Litter-Robot 5 & Pro: Inaccurate cat weight

If your Litter-Robot 5 or Litter-Robot 5 Pro is not accurately recording your cat’s weight, assigning visits to the wrong cat, or showing visits as Unknown, follow these steps to improve SmartScale® accuracy.

Before you begin

Make sure:

Your unit is plugged in.
Your unit is connected and online.
Each cat using Litter-Robot in Automatic Mode weighs 3 lbs or more.
Each cat has a pet profile in the Whisker app.
Each pet profile includes your cat’s current weight.
Your Litter-Robot is not touching any walls or other surfaces.

How SmartScale® identifies your cat

Litter-Robot 5 uses OmniSense® detection, which combines optical and weight sensors to detect cat activity and capture weight readings.

SmartScale® uses the Litter-Robot weight sensors and your pet profiles in the Whisker app to estimate which cat is using the unit and assign each visit to the correct pet.

If a cat’s profile weight is outdated or inaccurate, SmartScale® may assign visits to the wrong pet or continue showing inaccurate weight readings.

The weight scale may also record a partial measurement if your cat places weight on the step without fully entering the globe.

Set up or update your pet profiles

For SmartScale® to accurately identify your cats, make sure each cat has a profile in the Whisker app and that their current weight is entered as accurately as possible.

SmartScale® can only safely and accurately identify cats who weigh more than 3 lbs.

Important: Cats must weigh 3 lbs or more to safely use Litter-Robot in Automatic Mode.

To add or edit a pet profile:

Open the Whisker app.
Navigate to Pets.
Add a new pet or update an existing profile.
Enter your cat’s current weight.

Allow time for SmartScale® to learn

After creating or updating pet profiles, SmartScale® needs time to collect and analyze usage data before it can reliably identify individual cats.

Allow up to 7 days for SmartScale® to learn your cat’s habits and weight patterns.
Homes with multiple cats and multiple pet profiles may require additional time for SmartScale® to build confidence and improve identification accuracy.
During the learning period, some visits may be assigned to the wrong cat or may appear as Unknown.

As SmartScale® gathers more data, identification accuracy typically improves automatically.

If SmartScale® has had at least 7 days to learn your pet profiles and your cat’s weight is still not being recorded or assigned correctly, continue with the troubleshooting steps below.

Reassign incorrect visits

If a weight is assigned to the wrong cat, reassign the weight in the Whisker app through the device activity by selecting the incorrect event.

Reassigning weights helps SmartScale® learn and can improve future cat identification. If weights are not reassigned, outdated or inaccurate profile weight data may continue to affect future assignments.

Troubleshooting

Zero the weight scale

Any time you affect the weight or placement of the unit, short press the Cancel button icon Cancel button afterward to zero the weight scale.

This includes:

Emptying the waste drawer
Adding or removing litter
Cleaning the unit
Moving the unit
Adjusting the unit’s position

Do not rest on the unit while pressing Cancel, or your weight may affect calibration.

Successful: If your Whisker app properly records your cat’s weight, you’re all set.

Unsuccessful: If your Whisker app does not properly record your cat’s weight, continue below.

Check the unit placement

Litter-Robot 5 has a built-in carpet tray, so you do not need to move the unit to a different floor type for accurate weight readings.

However, the unit still needs to sit freely and evenly.

Place your litter mat completely in front of the unit, not partially underneath it.
Make sure the robot is not touching any walls, furniture, or other surfaces.
Check that all feet can move freely.
Clear any litter or debris stuck in or around the feet.
Make sure none of the feet are resting on top of a cord or in a grout line.
Short press the Cancel button to zero the weight scale.

Successful: If your Whisker app properly records your cat’s weight, you’re all set.

Unsuccessful: If your Whisker app does not properly record your cat’s weight, continue below.

Clean the curtain sensor

Dust, cat fur, or litter can interfere with the curtain sensor and affect cat detection.

To clean the curtain sensor:

Gently wipe the curtain sensor, located at the top of the globe entrance, with a soft, dry, clean microfiber cloth.

Important: The bezel contains sensitive electronic components. To prevent damage, do not use water, liquids, disinfectant wipes, or damp cloths when cleaning. Avoid using a vacuum or compressed air, since this may interfere with the sensors.

Short press the Cancel button to clear any notifications and zero the weight scale.
Short press the Cycle button to run a Clean Cycle.

Successful: If your Whisker app properly records your cat’s weight, you’re all set.

Unsuccessful: If your Whisker app does not properly record your cat’s weight, continue below.

Confirm firmware version

Litter-Robot 5 receives automatic firmware updates when connected to WiFi. If an update is available for your unit, it will become available automatically while your robot is connected and online.

To confirm whether your unit is on the latest firmware, compare the firmware version shown in the Whisker app with the current version listed on the Whisker app releases page.

To check which version your robot is on in the Whisker app:
- Select your device →tap the Settings gear in the right-hand corner →tap Firmware Information

If your unit is connected and online but is not on the latest firmware version, contact Whisker Customer Experience for help.

Successful: If your Whisker app properly records your cat’s weight after your firmware is current, you’re all set.

Unsuccessful: If your Whisker app still does not properly record your cat’s weight, there may be an issue with your Litter-Robot.

Need more help?

If your cat’s weight is still inaccurate after updating pet profiles, allowing SmartScale® time to learn, zeroing the weight scale, checking placement, cleaning the curtain sensor, and confirming firmware version, please contact Whisker Customer Experience for further assistance.