5 Must-Know Instructions from The Litter-Robot 3 Manual
The Litter-Robot 3 is a highly practical and useful self-cleaning litter box for cats. It’s built-in such a way that it relieves you from the unpleasant sides of changing the litter, while also being very simple to use. If you have recently purchased or if you are thinking of buy a LR3, you will need to know five important instructions from the Litter-Robot 3 manual to ensure everything is running smoothly at all times:
[bctt tweet=”The Litter-Robot 3 is a highly practical and useful self-cleaning litter box for cats.” username=”@floppycats”]
This website uses affiliate links that earn a commission at no additional cost. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
1. How to Introduce Your Cat to the Litter-Robot 3
Cats are curious creatures by nature and will definitely want to know what this new device in their home is. Especially since it is placed in such an important space for them, where their old litter box used to be. They will go around it, look at it, sniff it and try to understand what its purpose is and how they can use it.
However, their innate curiosity doesn’t automatically mean they will quickly start using the Litter-Robot 3 – they will simply get acquainted with its physical presence in the home. This is why you will need to lend a helping hand and help your cat start using this wonderful device that will bring both of you much needed functionality and joy.
So in order to make this transition smooth, it’s recommended that you follow a series of easy steps that encourage ease of use. With cats, it’s all about creating that feeling of familiarity they crave and that help them feel secure with any incoming change.
Firstly, it’s best to place your Litter-Robot 3 in the exact same space the old litter box was in. Set up your Litter-Robot 3, make sure it is turned off and that you add litter to the globe. You will need to give your cats a day or two so they can get themselves acquainted with the Litter-Robot 3.
However if they don’t seem interested in the new acquisition, you can entice them by placing their favorite treats or even catnip around the unit. If cats sense and eat their favorite treats from around the Litter-Robot 3, they will associate the unit with rewards and joy – a guaranteed technique to rewire their brain regarding this change in their environment.
To take this even further, you can even add a scoop of litter from the old litter box – the familiar scent is sure to draw them in quickly and create a safe environment for your cats.
Some cats react well to change either through the food reward system or by being enticed with play. This is why you could also try putting the original package box on top of the Litter-Robot 3, with a hole cut in – this will activate their innate curiosity and desire to play, making them want to go inside the box.
Once they’ve gotten more accustomed to the Litter-Robot 3, power it on to cycle the unit. While this is happening, make sure your cats are there to watch the motion and to become familiarized with the sound the unit makes. While they are there, make sure to reassure them all the time, as it will make them feel safer and decrease the threat they may perceive. Once the cycle is complete, make sure you turn off the cycle – the unit should be in the Home position.
It’s recommended that you stop using the old litter box once the cats started using the Litter-Robot 3. If however a few days have passed since you set up your Litter-Robot 3 and your cats haven’t used it, you can still continue to use the old litter box, but with a different approach. Try to leave the litter as is without changing it for as long as possible – cats are not very fond of busy litter and maybe thus enticed to start using the new device at their disposal.
Once your cats start using the Litter-Robot 3, you can safely turn it on and leave it on the Automatic Mode, while also disposing of the old litter box.
2. How to Efficiently Place the Litter-Robot 3
When you set up your Litter-Robot 3, it’s also important that you pay attention to essential details that will make all the difference in the future, in terms of its efficient functioning.
Of course, the Litter-Robot 3 already comes assembled and ready to be used. However, it’s important that you place it on a level and firm surface. Unstable or soft flooring (like carpet) will only prevent it from working properly. It’s recommended that you also place it where the old litter box used to be, at least while you’re transitioning from one to the other.
It’s important that you also avoid exposing the unit to high temperature or humidity, since these factors may damage the Litter-Robot 3. Place your unit near a power source and make sure it doesn’t touch any walls – in this case, the motion created by the unit will in turn lead to damaging friction with the walls.
It’s also recommended that you don’t place any mats or rugs under the unit, not even partially. You can, in this case, place them in front of the Litter-Robot 3.
