Litter-Robot 5 & Pro: Use and care guide

Your Litter-Robot 5 is designed to make life easier for both you and your cat. To keep it performing at its best, follow these care and maintenance tips. This guide explains how to clean your unit, maintain accessories, and ensure accurate sensor readings.

Cleaning your Litter-Robot

It’s important to clean your Litter-Robot 5 regularly to prevent buildup that may cause weight-related or sensor errors.

Spot cleaning: As needed.
Basic globe cleaning: Every 1–3 months.
Deep cleaning: At least every 3 months.

Never submerge, spray, or soak the base or control panel, as they contain sensors and electronics.

Customers with multiple cats may need to clean more frequently.

Waste drawer cleaning frequency by number of cats

Here’s how often to empty the waste drawer and clean your Litter-Robot 5:

1 cat: Empty drawer every 10 days; spot clean monthly; deep clean every 3 months.
2 cats: Empty 5 days; spot clean biweekly; deep clean every 2–3 months.
3 cats: Empty drawer twice weekly; spot clean biweekly; deep clean every 2 months.
4-5 cats: Empty drawer every other day; spot clean weekly; deep clean monthly.

Waste drawer liners

Your Litter-Robot 5 comes with five complimentary waste drawer liners specifically designed for the unit, but you can also use any 10–13 gallon (37–49 L) white trash bag.

Recommendations

White bags provide the most accurate waste readings.
Dark bags may cause inaccurate readings, especially when the drawer is empty.
Stretched, wrinkled, or puffy bags can cause the curtain sensor to report inaccurate waste level readings.

Emptying the waste drawer

Empty the waste drawer when the control panel or Whisker app notifies you that the drawer is almost full or full.

To empty the waste drawer

Remove the waste drawer.
Pull the liner drawstring and dispose of it.

To install a waste drawer liner

For the best fit and convenience, we recommend Litter-Robot Waste Drawer Liners or a 10-13 gallon (37-49L) white trash bag.

Open a new waste drawer liner or bag and wrap the edges tightly over the rim of the drawer.
Press the remainder of the bag flat into the sides and bottom of the drawer. Puffy or stretched bags can interfere with the curtain sensor and cause inaccurate waste level measurements.
Slide the drawer closed.
Short press the Cancel button to clear any notifications and zero the weight scale.

Tip: Any time you affect the weight or placement of the unit (including emptying the waste drawer, adding or removing litter, cleaning, or moving the unit), short press the Cancel button to zero the SmartScale®.

Carbon filter and odor control

Litter-Robot 5 is equipped with a flexible carbon filter installed on the underside of the globe, directly above the waste drawer. This helps absorb odors.

Replace the carbon filter about once per month under normal use.
Filters are not required for operation.
You can upgrade to OdorTrap® Packs for enhanced odor control.
The filter pocket holds one (1) carbon filter. If using an OdorTrap® holder, it can hold up to three (3) OdorTrap® Packs. The carbon filter and OdorTrap packs cannot be used together.

How to replace the carbon filter

Press and hold the Cancel button for 3 seconds to rotate the globe into Filter Replacement Position.
Open the bonnet when the globe stops in the dump position.
Remove and replace the carbon filter.
Follow the prompts on the LCD screen to confirm that a new filter was installed.

Adding litter

We recommend using clumping clay cat litter with Litter-Robot such as GreatLitter. Consult our best litter for Litter-Robot guide for all compatible litter brands and additional recommendations.

Use the Whisker app to monitor the litter level and receive notifications when the litter level is low.

Add litter until it meets the raised MAX Fill Line inside the globe. Avoid overfilling to prevent unnecessary waste.
Litter-Robot works best with clumping clay litter. Avoid non-clumping, absorbent, or pellet-style litters.
After adding or removing litter, short press the Cancel button to zero the weight scale.

With the optional LitterHopper® accessory (coming soon), your Litter-Robot 5 can automatically refill litter for even greater convenience.

Emptying the globe

Use the Empty Cycle when you want to clear all litter from the globe for cleaning or replacement.

Ensure the unit is in Home position with the LED solid white.
Short press the Empty button. The globe will rotate clockwise, dumping litter into the waste drawer.
If litter remains, sweep granules into the waste port.

Cleaning the sensors

Proper cleaning of Litter-Robot sensors is critical for accuracy and safe operation. Do not spray, use damp cloths, vacuums, or forced air to clean the sensors in the bezel.

Gently wipe the curtain sensor, gas sensor, and cameras with a soft, clean microfiber cloth to prevent scratching or damaging the components.

Curtain sensors (Waste/litter level and cat detection)

Where are the curtain sensors located?

Located inside the bezel at the top front of the unit.
Detects waste drawer levels and monitors cat entry.
Clean gently with a soft, clean, dry microfiber cloth or lens cloth to prevent scratching the cover.
Avoid liquids, which can damage the sensors.

WasteID™

WasteID sensor in bezel

Used to help detect odor and track waste type for better insights.
Wipe the area around the sensor with a dry cloth.
Avoid vacuums and forced air, which can damage the sensor.

Seal strips

Litter-Robot 5 includes brush-type seal strips along the top and bottom of the base. These help contain odors inside the waste drawer.

Replace seal strips when they become flat or begin peeling.
Avoid getting them wet when cleaning the base.

Summary

Regular maintenance ensures your Litter-Robot 5 continues to operate smoothly and smell fresh. Keep the waste drawer liner replaced, filters refreshed, and globe cleaned on schedule. And don’t forget to zero the SmartScale® after emptying or adding litter for the most accurate readings.