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In the United States, 20% of the 80 million dogs experience separation anxiety. This means 16 million dogs exhibit behaviors ranging from whining to destroying furniture, scattering stuffing everywhere, and even consuming it. So, how can you ensure your dogs and cats stay happy and healthy when you're away?
Discover five Kickstarter initiatives—four already successful and one currently active—that focus on virtual pet interaction, monitoring, and portable solutions to keep your pets by your side no matter where you are.
1. iPet Home Play lets you control a toy remotely using your wireless network.
Separation anxiety isn’t limited to pets—some owners feel the same distress as soon as they leave home. The ongoing Kickstarter campaign, iPet Home Play, developed by the creators of iPet Companion, allows pet owners to monitor their furry friends through video streaming and interact with them remotely. With a smart wall adapter, a rotating video camera, and a web or mobile interface, owners can operate a pet toy from any location. They can also capture videos and photos to share online.
2. iCPooch lets you reward your dog and reassure him that you’ll be back soon.
iCPooch, a successful project by Bondgy, Inc., enables you to give your dog a treat and video chat with him via your home wireless router. You can connect using your phone or computer.
3. Enhance your pet’s intelligence with CleverPet.
If you’re too busy to play with your dog—even virtually—CleverPet steps in. This fully-funded cognitive development game for dogs is a wifi-enabled console that challenges your dog’s mental abilities and adjusts as they progress. The console features touch pads that light up in various patterns; when your dog taps the correct one or follows the sequence, it dispenses a treat. You can also listen to your dog’s barks using the built-in microphone and record your voice. The companion app allows you to monitor their development.
4. Monitor your cat’s health with Taillio.
As Scrubs pointed out, everything revolves around poo. Taillio, a successful Kickstarter project by Pet Wireless, keeps tabs on your cat’s health by placing a device under their litter box. It weighs your cat during each bathroom visit, tracks usage frequency, waste volume, and behavior to detect signs of conditions like cancer, diabetes, hyperthyroidism, kidney failure, urinary tract problems, and congestive heart failure. The data is sent to the cloud for analysis, and if any issues arise, the Taillio app sends alerts to your phone.
5. Keep your pet close with Poucheze.
Ever wished you could carry your dog inside your hoodie all day? Poucheze, created by Poucheze LLC., has made that a reality. For $50, you get a hoodie with a built-in pet carrier that clips inside, supporting up to 20 pounds. The carrier can also be detached and worn independently.
