As much as we love our pets, sometimes we need our furry friends to give us a break and comfort themselves. While fetch is usually a two-person or two-creature game — and doors likely require someone to open — these five can help a pet parent take some time for themselves.
Certainly, our pets have given us comfort over the past year in the middle of the pandemic – whether we are confined to the house or even on the road, safely distanced outside, for a camping trip with our favorite dog . Americans coughed up an estimated $136.8 billion in 2022 on their pets, according to the American Pet Products Association, up from $123.6 billion spent in 2021. Here are some smart options that don’t cost nearly as much but can provide pets some entertainment and their people a little rest.
Whistle Health 2.0 Smart Device for Dogswhistle
Whistle Health 2.0 Smart Device for Dogs
Whistle Health Limited Edition is a smart wearable that helps dog owners understand their pet’s health by tracking behaviors such as scratching, licking, eating, drinking, and sleeping to identify potential health issues. The device also shows if a dog is getting enough exercise based on their breed, weight, and age. The device also has a portion calculator, medication reminders, and an ‘ask the vet’ feature. It comes with an updated, sleek, gorgeous, and simple design.
Whistle Health Limited costs $69 (device only) or $99 (device and 1-year subscription for personalized monitoring/insights in the app). It is available in 4 color combos on the company’s site.
Buy
Fi Smart Dog CollarFi
Fi Smart Dog Collar
Fi is now in Series 2 for its collars, great for tracking your pet while they’re out and about with a dog walker — but if you also like to take them off in wild places and want to know when exactly where they are at all times.
The Fi Series 2 collar also connects to a mobile app via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that works as a fitness tracker to ensure the dog stays active. Dog walkers can also be added to the app. The collar starts at $149 and comes in four different colors.
BUY
Petcube Play 2Petcube
Petcube Play 2
This update from Petcube is designed for dogs but is probably best for cats, It has a smart HD camera with a 160-degree field of view and a laser light that owners can control.
Whether you’re back in an office setting or even in another room with the door closed, take a Zoom call, the Petcube Play 2 lets you talk or listen to your cat or dog and also move the laser pointer across the floor , which you care for. can chase. And yes, you can even set the light to an autoplay mode when you need to focus on something else.
Alexa is also built-in inside, so you can ask Amazon’s assistant to read a story aloud or even start some music to entertain your pet while you cook dinner. Priced at $99, you may sometimes find the Petcube Play 2 on sale for less.
Cheerble Wicked BallCheerble
Cheerble Wicked Ball
From the company that brought you Wickedbone, the colorful Cheerble Wicked Ball is a little cheaper at $40. Importantly, though, it still behaves on its own like its dearer cousin, rolling around on the floor and letting a dog or cat chase it on its own.
It recharges via USB cord in just one hour and can work for up to eight hours. Some users have said that the ball did not hold up well to their larger pets, who were able to chew and destroy the ball rather quickly. But for smaller dogs and cats, the Cheerble may be just the thing to give pets some active time — and an owner some downtime.
Ecovacs Deebot X1 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mopping Cleaner Reviewwww.gearbrain.com
Ecovacs Deebot X1 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mopping Cleaner
This vacuum robot will pull double duty for you — trying to keep an eye on your dogs and cats while also trying to clean them.
The Ecovacs Deebot X1 Plus Robot Vacuum and Mopping Cleaner, reviewed by GearBrain, is great at pulling up dog and cat hair. But hidden inside is also a camera that lets you look around your home, turning the vacuum into a robot sentinel. You can get a live feed, take still photos — and even talk to your pet if you catch them doing something they shouldn’t.
When it first launched, the vacuum was priced at $1,149.00 but is currently on sale for just $699 on the Ecovacs site. You can also buy the Deebot X1 Plus at Amazon, Home Depot, and Best Buy.
Buy Deebot X1 Plus Robot Vacuum at Ecovacs
Check out The GearBrain, our compatibility find engine. It can help you find, buy, and connect any smart device, especially for your pet.
