I
love
animals.
I’m
lucky
enough
to
have
a
big
backyard
with
plenty
of
space
for
seven
chickens
we
call
The
Ladies,
a
bunny
rabbit
named
Inle,
a
large
dog
named
Gus,
and
an
adventurous
cat
who
goes
by
Smokey.
(I
think
there’s
space
for
a
horse,
but
my
husband
disagrees.)
Caring
for
my
flock
is
one
of
my
favorite
things
to
do.
But
with
a
full-time
job
and
two
teenage
kids,
life
gets
busy.
That’s
where
my
smart
home
—
and
pet
tech
—
comes
in
handy,
helping
me
keep
everyone
safe,
healthy,
happy,
and
fed.
Pet
care
is
a
primary
use
case
of
my
smart
home.
In
fact,
about
half
of
all
my
gadgets
are
in
some
way
helping
me
look
after
the
animals
—
from
watching
them
and
feeding
them
to
keeping
them
comfortable
and
letting
me
know
where
they
are
or
what
they
need.
The
Ladies
would
like
to
tell
you
about
their
pet
tech.
Some
dedicated
pet
tech
has
benefits
you
won’t
find
elsewhere. Health
tracking
features
on
Fitbit-like
devices
for
pets
can
be
useful,
and
a
pet
cam
is
generally
easier
to
use
(and
more
fun!)
than
a
standard
security
camera.
But
a
lot
of
pet
tech
is
overpriced
and
requires
a
monthly
subscription.
Using
standard
smart
home
gear
to
help
with
pet
care
can
be
cheaper
and
more
effective.
An
outdoor
contact
sensor
on
a
garden
gate
or
an
“animal
detected”
alert
from
a
video
doorbell
notifies
me
faster
than
a
GPS
tracker
that
Gus
has
made
a
break
for
it,
and
smart
home
automations
and
routines
that
work
for
humans
can
be
helpful
for
four-legged
friends,
too.
The
products
I’ve
highlighted
here
are
some
of
my
favorite
solutions
for
my
particular
needs.
Of
course,
not
everyone
has
quite
so
many
animals
to
look
after,
and
if
you
live
in
the
city,
you
probably
keep
your
pets
indoors
(in
which
case,
I
can
recommend
a
good
robot
vacuum).
Still,
this
rundown
of
how
I
use
my
smart
home
for
pet
care
offers
tips
and
solutions
to
help
you
put
smart
tech
to
work
for
your
pets.
Raccoon
families
and
possums
are
frequent
visitors
in
my
backyard.
This
Eufy
camera
sends
me
an
alert
when
an
animal
is
detected.
A
watchful
eye
The
Ladies
and
Inle
live
in
the
backyard
in
a
sturdy
chicken
coop
and
a
palatial
two-story,
four-room
rabbit
hutch
built
by
my
very
handy
husband.
The
coop
and
hutch
are
constructed
like
Fort
Knox,
but
I
still
worry
about
predators.
(We
had
an
unfortunate
raccoon
incident
a
while
back.)
Security
issues
with
Eufy
cameras
In
2022,
Eufy
suffered
some
security
vulnerabilities,
which
the
company
was
not
transparent
about.
We
temporarily
removed
recommendations
for
Eufy
products
from
our
buying
guides
while
the
company
worked
on
a
fix. Eufy
says all
the
security
flaws
have
been
resolved;
however,
the
company’s
initial
lack
of
transparency
is
something
to
consider
before
purchasing
a
Eufy
camera,
especially
if
you
are
using
it
inside
your
house.
You
can
read
more about
the
issues
and
Eufy’s
solutions
here.
Additionally,
for
more
information
about
managing
security
cameras
to
keep
your
footage
secure
and
private,
read
our
article
on keeping
your
footage
safe
and
private.
To
keep
an
eye
out
when
I’m
away
from
home
or
sleeping,
I
use
two
solar-powered
S330
EufyCam
security
cameras
with
AI-powered
detection,
a
feature
that
uses
machine
learning
to
analyze
the
footage
from
a
camera
for
specific
things,
such
as
people,
animals,
vehicles,
or
packages.
If
a
creature
is
spotted
outside
the
pet
enclosures,
I
get
a
rich
notification
that
includes
a
snapshot
so
I
can
know
immediately
if
I
need
to
dash
out
there
with
a
broomstick.
Other
security
cameras,
including
Arlo,
Google
Nest,
Tapo,
and
Reolink,
offer
animal
detection.
However,
the
Eufy
cameras
work
with
the
Eufy
HomeBase
3,
a
storage
device
connected
to
my
router
that
processes
the
footage
locally
and
helps
extend
the
signal.
Eufy’s
cameras
are
the
only
cameras
I’ve
tested
that
reliably
connect
to
my
phone
and
stream
from
the
end
of
my
garden,
where
I
get
one
bar
of
Wi-Fi.
Because
of
its
local
storage
and
processing,
there’s
no
monthly
subscription;
the
cameras
also
have
solar
panels
built
in,
meaning
I
haven’t
had
to
charge
them
yet
with
over
six
months
of
use.
