Tech for pets is an investment only worth making when it helps solve a legitimate issue. Gadgets purchased because they are cute often end up gathering dust.
Pet cameras
A camera lets you see and sometimes talk to your pet while you are away from home. The more useful cameras do either of these:
- It shows how dogs spend time when left alone. This can be an eye-opener for owners who often do not know how long their dog barks or paces. This information can help owners with dog training.
- Watching an elderly or recovering pet.
- A multi-pet household often leads to interesting situations, particularly at mealtime.
When buying a pet cam, look for: night vision, a wide field of view, two-way audio, and alerts for sound or motion. A cam that can toss treats is nice to have, but not necessary.
Security is of utmost importance. When connecting a camera to the internet, it creates an always-on connection to your private network. Change default admin passwords, use 2-step verification if available, and keep the camera’s software up to date. Look into where recordings are stored. Some cameras store data on the cloud, and may require a subscription to do so.
GPS trackers
Our GPS trackers secure to your pet's collar to show their location on a map via your smartphone. Consider our tracker for dogs with recall issues, cats that supervises beyond, and for your rescue pet for the initial couple weeks in their new home.
Before you buy:
- Subscription. Many GPS trackers require subscriptions for mobile data.
- Battery life: Expect anywhere from a day or two to a couple of weeks of battery life. Live tracking drains the battery quickly.
- Weight and size for cats and small dogs.
- Coverage. Signal can be weak in rural locations, and can result in coverage gaps.
For cats, a tracker needs to be attached to a quick-release collar.
Trackers and chips have completely different functions. Microchips are a form of permanent ownership, while trackers are momentary location aids.
Microchip cat flaps
These treat your cat's microchip, so only your cat can use it. It resolves two issues: cats coming in and out of your house to eat your cat's food and spray, and allowing one cat to go outside while keeping the other cat inside. Some models allow you to set it to let cats in but not out, which you can use to allow your cat to come in and out at night or before the cat goes to the vet and needs to be kept inside.
Make sure that the flap is designed to read your cat's chip type before making a purchase. Check that it will work with your door or wall.
Smart feeders and fountains
Feeders controlled by apps let you program portion sizes and feeding times from your phone, and some record when your pet eats. This kind of feeder can help manage your pet's weight and let you know if your pet isn't eating. Like any feeder, they don't remove the need to check in on your pet.
Self-cleaning litter trays
Litter trays that rake or sift litter after each use can lead cats to use the trays. Some cats are scared by the movement and start going outside the litter tray. Most of the trays are not appropriate for use by kittens.
There are tradeoffs. When you remove urine clots by hand, you can see if your cat’s clots are normal, or if there are too few or too many. Too few or too many clots can indicate medical conditions like diabetes or kidney issues. Self-cleaning trays conceal urine clots. Some trays, however, do have a feature that counts the number of times the tray is washed. This serves the same general purpose as the app.
Tech for fish and reptiles
Some thermostats can notify you via an app if the temperature in your tank gets too high or too low. If your animal is completely dependent on artificial heat, then this is a good feature to have.
Activity monitors
Some trackers count activities and rest. They can identify gradual changes in activity, which can be a telling sign of illness, arthritis, or other conditions, especially in older dogs. Because the trackers are not diagnosing devices, do not jump to any conclusions and treat the data as a trend.
What tech can't do
No sensor can tell if your dog is limping, if your cat is having trouble using the litter tray or if your rabbit has stopped eating. The best piece of equipment you have to look after your pet is you. Use technology to help if you wish, but make sure you are still doing physical checks.
Running costs to add up
- Cloud Storage Plan and GPS Tracker Subscription
- Rechargeable batteries
Replaceable batteries
- Replacement Filters for Fountains
- Reliability of Wi-Fi (because devices disconnect from the internet when the signal is lost)