While cats continue to rule the Internet with their cute videos, they’re also clawing their way into the billion-dollar pet pampering market.
According to the 2015-2016 American Pet Product Association National Pet Owners Survey, US citizens own a total of 312.1 million pets – including 85.8 million cats and 77.8 million dogs.
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Entrepreneurs are constantly coming up with new pet technologies, clever cat supplies and newfangled ways to pamper four-legged furry family members. After all, the American Pet Product Association reports that US pet owners spent some $60.59 billion on their animals in 2015 alone.
ISRAEL21c brings you seven Israeli technologies and services that really are the cat’s pajamas. Some are also purrfect for dogs.
- PetPace
PetPace’s connected pet collar uses non-invasive sensors to monitor data including temperature, pulse, respiration, activity levels, movement and calories throughout the day. If the collar detects any abnormalities, an alert is sent in real-time to pet parents and veterinarians. PetPace was named Israel’s Most Promising Startup in a 2015 competition.
- Cat2See
Cat2See is all about making Tigger happy. The products include a webcam controllable by app or browser that lets you keep an eye on your favorite fur ball; a cat game that can be controlled remotely to keep kitty entertained; and a feeder you can program to serve fresh morsels at set times.
The Cat2See team has also created a professional social network for cat owners and cat lovers. This is the place to find the next viral cat photo or video.
- De Cat Palace
De Cat Palace is a multifunctional, high-tech litter box promoted as a “place of wellness, beauty and joy” for your cat.
This luxurious litter box features a scratch pad and food dispenser, noise sensor, smart humidity monitor, smart ventilation system, computerized central control system, and a free app to control the palace from your smartphone. It sends an SMS if the litter needs to be replaced or when Fluffy needs a refill of water or food, and tracks your cat’s behavior.
The fancy litter box is designed by award-winning Israeli artist/designer Ruth Kedar, best known for designing the basis of the original Google logo that was displayed from May 31, 1999 to September 1, 2015.
- CatGenie
Cat owners don’t have to scoop up after their pets outside but they do have to empty a stinky litter box. That’s where the CatGenie automated self-flushing cat box comes in to save the day. Israeli company PetNovations, located in Moshav Batzra, is behind the revolutionary CatGenie system. Think port-a-potty for cats.
“It works like a cat box, acts like a toilet, and cleans like a modern washing appliance. The CatGenie is the product of years of research and development, and utilizes several technologies to achieve a unique solution to cat care needs, ” according to PetNovations.
The device uses washable litter granules that are cleaned by the machine. Solid waste is dissolved into liquid waste and then drops into a sanitation chamber and gets flushed down the drain. Pet owners don’t have to touch or buy cat litter again.
- Keepi
The Keepi smart cat-litter box is a patent-pending innovation intended to monitor your cat’s health and detect early signs of illness. The team behind this medical cat tech won a prestigious startup award in Israel in October 2015.
Keepi was developed by Oded Yarkoni – who worked at and is a former Unit 8200 officer – together with Noam Hadas (medical technology) and Hippotec Design.
Yarkoni is working with veterinarians to fine-tune the sophisticated behavioral and urinalysis technologies in Keepi, which will also include a mobile app that sends cat owners alerts when early disease symptoms are detected.
- Terminal4pets
Pet pampering takes a step up with this Israeli door-to-door VIP (very important pet) courier service for jet-setting cats. Terminal4pets helps pet owners fly with their furry friends or ship them to wherever they need to go. The company offers in-flight veterinarian service, pre-flight checkups and recommendations for a safer and easier trip, flight kennel solutions and custom flight arrangements.
Terminal4pets deals with all kinds of pets. It has even arranged for stray dogs adopted by US servicemen in Iraq to be flown to new homes in the United States.
- Qruso
According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, lost dogs are more likely than cats to be found and returned home. That’s why veterinarians recommend ID tags.
The Israeli Qruso smart ID tag uses QR codes and NFC technologies to keep your pet traceable. If your cat does get lost, anyone who scans the Qruso smart ID tag will be able to access your cat’s details and notify you of the GPS location of the finder and the cat. The tags do not require a battery, have no range limit and are all-weather durable.
