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Cameras, GPS collars, and more

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Perhaps we love our pets a little too much, but we don’t care. We are all about giving our good doggos and pretty kitties the absolute best in life, and bringing you news on devices that can help you do the same.

We’ve introduced you to a and . But what you may not have known is that there is an entire world of pet tech out there.

Have you ever thought about getting your pooch an automatic ball launcher for when you’re too exhausted to play fetch? What about swapping out your feline’s watering bowl for a premium water fountain that keeps the H2O fresh for longer?

If not, we want to tell you more about those products and where you can get your paws (we couldn’t help ourselves) on them. 

What is ‘pet tech?’

When we say “pet tech,” we’re basically talking about any piece of tech — deemed “smart” or otherwise — that can enhance the life of your pet (and in turn, yours). 

The pet tech umbrella spreads much wider than you might think. The first things that probably come to mind are cameras that keep you in the loop about what your companion is up to while you’re away from home, and tracking collars for helpful location services and possible emergency situations. 

But there are a lot of other helpful devices out there that can make being a pet owner much less stressful, and even provide your pet with a little extra happiness throughout the day (they deserve it, after all). This can come in the form of automatic feeders that you can customize to your dog or cat’s eating schedule, litter boxes that will empty themselves so your time spent touching (and smelling) that stuff is significantly cut down, bathing devices, vacuums that are meant to suck up pet hair, and much more. Of course, we’ll show you a few of those things in a bit. 

Do you need a bunch of fancy pet tech?

Technically, no, you don’t. But do we even need fancy tech for ourselves? Of course not, but we do it anyway. So allow us to make the argument that you should if you can afford to do so. 

If knowing that the life of your pet will most likely improve with most of these products, it’s important to know that so will yours. Taking care of a pet is hard, demanding work — a living thing is in your care, and that can be enough to stress out even the most calm and organized individuals. 

What should first-time pet owners prioritize?

If you’re a first-time pet owner that just recently brought a new cat or dog home, it may be difficult to buy pet tech in bulk — it can run up quite a bill, and you’ll have to add it to all the other basics you need to pick up for your first pet (bowls, food, maybe a crate, a bed, etc). But, there are a few things you might want to prioritize getting first so you have all the most important bases covered. 

After a collar and an ID tag, the first thing we recommend is getting a GPS device to attach to your pet. New pets aren’t just new to you, they’re new to the world around them — and a lot of times, they can get curious. That opens up the possibility of them wandering away and getting lost, and in that scenario, you’re going to want to find them easily. A pet tracker can help you with that, and then some. 

The best pet trackers have incredibly in-depth health tracking that can keep you up to date on your pet’s overall health, including their activity levels, calorie burn, sleep habits, and more. The Whistle Go Explore, which is included in our list below, is a prime example of this, and features other helpful perks like an intuitive companion app, consistent wellness reports, and a built-in light that might be hard to find elsewhere. 

Another piece of pet tech you’ll want to pick up early on is a camera. Many of us have jobs that don’t allow us to work from home forever, but that doesn’t mean you have to go through the day completely clueless as to what your pet is up to while you’re out and about. A good pet camera can be accessed from your smartphone for periodic check-ins, and some of them (like Furbo) allow you to toss out treats for some interactivity with your pet even when you can’t be physically present. Furbo is also a great option due to its night-vision capabilities, two-way audio, and notifications for movement and barking.

After those two items are part of your pet tech repertoire, the rest is up to you and can be purchased at your leisure.

What is the best tech for pet owners?

It’s time to get into our picks. Here are a few of the latest (and best) tech items that every pet-obsessed owner needs right now.


Real-time tracking and health stats • Almost completely waterproof • Long battery life • Durable

Snap collar attachment isn’t always reliable

The Whistle Go Explore is one of the best GPS trackers on the market for pets, boasting accurate location and health monitoring services.

Whistle Go Explore

The Whistle Go Explore is one of the best GPS trackers on the market for pets, boasting accurate location and health monitoring services.

Think of the Whistle Go Explore as a FitBit for both dogs and cats. The ultimate health and location tracker for pets, the Whistle Go Explore has the ability to accurately track your companion in real time, as well as monitor their daily health through the Whistle companion app (average activity minutes, distance traveled, calories burned, and hours of rest). 
It’s a highly durable device — almost completely waterproof, with a long-lasting battery that can supposedly work for up to 20 days on a full charge. It also boasts other features, like a night light, food calculator, and tele-vet access.
If you want to learn more about what the Whistle Go Explore can do, check out our review.

Self-emptying base • Self-cleaning brush roll • Recharge and resume function

Doesn’t get as deep of a clean as other robot vacuums

The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL allows you to do the least amount of work possible thanks to its self-emptying and -cleaning capabilities, so if you prefer to let your vacuum do its job and forget about it, this is the one you want.

Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL

The Shark IQ Robot Self-Empty XL makes the least amount of work possible for you with its self-emptying and cleaning functions.

The lets you take your aversion to vacuuming to the next level by employing a self-emptying function that keeps you from having to get your hands dirty (literally). The self-emptying base that comes with the device — which also doubles as the vacuum’s charging station — can hold up to 30 days of debris, basically eliminating the need for you to get near any dust bunnies for a whole month. 
The Shark also does a pretty good job when it comes to suction, effortlessly picking up crumbs, hair, and more from deep within carpets. A self-cleaning brush roll keeps hair from getting wrapped around and gumming up the works. More great features include smart home mapping over time, voice commands via smartphone or smart speaker, and a handy “recharge and resume” function. If you want to do the least amount of work possible, this might be the robot vacuum for you. 