3. How to Avoid Overfilling the Litter-Robot 3 and What to Do In Case It Happens
In order for your Litter-Robot 3 to function properly, you will need to also be mindful of how much litter you put inside the unit. This will only ensure efficient functioning and cycling processes for your unit.
Having said this, it’s recommended that you fill your Litter Robot 3 to the litter level, if you want to avoid any unpleasant scenarios. Even so, the litter level may be a little high – it all actually depends on the weight of the litter.
If you happen to put in more litter than is needed and it covers up the litter level that’s in-built in the Litter Robot, your unit will not automatically cycle anymore. So if you’ve already put in more litter and covered the visible line, you can always take a scoop or two out and notice how quickly the Litter-Robot resumes its cycling process, doing what it does best.
If you notice that the Litter-Robot starts the cycling process, but doesn’t carry through with all to the end, it means that you will need to manually take another scoop or have a scoop out. For situations like this, where you may overfill the unit with litter from time to time, it’s recommended that you keep a large plastic cup in handy and use it to scoop out excessive litter.
Overfilling the litter may happen to you once or twice, until you can get a reasonable feeling of how much litter is too much litter and what can be considered as just the right amount. Once you get the hang of it, you’re likely to never encounter this issue ever again and the Litter-Robot will simply take care of everything for you.
4. How to Better Understand the Litter-Robot 3 Buttons and Their Functions
The Power Button
The Litter-Robot 3 is easy to use, but there are a few things you need to know about its buttons and their functions.
The Power button, for instance, actually has two functions. If you press and release it, it simply turns the system on and off. However, if you press and hold, it activates the Automatic Night Light function. The Litter-Robot 3 actually comes with this function activated and, in low light conditions, you can notice how it automatically switches to its Night Light function.
There’s also an easy way to check the status of the Night Light function. All you need to do is to cover the sensor that’s located above the Cycle button and see if the unit responds or not, by activating the night light.
In order to activate the Night Light function, you need to press the Power button and hold it down for about 5 seconds. The Night Light will flash and depending on light conditions in the room, it will stay on or shut off.
The Cycle Button
Another important button on your Litter-Robot is the Cycle button that also activates the 8-Hour Sleep Mode.
In order to pause a cycle, you can press any button on the control panel. If you wish to resume a cycle, you can press the Cycle button. If you’d like to abort a Cycle altogether, press any button to pause the cycle and then press Empty or Reset to return the Globe to the Home position.
If you hold and press the same button, you will activate the 8-Hour Sleep Mode. This deactivates the Cat Sensor for the following 8 hours and will only perform a Cycle if you press the Cycle button. In addition to the blue standby light, you’ll also notice the yellow light go on.
As soon as the 8 hours have passed, the Litter-Robot will perform a Clean cycle, after which it will return to the Home position with the blue light on. The Cat Sensor will be active once again. The 8-hour period will repeat every 24 hours, at the same time of your initial setting. To exit this mode, simply press and hold the Cycle button until the yellow light turns off.
The Empty Button
When you press and release this button, you’ll automatically tell the device to empty the litter from the Globe into the Waste Drawer. During this cycle, the Globe will rotate in clockwise direction. In order to return to the Home position you can press any button on the unit. Similarly, you can press any button to pause this cycle and then Cycle to resume it. If you wish to abort, you can press the Reset button.
By pressing and holding the Empty button, you activate the Wait Time Setting mode, which is the time elapsing from the moment when your cat exits the Globe and the unit starts performing a cycle. Colors will indicate how much time you can set it for: blue for 3 minutes, yellow for 7 minutes and red for 15 minutes. Depending on the time of litter you use and how much time it requires for clumping, you can set the time that works for you and eliminates odors at the same time.
The Reset Button
If you press this button while the unit is in its Home position, it resets the Cat Sensor. If you press it during a cycle, it pauses the cycle. If you press once again, it will abort the cycle altogether.
If the red light was on when you pressed it, it cancels the Wait Time and the unit returns to standby, with the blue light on.
It’s important that you press the Reset button every time you affect the placement of the Litter-Robot 3, including moving or cleaning the unit, emptying the Waste Drawer and removing or adding litter.
