Litter-Robot was first released in 2000.[1] Brad Baxter, who brought the product to market, licensed an existing patent and developed the device.[1] He funded the first generation of the Litter-Robot with an investment from his parents.[2] Baxter sold the Litter-Robot online directly to consumers, and the business became profitable in 2005.[3]
There have been four iterations of the Litter-Robot since its release.[4] Litter-Robot 2 and Litter-Robot 3 launched in 2005 and 2015, respectively. In 2017, the company released its first WiFi-enabled unit, Litter-Robot 3 Connect.[5]
In 2019, Litter-Robot manufacturer Whisker (formerly AutoPets)[6] raised $31 million in growth equity financing from Chicago-based Pondera Holdings LLC.[3] The company completed a $10 million investment to expand its manufacturing plant in Juneau, Wisconsin, in 2022.[7]
The latest iteration of the product, Litter-Robot 4, was released in 2022. [8] Whisker announced in 2023 that 1 million Litter-Robot units have been sold since the company’s inception. [7]
Litter-Robot is designed, assembled, and serviced in the United States and sold in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., Canada, United Kingdom, and much of the European Union.[9][10] Whisker has 65+ global patents and more than 575 full-time employees in the United States, including a team of 60+ engineers.[5]
Good Housekeeping called Litter-Robot 4 “the best overall self-cleaning litter box.”[11] It was awarded as one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2022.[12]The Spruce Pets rated Litter-Robot 4 the “best overall” automatic litter box with 4.8 stars. [13]Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards named Litter-Robot 4 the best self-cleaning litter box of 2024.[14]
