What are the Best New Pet Tech Gadgets and Toys?

Luxury technology is not just for humans – it’s for pets, too. The latest in luxury pet tech can help us track of, monitor the health of, feed and entertain our pets. Our correspondent Julie Chang Murphy has rounded up the latest in pet tech – the best tech gadgets, fitness trackers and toys for dogs and cats. Spoiler alert: it’s all about the connected pet.

new luxury tech for tending to our furry family members

There is nothing we won’t do for our furry companions. And with good reason. Having a pet is widely accepted to improve your health and fitness, decrease stress and provide a source of unconditional love. Awww.

As much as we’d love to spend every minute cuddling and playing with Zippity Do Dog or Walter Cronkat, though, work and other adulting takes us away from our pets more than 8 hours a day.

Enter the newest tech that help us humans track, monitor the health of, feed and entertain our beloved pets. If you’re in a household with young kids who are begging you to buy a dog, be warned. Reading about these latest innovations might just convince you that it won’t be that much work after all.

the best new pet tech gadgets and toys

Now that we’ve seen the best from CES 2020, here are our absolute favorites among the new luxury pet tech gadgets and toys:

1. Tractive Pet GPS 3G

The Austria-based company behind the Tractive GPS 3G pet tracker for dogs and cats ($70, plus monthly subscription fee) is focused on both form and function.

Their device is a simple, well-designed collar that allows you to keep track of your pet without having to implant a microchip.

2. Sure Petcare Animo fitness tracker

They say owners and their pets start to look alike after awhile. So if you’re wearing a fitness tracker, shouldn’t your dog?

We’re kidding. But having said that, Sure Petcare’s Animo lightweight and waterproof device ($89.60) provides invaluable information on your dog for not much more effort than it takes to put on a regular collar.

Like smart watches for humans, the Animo tracks sleep quality and burned calories. Owners can also set daily activity and exercise goals, ensuring that their dogs are leading healthy lifestyles.

Roughly half of all dogs in the US are considered overweight or obese. So this device may be a part of the solution to a pressing issue. Finally, the Animo can also accurately detect incidents of increased barking, scratching or shaking, which can lead to critical insight into your dog’s well-being. 

3. Furbo camera

The Furbo ($199) is an attractively designed dog camera that allows PawParents to see, talk and even dispense treats to your FurBaby. A wide-angled 1080p high definition camera is able to scan the entire room, even at night with built-in night vision.

Through its companion app, you can swipe to send a treat flying to your dog or reprimand her through a two-way chat when she does something naughty (like jumping on the couch). Real-time barking alerts come to your phone and not only allow you to check in on your pup, but also the safety of your home.

4. VARRAM Pet Fitness Robot

We might actually use this robot on our human children, seeing how playful and engaging it is! This small, two-wheeled robot ($99) encourages physical activity and alleviates boredom in cats and dog through artificial intelligence. 

Using the VARRAM app, you can set and schedule routines so that the robot travels through different rooms in your house and then dispenses a treat once a goal is reached. It is durable and can navigate any space much like a robot vacuum cleaner, traveling over rugs and avoiding tables and chairs. And best of all, it is chew and slobber-proof! 

5. The Little Cat weight control system

The Little Cat is another approach to keeping pets active – this one designed exclusively for cats. The “smart” device from Korean startup Pet Ding ($1,800) looks like a large hamster wheel outfitted with an LED light. Once the device has attracted the cat’s attention, the cat follows the lights on the “treadmill,” motivating them to get in some natural exercise.

The treadmill speed, light color and position can be changed via a mobile app, which will also record and store your cat’s health data. You can get a live feed of your kitty’s workouts, and you have the option to record and play encouraging messages for your little(er) darling. We say you should be on a treadmill right next to Fluffy – ’cause that would be the ultimate motivation, right? Everybody needs a workout buddy.

6. Mookkie Pet Feeder

A perfect solution if you have multiple pets in your home, this AI-enabled feeder ($189) uses visual recognition technology to ensure that the right pet is accessing the right food. The sliding polycarbonate flap also has the added bonus of keeping the food fresh and away from ants and flies.

