The Litter-Robot 5 Pro is the flagship model from Whisker, the company behind the original robotic pooper scooper. Priced at around £710, it promises far more than simply scooping your cat’s waste. With a dual camera system, an array of sensors and AI algorithms paired with machine learning, the 5 Pro is designed to monitor and track your cats’ litter box habits, including flagging potential health issues. Its headline feature is feline facial recognition, intended to distinguish between multiple cats in a household.
The device was tested over six months alongside its budget counterpart, the Litter-Robot Evo, which costs around £475. Both launched late in the previous year. The core mechanism is shared across Whisker’s four current models: the Evo, the Litter-Robot 4, the Litter-Robot 5 and the 5 Pro. A cat enters the large globe lined with litter, sensors register its presence, and once the cat leaves, the robot rotates the drum to sift the waste into a sealed bin below.
How the Litter Robot Works
The system removes a daily chore, as the waste drawer only needs emptying roughly once a week. It also conceals the litter box from view and contains most of the odour. A fully featured app offers remote control of most functions, lets you check waste and litter levels, and displays your cat’s weight via an onboard scale. This makes it a useful gadget for owners who travel frequently.
The 5 Pro is a substantial unit, standing almost 30 inches tall and taking up considerable space. Its globe is roomier than both the Evo and the Litter-Robot 4, making it suitable for up to five cats weighing as much as 30lbs.
Where the AI Falls Short
Despite the premium, the AI features on the 5 Pro did not perform as advertised, failing to accurately identify individual cats. On that basis, paying extra for these capabilities is not recommended.
The Evo also involves notable trade-offs compared with the Litter-Robot 4. It lacks litter-level monitoring, so the app does not alert you when litter runs low. It supports fewer and smaller cats, has a smaller bin, and no night light. It is also incompatible with Whisker’s litter hopper accessory.
While the Evo’s smaller footprint suits tight spaces, its build quality feels less sturdy, and its waste drawer is finicky and does not always shut properly. Both the Evo and the 5 Pro feature an LCD screen indicating the current status, an improvement over the LED indicator lights used on other models. Whisker’s range spans four models, all sharing the same scooping mechanism.
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Image: theverge.com
