For thousands of years, humans and animals have built relationships with one another. From the purely professional mouse-catching bodega cats and guard dogs to beloved cuddly companions, there’s not much we wouldn’t do for the animals in our lives. Tech and IoT have revolutionized the way we take care of ourselves but it also touches on the lives of our pets as well.

Among the nearly 70% of American households with pets, most consider them just another member of the family - and of course we only want to give our family members the best in life. Tech savvy pet owners already utilize basic tech to track and take care of their pets; microchipping and GPS tracking are only the beginning. In 2017, there were over 393 million pets in the US and growing; during this same year, more than $70 billion was spent on our pets from treats to medical care to tech.

On average, Americans spend eight hours per weekday at the workplace. Household chores, personal care, and of course sleeping take up another 10-12 hour chunk of the day. This leaves just around four and half hours for all other responsibilities - like our pets. For busy pet parents, high tech gadgets like self-cleaning litter boxes, smart food bowls, and automatic fetch machines can be there for our pets when we simply cannot be. While no piece of tech can ever replicate the unconditional love we have for our animals, they can help ease the distance that other responsibilities create.

Are you ready for the latest in pet tech? This infographic details the growing popularity in pet devices, how they are changing the way we interact with our pets, and bringing us closer to our animal friends than ever before.