From self-cleaning litter boxes to automated treat dispensers, here are a few of the best offerings on the market.
Embark Dog DNA Test
Tests for humans that examine health and heritage info have increased in popularity over the last few years. The Embark Dog DNA kit uses a cheek swab from your dog to provide a ton of valuable information about your pup’s family tree, ancestry, and health information. It can even test for more than 165 diseases.
If you have ever wondered whether your dog was Lab-Boxer or a Lab-Pit mix, this is an excellent option because it accurately indicates your dog’s breed in addition to all of the health data.
Cat Mate C500 Automatic Wet Food Feeder
Quality automatic wet food feeders are harder to come by because it’s more difficult to keep wet food fresh. The Cat Mate C500 is one of the better options we’ve encountered, however. It’s not ideal for large animals, but it will serve a small dog or cat up to five meals, each consisting of about three-fourths of a pound of food.
How does it work? It has a circular tray with five separate compartments, and only one compartment is exposed at a time. You program when you want the feeder to expose the next compartment and grant your pet access to the food. It also has an ice pack to keep each portion fresh. The Cat Mate C500 runs on three AA batteries, which will operate the machine for about 12 months. Most of the components are dishwasher safe, too, which makes cleanup easier.
Petcube Bites 2
The Petcube Bites 2 combines a camera with an automatic treat dispenser, culminating in a device that allows you to check in on your pet while you’re away. The gadget flings treats, and when your pet goes to retrieve them, you can watch them through the camera and speak to them via a built-in speaker. The Bites 2 is a high-quality device, too, with high-definition video, 4x digital zoom, a wide-angle lens, night vision, and two-way audio.
The newest iteration of the Petcube Bites even has Alexa built-in, so you can turn on the lights, check the news, play music, and carry out a host of other smart home actions with nothing more than your voice.
PetSafe ScoopFree Ultra Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Box
Cats are amazing animals — independent, yet lovable, affectionate, yet timid at times. One thing that’s not fun about being a cat owner, however, is cleaning the litter box.
Fortunately, you no longer have to touch that smelly cesspool. It may take some work to get there, but once you get your cat to use a self-cleaning litter box, it’s smooth sailing from that point forward. We like this self-cleaning litter box by PetSafe, namely because it isn’t overly large. It’s not particularly expensive, either, and it consistently cleans the litter thoroughly.
PetDroid Boltz Laser Toy
The PetDroid Boltz Lazer Toy is, quite simply, a toy that shines a timed laser on the floor in different patterns and at various speeds. It will have your cat running around and playing until he or she gets worn out, however.
This rechargeable little gadget might not be the most high-tech product on our list, but cats have a lot of fun spazzing out as they chase the laser. It’s pretty entertaining to watch, too.
Whistle Go Explore Health and Location Tracker
Does your dog escape from the fence a lot? Whistle is a pet-centric GPS and activity tracker that keeps tabs on your dog’s whereabouts, as well as their distance traveled. It works with both GPS and cellular towers to track your pet anywhere in the United States, which should provide peace of mind should your dog decide to go on a Homeward Bound adventure.
The rechargeable device easily attaches to your pet’s collar and onboard activity tracking lets you know if your dog was running, playing, or napping. Built-in health monitoring components also let you know if your pup is licking or scratching.
