CatVills: Expertise You Can Trust
CatVills is your trusted resource for all things related to responsible cat ownership. With a clear mission to enrich the lives of both cats and their owners, we combine passion and expertise to provide valuable insights, tips, and advice for a happier, healthier bond with your furry friend.
- Content by expert writers and editors
- Fact-checked by veterinarians and cat experts
- Honest reviews based on first-hand experience
- Routine content updates for better reliability
- Recognized voice in cat ownership
- Part of the Pawzitivity Pets family
Table of Contents
Litter-Robots aren’t cheap, so tossing one in the trash the second you upgrade or something stops working feels a little painful. Even an older or partially broken model may still have some life left in it, just maybe not as a robot that scoops your cat’s poop for you.
What you should do with a used Litter-Robot depends quite a bit on why you’re getting rid of it. A perfectly functional Litter-Robot that you’ve replaced with a newer model is very different from one with dead electronics, a damaged globe, or other major problems. So, before you drag the whole thing to the curb, let’s look at your options.
Before you decide what to do with your old Litter-Robot, here’s a quick look at the newest models in case an upgrade is part of the plan.
|
Best for Small Spaces or Budgets
|
Best for Most Cat Homes
|
Best for Advanced Tracking
|
|
Description: The most compact self-cleaning litter box from Whisker, perfect for smaller homes or 1–2 cats. The EVO keeps the same reliable automatic scooping, odor control, and Whisker app connectivity you know and love—just in a streamlined design that fits anywhere. Enjoy a cleaner home, fresher air, and less daily maintenance. GUARANTEED BEST PRICE SAVE $50 WHEN YOU SHOP THROUGH OUR LINK |
Description: Meet the next generation of smart litter boxes. The Litter-Robot 5 features a sleek LCD display, redesigned waste drawer for fewer empties, customizable lights, and better odor control than ever. Multi-cat ready and app-connected, it’s the perfect balance of convenience, performance, and modern design for any cat household. BEST PRICE ON THE WEB SAVE UP TO $150! |
Description: Whisker’s most advanced litter box yet. The Litter-Robot 5 Pro adds dual 1080p cameras, AI-powered cat recognition, and deeper Whisker+ insights to track bathroom habits and health trends. It’s a self-cleaning litter box that actually learns from your cat—delivering next-level convenience and peace of mind for tech-savvy pet parents. BEST PRICE ON THE WEB SAVE UP TO $150 THROUGH OUR LINK! |
The most compact self-cleaning litter box from Whisker, perfect for smaller homes or 1–2 cats. The EVO keeps the same reliable automatic scooping, odor control, and Whisker app connectivity you know and love—just in a streamlined design that fits anywhere. Enjoy a cleaner home, fresher air, and less daily maintenance.
GUARANTEED BEST PRICE
SAVE $50 WHEN YOU SHOP THROUGH OUR LINK
Meet the next generation of smart litter boxes. The Litter-Robot 5 features a sleek LCD display, redesigned waste drawer for fewer empties, customizable lights, and better odor control than ever. Multi-cat ready and app-connected, it’s the perfect balance of convenience, performance, and modern design for any cat household.
BEST PRICE ON THE WEB
SAVE UP TO $150!
Whisker’s most advanced litter box yet. The Litter-Robot 5 Pro adds dual 1080p cameras, AI-powered cat recognition, and deeper Whisker+ insights to track bathroom habits and health trends. It’s a self-cleaning litter box that actually learns from your cat—delivering next-level convenience and peace of mind for tech-savvy pet parents.
BEST PRICE ON THE WEB
SAVE UP TO $150 THROUGH OUR LINK!
First, Figure Out What You’re Working With
Before dismantling, donating, selling, or transforming your old Litter-Robot into your cat’s ridiculously expensive new clubhouse, figure out why you’re retiring it.
If it simply isn’t working correctly, don’t assume it’s dead quite yet. Check your warranty status, go through the manufacturer’s troubleshooting steps, and contact Whisker support if necessary.