Toss treats from your smartphone or smart speaker • Night-vision • Two-way audio • Movement and barking notifications

Can be hindered if you don’t have amazing WiFi

Furbo is one of the most popular pet cameras around, and for good reason — its features are unique, and most of them work flawlessly.

Furbo Pet Camera

Furbo is one of the most popular pet cameras around, and for good reason — its features are unique, and most of them work flawlessly.

If you’ve ever scrolled through an Amazon page, you may have already become familiar with this little contraption. The can show you exactly what your pet is doing in real time when you’re away, and also allows you to reward them with a handy treat tosser for good behavior, to calm them down, or just because you want to.
Unlike typical home monitoring systems that send you basic motion and sound notifications, Furbo’s smart alerts only notify you of pet-related events like barking and erratic movement. The built-in 1080p night vision camera lets you livestream video so you can tune in day and night through the Furbo companion app. Best of all, it works with Amazon Alexa, so you can say something like “Alexa, ask Furbo to toss a treat every hour,” and let the robots do their thing.
If you want to learn even more about Furbo, check out our review.

An easier way to bathe your pet • Better for nervous animals • Can attach to a shower head or water hose spout

Hair can get stuck in the AquaPaw itself, and can be a pain to clean

If your pet is normally hesitant to hop in the tub for a scrub, the AquaPaw is a great alternative to get them squeaky clean.

AquaPaw

If your pet is normally hesitant to hop in the tub for a scrub, the AquaPaw is a great tool for getting them clean.

Bath time can be a great opportunity to bond with your pet. No, we aren’t suggesting you drag your pup in with you next time you need a shower. But we are saying that you should use the next time your pet needs a bath.
Aquapaw is a wearable sprayer and scrubber you can turn on and off by squeezing your hand, so you have total control of the water flow. It can be used inside by attaching it to your shower head, or you can use it outside with a water hose. The water pressure is high enough to penetrate fur, but low enough to still be comfortable. 

Different distance settings • Designed with pet safety in mind • Multiple power sources • Can be used without owner assistance

Doesn’t hold a long charge

If your throwing arm isn’t the best and you’ve got an active dog, the iFetch launcher should keep you and your pet happy.

will help you play fetch with your dog without you having to lift a finger. After your pet places the tiny blue tennis ball into the top of the iFetch machine, this interactive dog toy will toss it across the room or yard at 10-, 20-, and 30-feet intervals. The top of the iFetch device is tilted away from the launching hole to encourage your pet to stand behind the machine for safety. It works with a power cord or six C-cell batteries, so you can use it both indoors or outdoors. It even comes with a training guide to help you teach your furry friend how to use the machine without your assistance.

Programs up to 12 daily meals • Adjustable portion sizes • Slow-feed mode

Power supply sold separately

For pet parents who want to program multiple daily meals in set portions, the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder is your best bet.

PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed

For pet parents who want to program multiple daily meals in set portions, the PetSafe Healthy Pet Simply Feed Automatic Feeder is your best bet.

Great for single or multi-pet homes, the allows you to program up to 12 different daily meals, ranging in size from one-eighth of a cup to four cups. The large capacity hopper holds up to 24 cups of food at a time, which should last most pets quite a while before needing to be refilled. 
One standout feature that pet owners will love is the slow-feed option, which dispenses your cat’s food over a period of 15 minutes — this helps prevent your pet from eating too fast and causing digestive issues down the line. There’s also an immediate feed button that allows you to give your pet a little nibble in between their regularly scheduled mealtimes.

Less touching gross stuff • Self-cleaning (until you need to periodically empty the basin) • Prevents leaks

Some reviewers said the scoop-free litter doesn’t clump properly

If you hate cleaning up kitty litter, the PetSafe ScoopFree will cut down the amount of time you have to get anywhere near it.

Everyone loves their pet. But everyone hates their litter box. The PetSafe ScoopFree is a virtually touch-free, leave-it-and-don’t-worry-about-it pet poop cleaning system. After your cat does their business, the included crystals absorb some of the moisture and dry out the solid waste. Then, 20 minutes after your cat leaves, sensors activate the stainless steel cleaning rig, raking the waste into a covered trap so you don’t have to touch it — or smell it — ever. 

Long battery life • Auto-repeat for continuous play • Cat-specific version available as well

Might not work for all pets

If you own a nervous pet, the iCalm speaker might help ease their anxieties and get them to chill out.

iCalm Speaker

If you own a nervous pet, the iCalm speaker might help ease their anxieties and get them to chill out.

If you have a restless pup, try the iCalmDog portable speaker — a multi-sensory approach to helping your dog chill out. The speaker plays music that’s been found to ease dogs’ anxiety. This bundle includes the Bluetooth speaker, as well as an SD sound card with hours of anti-stress tunes. It has a 24-hour battery life, as well as auto-repeating for continuous play. iCalmDog is a part of the iCalmPet suite of sound solutions for pet anxiety — check out if you have feline you’d like to help mellow out. 

Keeps water fresh for longer • Reduces mess • Adjustable flow control • Less refilling for the owner

Some reviewers said that it’s difficult to clean

Water bowls get nasty over time — the PetSafe Drinkwell keeps your pet’s water source fresh for longer, and features a large reservoir that requires less refilling.

PetSafe Drinkwell Platinum

Water bowls get nasty over time — the PetSafe Drinkwell keeps your pet’s water source fresh for longer, and features a large reservoir that requires less refilling.

provides 168 ounces of fresh flowing water and is great for pets of all sizes. The free-falling stream aerates your pet’s drinking water with oxygen and a replaceable filter helps to remove bad tastes and odors for fresher tasting water. 
It is designed with a receiving ramp that reduces splash and an adjustable flow control that allows you to increase or decrease how much water your pet gets. The large built-in reservoir increases capacity and requires less refilling, meaning more water for your pet and less work for you. 

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