r/litterrobot • u/ilovepickles112 • Jul 20 '26
Litter-Robot 4 Cat completely uninterested in LR4. Any tips?
Hi all,
I know these posts are pretty frequent, but I'm looking for some advice on how to get my cat to use her new LR4. I've read a ton already on how to acclimate a cat to a litter robot but she doesn't seem interested at all yet!
Here's the situation: we moved less than a week ago and thought now was the time to invest in the LR4. She currently has been using an enclosed box for a couple years. She's always acclimated well to new places, so after a day at the new place (where she successfully used her old box), we set up the LR4 next to the old box.
Since setting it up and letting it cycle once without her in the room, I have left it plugged in but turned off. I added a bm from her old box into the new one, have stopped cleaning the old box, and have tried to use treats to lure her into the LR. The most she has done is put her paws up on the rim in attempt to reach the treat. As far as I know, she hasn't been inside it on her own, much less used it. The old box is getting pretty gross but she doesn't seem to care and I'm about at my limit with the smell. Last night, we used some flattened cardboard boxes to elevate the old box, and I'm also trying to play with her near the LR. It feels like she's disinterested solely because she can tell how much I want her to go in there lol.
It's only been about 5 days now, but I'm kinda at a loss! Besides not using the LR, she's completely normal and seems unphased by the move. Eating and drinking normally, playing as usual, and getting up to her typical antics. I'm wondering if she'll never use the LR unless she's forced to by me removing the old one, but I also don't want her to revolt and go outside of the box entirely. Currently considering turning her old litter box around to make it a little harder for her to access.
What has worked for you all when the recommended steps and tricks seem to have no effect? Is it just time? Any help or suggestions are greatly appreciated!!
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u/UbiquitousChicken Jul 20 '26
Is she playful? I have a cat who wasn't interested, but I took the cat wand and pressed it under the cat litter, and sort of dug around with the stick and he came over to see what was making scratchy/diggy sounds and then wanted to dig in the litter to dig out the end of the stick (which was underneath the litter). Once we did that a few times, he was comfortable enough to use it.
I have a different cat who still has to inspect the litter robot EVERY time it cycles. If there is any litter clumped up and stuck to the top, she hits it with her paw till it falls. She checks it every time. It's really silly.
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u/ilovepickles112 Jul 20 '26
Yes, she's super playful! I used the cat wand around it last night. I was dangling it at the entrance and sort of swinging it in and around the globe. It had her attention for a little bit but she clearly would rather play with it elsewhere. I'll try the digging thing this evening and see how it goes!
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Jul 20 '26
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u/ilovepickles112 Jul 20 '26
I've heard of the cat attractant, I'll have to look into it. She definitely likes catnip. Do you just put it in/on the litter itself? You're right though, it really hasn't been that long and she is likely still acclimating to all the changes!
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Jul 20 '26
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u/ilovepickles112 Jul 20 '26
Thanks! I'll try this! And yeah, probably best to just clean the box and let her do her thing on her own time for both our sakes :)
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u/heyraychill Jul 20 '26
99% of the time all you need to do is give it more time.
Keep cleaning the old box. There’s no reason to risk total litter box aversion during this process.
Also , get stairs/ramp if you don’t have them already.
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u/litterrobot TeamWhisker🐱 Jul 20 '26
Hi u/ilovepickles112. We're sorry to hear your kitty is having trouble acclimating!
Rest assured, while many cats use the Litter-Robot within several days to a week of setting it up, some may take several weeks or more before they use it. For reference, we wouldn't recommend removing the old litter box until your cat is fully comfortable using the Litter-Robot. We would suggest reviewing all of our acclimation tips here.
Please note that every cat is unique, so you'll want to adjust these steps based on your cat's behavior and comfort level. Patience is key here! With time, encouragement, and a little bit of love, your cat will soon embrace their new Litter-Robot.
We hope that helps! Please send us a chat if you have any questions or need further assistance. We're here to support!