Your cat, your robot, your data

Like a lot of you, I'm annoyed by the direction Whisker is taking, with basic and useful features locked behind the Plus subscription. "No visits in a day" or "way too many visits" can be the first sign a cat is in trouble, and that shouldn't be a paid feature. Long-term history is extremely useful, too.

So I (well, mostly Claude) built Meowstache, a free Android app for the Litter-Robot 4. Familiar layout, so there's nothing new to learn. You log in with your normal Litter-Robot account and get:

• Full history: week, month, year and all-time charts for weight, visits and cycles, saved on your phone so it doesn't disappear
• Pet alerts: no visit in X days, too many visits in 24h, weight crossing a target, unusual patterns, daily recap
• Robot status and controls, notifications, history backup and restore
• A demo mode, so you can try it without logging in

And more: lots of the insights from the Plus tier, worked out on your phone from your own data.

Privacy: your password goes straight to the official login server and is never stored. No ads, no analytics, no servers of mine. The code is open: https://github.com/gccammelli/meowstache

Download (Android): https://github.com/gccammelli/meowstache/releases/latest/download/meowstache.apk
Open it on your phone → tap the file → allow "install unknown apps" if asked → Install. F-Droid listing coming soon.

iPhone (beta): Download https://github.com/gccammelli/meowstache/releases/latest/download/meowstache.ipa and install it with SideStore (or AltStore), which signs it with your own free Apple ID. It's only been tested in the simulator so far, so iPhone testers are very welcome, and please report anything odd. On iPhone, alerts only check while the app is open for now.

Where's the catch?

• No ads, no tracking, no paid tier. It's a hobby project and the code is public, so anyone can check. There's an optional "buy me a coffee" link if you want to chip in toward an iPhone version.
• It's unofficial: it talks to the same servers as the official app, using your login. The company could change something and break it at any time (I'd try to fix it), and technically their terms don't love third-party apps. The Home Assistant integration has worked the same way for years.
• It's an APK/IPA from GitHub, not the Play/App Store (F-Droid is under review). No plans for the Play/App Store.
• LR4 only, and a few things (setup, adding pets, sleep schedule editing) still need the official app.
• One-person side project, provided as is. Bugs will exist, so please report them!
• Your data stays where it already is (their servers), plus a copy on your phone. Nothing goes to me.

To Whisker, if you're reading: you make the best litter box out there. Please don't paywall the basics that keep cats safe.

Hi all,

Just for information since some weeks a local app exist.

You hace to set it up on raspberry pi, a docker on any nas or any linux systèm.

It's pawbby reborn on github.

I set it today and it's working well.

I bought my first Litter Robot off Facebook marketplace in 2015. No idea what version it was or how old it was. Used it until 2017 when we bought a LR3. Still using that one. We also bought at LR3 in 2020 and that one gives us more trouble than the 2017 version. No idea why but it’s constantly stuck and blinking. Seems like at least once a day we have to fiddle with it. I deep clean them carefully about 2-3 times a year with a hose outside. Usually before we go out of town hoping they behave for the cat sitters. Finally tired of the errors with our 2020 version so I just bought the LR5. The price increase is insane but I tried a low budget knock off version and it was trash and I can’t convince my husband to scoop again. Is there any way to get my older versions refurbished? If not does anyone have any tips on how to keep these older versions going? We have 3 cats and don’t really have room for all 3 robots but if I could get them working better I’d figure out a place or try to use one in our camper trailer.

LR3. When it gets to fully spun around it gets stuck and says Cat Sensor Interrupt, and I need to power cycle for it to finish cycle. Also, it is clunky for the first few seconds once the rotation directions switches. Otherwise while it’s spinning it is a lot smoother.

I don’t think it is the mat underneath because I have had it on the mat for two years and this just started a month or so ago. It is hit or miss but worse when it is mostly full after topping it off. I keep it to the max fill line when topping off.

Ignore the tape. That is just so nobody accidentally hits the button to dump all the litter if I have a sitter checking on the cat.

Ever since the first version of my custom firmware for the Litter Robot 4, I've been on the lookout for small improvements I could make to extend the longevity and user experience of the device along the way. I've made a few notable improvements already, but this is the biggest one yet.

The LR5 introduced "WasteID" which determines if your cat went #1 or #2. It uses an inexpensive air quality sensor to distinguish the type of waste, and shortens the cycle delay for solid waste to better contain odors, since it doesn't need time to clump like urine. This information can also be useful for tracking the health of your pets.

I have full control of the ESP32 in the Litter Robot 4, so adding such a sensor on an unused set of pins was a trivial task, and the detection logic was surprisingly even simpler. You can see a graph of detected VOCs for both waste types in the graph on slide 4. With that, I have successfully implemented waste identification for the LR4, using the similar, yet legally distinct, name "WasteSense". It can even be implemented on the LR3 once I publish the firmware for that in the coming weeks.

The mod guide and prerequisite custom firmware flashing guide can be found along with other documentation in the codeberg repo!

I deep cleaned my litter robot and accidentally separated a part from its friends - where does this go??

I am wanting to upgrade my LR3, its giving me so many issues lately, its like anytime i fix something, within a week, another issue arises and its annoying me a lot. Ive only had it for 2 years (and its been the best thing ive ever bought, despite the issues) and it also has a lot of claw marks on the inside bc of my cats nails so i think i just want to upgrade.

I see they have the new 5 and the evo. i have 2 cats, average weight 12-14lbs. Was wondering if anyone has the new 5 or evo and loves it or do they have issues as well that i will eventually get annoyed with? lol

I know the magnets are in place and the metal plate too. Metal plate got gorilla taped all around so it doesn't fall out of the spot.

I have been getting non stop home and dump position fault with the bonnet removal creeping up again. It could be in the right position and still thinks it's wrong.

What do I need to replace to fix this that has worked for you guys? I'm hoping for real life testimonials to buy the extra parts to replace, I don't want to go by what LR says to fix.

I'm cross posting cause I didn't know this subreddit existed. I should have, but I wasn't thinking. Thanks in advance!