By Aaron Greenbaum
What’s the staple of the morning TV talk shows right after Christmas? The tech that’s changing the way we live today and are likely to live tomorrow. There was no end of newsworthy trends coming from the revelations unveiled at Consumer Electronics Show (CES) earlier this year - from augmented reality, blockchain and AI (artificial intelligence) about to become functional parts of daily life - and even flying cars! But what caught PET LIFESTYLES attention was what is trending in pet technology. Wonder how you ever lived without these inventions? Read on for the scoop.
Genetic Kitty Test
Basepaws Caption: Basepaws tells you everything you want to know about your cat’s DNA.
Many people use genetic test kits to uncover their family ancestry and inheritable health risks. While commercial genetic tests for dogs have been around for a while, commercial tests for cats, such as Basepaws, are comparatively new. The Basepaws mail-in kit can tell you everything you want to know about your cat’s DNA, such as its breed purity, characteristics, and the possibility of inheritable diseases. Is your kitten likely to develop a kidney disease? Will your cat become addicted to catnip? You’ll have to use Basepaws to find out. Best of all, once you send in your cat’s DNA, you’ll receive updates whenever Basepaws’ team of crack genetic decoders discovers something new.
Robo-Pooper Scooper
Purrson’s Lavviebot Caption: PurrSong’s LavvieBot keeps your cat’s litterbox clean and looks good in any room.
Nobody likes scooping poop out of the litterbox. If you ever wished a robo-litter box could do the dirty work for you, then check out PurrSong’s LavvieBot. This device automatically and quietly takes out soiled litter and lays down a fresh batch. Furthermore, when LavvieBot starts to run low on fresh litter (or when its waste compartment needs to be emptied), it sends a notification to your smartphone app. More importantly, the LavvieBot tells you when your kitty goes potty and how long their bathroom breaks last. Since irregular bathroom schedules can be a sign of an infection, the LavvieBot can help you decide if it’s time to take your cat to the vet. Now you never have worry again about your cat’s poop again.
Porta Potty Meets Porta Puppy
Inubox Caption: The Inubox cleans up after your dog when they can’t do their business outdoors.
Some dogs hate to go to the bathroom in the rain and would rather ruin your grandmother’s favorite rug than get wet. Thanks to the Inubox, that’s no longer an issue. Inubox is the world’s first fully automated indoor doggy toilet. Dogs just need to step on the device’s platform and relieve themselves. Inubox folds up and secures all bodily waste in a sealed, ready-to-throw-out bag. However, this device might not see the light of day since production is dependent on a future —and successful— Kickstarter campaign. Let us hope the Inubox sees a fruitful crowdfunding.
Let the Right Pup In
Wagz Go Smart Door Caption: Wagz’ Go Smart Door only lets your pets in and keeps wild animals and strays out.
Wagz already produces several smart devices that keep your pup safe. Last year, the company showed off its smart collar at CES, and this year, it had a smart doggie door on display. The Go Smart Door is, as the name suggests, smart, and not just because it connects to your smartphone. This high-tech door can recognize your pooch and will only open for them, so you won’t have to worry about stray or wild animals sneaking in. Plus, for an added layer of security, you can schedule the Go Smart Door to lock and unlock as needed. When it comes to your home’s security, you can never be too careful.
A Dry Pet is a Happy Pet
Pet Dry Room Caption: The Pet Dry Room is like a sauna for your pet.
If my dog hates anything more than getting wet, it’s being dried off. She always squirms away, only partially dry. If your dog acts the same way, you might want to look into Worldwide PePe International’s Pet Dry Room. It might look like an ordinary, if small, laundry dryer, but if you place your drippy dog in this machine, set the timer and temperature, and wait half an hour, you will be greeted by a fluffy Fido (works on cats too). As an added bonus, the Pet Dry Room also treats your dog to some white noise, bio light therapy, and a scent pouch to make them pop out rested, happy, and smelling like roses —or cologne, depending on your choice of scent. The Pet Dry Room is the closest your dog will ever get to a sauna experience.
Expedite Your Dog’s Way Home
SpotyPal Caption: SpotyPal provides users a map to their lost keys, cars, and pets.
Misplacing your keys, luggage, car, or dog is never good, especially as you frantically search for them, but that’s why the SpotyPal was invented. While the device was made with lost pets in mind, it was also designed for anything you could lose, be it a car or a cat. Just clip the SpotyPal device to any pet’s collar, and if you lose track of them, use the app to ring the connected device and get a map to their current or last known location. And, if you still can’t find your pet, just report it as missing with the SpotyPal app, so anyone with the app who comes within 200 feet of your pet will receive a notification. Certainly faster than putting up lost dog posters.
The All-In-One Smart Collar
Rawr Smart Collar Caption: The Rawr Smart Collar keeps track of everything from your pet’s location to their activity levels.
In the past, electronic devices had only one use, but today, many are multi-purpose. Mobile phones used to be phones and phones alone, but now they also serve as internet browsers, GPS devices, flashlights, and game consoles. The team behind the Rawr Smart Collar asked if they could do the same with a pet collar, and the answer is an emphatic yes. The Rawr is an all-in-one pet collar that helps keep your cat or dog safe and healthy. It locates lost pets with a built-in 4G GPS tracker, monitors their activity and health, lights the way during the night, and organizes all of its collected data with a smartphone app. The only thing the Rawr can’t do is teach an old dog new tricks…yet.
The Pet Camera Drone
VaVa Mobile Pet Camera’s Caption: VaVa’s Mobile Pet Cam keeps an eye on pets even when they leave the room.
Pet cams are a great way to keep an eye on your pet, but they tend to have one major flaw: they’re immobile. Not the VaVa Mobile Pet Cam. Thanks to plastic treads, this robotic camera can follow your pet across hardwood floors, shaggy carpets, and any other household terrain — excluding stairs. Best of all, you can connect VaVa Mobile Pet Cam to your phone to watch your pet live, steer the camera, talk to your pup or kitten, throw out treats, and play a rousing game of Chase the Laser. Part RC car, part pet cam, all ease of mind.
