Hi Whisker community,
I’m excited to introduce my blog post series—an opportunity to connect directly with you about Whisker’s vision, company journey, our incredible team, and how together we’re shaping the future of pet care. These blog posts aim to offer insights into why your decision to trust Whisker not only benefits your pets but also contributes positively to the broader pet community. Your support fuels our innovation and dedication, empowering us to deliver smarter, easier, and more rewarding solutions for pet parents— all backed by 25 years of unwavering commitment to quality and service.
Powering progress through American innovation
While we source certain components globally and import some parts, Whisker has proudly designed and assembled our robots in America for 25 years! The first Litter-Robot was sold at a trade show in April 2000. That robot was personally built by our founder, Brad Baxter, here in metro Detroit, MI, where we are still headquartered today. As demand grew and we introduced the Litter-Robot 2, we relocated our production from Michigan to Wisconsin to be closer to our supply chain partners. Over those early years, we operated out of several manufacturing facilities until purchasing our first building on our current campus in Juneau, WI, in 2009.
Fast forward several years to 2020 COVID: a significant turning point for us. It highlighted that our American operations were not merely something to just be proud of, but they were a true strategic advantage during challenging times. While many companies faced supply chain disruptions and astronomical logistics costs, Whisker swiftly adapted, protected our team, met customer needs, and scaled effectively to meet growing demand. Inspired by this experience, we doubled down, investing over $15 million to expand our Juneau campus from 30,000 sq ft to 250,000 sq ft. Our growing facilities allowed us to bring even more in-house. And our team has grown from approximately 100 people to nearly 400 significantly enhancing product quality, reliability, delivery speed, logistics, manufacturing standards, and operational efficiency.
Although we source certain components globally, our minimal exposure to tariff fluctuations enables us to maintain current pricing for Whisker robots: Litter-Robot 4, Litter-Robot 3, and Feeder-Robot. Our American manufacturing capabilities have become a Whisker superpower, positioning us uniquely during this uncertain time for many companies.
Grateful for your trust—excited for what’s ahead
Stay tuned for my next blog post, highlighting more of Whisker's continued evolution!
Warm regards,
Jacob Zuppke,
President & CEO
