A self-cleaning litter box, GPS tracker, heated bed, automatic feeder, and an app-controlled water fountain all features.
As the owner of a menagerie of wonderful animals, I am lucky enough to hold possession of three dogs, two cats, two gerbils, and two fish. I am incapable of depriving my children of whatever fauna companions they may deem necessary, though have drawn the line firmly at snakes.
Having considered some of the best dog gadgets available on the market for those looking for a little more than a bowl and a lead, I thought it might be a good idea to have a brief look at the equivalents for cats.
At the very least, this rundown could inspire a few gifts for that cat-lover in your life who seems to own everything already. One conspicuous item missing is a pet camera. The reason for this is simple — I trust my three dogs to behave when I’m not in the house about as far as I can throw them.
The cats — Hiccup and Toothless — are far more intelligent, and don’t need babysitting services. It is true that cats don’t really ‘need’ as much as a dog. I often joke that the dogs are all very good friends, while the cats are housemates who can’t afford to move out.
1. Petsafe Scoop-free Covered Self-Clean Litter Box
At £286, this self-cleaning litter box may be a luxury item for cat owners. On the other hand, it does come with a solid two-year manufacturer’s guarantee. And here’s the thing — it doesn’t matter how many air purifiers, open windows or similar you have, there is nothing worse than the smell and clean-up of cat mess.
The Petsafe litter box is a godsend. I no longer need to scoop, clean, or refill the litterbox, literally for weeks at a time. The box uses specialised crystal litter which provides five times better odour control than traditional clumping litter, as it dehydrates your cat’s solid waste. The litter is also 99% dust-free, and therefore doesn’t stick to your cat’s paws, leaving the floor area around the litterbox free from the usual pellets.
For the safety-conscious, sensors in the box ensure that scooping only happens when the cat has left the box. All you need to do is remove the tray and throw it away, with each including a lid for quick disposal. It even counts how often your feline makes use of the box, a handy indicator of health in older cats.
Just don’t let the dogs get in!
2. Tractive GPS cat tracker
At circa £45, and weighing in at just 35 grams, the Tractive CAT-4 GPS tracker is by far the best value-for-money piece on the market. The tracker is 100% scratch and waterproof, has a battery life lasting up to a whole week, and fits any cat collar, and any cat weighing more than 4 kilograms.
You can follow almost every step, with unlimited range and location updates every few seconds, giving huge peace of mind for when your cat invariably goes missing for a day or two every year or so. There’s also location history and territory mapping, so you can see the limits of your cat’s usual range and discover favourite spots.
Many cats go as far as two miles from home, and it can help to know when they have gone beyond their usual comfort zone or have stayed in one position for too long. Indeed, you can set up a ‘virtual fence,’ which can be as small as your home, or as large as their territory, with alerts for when they go beyond this invisible boundary. You can even monitor how long they sleep for to help spot any potential health problems.
The only downside is that a subscription is required; but at £4.50 per month and with a 30-day money back guarantee, this is not particularly onerous in exchange for the ataraxia.
3. K&H Thermo Pod Heated Cat Bed
This £81 heated bed is an upgrade on the standard heated mats, given most cats’ propensity to seek covered shelter. The bed is low wattage and easy on the energy bills, with a unique ‘cat cave’ design to ensure comfort and privacy.
Best of all, the 4-watt heater is thermostatically controlled, making this bed suitable for all seasons. And the internal cushion is removable for easy washing and care — a must for any animal.
Just put it up high because the dogs will chew the cord and fight for space, often flattening or chewing up the bed if necessary.
4. PetLibro Automatic Cat Feeder
This 3-litre automatic feeder — costing only £50 — has been in the family for years without any problems. The patented rotor in the bottom of the tank alongside the secure twist-lock lid ensures your cat can’t get inside the food, while the in-built desiccant bag and triple-sealing strip keeps the food fresh and crunchy. However, I suspect that an enterprising dog could get in given time, so position the feeder safely up high.
It’s super-easy to set up, and you can program between one to six meals per day, with exact portion measurements. There’s a large LED display to change the feeding schedule (I haven’t had to in years), but I do occasionally use the manual feeding button when I’m feeling generous.
While the feeder is mains—powered, you can also put 3 ‘D’ batteries as back-up power. The entire thing comes apart for very easy cleaning, and a sensor means food stops being dispensed in case there’s a blockage.
You can even record a short message to call your cat when it’s mealtime, though mine have got the timings down to within a few seconds before the food shows up!
5. Petkit Cat Water Fountain
This two-litre app-controlled water fountain is an excellent choice for cat-lovers; especially for those with elderly cats who often don’t drink enough and therefore end up with urinary or kidney-related diseases.
The app is what sets this model apart — it tells you when to refill the mess-free fountain, and also when the activated carbon filter needs to be changed. The pump is ultra-quiet, with very low energy consumption. And it boasts an additional ion-exchange resin which filters out hair, dust, and heavy metals to make the water more palatable.
And it stops the hassle of your cat jumping in the water bowl or knocking it over — a favourite past-time of our feline friends.
Be aware, they may distrust the fountain at first!
