Smart pet technology is skyrocketing in popularity after a rise in cat and dog adoptions

Self-cleaning litter boxes to heated pet beds and dog food launchers: pet technology is soaring in Australia and this is why.

From robotic companions and remotely controlled lasers to dog treat launchers and self-cleaning litter boxes, pet technology is evolving at a rapid rate.

And experts say the quirky category is also soaring in popularity after two years in which pet ownership skyrocketed.

The trend has seen the popularity of some additions double — like cat drinking fountains — while others are expected to rise now many human companions return to workplaces.

Telsyte managing director Foad Fadaghi says more than half of Australian households had a pet by the end of 2021, according to the company’s IoT@Home Market Study, and seven per cent of those households employed smart technologies to care for them.

For many new pet owners, he says, adding connected pet-friendly gadgets would be second nature.

“We have had a lot more dog owners, cat owners, and many homes already have cameras and smart home setups so having pet tech is just an extension of that,” he says.

“Many first-time pet owners might also need technological assistance, especially if they have to turn to the office for a couple of days a week.”

Pet Circle head vet Dr Teagan Lever says the retail chain saw pet technology sales rise by 53 per cent between 2020 and 2021, and by 63 per cent between February and March alone.

And while pet tech used to include products like automatic pet doors, it now extended to remotely controlled toys, feeders that weighed portion sizes, and connected toys.

“We’re seeing a lot more smart toys — things like robotic balls and automatic lasers — so you can play a game of laser tag with your cat even when you’re not home, or robotic balls that move in response to your pet,” she says.

“People are really mindful, having spent a lot of time at home during the pandemic, about what their pets are doing during the day and there’s a lot of concern about loneliness.”

Dr Lever says many smart pet gadgets have been created to “solve a specific problem”.

There are connected cameras, for example, to monitor pets and feed them treats, or automatic feeders that could be useful if a pet needs to be fed separately from another animal.

Pet beds can also monitor an animal’s vital signs, she says, while GPS trackers can alert owners if their pets have strayed.

But Dr Lever’s top recommendation? Self-cleaning litter boxes.

“They’re pretty cool,” she says. “I was dubious at first because I thought what cat would want to go in there but they’re quiet and you can even monitor the frequency of their use.”

12 SMART GADGETS FOR PETS

FEEDERS

Dogness Smart Camera Treater ($199): This smart device will let you check on your dog from afar with its high-definition camera, speak to your pet through its speaker, and throw them treats from an app.

Tech 4 Pets Feeder ($300): Cats or dogs with a precise food schedule should appreciate this device that stores up to seven litres of dry food and can deliver a precise portion by time or command. It also features a camera and can send alerts when there’s activity.

Pixi Fountain ($63): This next-level water bowl for cats not only keeps the water running but uses filters to ensure it’s free from debris. The Pixi Fountain also has LED lights that glow when it needs a top-up.

TOYS

iFetch Too ($399): Even if your puppy is particularly active, this ball launcher will tire him or her out. The device can be set to throw balls three, seven or 2 metres away, and comes with three balls to reload it.

Cheerble Ice Cream Ball ($54): This toy can hold a cat’s attention better than most by moving around automatically. The rechargeable ball is designed with play and rest cycles to keep cats entertained and a silicon exterior to withstand teeth.

Petcube Play 2 ($299): This device is part smart home gadget, part pet plaything. It connects to the internet, works with Amazon Alexa to respond to commands, and features a camera with 180-degree angle. However, this device also features a laser toy and can host a game of chase for your cat remotely.

WEARABLES

Tractive GPS Dog 4 ($80): This device, which fits over a dog’s collar, can be used to track their activity on a walk or track them down if they’re a wanderer. With a $7 monthly subscription, users can be alerted whenever their dog leaves a safe area.

Olixar Collar for AirTag ($25): Apple did not design its AirTags to be used on pets but this leather collar will secure the tracking device to a dog and let you track them in the Find My app.

Petkit Fit P2 ($50): This coin-shaped gadget connects to your dog’s collar, tracks their daily activity and how many calories they burn, and suggests a feeding and exercise program on an accompanying app.

WACKY

Enabot Ebo Air ($369): This home-roaming robot is designed to be a companion to your pet but, in reality, it could be more of a dibber-dobber. The Enabot can recognise and follows pets around the home or be controlled remotely with an app. It will also record photos and videos for owners, and return to its own charging station.

Smarty Pear Leos Loo ($798): This futuristic contraption is a self-cleaning litter box that detects when your cat has visited it and uses a filter to remove the soiled litter into a tray beneath it. The device can even report on your cat’s weight and the number of uses.

Petkit Cool Smart Pet House ($255): This unique pet furniture is designed to cool or warm cats using air ducts. The Petkit device also features an infra-red sensor to detect when they use it and how long they use it for, and its temperature can be controlled in an app.

Originally published as Smart pet technology is skyrocketing in popularity after a rise in cat and dog adoptions