Smart technology for pets: activity trackers, dog walker monitors, a self-cleaning cat litter tray and more
- At Mobile World Congress 2019 in Barcelona, makers of smart wearables are shifting their focus from humans to their dog and cat companions
- Apps linked to smart collars tell you how long your dog walks, run, plays or sleeps, texts you when it barks or your cat poops, and monitors pets’ health
Is your dog getting enough exercise? Who will change your cat’s litter box while you are away on holiday?
Relax. Mobile entrepreneurs are jumping into the pet industry with smartphone-enabled gadgets that can help care for your four-legged friends, from activity trackers to a litter box that cleans and refills itself.
Among countless new “wearable” gadgets presented this week at the Mobile World Congress trade fair in Barcelona were monitors that attach to dog or cat collars. The devices allow owners to track their pet’s location and activity levels – for example how long they have walked, run, played or slept – on a smartphone, as well as check that a dog walker is exercising the animal enough.
Some even allow owners to set up a safe zone around their home on the app and receive alerts when their pet moves outside the fixed area.
Vodafone, the world’s second largest mobile operator, displayed its tracker called Kippy, which is available across Europe, at the fair. The waterproof device is made of steel and is powered by a rechargeable battery that lasts up to 10 days. It works with a SIM card with a monthly subscription of six euros (US$6.80) per month.