Users simply snap a photo of their dog or cat, upload the photo via the accompanying app and voila! Your pet will never have to fend off another furry friend (or foe) in the house again. This device was an Innovation Award Honoree in the “smart home” category at CES 2019. 

7. LavvieBot

We’ll probably never see an end to inventions that deal with the dreaded waste management of our pets. And that’s a good thing! The LavvieBot S ($379) is a “smart” litterbox with a sleek and minimalist design that will fit into any home. It only needs to be emptied every 2-3 weeks thanks to its auto-cleaning feature and proprietary auto-refilling litter system. [Full disclosure: the CEO of Dandelion Chandelier is a board member of the parent company of Fresh Step, Scoop Away and Ever Clean cat litters].

Once your cat has left the machine, the separator scoops waste into the drawer at the interval of your choice (20 minutes to 1 hour). By focusing the rotational force of the motor onto the separator, LavvieBot’s mechanism demonstrates exceptional cleaning ability, preventing breakage and causing little noise. 

8. Pepe Pet Dryer

If you have a pampered pup who lives is the lap of luxury, he or she will love this pet-sized sauna ($660). Slightly larger than a mini-fridge, this dryer circulates warm air for 25-minutes creating a cozy and warm atmosphere that, according to its inventor, often induces a pleasant snooze for your pet.

The dryer also has the added benefit of disinfecting your pet, fighting ticks and other skin-borne parasites. Your sensitive friends might also come around more often as it minimizes pet dander in the process. The device is currently only available in Asia, but is slated be sold in the US later this year.

9. The Homhompet dry room

New at CES 2020 was another pet dryer, The Homhompet dry room. It’s a circular “drying and sterilization chamber” that takes about five minutes to complete a full cycle. 

While the Homhompet looks very sci-fi, and just a wee bit menacing, it’s designed to be minimally stressful. The manufacturer promises that’s it’s quiet, doesn’t blow air too hard and includes soothing colorful lights inside. 

10. Petrics Smart Pet Bed

Part of Petrics suite of smart devices and apps, this Smart Pet Bed is one of the company’s latest offerings to optimize pet health. Owners can adjust for the optimal temperature for their pet based on age, breed, climate, and medical condition. 

For example, geriatric pets might need more warmth for their bones and joints while a cooling temperature might benefit a an overactive, spry pup on a hot summer day. The bed comes in 3 different sizes and is slated to be on the market later this year.

11. Langualess Inupathy harness

The Inupathy harness from Langualess promises to let your dog tell you how he’s feeling. First shown at CES 2020, the harness can measure your pet’s heart rate and uses that information to let you know if your dog is relaxed, excited, happy, interested or stressed out by changing colors.

An associated app lets you track your pet’s mood. The device is expected to ship later this year.

12. Wayzn Pet Door Opener

Wayzn used CES 2020 to demonstrate its smart, connected door opener for pets. Install it at the base of a sliding door, and pets and their owners can open and close it hands-free. You can use Wayzn to set a motion sensor that lets your pet in and out. 

Or you can connect it to your other “smart home” devices. Or control it via a mobile app while you’re on the go. Interested? You can reserve one now with a $50 deposit. Orders are scheduled to be fulfilled three months after the deposit is made.

13. The Sure Smart Flap Door opener

For families with cats, Sure Petcare has a new flap door-opening product ($130). As long as your cat has a microchip implanted, you can connect to this smart pet door to give her exclusive access to your house. By scanning the microchip and the unique head shape of your cat, the door makes sure that only family members are in and neighbor’s cats are out. Its facial recognition for pets.

the best luxury pet tech gadgets and toys

That’s it! The latest in luxury pet tech. National Pet Month is coming up in May, and of course there are birthdays and holidays on the calendar. Perhaps one of these can be a great new toy for your pet and your family so that you can continue enjoying one another’s company in the years to come. Which one of these is on your list?

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Crediting her training as a cultural anthropologist at Wellesley College, Julie has immersed herself in various industries in the last 15 years including fashion design, event planning, fitness and even investigating police misconduct. Julie lives in NYC where she loves trying every ramen and dumpling restaurant with her husband and three children. She finds joy in bold prints, biographies of fierce women, kickboxing and spending way too long finding the perfect polish color to express her mood.

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