The
Ladies
(seven
Barred
Rock
hens)
are
intrigued
by
the
Eve
sensor
outside
their
coop.
It
triggers
a
fan
to
turn
on
when
temps
rise.
Climate
control
I
live
in
South
Carolina,
and
the
summer
heat
here
can
be
tough
on
outdoor
pets.
We
have
Barred
Rock
hens,
known
for
their
hardiness
in
hot
and
cold
temperatures.
But
still,
I
like
to
keep
The
Ladies
comfortable.
I
have
an
Apple
Home
automation
set
up
to
turn
on
a
box
fan
connected
to
a
Lutron
Caséta
outdoor
smart
plug
when
the
Eve
Weather
sensor
detects
temperatures
above
80
degrees
Fahrenheit.
I
have
a
similar
setup
in
Inle’s
rabbit
cage
using
different
plugs,
sensors,
and
platforms
(which
I
rotate
when
testing
devices),
but
the
Caséta
plug,
while
expensive,
has
been
the
most
reliable
and
robust.
Additionally,
after
3PM
when
it’s
over
90
degrees
Fahrenheit,
I
have
an
IFTTT
automation
that
triggers
a
Rachio
smart
sprinkler
system
to
turn
on
for
30
minutes,
giving
the
chickens
a
cooling
shower.
(Inle
comes
inside
when
it’s
that
hot!)
An
outdoor
Nest
Cam
sends
me
an
alert
when
an
animal
is
at
the
backdoor
or
if
he
has
hopped
up
on
the
table
for
some
refreshments.
A
digital
cat
flap
Smokey
is
an
indoor
/
outdoor
cat,
and
we
don’t
have
a
cat
flap.
Instead,
I
rely
on
the
various
security
cameras
and
video
doorbells
I’m
testing
around
my
house
to
send
a
motion
or
animal
alert
to
my
phone
when
he’s
walking
through
the
yard
to
the
backdoor
or
sitting
on
the
front
porch
waiting
to
be
let
in.
It’s
not
a
solution
for
everyone,
but
it
works
for
me!
Smokey
caught
on
camera.
Ring
doesn’t
offer
animal
alerts,
but
thanks
to
rich
notifications,
I
can
see
with
a
glance
if
the
cat’s
back
(or
climbing
a
tree).
In
case
I
miss
an
alert
on
my
phone,
I
also
have
an
Alexa
Routine
set
up
to
play
a
Christmas
bells
jingle
and
announce
“Smokey’s
Home”
from
an
Echo
Show
8
on
my
desk
and
a
speaker
in
the
living
room
when
the
Google
Nest
Cam
(outdoor
/
indoor)
trained
on
the
porch
door
detects
an
animal.
This
routine
also
plays
if
the
Ring
camera
in
the
backyard
detects
motion.
This
is
useful
since
it
alerts
anyone
who’s
home
(such
as
my
parents
when
they’re
pet
sitting)
that
the
cat
wants
in.
Gus
chilling
to
a
pet
YouTube
channel.
Home
alone
Gus
prefers
to
be
an
indoor
dog,
so
when
I
have
to
leave
him
home
alone,
I
have
a
camera
set
up
by
his
crate
to
keep
an
eye
on
him
and
alert
me
of
any
issues.
I’ve
tried
various
cameras
in
this
role
and
have
two
favorites:
The
Furbo
360°
Dog
Camera
($99).
As
a
dedicated
pet
cam,
this
has
a
host
of
features
you
won’t
find
on
other
security
cameras,
including
alerts
for
continuous
crying
and
barking
and
even
vomiting
or
pooping.
However,
these
features
are
behind
a
paywall
($7
monthly,
$69
a
year),
as
are
recorded
videos
and
the
option
to
automatically
turn
the
camera
on
and
off
when
I
leave.
Since
I
work
from
home,
I
don’t
use
this
enough
to
justify
a
monthly
subscription,
so
I
rely
on
the
free
regular
barking
alerts
to
let
me
know
if
something’s
up
so
I
can
drop
in
on
a
livestream
and
use
the
camera’s
treat
dispensing
feature
to
help
calm
him.
I
also
have
the
Furbo
plugged
into
an
Eve
Energy
smart
plug
connected
to
Apple
Home
to
turn
it
on
when
I
do
leave
and
back
off
when
I’m
home.
The
Aqara
Camera
Hub
G3
($110).
A
more
basic
pet
cam
but
a
better
security
camera
(it
has
2K
video
over
the
Furbo’s
1080p),
the
Aqara
can
also
pan
and
tilt,
specifically
track
dogs
and
cats,
and
send
noise
alerts
like
the
Furbo
(all
without
a
subscription).
Plus,
I
can
record
video
for
free
locally
on
a
microSD
card
or
by
connecting
it
to
Apple
Home
and
using
Apple
HomeKit
Secure
video.
The
Apple
Home
integration
lets
me
program
the
camera
to
turn
on
when
I
leave
home
and
off
when
I
come
back.
The
camera
also
looks
really
cute.
The
Aqara
G3
is
a
good
security
camera
that
also
works
as
a
pet
cam.
