A SMART CAT SETUP

Whether you have a nervous new kitten or a set-in-hisways tabby, tech can help you cope with your feline

These six gadgets will help your cat eat better, sleep better, play harder, and stay safe while exploring outside

THE READER Michael Evans

Mike and his partner Chloe are adopting a shelter cat called Oreo. They’re looking for pet tech to help with litter, feeding, playtime, naps and, eventually, outside exploring.

1 PETKIT COSY PET BED

Pets can find new environments somewhat overwhelming at first, but you can help your new cat feel safe straight away with this smart pet bed for cats and dogs. It responds to the ambient temperature in your home to create the purrfect sleeping environment. It also connects to the PetKit app, so you can adjust the temperature remotely. This is great news if you want to ensure your pet is cosy when you’re away from home. $269, petcircle.com.au

2 PETKIT FRESH PET BOWL

When you get a new pet, it can be tricky to work out how much food they need each day. This clever, app-connected feeding bowl has built-in weighing scales to help you to work out exactly how much your cat (or dog) needs to eat based on its age, breed and activity levels. $39.95, petcircle.com.au

3 LITTER ROBOT

No matter how much you love your new cat, cleaning out its litter tray is never a fun task. Happily, the Litter Robot has a special sifting process that separates waste from clean litter, taking the hassle out of litter tray duties. It’s also selfcleaning, which means as soon as kitty is finished, a cleaning cycle deposits waste into a carbon filter drawer underneath. You’ll receive a notification when it’s time to empty the drawer, so you can spend less

THE EXPERT Becca Caddy

Smart home expert Becca Caddy knows the tech to make life more enjoyable and stress-free. And you’re not the only one who can

benefit – your pet can too.

time worrying about odour and cleaning up, and more time sharing photos of kitty. $895, litter-robot.com/au 4 TRACTIVE GPS COLLAR It’s nerve-wracking when your new cat gets braver and begins to explore beyond your back garden. Handily, Tractive’s pawsome GPS collar is app-connected, waterproof, lightweight, and offers real-time location tracking, which means it won’t interfere with kitty’s adventures, but it will help give you peace of mind. $98, tractive.com

5 FROLICAT BOLT LASER TOY

This laser toy should provide lots of fun for your feline friend, especially when you’re too busy or weary to play with them. Place it onto a flat surface and it’ll keep your cat entertained with lots of laser patterns to chase for hours on end… or until kitty finds a box to sit in.

$44.95, petsafe.net

6 SUREFLAP MICROCHIP CAT FLAP CONNECT

Take the stress out of caring for a new cat with this connected cat flap, which sends notifications to your phone whenever kitty leaves and enters your home, so you always know where it is. Set curfews and remotely lock and unlock the cat flap at any time if the weather is bad and you want to make sure your cat is safe inside. $200, pethouse.com.au