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Pet tech: Geeky gear for your dogs and cats (continued)
Ever the gadget-hound, I then faced the door towards the wall, figuring the detritus might rebound back into the box. Nope. Sammy simply removed the cover. This was a structurally-reinforced plastic cover with locking hooks. No match for a cat. I came home from work to find the cover in the kitchen (on the other side of my apartment), the litter box upside down, and litter and poo on a path out the bathroom, into the bedroom, out the bedroom, into the hall, down the hall, and into the kitchen.
Sammy:1, LitterMaid: 0
I threw it out and we went back to the basic pan. Once again, the cat won. I miss Sammy. - DG]
CatMouse electronic litter box odor eliminator
The bewilderingly named CatMouse seems to be a promising solution for frugal cat owners who don't mind cleaning out the litter box, but do mind the smell. You install the CatMouse near the litter box and it electronically oxidizes and purifies the air in the immediate vicinity. Not bad for $40.
Things get a little weird if you choose to purchase the optional therapuetic pheremone packs. Maybe there's something to this feline aromatherapy notion. Or maybe the makers of the CatMouse need to lay off the catnip.
OUR RATING: 3 of 5
Dolce Vita DuoTemp heating and cooling pet bed
Mother Nature has provided cats and dogs with a marvelous array of temperature control devices. When they get too hot, they pant. When they get too cold, they curl up in a patch of sunlight - or on your feet.
This is not satisfactory for the fine people at Dolce Vita, who've designed a cushy pet bed that can heat or cool your pet as needed. The bed costs $200, but panting and sunlight are free. So what's up with my 4 rating? Well, the Dolce Vita people say low-level heat therapy can soothe arthitis pain in aging pets. Just thinking of doggies and kitties suffering from creaky joints, popping aspirins and slathering themselves in Bengay breaks my heart. Fine. I'll buy the damn bed.
OUR RATING: 4 of 5
PetsMobility PetsCell animal cell phone
The PetsCell has an admittedly practical purpose. You strap it around your dog's or cat's neck and should they wander off, the built-in GPS locator helps you track them down easily. That's great. But why does this thing need to also work as a cell phone? Do you honestly expect Lassie to dial 911 when Timmy falls down the well?
Apparently the folks at PetsMobility are still trying to figure who's going to buy the PetsCell, and at what cost. Their Web site lists an expected 2008 product launch, but pricing and availability as of the time of this writing (early 2009) are still TBD.
OUR RATING: 2 of 5
Zoombak GPS pet locator
The Zoombak strikes me as similar to the PetsCell, minus the overkill. It's designed for animals weighing 15 pounds and over, which means it's best suited for dogs and big-boned cats. The collar-mounted GPS unit costs $100 and the monthly service fee starts at $9.99. That's certainly not too much to ask if it'll help reunite you with your missing pooch or flabby tabby.
You can even get Zoombak GPS locators to strap to your kid, or stick in your car, in case either one should disappear on you. Now that's fun for the whole family.
OUR RATING: 5 of 5
And there you go. Pet gadgets. Now give your fuzzball a hug.
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