8 Tested Pet Gadgets Made With Your Dog or Cat in Mind
Below, we've collected several of our favorite models, including cameras, toys, smart collars and other products we've found especially useful when caring for our furry friends.
Read more: This Smart Pet Fountain Looks So Good I Almost Drank Out of It
1. Pet camera
A camera that delivers treats is an endlessly useful pet gadget.
Petcube
I love my pet camera and consider it my number one must-have when caring for Walter, who has long dealt with separation anxiety.
When we relocated from the Midwest to New York City, he had a hard time adjusting to a new space. Having a pet camera gave me much-needed peace of mind when we left him in the apartment because I was able to see that when we left, he was relaxing on the couch rather than barking at the door, waiting for us to return.
I use the Blink Mini camera as a simple way to view him throughout the day but I recently had the opportunity to test the Petcube Cam 360 and Petcube Bites 2 Lite. These have been great additions because now that we've moved into a larger apartment, the Petcube Cam 360 covers much more space with its 360-degree rotation.
Both Petcube cameras offer a crisper image and I have loved being able to toss Walter a treat with the Petcube Bites 2 Lite camera. The built-in treat dispenser allows you to toss a treat on the Petcube app remotely from your phone. For being a usually timid dog, the noise the camera makes when it's preparing to toss the treat does not seem to bother him and he's always happy to get snacks throughout the day.
2. GPS collar
Nowhere does it say that a tracking collar can't look cool, too.
Tractive
The No. 1 responsibility in caring for our pets is to, well, keep track of them. There are numerous gadgets on the market that help us do this, and experts warn against using AirTags. Instead, they suggest safer alternatives, including microchipping your pet and investing in a GPS collar such as Tractive.
Tractive offers dog and cat collars that glow and track your pet's location and activity and can even send you health alerts if necessary. There are other options on the market, too and you can read our full review of the Petcube tracker here.
3. Smart pet door
The SureFlap lets you know when your pets have exited or entered the house.
Sure Petcare
If you have a yard, you may love the idea of a cat or doggy door but may also be worried about letting other animals into your home. Sure Petcare has a solution. The SureFlap Microchip Pet Door scans your pet's microchip before letting them inside your home. One thing to keep in mind is that to get this smart pet door to work, you have to purchase a separate hub to connect the door to the necessary app. Sure Petcare offers a bundle with both for $369.
4. Automatic feeder
This automatic pet feeder is useful and aesthetically pleasing.
Petlibro
Sometimes no matter how hard you try to plan, we just don't make it home in time to feed your pet by dinnertime. This is where an automatic feeder comes in handy. The Petlibro Air Automatic Dog & Cat Bowl Feeder is a highly-rated feeder that works for cats and dogs.
The battery-operated feeder features a flashing light that will turn on when the feeder is low so you never need to worry about a lapse in feeding. Whether you want to sleep in on weekends or keep your pet on a strict feeding schedule because of health concerns, an automatic feeder is a great option.
5. Heartbeat toy
This toy can help with separation anxiety.
Weok
If you have a new pet or one with separation anxiety, a Weok heartbeat puppy toy might become your new best friend. Inside the stuffed animal is a device that mimics a heartbeat, which offers comfort to your pet when you're not home or if they are in a crate.
Amazon reviewers say their pets love to snuggle with and sleep next to the stuffed animal. The battery-operated heartbeat can play for up to eight hours at a time. It can also be easily removed from the stuffed animal if you need to wash the toy.
Read more: 7 Scientific Ways Your Pet Is Helping Your Mental Health
6. Electric ball launcher
Now fetch can happen all day, every day.
Joyhound
The Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher is a great addition to your dog's toy box. It has an impressive launch range between 10 and 40 feet and comes with three tennis balls that are ideal for catching. If you have a highly energetic dog, it's a great way to help wear them out without wearing yourself out, too.
7. Self-cleaning litter box
Hate scooping litter? Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 lets you bypass that chore.
Whisker
Cleaning your cat's litter box doesn't have to be a chore now that self-cleaning litter boxes are on the market. Although they do boast a high price tag, the Whisker Litter-Robot 4 promises you'll never have to scoop again.
