> At a Glance
> – CNET tested 15+ pet gadgets at CES 2025, from fire-alert collars to treat-tossing cameras
> – Top pick for pet cam: Petcube 360 at $49 with $4/month AI alerts
> – Best smart collar: Petcube Cat Collar with LED lights and 30-day battery
> – Why it matters: Owners can now monitor health, location, and habits remotely, but most require monthly subscriptions
From fire-saving collars to AI-powered litter boxes, this year’s CES showcased a wave of pet tech that promises to keep animals safer-and owners less stressed-than ever. After months of hands-on testing with their own dogs and cats, News Of Los Angeles reviewers narrowed the field to the devices actually worth buying.
Best Pet Cameras for Every Budget
The Petcube 360 delivers 1080p pan-tilt video, two-way audio, and 30-ft night vision for just $49 up-front. A $4 monthly Petcube Care plan unlocks smart alerts that bark “dog moving” or flag unknown humans.
Need treat-tossing? The Furbo 360 ($169) flings snacks on command and sends quirky AI captions like “dog on couch.” A $7 monthly subscription is mandatory.
Smart Collars That Track Location & Health
Cats that vanish after dark get the Petcube Smart Cat Collar-a waterproof puck that glows LED and lasts 30 days on a charge. GPS safe-zone alerts cost $5/month.
Big-dog escape artists need the Tractive GPS ($69 tracker, $9/month). It maps real-time location, logs activity, and even suggests local dog-park meet-ups. Battery runs two weeks.
Small pups get the Fi Series 3 ($189 for one-year plan). It tracks drinking, scratching, and licking in addition to GPS, and the battery stretches up to three months.
Automatic Feeders & Water Stations
The PawSync Smart Feeder uses a built-in scale to skip meals if food remains-ending the “extra kibble avalanche.” It handles kibble 4-15 mm and costs more than basic models, but it logs grams eaten and tells you exactly when to refill.
Wet-food households get the Polar Wet Food Feeder, chilling meals for up to three days and opening on a minute-specific schedule via app. A 12-hour battery backup keeps cats fed during outages.
The Petcube Wireless Fountain bubbles only when motion is sensed, saving battery while enticing picky cats. It’s near-silent and dishwasher-safe.
Self-Cleaning Litter Boxes & Floor Care
Multi-cat homes get the Litter-Robot 5 ($799). It identifies each cat by weight and logs bathroom visits, saving owners an average of 63 scoops a month.
If your cat hates hoods, the PetSafe Open-Top Automatic Box scoops after each use into a sealed tray. Cardboard base trays need replacing every few months.
For litter scatter, the Shark Matrix Robot Vacuum self-empties for weeks at a time and maps LiDAR routes around bowls and beds.
Key Takeaways
- Most smart features hide behind paywalls: budget $4-$19 per month
- Petcube 360 offers the best value for first-time pet-cam buyers
- GPS collars now double as health trackers, flagging changes in sleep or scratching
- Automatic feeders solve portion control, but kibble size limits apply
- Self-cleaning litter boxes trade high price for daily time savings
Pick the one device that solves your biggest pet headache, factor in the subscription cost, and the tech quickly pays for itself in peace of mind.
