Pet tech, tested by people who own pets.
We review the gadgets that solve real problems — and call out the ones that don't. Cat-first by design. Dog-fluent. We don't gush. We don't take vendor money for placements.
Most pet tech innovation happens in cat households. So that's where we start. Then we cover dogs honestly, without pretending every smart collar is a breakthrough.
The verdicts we're publishing this month.
Litter-Robot 4 vs Petkit Pura X: 90 Days In.
Three months in a two-cat household. The gap between $699 and $499 isn't what you'd expect.
Best GPS for Indoor-Outdoor Cats.
Five trackers tested on a 4kg cat. Battery, range, subscriptions — compared honestly.
Ceramic vs Stainless vs Plastic Fountains.
Material matters more than pump quality. 60 days of biofilm tracking, full report.
Microchip Cat Doors: 3 Worth Buying.
SureFlap dominates the category, but is it actually the best? We tested it against two newer competitors.
Fi vs Tractive vs Whistle: Full Comparison.
Three weeks, two dogs, one fenced yard and one off-leash trail. Subscription costs included.
Furbo 360 Review: Worth $210?
Six months of treat-tossing and barking alerts. The verdict is more nuanced than Amazon reviews suggest.
Best Smart Cat Feeder for Multi-Cat Homes.
Microchip identification, portion calibration, multi-cat conflict — tested across all dimensions.
Activity Trackers Worth the Wrist (or Collar).
Whistle Health, FitBark, and three others. Most are marketing dressed as data.
Categories we cover.
Six categories across two species. We test in real households, not labs. Every product gets at least 30 days before we publish.
Smart Litter Boxes
Self-cleaning, sifting, waste sensors.
GPS Trackers
Cat and dog GPS, AirTag, smart collars.
Feeders & Fountains
Microchip feeders, portioning, fountains.
Pet Cameras
Treat dispensers, audio, alerts.
Smart Doors
Microchip doors, schedule locks.
Containment
Halo, SpotOn, invisible fences.
Litter-Robot 4: it earns its $699.
After 90 days in a two-cat household and 87 cycles tracked, the verdict is in. The Litter-Robot 4 isn't perfect — and it certainly isn't cheap — but the engineering gap between it and every competitor under $500 is significant enough that we're calling it a buy for households with the budget.
Read the full review →Five criteria. Real households.
Every product is scored 0–10 across five pillars. Tested in real homes with real pets for at least 30 days. Vendors don't see articles before publication. Subscription pricing is always analyzed separately from upfront cost.