Many of us are familiar with pet microchipping but perhaps not so much the technology behind it. For example, a microchip is made up of a transponder which is a rice grain-sized chip, that is implanted under the skin of dogs, cats, and some other animals. The transponder has a unique number which appears when a pet is scanned. When a pet is microchipped, the number on the chip is registered with a pet microchip database and includes the owner's contact details, so that a pet can be returned to the owner if it gets lost.

Pet monitoring systems which have a camera, enable you to watch and talk to your pet while you are away from home. But do these systems just aid people to have an easier conscious if they leave their pet at home alone for a long time? Or is it actually a good tool to check on your pet and calm your pet down by talking to them, when you are not there. Having a bit more control over your pet when you are not at home is good, but it should not be used as an excuse to leave your pet on their own for a long time.

GPS is a satellite navigation system used to determine the location of a person or object. By putting a GPS tracker on your pet's collar, you can track and pinpoint their location which makes it a great tool for keeping track of pets that tend to get lost or runoff. Or for nosy owners, that want to know which neighbours their cat visits regularly.

Sometimes pet owners can get detained on their way home and in these times, it is good to have an automatic pet feeder so you know your cat or dog will be able to eat at their usual time. An automatic pet feeder can be used to feed your pet when you are not around. All you need to do is to put dry food into the automatic feeder, which is attached to a bowl, and programme it to automatically dispense a measured amount of food into the bowl at a set time. You can also record your voice saying whatever you like to let your pet know his food is on the way.

Who does not dread scooping out the cat’s litter box? With an automatic, self-cleaning litter box, the job is done for you. Once the cat leaves the box, the waste is automatically separated from the clean litter and then dumped into a bag-lined carbon filter drawer. When the drawer becomes full, you are notified to empty it. It is as simple as that!

There are several interactive pet toys on the market for both cats and dogs for example automatic ball dispenser so your dog can chase balls without the need for you to throw them. However, as with all pet toys safety and encouraging natural behaviour must be the top priority when assessing which interactive toy is best for your dog or cat.