Some problems may also be caused by a replaceable component rather than the entire machine reaching the end of its useful life.
If you’re upgrading and the old Litter-Robot still works, even better. You have considerably more options.
Once you’ve established that you’re definitely done using it as an automatic litter box, here are seven things you can do with it.
1. Sell Your Old Litter-Robot
Let’s start with the obvious option because a working Litter-Robot still has value, even if it’s several generations old.
Plenty of cat owners are interested in automatic litter boxes but aren’t ready to commit to paying full price for a brand-new one. A used model can give someone a chance to try one for considerably less.
Facebook Marketplace, local buy-and-sell groups, and other secondhand marketplaces are good places to start.
Be upfront about its age, model, condition, and any quirks you’ve noticed. If a sensor occasionally throws an error or the unit makes a strange noise during cycling, disclose it. Nobody wants to drive 45 minutes for a “works perfectly!” Litter-Robot only to discover that “perfectly” was being used rather creatively.
Clean the unit thoroughly before listing it, too. This is one situation where “used” doesn’t need any additional emphasis.
You May Also Like
Ready to replace your old Litter-Robot? Check out our guide to the best self-cleaning litter boxes for cats to see how the latest models compare.
2. Donate It to a Rescue, Foster, or Cat Owner Who Needs One
If your Litter-Robot still works and you’re not interested in selling it, consider passing it along. A local cat rescue or foster organization may be able to use it, although you should always ask before showing up with one. Rescue groups have different setups, sanitation protocols, and storage limitations.
You can also check with individual foster families or community cat caregivers (your local shelter will be able to point you in the right directions).
And, of course, there’s nothing wrong with simply giving it to a friend or family member who has cats. If you’ve upgraded to the latest model and your old one still has plenty of life left, this is the easiest way to keep it out of the landfill.
Just make sure the new owner gets any accessories, manuals, or other model-specific information you still have.
3. Sell or Give Away the Parts
A Litter-Robot doesn’t necessarily become worthless because one component fails. Depending on your model and the condition of the machine, parts such as the globe, bonnet, waste drawer, fence, ramp, or other removable components may still be useful to another owner.
Before dismantling anything, check whether your particular model is still under warranty. You also don’t want to start taking apart electrical or mechanical components unless you know what you’re doing.
For pieces that can be safely removed, though, selling or giving them away can keep parts of your old machine in service much longer.
4. Turn the Globe Into a Cat Hideout or Bed
Now we get into actual repurposing.
The globe is basically a large, enclosed space with an entrance. In other words, once it’s no longer functioning as a litter box, your cat may look at it and think, “Excellent. You finally bought me the cave I clearly deserved all along.”
Before using it as a bed or hideout, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized. Years of litter box use aren’t something we’re going to pretend didn’t happen.
You’ll also need to remove or secure anything that could move, pinch, trap, or otherwise injure a cat. The globe should be completely disconnected from the powered base and stable enough that it can’t roll or shift while your cat is inside.
Add a washable cat bed, blanket, or mat and place it somewhere quiet.
Will your cat sleep in the expensive custom cat cave you’ve created? Maybe.
Will your cat sleep in the cardboard box sitting next to it instead? Also maybe. You know who we’re dealing with here.
5. Repurpose the Waste Drawer for Pet-Supply Storage
The waste drawer isn’t particularly exciting, but it might actually be one of the easiest parts of an old Litter-Robot to reuse.
After a very thorough cleaning and disinfecting, use it to organize pet supplies such as:
- Unopened litter supplies
- Waste bags
- Puppy pads
- Litter mats
- Cleaning supplies
- Spare filters
- Litter box accessories
- Cat toys
I’d stick with non-food items here. No matter how well I cleaned a former litter waste drawer, I’m personally not storing the cat treats in it. There are limits.
