Humans have kept cats and dogs as pets for centuries, from deified kitties basking in the ancient Egyptian sun, to wolves nipping at the scraps of early man’s hunting spoils. Until relatively recently, our pets were much more separate from us – particularly dogs, which weren’t seen as companion animals in the eyes of most families until the 19th century. Now, they are bonafide members of the family. Cats have become more indoor-dwelling too, and owners have altered their environments with scratching posts and litter trays in response.
With pet ownership on the rise, cats and dogs are becoming more closely intertwined with our lives. The amount we spend on our pets has gone up too, with the average British household spending more than £3,000 on their dogs each year.
There are more things to buy for our pets than ever: designer harnesses, organic dog food, pet cameras, automatic feeders and bedding that looks more comfortable than our own. As our lives get busier, the industry creates more ways to keep pets busy and happy in our absence.
“We humanise our pets more than we used to, from buying them dog beer, to dog-friendly birthday cupcakes, Easter eggs and advent calendars,” says Dr Karlien Heyrman, head of pets at Pets at Home. “Pets have become much more part of the family, and as people’s lifestyles have changed, how we care for our pets has changed,” she says. Having pets boosts our oxytocin, which lowers feelings of loneliness and boosts our joy, so, of course, we want to spoil them.
According to Heyrman, we use technology to look after our pets more than ever. She cites microchip-operated cat flaps and feeders, activity trackers and cameras as just a few examples, and believes that the market will continue to grow. “I expect a lot of advancements in this area, both to give pet owners more information about their pet and to give the vets looking after the pets more information about their health,” she says. According to Alvexo, pet tech options are becoming more affordable, which their experts believe will make the trend even more mainstream.
Emma Sinclair shares a “heavily tech-enabled home” with her three cats
One owner who’s ahead of the pet tech trend is Emma Sinclair, a tech entrepreneur who has three rescue cats: Peanut, Lloyd and Schnoo. She has a “heavily tech-enabled home”, which includes feeding machines with cameras, to ensure the cats are being fed and to keep an eye on them when humans aren’t around. Additionally, the cats have an automated litter box and a water machine that keeps their drinks fresh. Sinclair says that as she and her partner lead busy lives, the clever technology ensures her cats are always well looked after: “Technology of any sort is there for certain reasons: to automate mindless, tedious tasks and to make life easier, so our time can be spent on more important things. We can ensure that they are well fed, their water is cool and clean and their litter area is fresh and inviting at all times.”
It may sound like bells and whistles, but Sinclair insists the gear is worth it. “[The cats] enhance my life, and I love them an embarrassing amount. They can wake me up in the middle of the night for attention and destroy my lovely sofa, yet I still love them,” she says. As well as tech, Sinclair treats her kitties to cat toys, scratching posts, comfortable baskets, and anything they could possibly want.
Dogs have benefited from the pet tech revolution too, and Jeanette McNeish, who has two dogs, relies on gadgetry to support their mental health. Her dogs get anxious and hyperactive, so she subscribes to a service that provides TV and music for pets. “It really helps with [my dog] Bowie’s anxiety, especially when we leave the house and he gets separation anxiety. So we find that we’re not as worried when we leave him alone. Plus it’s really funny to watch them watching TV,” she says, adding that “the sheep and virtual dog walks” are their favourite programmes.
She also uses Petcube, a small cube-shaped camera with Alexa built in to interact with them, watch them, and dispense treats while she’s not around.
While our pets rely on us to keep them calm and happy, many of us find that we rely on them for the same reasons. Cats and dogs are proven to be beneficial for people with depression, ADHD, anxiety, and autism, partly because of the sense of purpose and responsibility they give us. Billie can attest to that. She adopted her cat after a long-term relationship broke down, and found that the decision “saved her”. “I suffered a huge mental breakdown, couldn’t leave my flat for months”, she says, adding that on days she felt she couldn’t get out of bed, the incentive to care for her cat gave her a reason to get up. “She cuddles me to sleep each night, she’s waiting on the stairs for me every day when I get home. She’s incredible company, I don’t know where I would be without her.”
Punk Rock Milo, a corgi owned by Elena de Soto, has almost 13,000 followers on Instagram
While lifestyles have changed, what remains the same is that humans find cats and dogs irresistibly cute. In 2019, we’ve turned that “awww” factor into social media power, and it’s common to find cats and dogs with more Instagram followers than political leaders and celebrities. One such pet is Punk Rock Milo, a corgi owned by Elena de Soto, who has almost 13,000 followers on Instagram. De Soto works at a gig venue, and after realising her dog was a hit with bands, started posting photos of them posing with Milo online. “When fans are hanging out at the venue during his walk break or when I’m leaving they’re petting him and taking photos of him. We’ve been invited to concerts and events at other venues and festivals. When bands advance their shows, they ask for Milo to be at the venue for photo opportunities,” says de Soto. She adds that she’s careful not to stress Milo out, which is important to remember – you should never get a dog just to post on social media, and you should never push them to do things that they can’t handle. De Soto says that she and Milo have tons of fun together.
In 2019, pet lives seem to be as complex and individual as human ones. But what remains the same since our first contact with our pets’ ancestors is that the bond is mutually beneficial. It’s not just about what a pet can do for you – what you can do for the pet matters just as much. So if you’re thinking about adding a new cat or dog to your life, get clued up on the latest developments that can support happy and healthy pets – as well as vital information about healthcare and wellbeing – and you’ll reap endless rewards.
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