In addition to self-cleaning, the litter box can help keep track of your cat's weight. One litter box can be used for up to four cats and is suitable for kittens. You can read our full review of Whisker Litter-Robot 4 here and decide if it's the right fit for you.
8. Pupsicle
I'd gladly spend $20 on a toy that keeps my pup occupied for up to 20 minutes.
Woof
This might be the most analog of the gadgets on our list but it might also be the one your dog loves best. The rolling treat cage comes in three sizes and is designed to keep your dog busy as it licks away at a peanut butter treat ball placed strategically in the center.
My 12-pound terrier loves them and the Pupsicle keeps him occupied for up to 20 minutes as he tries feverishly to get at the treat. The silicone ball easily unscrews to refill with a new treat ball made at home with special molds or bought premade by the bag.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
27 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Now Jimmy Fallon Is Using Taylor Swift To Suggest Trump Had Sinister Ties To Epstein
Jimmy Fallon is on a roll in taunting President Donald Trump with sexual jokes ― and some are making insinuations about the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. (Watch the video below.) On Wednesday the 'Tonight Show' host was back at it again, using Taylor Swift songs to sum up the president's Friday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Fallon got a big response for noting that Americans are worried that Trump isn't ready for the talks to end Russia's invasion of Ukraine 'since his mind is basically a giant 'Blank Space.' ' Then the comedian waded into very sensitive territory. 'Also, he's distracted by the Epstein scandal. He'll tell Putin it's been a 'Cruel Summer' because everyone thinks 'I Did Something Bad' but I swear everyone on the island was '22.′' 'Oooooh,' the audience reacted in he-really-went-there fashion. Fast-forward to 1:50 for the Swift-Trump bit: To be clear, Trump reportedly has never been investigated over anything involving the late Epstein. The sex offender's hobnobbing with celebrities and politicians has generated high interest in what government files potentially contain about them. And while Trump was reportedly told by Attorney General Pam Bondi that he is mentioned in the files, the context is not publicly known. Trump brought some suspicion on himself by suddenly declaring the files to be a hoax. But some Republicans are backing a bipartisan House push for the release of all the files related to Epstein. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) appears to be hindering the process. Fallon has taunted Trump for a while on his about-face on the Epstein front. On Monday the host noted that the president had hoped for a 'trilateral meeting' of peace talks involving Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy. 'Last time Trump had a trilateral meeting was on Epstein Island,' Fallon cracked. On Tuesday, he again parlayed monologue chatter about the summit into another naughty dig at the commander in chief. 'Trump said that in his meeting with Putin, he will know probably in the first two minutes whether a deal is possible,' the host said. 'It's reassuring when a president talks about ending a war like a Tinder date.' 'Yep,' Fallon continued, 'Trump says that he'll know in two minutes, which makes sense because, according to Stormy Daniels, two minutes is plenty.' Related... A Funny Thing Happened To Ratings When Jimmy Fallon Had Fox News Host As Guest Jimmy Fallon Again Talks Dirty About Trump And We're Here For It Jimmy Fallon's Filthy Trump Burn Over Putin Meeting Gets A 'Whoa' From Audience
WIRED
29 minutes ago
- WIRED
The b-Vibe 360 Plug Backdoor Vibrator Is Beginner-Friendly
I love it when a b-Vibe product comes my way, even if it's a P-spot vibrator, like the b-Vibe 360 Plug. I don't have a prostate, but my partner does, so it makes for a lot of fun to use together when we want to add some anal play to the mix. I gave it a try too (it's called due diligence), to check things out while fully knowing our experiences will differ, but that adds to the intimacy in the moment and the aftercare that follows. Like all b-Vibe sex toys, the 360 Plug is made from body-safe silicone and is ultra-smooth to the touch. However, this doesn't mean you can skip the lube. When it comes to putting anything in the backdoor—body-safe materials with a flared base—lube must always be part of the equation to prevent friction that leads to microtears. According to my partner, lube made for an easy entry that was both comfortable and pleasurable. Good Vibes Courtesy of b-Vibe When we turned on the vibrator with the remote—far easier than most app controls—there was a lot of stimulation going on. Not only does the 360 Plug's shaft and head vibrate, but so does the base that sits perfectly snug against the perianal zone. It was here that we realized why it's called the 360 Plug: the head oscillates, which gives the prostate one hell of a massage. As the person