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If you're anything like me, you see your pet as family. I even make many of my life decisions -- where I live, how I travel and weekend plans -- based on my sweet and sassy pup Walter.
I made sure we lived near a public green space, for instance, since we're located in New York City without a backyard. Each night, either me or my fiance is home in time to feed him dinner, take him for walks, play catch and handle any other pet-parent duties -- no matter what.
I'm sure the 62% of Americans who identify as pet owners can relate to making these types of decisions. Owning a pet can be a huge responsibility, some pet-friendly gadgets have helped me along my dog-parent journey, and they can help you too.
Here are seven of our favorites.
1. Pet camera
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
I love my pet camera and consider it my number one must-have when it comes to 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 he was relaxing on the couch rather than barking at the door, waiting for us to return.
I 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 now that we're into a larger apartment 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 a snack throughout the day.
From talking fridges to iPhones, our experts are here to help make the world a little less complicated.
2. GPS collar
The number one 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 both dog and cat collars that glow and track your pet's location and activity and can even send you health alerts if necessary. You can read our full review of the Petcube tracker here.
3. Smart pet door
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.
We haven't tested this one yet, Amazon reviewers like that it gives their pets some freedom, while also keeping the raccoons outside.
4. Automatic feeder
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 due to health concerns, an automatic feeder is a great option.
5. Heartbeat toy
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.
6. Electric ball launcher
The Joyhound Electronic Ball Launcher is a great addition to your dog's toybox. 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
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.