Why The Litter-Robot 4 Needed the Litter Hopper
I’ve been using the Litter-Robot 3 since 2016 and started with the Litter-Robot 4 as a beta user in 2022. These devices have truly transformed my life as a cat owner, as I discuss in my review of the Litter-Robot 4. Since I got one, I’ve never had to worry about daily scooping again—talk about a cat owner’s dream come true!
For those who aren’t familiar, the Litter-Robot is a globe-shaped litter box with a screen on the side. It rotates to sift clean litter, separating the clumps, and drops the waste into a drawer at the bottom. This means you can go for over a week without needing to scoop—amazing, right?
When I upgraded from the Litter-Robot 3 to the 4, I noticed several great improvements: quieter rotations, a sleeker design, a lighter build, and more flexibility through the Whisker app. But even with these upgrades, I still found myself refilling the globe more often than I wished. Lifting and holding a heavy box of cat litter is not nice. The Litter-Robot 4 definitely needed a self-scooping function to be perfect and fully automated. And guess what? The brand listened to my wishes and introduced the Litter Hopper!
So, What’s the Litter Hopper and How Does It Work?
The Litter Hopper is a new accessory for the Litter-Robot 4. It’s a container that attaches to the back of the globe, holding about 13 cups of litter. It refills the globe whenever the sensor detects that the litter level is low, so the refilling doesn’t happen on every cleaning cycle, only when it’s needed. The optimal level is slightly below the max line, enough for the globe to work efficiently without overflowing. If you have a digger cat or like to fill the globe to the max, you might find the optimal level a bit low, but it still works well.
If the globe has too little litter, the Litter Hopper will refill it repeatedly until it reaches the optimal level. That’s why I always make sure the globe is at the optimal level before refilling the Hopper.
The Hopper pours litter into the globe through an opening during rotation, right after the waste is dropped. It’s a bit noisy, but not too bothersome. I even made a video showing the Litter Hopper in action:
Is the Litter Hopper Worth It?
Before the Litter Hopper, I had to refill the globe every 4 days with one cat. Now, I only need to refill the Hopper every 15-17 days (using Arm & Hammer Multi-Cat Clumping). That’s a significant saving of three manual refills! For households with multiple cats, the refilling task decreases even more. For me it’s been much easier and convenient to refill the Litter Hopper occasionally than to handle a heavy box of cat litter and lean over to refill the globe every few days—not to mention the undesirable contact with litter dust.
And not only that. Previously, my husband and I would argue over the best litter level. He preferred to fill the globe to the max, which often led to litter falling into the waste drawer. Now, with the Litter Hopper, we’ve settled on an optimal level, saving us litter, time, and arguments.
Setting Up the Litter Hopper: My Experience
When I opened the Litter Hopper box, I found four parts and a quick guide with a QR code for installation instructions. While I found the instructions a little tricky at first, they became clear after a full read-through. It took me about 35 minutes to set everything up. If you want to speed up the process, I made a video guide to help you get it done in around 20 minutes:
The kit includes the Hopper, a Tip Guard to balance the added weight, a new Cap for the back of the globe, and a new Bonnet. I was surprised to find I needed to switch the bonnet, but that’s part of the installation. If you purchase the Litter-Robot with the Litter Hopper, the suitable bonnet comes pre-installed. After installation, I had to onboard the Hopper to the Whisker app. It was simple: press the cycle and Wi-Fi buttons for 3 seconds, and you’re done. The app will show a Litter Hopper icon and notify you when it needs refilling.
Is the Litter Hopper Reliable?
We spent a weekend out of town, and the Litter Hopper worked flawlessly. I haven’t had any issues so far—no jams, no errors. If you keep the globe just under the max line and ensure the Hopper is full, it’ll last about 15-17 days with one cat. I plan to test it with natural litters like corn or walnut and will update you on the results.
Pros:
- Eliminates the need to refill the globe manually
- Reduces contact with litter dust
- Less lifting and carrying of heavy boxes
- Helps save on litter by maintaining the optimal level
Cons:
- Initial instructions can be a bit tricky
- Cat litter may spill out when removing the Hopper due to its hole at the bottom
- Initial cost of $99 might be a bit high for some budgets
My Personal Verdict
The Litter Hopper has made my life so much easier by automatically refilling the globe. Now, I only worry about emptying the drawer once a week. For anyone who struggles with lifting heavy litter bags, or is too busy to pour cat litter every few days, this accessory is a game-changer. It’s also ended our disagreements about the best litter level and helped us saving on cat litter as well. For $99, I think it’s totally worth it. My cat is happy, and so am I!
Get the Litter Hopper today!
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