in charge of the remote control (it works up to 30 feet away), we experimented with the six speeds for the rotating head and the six vibration patterns for the perianal zone, and my partner found his happy place somewhere in the middle, with a steady pulse that kept the pleasure uninterrupted. My partner, who doesn't regularly put things in his butt, felt that the 360 Plug could be thicker, with a bigger head. As much as he thought the vibration selection was great, due to the size of the shaft, he was more satisfied with the vibrations stimulating his perianal zone, making that his favorite part of the toy. Because of its size, he declared it great for beginners, noting that people who aren't new to anal aren't going to be impressed with its 'diminutive stature.' He also noted that a bigger shaft and equally bigger head would require less angling and fumbling for one to locate their prostate, which can be tricky for newbies, as it took him a bit. If it had more weight, it would have been even more enjoyable. I suggested that next time he could try the b-Vibe Snug Plug 7, which is a whopping 1.3 pounds and 2.5 inches in diameter. Suddenly, he wasn't so chatty about size. For Folks With Vulvas Courtesy of b-Vibe I can't put my stamp of approval on something I haven't personally tried, even if it wasn't technically designed for my body, so I also gave the 360 Plug a try. I agree with my partner that, with enough lube, it slides in effortlessly and comfortably. Although I don't have a prostate, I did find that the rotating head and vibrating shaft felt good, but not in the same way that my partner did for anatomical reasons. While he thought the internal part should be bigger, I thought it was the ideal size for anal play, and the vibrator for the perianal area did feel pleasant, because the vibrations are strong enough that the rumbling made its way to my vulva. Not my clitoris, just the general area. In other words, if you have a vulva and you're looking for anal play, the 360 Plug could be for you. It's whisper-quiet and 100 percent waterproof. Unfortunately, it only has a one-hour run time and takes two hours to charge. If the charging time is longer than the run time, that always makes me pause, because it should be the other way around. The magnetic proprietary plug can also be an issue if you're prone to losing things, because once it's gone, you need to buy a replacement. It has some minor annoyances, but the b-Vibe 360 Plug is a good, almost great anal vibrator that any gender can enjoy if anal play is on the menu. While those with prostates will find it most enjoyable, anyone who loves some buzz action in their butt can find pleasure too.
Yahoo
43 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Is Perplexity the next Google?
Perplexity shocked both Silicon Valley and Wall Street this week after the Wall Street Journal reported on the AI startup's unsolicited $34.5 billion all-cash offer to buy Chrome, the world's most popular web browser. The move comes just weeks after Perplexity launched its own AI-powered Comet browser, and as a federal judge considers whether Google must divest Chrome after the tech giant lost a landmark antitrust case brought by the Department of Justice. Comet, which Perplexity tells Fortune will become available for all Perplexity Pro users starting Wednesday, has several advantages over Chrome. Unlike Google's web browser, where most AI features arrive via add-ons or extensions, Comet's AI assistant is always present, staying in the top-right corner of your browser window. It can summarize content instantly, compare information across tabs (a huge time-saver for shopping), automate workflows (booking meetings, sending emails, etc.), remind you about events, and much more. Chrome only recently added limited AI features like Gemini, the Google Lens sidebar, and 'tab compare,' but these remain add-ons and do not offer end-to-end automation or context tracking like Comet's agentic AI. Comet feels poised to transform browsing as we know it into more of a conversational experience, where you interact with your browser to move as fast as your brain allows. But Perplexity's blockbuster move this week raises an important question: If Perplexity absorbs Chrome, could it become the next Google? Perplexity's play? Going beyond 'search' Thomas Grange, cofounder and chief innovation officer at AI-search optimization platform Botify, says 'There won't be a 'next Google.'' 'The game has changed,' he tells Fortune. 'What's emerging from the blend of AI search and traditional browsers isn't just a faster search engine, it's an entirely new hyper-personalized, context-aware, and conversational way of finding information.' Grange says the promise of AI search engines is having AI agents act on behalf of users, interacting with other agents and transforming web browsing into something much more efficient and automated. Perplexity's Comet browser, which debuted last month and is rolling out to all Pro users starting this week, exemplifies this shift. Unlike traditional browsers, Comet puts an AI answer engine at the heart of its interface, allowing users to ask questions and get direct answers rather than having to wade through a list of links. Above all, the assistant can act on behalf of users—aiming to make browsing less about navigation and more about productivity. Usha Haley, Wichita State University professor and Barton Distinguished Chair in International Business, says Perplexity's bid for Chrome 'looks far less audacious once you try Comet.' 