	None	Two 1080p HD night vision cameras
AI cat ID	Weight based ID (2+ cats)	Weight based ID (2+ cats)	Weight based plus facial recognition with Whisker+, optional PetTag
WasteID (urine vs feces)	No	Yes	Yes
Display and lights	Light bar, automatic LED night light	Full color LCD, LED color and brightness set in app	LCD, adjustable LEDs in hundreds of colors
Carpet use	Carpet Tray add on needed for accurate scale	Built in carpet tray	Built in carpet tray
LitterHopper	LR4 LitterHopper ($129)	LR5 LitterHopper ($129), holds 32% more; not LR4 compatible	LR5 LitterHopper ($129)
Subscription	Free app; Whisker+ optional	Free app with 7 day history; Whisker+ adds 2 year trends and daily recaps	Free tier streams 5 min/day; Whisker+ ($7.99/mo) for facial recognition and unlimited streaming
Litter	Clumping clay recommended	Clumping clay recommended	Clumping clay recommended
Warranty and trial	1 year, 3 year extension $129, 90 day trial	1 year, 3 year extension $149, 90 day trial	1 year, 3 year extension $149, 90 day trial
Noise	About 37 dB while cycling (Cats.com)	Whisker claims nearly silent QuietSift; reviewers found it quieter than LR4	Reviewers describe it as very quiet

Specs and prices from Whisker's comparison chart and product pages, checked Oct 15, 2026. Noise figures are reviewer measurements or maker claims as noted.

What the Litter-Robot 5 adds over the 4

The Litter-Robot 5 handles one more cat (5 instead of 4) and heavier cats (up to 30 lbs instead of 25). Whisker rates its drawer at about 10 days between empties for one cat, against about 8 days for the 4.

It also adds a color LCD screen, a built in carpet tray so the scale reads accurately on carpet, and WasteID, which logs whether a visit was urine or feces. The globe is 1 inch taller inside (17.5 in) and the unit weighs 28.7 lbs empty, 4.7 lbs more than the 4.

The footprint is the same 22 by 27 inches, so a 5 fits where a 4 fits.

What the 5 Pro adds over the 5

The Pro has the same capacity, size and WasteID as the 5. It adds two 1080p night vision cameras, facial recognition to tell cats apart, and support for Whisker's PetTag collar tag.

Facial recognition needs the Whisker+ subscription at $7.99 a month or $79.90 a year. Without it, live video is limited to 5 minutes a day.

What reviewers found

Cats.com rated both the Litter-Robot 4 and the Litter-Robot 5 at 4.6 out of 5, and Catster also gave the 4 a 4.6.

BGR's review of the 5 Pro reported motor faults and false scale alerts, and found it less reliable than the 4. 9to5Toys saw false drawer full alerts on the 5 and found the buttons sometimes needed a second press.

No review we found reported a reliability edge for the 5 over the 4. The newer models have been on sale only since November 2025, so long term data is thin.

Running costs and subscription

No model needs a subscription. The free Whisker app includes weight based cat ID and 7 days of history; Whisker+ adds 2 years of trends and daily recaps.

The 3 year extended warranty costs $129 on the 4 and $149 on the 5 and 5 Pro. All three come with a 1 year warranty and a 90 day trial at Whisker.

Waste drawer liners, carbon filters and the LitterTrap mat fit both generations. The LitterHopper, ramp and carpet tray are model specific, so 4 accessories do not carry over to a 5.

Who should skip both

Both need clumping clay litter and a 22 by 27 inch footprint, and both start at a 3 lb minimum cat weight. If you want a box under $500, see our full ranking of self cleaning litter boxes.

Full profiles with 3 year cost

Litter box · Whisker Litter-Robot 4 Best for one to four average size cats $699 Check price →Full profile

Litter box · Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Best for large cats and multi cat homes $799 Check price →Full profile

Litter box · Whisker Litter-Robot 5 Pro Best for multi cat homes wanting health tracking $8996.4/10 Check price →Full profile

Questions people ask

Is the Litter-Robot 5 worth the upgrade from the Litter-Robot 4?

Only if you need its extras: 5 cats instead of 4, cats up to 30 lbs, a larger drawer (about 10 vs 8 days), built in carpet tray, LCD and WasteID. It costs $100 more ($799 vs $699), and several reviewers still call the LR4 the better value.

What is the difference between the Litter-Robot 5 and 5 Pro?

Same size, capacity and WasteID. The Pro adds two 1080p night vision cameras, AI facial recognition (with Whisker+) and PetTag support, for $100 more ($899 vs $799).

Can the Litter-Robot 4 use the same accessories as the 5?

Some. Waste drawer liners, carbon filters and the LitterTrap Mat fit LR4, LR5 and EVO. The LitterHopper, ramp and carpet tray are model specific; the LR5 LitterHopper works only with the LR5 and 5 Pro.

Does the Litter-Robot 5 need a subscription?

No. The free app includes weight based cat ID, WasteID and a 7 day view. Whisker+ ($7.99/month or $79.90/year) adds up to 2 years of trends and daily recaps, and on the Pro unlocks facial recognition and unlimited streaming.

Is the Litter-Robot 4 discontinued?

No. As of Oct 2026 Whisker still sells the LR4 at $699, listed in stock and shipping in 1 to 3 business days, with up to $75 off select bundles.