Four smart home innovations for peace of mind on your travels – to feed your cats and plants and keep house secure
- At IFA 2019 consumer technology fair in Berlin, smart home gadgets that come into their own when you’re away were a theme
- From CatsPad that feeds up to five cats, to the Connect smart garden, to an app to turn off the burglar alarm that went off for nothing, these are our picks
Do you constantly worry about home when you travel? The smart home is here, and it is never more useful than when we are away from it.
Phone apps are the gateway to the smart home, of course, but the floors of the annual IFA consumer technology show in Berlin this year are packed with smart tech that allows everything from remote pet-feeding to controlling from afar the alarms that guard your home. Here is our pick of the platforms ideal for travellers who want to stay in control while they’re away.
1. CatsPad
Once you have decided on your next destination there is always a big follow-up question; who is going to feed the cats? Retailing for US$429, CatsPad is an autonomous food and water dispenser that you can control by smartphone.
There is a water fountain, backed by a tank that holds up to six litres of water, which dispenses water every time your cat approaches the bowl. There is also a barrel for kibble – it holds a generous 1.6kg that can be set to gradually dispense its contents throughout the day.
CatsPad isn’t just for one cat, either. Put tiny RFID radio devices on up to five cats’ collars and CatsPad will identify, and feed, them all.