'A persistent AI assistant that can operate on any web page changes the web from a place to navigate to one that works for you. Adding Chrome's massive user base and browser dominance could give Perplexity a once-in-a-generation leap in distribution,' she tells Fortune. But, she notes, 'the next Google presents a very high bar.' But while Perplexity can buy part of Google's ecosystem (Chrome), scaling to Google's level of infrastructure, reach, and trust will be extremely challenging. 'AI-powered browsers do well at some limited tasks. But the road from wow demo to everyday habit is long and winding,' she says. Redefining how we use the internet Joshua McKenty, former NASA architect and CEO of cybersecurity company Polyguard, tells Fortune: 'The acquisition of Chrome by any player, but especially by a major AI player, is extremely significant. 'Chrome represents one of the most powerful sources of new training data in existence—especially if it is decoupled from the Google login experience,' he adds. 'The browser is the only scraping method that can travel behind every log-in and every firewall to index … literally everything.' Of course, not everyone is convinced Perplexity will become the next Google—or that it would even be allowed to have Chrome. Ari Paparo, a former Google executive, tells Fortune, 'We need to understand that the DOJ and the courts are not going to blindly empower a new monopoly just to replace the one they are breaking up. 'AI is both hungry for the data a web browser accesses, but also becomes more useful to the consumer as it has the context of what they are doing,' Paparo says. 'Whether it is Perplexity, OpenAI, or one of the legacy tech giants that ends up as an owner of Chrome, it will be a huge change in the ecosystem.' Haley also highlights privacy and reliability as key challenges as scale, reliability, and user trust are critical for any challenger of Google to move beyond a 'wow demo' moment. But Eric Vaughan, CEO of the AI-focused enterprise-software company IgniteTech, says Perplexity can win by 'eliminating the concept of search entirely.' 'The real disruption here is less about improving search results and more about bypassing websites altogether,' he tells Fortune. For Perplexity, owning Chrome, should regulators allow it to happen, would mean immediate access to billions of daily users, copious behavioral data, and the distribution muscle to push itself to the forefront of the AI race. What happens next? Perplexity, which is backed by Nvidia and SoftBank, among others, says funding is available, but its offer for Chrome undoubtedly faces major regulatory, financial, and technical hurdles. To be blunt, Perplexity's offer for Chrome is a long shot. (For one thing, Google parent Alphabet isn't willingly selling.) The San Francisco–based startup has only a tiny fraction of the number of users that Google has, and an infinitesimal share of its revenue. What's more, rivals in the AI space are working on their own AI web browsers. Microsoft's Edge browser now has Copilot Mode, which, like Perplexity's Comet, can see and analyze open tabs, execute autonomous tasks such as booking reservations, respond to voice commands, summarize content in real time, and more—but notably, it's free and tightly integrated with Microsoft's ecosystem. OpenAI, the leader in AI, is close to releasing its own AI-powered browser, designed to keep user interactions within a ChatGPT-like interface and leveraging its 500 million weekly active users to challenge Chrome's dominance. But Perplexity's original AI-based search tool has already been credited by many in tech with pressuring its rivals like Google to upgrade and rethink their own approach to search. Whether or not a Perplexity-Chrome tie-up actually happens, the emergence of AI-powered browsers has set the stage for profound industry change. Barry Lowenthal, president of AI-powered ads company Inuvo, says, 'Google has been the default search engine for so long it is practically a reflex, but AI-powered search tools like Perplexity are changing that equation. 'If Chrome joins the mix, the potential reach and usability skyrocket,' he tells Fortune. 'But becoming the next Google is not just about technology, it is about winning trust, habit, and scale. That is a long game, and right now Perplexity is just starting to play it.' For this story, Fortune used generative AI to help with an initial draft. An editor verified the accuracy of the information before publishing. This story was originally featured on Sign in to access your portfolio