If you have a dedicated pet-supply closet, laundry room, basement area, or garage, though, the drawer could make perfectly good storage rather than becoming another giant piece of plastic in the trash.
6. Turn Safe Parts Into a Cat Enrichment Area
Some Litter-Robot components can potentially become part of a DIY cat enrichment setup, particularly the globe.
Once it’s completely separated from all electrical and moving components, a clean globe could work as a hide-and-seek area for toys. Toss in a few lightweight balls, crinkle toys, or other favorites and let your cat investigate.
You could also incorporate it into a larger indoor cat play area alongside tunnels, scratchers, boxes, and other places to explore.
The important word here is safe.
Don’t let your cat play in a partially assembled Litter-Robot with exposed wiring, moving pieces, sharp edges, pinch points, or components that could shift unexpectedly. If you’re unsure whether a particular part is safe to reuse, don’t use it as a cat toy.
Cats are exceptionally talented at discovering hazards we didn’t realize existed. They don’t need us creating bonus ones.
7. Recycle What You Can
Sometimes an old Litter-Robot really has reached the end of the road. If it doesn’t work, nobody needs the parts, and you’re not particularly interested in having a former litter box become part of your home décor, recycling may be the best option.
But don’t automatically put the entire machine into your household recycling bin.
Automatic litter boxes contain a combination of plastics, electronics, motors, wiring, and other materials. Your local recycling program may handle those components differently, and electronic parts may need to go through an e-waste recycling program.
Check your local recycling rules and Whisker’s current disposal or recycling recommendations for your particular model before taking anything apart or throwing components into a recycling bin.
It takes a little more effort than dragging the whole machine to the curb, but considering how much plastic and electronic equipment is involved, it’s worth checking your options.
What About Using an Old Litter-Robot as a Regular Litter Box?
It sounds like an obvious solution: if the robot part stops working, why not just scoop it yourself?
Potentially, but I wouldn’t assume every Litter-Robot model can safely or conveniently function as a conventional litter box.
The design is built around the globe rotating and waste dropping into the drawer below. Once you remove that functionality, you’re left with a litter area that wasn’t necessarily designed for easy manual scooping.
If you want to try using the globe or another component as a traditional litter box, make sure it’s completely disconnected from power, stable, free of moving parts, and easy enough to clean properly.
At some point, buying a $20 plastic litter pan may make considerably more sense than engineering a manual version of a broken robot.
A Few Things I Wouldn’t Do with a Used Litter-Robot
Pinterest has taught us that technically you can turn almost anything into a planter. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should.
I’d skip any repurposing project that involves storing human or pet food, collecting drinking water, or using components in ways where years of contact with cat waste could create a sanitation issue.
I’d also be cautious about turning the globe into an outdoor cat shelter.
The shape makes it tempting, but a safe outdoor shelter needs more than four walls and an entrance. Weatherproofing, drainage, ventilation, insulation, entrance size, stability, and protection from wind all matter. A Litter-Robot globe wasn’t designed for that job.
Could an experienced DIYer modify one appropriately? Possibly. But simply putting an old globe outside with a blanket inside doesn’t automatically make it a safe feral cat shelter.
That said, you COULD turn the globe into a little hideaway inside a larger and safer outdoor cat house. Basically, same concept as creating a cat cave for your indoor cat, except either skip the bedding or be prepared to swap it out often.
Oh, and obviously, don’t repurpose anything with damaged electrical components while they’re still connected to power.
Don’t Throw Away a Litter-Robot Until You Know It’s Actually Done
There’s a pretty big gap between “I don’t want this anymore” and “this belongs in the garbage.”
A working older Litter-Robot can be sold, donated, or passed along to another cat owner. A broken one may still contain perfectly usable parts. And if the machine really is beyond repair, some of those giant plastic pieces may have another purpose around the house.
You don’t need to turn every component into a DIY masterpiece, either. Sometimes the most practical form of reuse is simply getting a perfectly functional part into the hands of someone who needs it.
Author
Olfa T
Writer