When you press and hold this button, you activate the Control Panel Lockout – the blue light will momentarily blink. This will allow the unit to function automatically, while disabling all previously activated
button functions. You can easily exit this mode by pressing the Reset button.
You can still turn off the unit during the Control Panel Lockout mode by pressing and holding the Power button for 3 seconds.
5. How to Better Understand the Indicator Lights on Your Litter-Robot 3
When using the Litter-Robot 3, it’s pretty simple to tell what’s happening by following the indicating lights. There are several colors and each of them will activate in a different way to indicate what the issue is and what needs to be done.
For example, whenever the blue light is on, it means the unit is ok and it’s ready to be used by your cat. If the blue light flashes, it means the Waste Drawer is almost full and the waste needs to be removed.
Whenever the blue and yellow lights are on, it means that your Litter-Robot is in 8 Hour Sleep Mode. If only the yellow light is on, it means that the Litter-Robot is cycling. However, if this yellow light is slowly flashing, it means the cycle has been interrupted. This can happen either because a cat has entered the Globe and the Cat Sensor got activated or because the Bonnet is removed during cycling or while the Globe is in Home position – a case in which the unit will stop.
If you notice the yellow light flashing quickly, at around 4 times per second, it means that a cycle has been interrupted by the Anti-Pinch Safety Feature. Once you’ve cleared any blockage, you can press any button to return the Globe in its Home position.
If the red light is on, it means the cat entered the Globe and it activated the Cat Sensor. As soon as it exits the Globe, you’ll see that the Wait Time countdown to a Clean cycle begins.
If the red light is flashing, it means that a cat has been in the Globe for more than 2 minutes or that there is excess weight inside. After clearing this situation, you can press the Reset button again.
Whenever the yellow and red lights flash sequentially, there must be some gear/motor obstruction. What you need to do then is to turn the unit off and remove Bonnet and Globe.
If the blue, yellow and red lights are flashing sequentially, it means the unit cannot find the Dump position. In this case, you will need to contact Customer Service.
When the blue, yellow and red lights are flashing simultaneously, the unit will not cycle because it can’t find the Dump or Home positions.
Having said this, by getting more accustomed to these five important instructions from the Litter-Robot manual, you’ll be able to enjoy its smooth functioning for a long time.
Hi, I’m Jenny Dean, creator of Floppycats! Ever since my Aunt got the first Ragdoll cat in our family, I have loved the breed. Inspired by my childhood Ragdoll cat, Rags, I created Floppycats to connect, share and inspire other Ragdoll cat lovers around the world,
My litter Robot 3 is in a dark place, if I enter the room the yellow light is on and the ligth inside the Globe is on. When I turn on the light in the room the light in the globe turns off after the yellow light come off and the Blue light comes on. It was not doing that before, need help.
Were you able to get help? Try this Litter Robot Support group on FB or here’s what LR told me – “use the self-service troubleshooter at will help people receive support the fastest! If the customer is unable to solve their issue through the troubleshooter, they will reach a form at the end that will prioritize their case with the customer experience team.”
I was following one of your YT videos about cleaning. In your video, you removed the key and so I did as well. However, unfortunately I cannot figure out how to put the key back on. I also realized that I must’ve watched the wrong YT because I wasn’t able to pull anything out from the inside either. So, while my Litter Robot 3 is now clean, it will not have the key. Possibly this should’ve been made clearer.
You will want to contact Litter Robot – what I pulled out was the shield, not the key. They can give you instructions on how to put it back.
My key accidentally fell out last year & I never replaced it. I did find it recently & try to put it back on but couldn’t figure it out. I think I read in a manual it’s not necessary. I may try again when I have another pair of hands to help
Another SUPER PAWESOME & FABULOUS LR Post, Jenny honey! I know all the LR owners (both present and future) will appreciate this info very much! Well done! TYSVM! 🙂 <3
Big hugs & lots of love & purrs!
Patti & Miss Pink Sugarbelle 🙂 <3 <3 <3
I hope so, Patti – thanks!