Whether you’re back in the office, planning a short vacation, or both, smart pet tech has evolved rapidly to help us manage our pets, both home and away.
From GPS trackers that report your furry friend’s movements to automatic feeders and cameras that enable you to talk to your bushy-tailed buddy, animal tech is truly getting smarter.
According to research from Global Insights, the pet tech market surpassed €4.8 million in 2021 and is set to grow by 20% by 2028. It’s estimated that the Europe pet wearable market was worth €2.4 billion in 2020, a figure set to soar further. What’s more, with so many of our pets going missing, more of us are investing in animal GPS trackers than ever before.
With so many seemingly ‘purrfect’ devices available for cats, dogs, and more, we took a look at five of the smartest gadgets available (please click on each heading for further information). You would want to be barking mad, not at least to try some of these devices.
The Litter-Robot is one of the first self-cleaning litter boxes to enter the market. Mainly for cats but with some versions suitable for small puppies, it removes the need to
scoop through wi-fi-enabled insights and automated cleaning. Not only can you connect this smart poop device to your phone, but you can also log your pets’ bowel movements (yes, really) so you can keep an eye on their overall health and wellbeing. With two models currently on the market, the Litter-Robot 3 Connect and the Litter-Robot 4 (which launched on the 10th of May this year), it provides fresh litter daily, removing the mess and stress involved in cleaning, and it suits up to four cats! It’s compatible with both iOS and Android.
PETKIT Fresh Element Solo Auto Pet Feeder
Forget the 5 am meowing and barking for breakfast sessions. Truly advanced China-headquartered PETKIT is one of the market’s most high-tech pet tech brands. The PETKIT Fresh Element Solo Auto Pet Feeder is suitable for cats and small dogs. Programmed through the brand’s app to dispense food at specific intervals throughout the day, it is one of the most popular automatic feeders on the market due to its ability to connect to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Working with iOS and Android, its sleek appearance and solid, stainless steel dish can dispense up to 50 grams of dried food per minute. Through the app, you can also schedule feedings and keep track of how much your pet is eating. More importantly, the PETKIT Fresh Element Solo Auto Pet Feeder contains a built-in backstory, meaning there’s no need to worry if you are away and there’s a power outage. PETKIT also recently launched their Pura X Self cleaning litter box and offer a range of water fountains to keep both kitty and puppy hydrated and happy
Should your pet like to go walkies at night while you are away, look no further than GPS-enabled collars. The Tractive GPS tracking system has been around longer than most and is 100% waterproof and shock-resistant. Based on a subscription plan, the Tractive GPS app is free to download on both iOS and Android. With a pet-friendly lightweight design, the smart device, which has up to 7 days of battery life, clips onto your dog and/or cat’s collar. Consisting of LIVE tracking capabilities and a virtual fence that alerts you when your pet has left your assigned vicinity, it lets you view your pet’s location and monitor their activity levels from almost anywhere in the world. It also provides real-time location updates every 2-3 seconds should your pet tend to wander
Pawbo wireless interactive pet camera
It’s true what they say – pets are family, and we like to keep an eye on them! This IoT device allows you to check in on your furry friend during the day and rewards them for good behavior. With HD live video and a 130-degree wide-angle lens, the Pawbo interactive pet camera can be used to allow you to monitor your pet and dispense tasty treats should they be deserving of them. It also boasts the entertainment factor through its unique laser pointer game and allows up to eight people to speak with your pet through the app to keep bad habits at bay. Powered by Wi-Fi and available on android and iOS, it’s a purrfect choice for the social media-savvy, allowing pet owners to post videos and images directly to Instagram, Facebook, and more!
Designed for dogs and centered around animal health and happiness, the Peppy Pet Ball aims to curb bad pooch behavior by keeping your canine active during the day. Large enough for your dog to carry but not swallow, it’s a relatively new smart ball made of eco-friendly silicone and ABS materials. Charged through USB, this nifty little smart toy has built-in sensors and intelligent movement programming and is tear-resistant. Even more brilliant is its ability to make random movements while never repeating the same pattern. It also contains a snack pocket for treats, with each charge lasting a solid eight hours. Enough time to get to the office and back (or Rome, if you’re lucky!)
