Litter Robot 3 Connect Vs Open Air (In-depth Comparison Guide)

Are you wondering about the difference between the two Litter-Robot models – Litter Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air?  

As a cat mom, I know how vital it is to get the best for furry babies. Especially when making a significant investment like an automatic litterbox. You need to be fully knowledgeable.

After extensive research, I’ve compiled a side-by-side comparison of the litter robot three connect and Open Air.

Just keep reading!

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Comparison Guide Between All Litter-Robot Models

Keeping your cat’s toilet box clean is essential for promoting good litter box habits.

As Yody Blass, an animal behaviorist, explains, “If the box gets overlooked in some busy households, that can create inappropriate elimination issues.” (1)

Fortunately, an automatic litter box, such as Litter Robot Litter Box 3, can ensure that your cat has access to fresh litter and reduce the chances of your kitty seeking an alternative bathroom spot. 

But which model should you use? To help you find the best option, I will compare Litter Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air. 

	Litter-Robot 3 Connect	Litter-Robot 3 Open Air
Size and Color	Same size Available in two colors – grey and beige	Same size Only available in beige
Features	Wifi-enabled	Doesn’t connect to wifi
Operation and Maintenance	Both units need deep cleaning at least twice a year to remove any stuck litter particles and prevent unpleasant smells from building up.	Both units need deep cleaning at least twice a year to remove any stuck litter particles and prevent unpleasant smells from building up.
Ease of Use	Some cat owners find it a bit more difficult to connect the Connect model to their Wi-Fi.	Both units are relatively easy to use.
Warranty/Trial Period	Both models come with a 90-day-in-home-trial.	Both models come with a one-year warranty.
Price	$549	$499

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1- Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air: Size and Color

Robot Litter Box 3 and Litter-Robot 3 Connect have the same size – they measure 29.5″ x 24.25″ x 27″ with an enlarged entryway, measuring  10.25″ x 15.25″, and a waste drawer of 11″ x 16″ x 6″. 

However, the Connect model is available in two colors – grey and beige, while Litter Robot III Open Air is only available in beige. 

LR 3 Connect and Open Air are deeper and have a larger entryway compared to the old Classic II and the Bubble unit.

Both new models are suitable for big cats, such as Maine Coone, Norweigian Forest Cat, and Savannah. And they won’t take that much space around the house. 

2- Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air: Features

When comparing Litter Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air, they have several standard features:

• A full drawer indicator
• Weight cat sensor that detects when the cat is inside the globe 
• Automatic night light
• Sleep mode to pause the cleaning cycle for 8 hours
• Adjustable cycle timer – 3, 7, or 15 minutes delay
• Control Panel Lockout, which ensures your cat can’t trigger the device or change the settings by pawing at the globe  

However, the  Connect unit has one extra feature.

It’s Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to keep track of the unit via mobile devices and receive notifications when it’s time to empty the drawer.

3- Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air: Operation and Maintenence

Current and discontinued Whisker’s Robot models feature a unique sifting process, very different from the raking mechanisms used in other self-cleaning boxes. 

The sensors detect when the cat enters the unit and trigger the clean cycle after a fixed time. The globe rotates to sift the cat waste and deposit the solid waste into the carbon-filtered waste drawer. 

Check this video to see it in action. 

So, both Litter-Robot versions work in the same way, which is excellent because you won’t have to re-learn how to use it if you decide to upgrade. 

And both units need deep cleaning at least twice a year to remove any stuck litter particles and prevent unpleasant smells from building up. 

4- Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air: Benefits

Reviewing both models, they have a lot of shared benefits:

• They don’t require any special type of litter. The best litter for Litter-Robot is hard-clumping litter, but some users use crystals successfully. 
• Easy to get the right litter level, thanks to the black globe rubber liner. 
• A full drawer indicator, so you never have to guess when it’s time to clean the dirty litter. The old Bubble version and the Classic don’t have this benefit.  
• Clumps don’t stick to the bottom of the waste drawers due to the waste liners. 
• Safety features ensure your cat doesn’t get hurt when using the bathroom.
• The blue light at night is excellent for elderly cats. 
• Adjustable, automatic, and manual cycle, so your cat has a clean litter box all the time. 
• Eight-hour sleep mode, so the rotations won’t wake you up in the night.

Check our list of best crystal litter for litter robot.

However, Litter Robot 3 Connect has one significant design advantage over Litter-Robot III Open Air. Of course, I’m talking about the Wi-Fi feature:  

• Through Whisker’s app, you can keep an eye on the waste drawer level to remove the accumulated clumps as soon as possible. 
• You can also keep track of your cat litter box usage, so you’ll know when your cat doesn’t use its toilet or pees/poops more than usual.
• Daily, weekly, or monthly analysis of your cat’s toilet box activity 
• The app allows you to customize alerts to get real-time updates, adjust the cleaning cycle timer, turn on the blue night light, or put the device in sleep mode. 
• You can connect multiple automatic toilet boxes or Feeder Robots to the app, and the app is suitable for Apple and Android mobile devices. 

And as you can see from this video review, the Connect version has a slightly faster cleaning cycle than Open Air. 

5- Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air: Drawbacks

Some cats prefer a standard toilet box to an automatic one because they’re scared of the noise. That’s the main drawback of both Robot versions.  