Recently,
I’ve
been
playing
with
the
Samsung
SmartThings
Pet
Care
feature,
which
lets
me
set
up
a
routine
in
the
SmartThings
app
that
turns
on
the
lights
and
plays
a
soothing
YouTube
pet
channel
(pictures
of
puppies
and
cats
with
classical
music
playing)
on
my
Samsung
TV
during
the
day.
It
also
sends
a
notification
if
it
hears
Gus
barking.
It’s
been
surprisingly
effective
at
calming
him,
although
the
sound
detection
needs
some
fine-tuning
since
the
robot
vacuum
also
triggered
it.
Smokey
enjoying
his
kibble
from
the
Aqara
Smart
Pet
Feeder.
Smart
feeding
Automatic
pet
feeders
are
great
if
you
work
long
hours
or
will
be
out
during
your
pet’s
regularly
scheduled
mealtime.
They’re
also
very
handy
for
portion
control.
I
use
an
Aqara
Smart
Pet
Feeder
for
Smokey’s
kibble.
At
$99,
it’s
quite
expensive
and
needs
an
Aqara
hub
for
app
control,
but
it
can
connect
to
other
smart
devices,
which
lets
me
set
up
some
useful
automations.
My
current
favorite
one
is
using
the
Aqara
Camera
Hub
G3
(which
also
works
as
a
hub
for
the
feeder)
to
dispense
food
when
an
animal
is
spotted.
If
I’m
away
overnight,
I’II
set
the
G3
up
next
to
the
feeder
and
turn
on
the
automation
in
the
Aqara
app
so
Smokey
gets
a
fresh
treat
when
he
walks
up
to
the
bowl
(I
can
limit
it
to
two
times
a
day!).
The
Jiobit
pet
tracker
is
small,
but
not
small
enough
for
Smokey’s
taste.
Keeping
track
Pet
trackers
are
helpful
for
finding
a
lost
pet
and
keeping
an
eye
on
health
and
wellness
with
Fitbit-like
features
that
track
steps
and
let
you
set
daily
activity
goals.
I’m
currently
testing
the
Petcube
GPS
Tracker
with
Gus.
It’s
a
new
device
that
costs
$53
upfront
and
starts
at
$5
a
month
for
GPS
tracking
and
health
features,
including
total
daily
activity,
total
distance
covered,
and
daily
activity
goals.
That’s
quite
a
bargain
compared
to
the
competition,
which
starts
at
around
$8
a
month
plus
the
cost
of
hardware,
usually
over
$100.
Some
other
pet
trackers
I’ve
tested
on
Gus
include
the
Whistle
Go
Explore
and
the
Fi
dog
collar,
both
of
which
were
great
but
have
expensive
monthly
subscriptions.
Because
most
pet
trackers
are
too
chunky
for
a
feline,
the
best
option
I
found
for
Smokey
is
the
Jiobit
Smart
Tag.
It
was
also
the
most
precise
tracker
I
tested
—
accurately
showing
Smokey’s
location
and
all
the
routes
he
traveled
that
day.
Its
use
of
both
GPS
and
5G
is
probably
why,
but
that’s
also
why
I
had
to
pay
a
$15
monthly
service
charge
for
tracking
only,
with
no
health
features.
The
device
itself
is
$130,
and
after
Smokey
left
it
up
a
tree
one
too
many
times,
I
realized
that
it
just
wasn’t
right
for
an
independent
cat.
When
and
if
anyone
releases
a
pet
tracker
that
works
on
Amazon
Sidewalk
—
a
long-range,
low-bandwidth
network
that
can
give
any
IoT
device
free
low-speed
data
—
I
will
be
first
in
line
to
try
it.
Ring
promised
one
in
2019
when
Sidewalk
was
first
announced,
but
it
has
yet
to
materialize.
Gus
reluctantly
accepts
a
treat
from
a
Furbo
camera
being
carried
around
by
Amazon’s
Astro
home
robot.
Wait
—
there’s
more
There
is
a
growing
array
of
smart
tech
that
can
help
you
take
care
of
your
pets.
One
category
I
haven’t
covered
is
robot
cat
litter
boxes
(a
benefit
of
Smokey
being
an
indoor
/
outdoor
cat).
I
am
obviously
intrigued
by
the
idea
of
a
smart
chicken
coop
(The
Ladies’
home
is
getting
a
bit
long
in
the
tooth),
but
that
might
have
to
wait
until
prices
come
down
and
sizes
go
up.
(I
have
seven
large
ladies.)
While
several
gadgets
are
designed
to
help
keep
your
pet
entertained,
my
crew
all
gets
along
well
(even
the
cat
and
the
chickens!),
so
I
don’t
need
a
robot
AI
companion.
(They
were
also
deeply
suspicious
of
Amazon’s
Astro
robot
when
I
tested
it.)
Yes,
some
of
the
connected
tech
for
pets
can
seem
gimmicky
and
overly
expensive,
but
I’ve
found
using
smart
gadgets
to
help
take
care
of
my
pets
provides
me
peace
of
mind
and
a
very
helpful
extra
pair
of
hands.
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