Survey reveals 40% of pet owners wish for technology that would let them talk to their pets

Dog and owner sitting at a table across from each other.

There are all sorts of useful pet products on the market, allowing us to keep an eye on our furry friends when we’re out of the house, providing them with lots of physical and mental stimulation, and making our lives easier.

But moving beyond the current best pet cameras and the best automatic litter boxes, what sort of products would you like to see produced in the future? Pet Drugs Online, one of the UK’s largest suppliers of veterinary medication online and animal care products, spoke to 2,000 pet parents based in the country to find out just what our hopes are for pet products going forward over the next 20 years.

In the not-so-distant past, this would have sounded like something from a sci-fi movie, but a huge 40% of pet parents are hoping for technology that translates barks and meows – who needs Dr Dolittle?

If pet parents could ask their cat or dog one thing, 20% would like to ask about their physical health, while 17% would check in about their happiness.

Surveyed pet owners reported that they hoped for:

• devices that automatically pick up poop (34%)
• technology that can help reduce a pet’s anxiety (29%)
• pet beds that change temperature based on how their pet feels (26%)
• smart home appliances controlled by barks and meows (14%)
• AI animals to be a ‘friend’ to their pet (13%)
• public transport purely for pets and owners (13%)

While we’ve come a long way with tech innovations, such as interactive cameras, there are still so many opportunities (Image credit: Getty Images)

Sarah Page-Jones, head of veterinary compliance at Pet Drugs Online, said: “This research paints an exciting picture of the future of pet care. We've come a long way already, with tech inventions such as automatic feeders, cameras and DNA testing kits, but there are still so many opportunities.”

She added: “With the busy lives pet owners now lead, cameras are great to keep an eye on what pets are up to, but we’re surely not far off seeing AI pet-sitters! It’s clear pet owners are eager for even more innovation, especially when it comes to the health of their pets and everyday convenience.

“We know that the focuses we have on human health always trickle down to the priorities pet owners have for their companions, seen through food and nutritional demand over the past decade. Looking ahead, pets’ mental health will likely become more important to owners, as it has for humans in recent years.”

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