Users also report frequent sensor issues for both models, saying the device has problems detecting small cats, jams, or lights start flashing. 

But Litter-Robot 3 Connect also requires Android devices 8.0 or higher and iOS 13.0 or higher for Apple devices. So, if you have an old model, you may not be able to use the app.

And you can’t connect this automatic toilet box to shared networks. 

6- Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air: Ease of Use

Both units are relatively easy to use.

You need to assemble the unit, pour the litter up into the rubber globe liner, and plug it in. And you get a helpful instruction manual on how to adjust the setting. 

However, some cat owners find it a bit more difficult to connect the Connect model to their Wi-Fi due to router problems. 

And it can take you a bit more time to get used to control the device through the mobile app. 

7- Open Air vs. Connect: Warranty/Trial Period

All models come with a 90-day-in-home-trial, so you can return the product with no problems if your cat doesn’t like it. Customer support is also available and ready to answer any questions. 

Moreover, each unit comes with a one-year warranty covering your automatic cat litter box from top to bottom. And you can purchase an extended 3-year warranty for both versions. 

8-Open Air vs. Connect: Price

The Litter-Robot Open Air costs $499, while the Connect version is a bit more expensive – $549. You can get a lower price if you go for a reconditioned model. 

But unlike other self-cleaning boxes, you don’t need to buy any branded supplies, so there are no hidden costs. Instead, you can line the waste drawer with cheap kitchen bags. 

Open Air vs. Connect: Accessories

Litter-Robot accessories are compatible with both models. You can purchase an OdorTrap pod (suitable for regular litter boxes), a mat, a fence, and a ramp. 

Which Litter-Robot Model should you use and why?

As you see, comparing Litter-Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air, the differences are few but significant. So, which model is the right choice for you?  

#1 For Multi-cat Households: Robot 3 Connect

I recommend Litter Robot 3 Connect for multi-cat households because Whisker’s app is great for monitoring your cat’s bathroom behavior and litter box activity. 

The app also comes in handy if you have your automatic toilet box in a low-traffic area because even if you forget to empty the drawer, you’ll get a notification.

And you can also check to see if the unit is running as it should without making the trip to the box itself. 

And as this pet owner says, “I love the connect; it’s nice knowing it’s running without issue without having to check. I got three cats, and it all works a lot better than I thought.”

#2 For First-Time Users: LR Open Air

If you’ve never used an automatic cat litter box before, Litter-Robot III Open Air is the better option. You can test it, see if your cat likes it, and get used to adjusting the cleaning cycle.

Check out this cool video of LR open air.

@dangsissy

Let me introduce the litter-robot Open Air…total game changer….

♬ original sound – 💜DANGSISSY💜

Then it’s effortless to upgrade to the WiFi-enabled Open Air III by purchasing the Wi-Fi upgrade kit. And it won’t be more expensive. 

#3 For Odor Control: Robot 3 Connect

One of the most common questions about this self-cleaning cat toilet box is, “Why does my Litter Robot smell?” Automatic self-cleaning toilet boxes don’t remove 100%, but they shouldn’t smell.   

While both models have excellent odor control, I recommend the Litter-Robot 3 Connect because of its smart notifications when it’s time to empty the drawer. 

#4 For Busy Cat Owners: Robot 3 Connect

As I already said, Whisker’s products work great most of the time, but something they jam or pause in the middle of the cycle. And that can be a problem if you’re not at home to fix the issue.

Here’s a happy cat parent with the robot 3 connect.

@mochiiimarie #LitterRobot gifted by @Litter-Robot! 🐱✨ #litterrobot3 #catsoftiktok #catproducts #litterbox ♬ Neko Atsume! – VooDoo

So, the LR III Connect is the best option for busy pet parents. You can restart the cycle or the whole unit through your mobile device, so your cat still has a clean toilet box to use. 

As this pet parent says, “The notifications are so far and away worth it for me. You’ll kick yourself off if you don’t get it.”

#5 For Cats Prone to UTIs: Robot 3 Connect

As specialists from VCA say, “Older female cats, and cats with diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes), develop UTIs more commonly than the general population.” (2)

So, if you have an older cat with a chronic urinary condition, between Litter Robot Open Air vs. Connect, the Connect is perfect for checking if your cat is using the bathroom and how often.

In this way, you can act quickly if your cat stops urinating or you notice an increase in your cat’s toilet box activity. 

FAQs

Conclusion

Comparing Connect vs. Open Air, the Connect version has the upper hand due to its notification system and toilet box activity analysis.

It’s a great way to mention your cat’s bathroom habits and ensure they’re using the toilet as often as they should.

It’s also perfect when you’re away on holiday because you can check that the device is working properly through the app. And most cats quickly get used to using this automatic toilet box. 

What do you think about Litter Robot 3 Connect vs. Open Air? Which Litter-Robot model is your favorite and why? Share your thoughts in the comment section. 

Resources: 

1. Is a Self-Cleaning Litter Box Really Less Work? www.petmd.com. https://www.petmd.com/cat/care/self-cleaning-litter-box-really-less-work

2. Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in Cats. vca_corporate. https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/urinary-tract-infections-utis-in-cats