Tech expert Tiana Cline has rounded up the top pet gadgets and latest apps to keep your pet happy, healthy and safe. From functional to fun, these cool-as-cats products were made to impress…
ALSO SEE: 5 pet apps to download now
FroliCat DART, R650
What is it?
A battery-operated automatic laser toy to entertain your cat, hands-free.
What does it do?
Randomly-generated, 360-degree laser patterns, with adjustable speed settings, promise to get even the least-playful ‘puddy-tat’ pouncing. Intended for exercise and stimulation, the DART sparks your cat’s natural stalking instincts, encouraging healthy movement.
Pros
Ideal if you don’t feel like waving a laser around to keep your cat entertained. This toy means you can sit back and watch your cat play. Timer settings also allow you to leave your cat playing on its own.
Cons
Got a scaredy-cat? They may take time warming up to DART’s noisy motor at first.
PetSafe 5-Meal Automatic Pet Feeder, R1149
What is it?
A programmable pet-food bowl.
What does it do?
Fill the five slots with dry food, then programme the bowl so that it rotates to reveal one new, full food slot at different times. Perfect for a cat on a diet as it uses 1 cup of dry food at a time.
Pros
You can set the timer to feed your pet at certain times, so you don’t have to rush home, plus it’s easy to take apart (and put back together) for cleaning.
Cons
Set-up can be a bit tricky. It uses four batteries, which will need to be replaced over time.
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Scoop Free Self-Cleaning Cat Litter Tray, R2823
What is it?
A self-cleaning litter box.
What does it do?
You slide the disposable litter-filled tray into the box. The box’s rake removes waste from litter into a covered compartment 20 minutes after your cat has used the box. Safety sensors stop the raking if your cat returns; the cleaning timer is reset.
Pros
Simply replace disposable trays, no cleaning required. Plus, the crystal litter gives better odour control than traditional litter.
Cons
You’ll need new disposable trays with litter once or twice a month (R382,33 each on epetstore.co.za). Box must be plugged in.
Dog tech
Check out these techy ways to play fetch, clean your muddy pooches or keep them safe… We’re sure you’ll love them as much as we do!
Woof Washer 360 °, From R1075
What is it?
A portable, mess-free, dog-cleaning system.
How does it work?
It’s sort of like a power hose with a built-in shampoo system. You fill the machine’s tank with dog shampoo, attach the extension to any size garden hose and then use the powerful jet system to spray your dog clean. The specially designed nozzle covers every inch of your dog and easily gets down beneath your dog’s fur, to the skin for a proper wash. Plus, you can alternate between shampoo and clean water. Towel- or air-dry, and voila!
Pros
Less messy and gives your dog a proper clean. No more filling up a tub or mopping floors.
Cons
Not for dogs afraid of loud sounds. Plus, it can’t be used indoors and has to connect to a hose.
iFetch Interactive Ball Launcher, R1827
What is it?
An automatic ball shooter for small to medium dogs. This is a smaller version of the iFetch Too – which is for larger dogs.
What does it do?
Drop a ball into the top of the iFetch – or train your dog to! – and it shoots them out to the distance you choose. There are three distance options, or pick ‘random’ to keep it a surprise for clever dogs.
Pros
Comes with three mini tennis balls, ideal for smaller dogs to catch. Plus it runs on AC Adapter (included) or 6 C-cell batteries so you can use it outdoors.
Cons
A pricey way to play fetch, but will give your pet hours of fun and healthy exercise.
ALSO SEE: Pet obesity, everything you need to know
Pet Touch Digital ID Tags, R224,25
What is it?
A lightweight, waterproof, cloud-connected ID tag.
What does it do?
Create a free online profile (on pettouchid.com) for your pet to help them find their way home if they go missing. Anyone with a QR code reader on their smartphone can scan the ID tag of a dog they’ve found to see the owner’s info and reunite them with their pet. When the tag is scanned, you get an automatic notification via e-mail or SMS showing the exact GPS location of where the scan took place.
Pros
Free to register with no subscription costs. Anyone with a QR-code-reading app can scan your pet’s tag to reunite you with your dog.
Cons
Not for dogs prone to losing their collars and tags!
