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Pet technology, or pet tech, encompasses the use of technology for the optimal health, well-being, surveillance, and safety of pets. Methods including robotics, big data, and AI can be utilized to solve the challenges present in the pet tech sector. Examples of products include activity monitors, GPS trackers, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, and accelerometer sensors.
Pet technology use cases involve using technologies and applications to address the challenges faced by pet owners.
- Pet training devices: Pet training devices help improve the behavior of pets. For instance, e-collars are used in pet training and treating aggressive pets (particularly dogs). These collars aid in training dogs by sending physical signal feedback for good and bad behavior.
- Automatic feeding systems: Automated feeding systems for pets use sensors and remote monitoring systems to feed pets.
- Pet health monitoring: Pet monitoring devices enable users to monitor their pets' health by using behavioral data points and making sure pets are not ailing from any health problems.
- Pet monitoring devices: Pet monitoring devices can be used to track pets’ location and prevent them from wandering off. These can be worn separately, or they can be installed on collars.
- Pet games: Technology-based pet games aim to keep pets engaged while their owners are not present. These games are designed to keep pets occupied, improve their health, and lower their stress.
- Self-cleaning litter boxes: Self-cleaning litter boxes are designed to keep home interiors and paws free of litter and dirt.
- Smart pet doors: Smart pet doors are designed to be open to pets exclusively and not unwanted guests. They can also be operated remotely via mobile applications. Cameras and sensors can be installed in the vicinity of these doors to identify pets and allow them to enter or leave as per the owner's preference.
- Pet wearables: Pet wearables are small devices that can be worn by pets to track their health and activity. These wearables are usually connected to mobile applications and monitor pets’ health and behavior.
- Pet nutrition: Nutrition-oriented pet food brands aim to provide optimal nutrition to pets. These companies also develop apps that keep track of pets' food intake to guide users in feeding their pets the proper amount.
- Pet grooming: Pet grooming devices assist users in cleaning and grooming their pets.
- Pet sitting: Several start-ups are engaged in the development of platforms that connect pet owners with pet sitters.
According to Segmanta's 2020 survey, safety is the main reason pet owners purchase pet technology products.
The majority (40 percent) of the surveyed pet tech consumers said they use products in this category to ensure safer conditions for their pets. Gen Z pet owners are more likely to purchase pet tech products for entertainment purposes compared with other generations.
The survey also identified a significant link between pet tech usage and premium pet food consumption. Approximately 50 percent of pet tech users and potential pet tech adopters answered that they feed their dogs healthy and/or organic food, while forty percent of pet tech users do so for their cats.
Loneliness and boredom of dogs home alone constituted another primary concern (60 percent) for surveyed pet tech users and potential pet tech consumers. The increasing focus on pets’ mental health has popularized pet tech products, such as phone-controlled cameras and interactive toys, to reduce stress and anxiety for both the pet and the owner.
The pet health industry has benefitted from the development of various technologies, such as smart health monitoring platforms and wearable devices. These technologies enable users to track several aspects of their pet’s health, including detecting health changes, tracking pets' health over time, and understanding the effects of nutrition.
Smartwatch technology used to monitor and track health data, including physical activity, sleep, and heart rate, has been adapted for use in pets as collar-worn devices. They can be used to track pets' movements, including their activity, sleep, and sleep quality.
Quantifying behaviors, such as scratching and shaking, with smart pet technology may help recognize skin conditions so owners can intervene early with proper diet changes, such as specialized food. Smart technologies can provide data 24/7, even when the pet parent is not home and even provide a more complete picture of a pet’s health for veterinarians.
Product examples in the pet health category include the following:
- A non-invasive smart thermometer (developed by Mella Pet Care)
- A modular smart collar integrated with a mobile app and a data cloud service (developed by Scollar)
- A robotic, camera-equipped smart ball that pet owners can control using their mobile devices, allowing them to play with their pets remotely and capture data about pet health and behavior (developed by PlayDate)
- A digital wellness platform helping users make health and nutrition decisions to enable preventative care and early diagnosis of potential health problems (developed by Obe Digital Pet Health and Wellness)
- A dog activity monitor that enables app-based management of exercise and weight (developed by PitPat)
