Oh! Gizmo

By Luke Anderson

Cats tend to be creatures that like to come and go as they please. Sure, you can try and regulate when they are outside and when aren’t, but at the end of the day, the cat only comes back in when it wants to. One option you have is to install a cat flap, which will let them enter and leave when they chose. Of course the downside is that any cat can make their way into your house. That’s why you need a SureFlap.

If you don’t mind implanting your feline friend with a tiny microchip, then this might be a great solution for you. When your cat walks up to the door, the ID chip will let the door know that its safe to open, and it will do so.  The real question is how much the device will cost, since there is no word on pricing or availability.

[ SureFlap ] VIA [ GeekAlerts ]

By Luke Anderson

Have you ever had a car which was so slow that you were convinced it was powered by a small rodent? While I doubt that there was actually a hamster under the hood of that old Geo, this plastic vehicle is strictly critter-powered.

The Critter Cruiser  and Hamtrack are, as you would imagine a race track and plastic car. Just put your tiny pet into the plastic exercise wheel (which powers the car) and set it on its way. The car works both on and off of the track, so it can wheel its way all over the house. The car itself is around $36, or you can get the car and track set for around $63.

[ Firebox ] VI [ RGS ]

By Andrew Liszewski

Ok, so maybe simply multiplying by 7 isn’t the most accurate way to gauge your pet’s age. In fact, university studies have shown that depending on the size and breed of your cat or dog, they could be anywhere from 2x to 7x the equivalent human age, which complicates things a bit when it comes to crunching the numbers. Thankfully though, this Pet Care Clock from Sega Toys is designed to do the difficult math for you. It’s your standard LCD desk clock that shows the time and date, but once you enter your pet’s birth date and specify their approximate size, the clock will also show you their supposed age. (Calculated with a variety of different formulas.) And if you’re the type who likes to celebrate a pet’s birthday you’re in luck. In theory if your dog is aging 7x as fast as you, they should also have 7 birthdays a year, and this clock will actually alert you to every single one of them so you can remember to pick up a gift and a cake on the way home.

[ Pet Care Clock ] VIA [ Gearlog ]

By Luke Anderson

I’ve always loved cats, and generally enjoy having one around the house. Of course some felines have a tendency to scratch every piece of furniture in the house to bits, despite the fact that you’ve purchased a perfectly good scratching post. Others might decide that certain items around the house need “marked”. Well if your cat has a bad habit or two that you need to take care of, you might consider the Tabby Tote Cat Carrier.

No, this isn’t a real device (this one was), but it is hilarious. Yes, I know that it’s completely wrong, and I’d never subject an animal to that kind of cruelty. However, when you come home to discover your brand new couch has been shredded to bits, you’ll remember this one.

VIA [ FoolishGadgets ]

By Andrew Liszewski

I know there’s a lot of hype surrounding them, but if you’re in the market for a new vacuum cleaner I can’t recommend the Dyson models enough. Their upright ‘Animal’ model has particularly impressed me when it comes to battling a golden retriever who seems to shed and regrow his coat every 4 to 6 hours. Unfortunately though the upright model isn’t incredibly portable, and if you’re battling pet hair in your house, there’s a good chance you’re waging the same war in your car which is why Dyson has also introduced an ‘Animal’ version of their handheld DC16 line. (Also known as the Root 6 in North America.)

What sets the Animal version apart from the other Root 6 models is a motorized brushbar attachment that basically ’scrubs’ the pet hair off of fabrics and other upholstery. But like with the other handheld Dyson vacuums, the amazing suction power means you only get about 6 minutes of battery life. However, they do apparently recharge up to 3 times faster than their competitor’s models, which is great because I don’t anyone who can’t wait to clean. The Root 6 Animal is available directly from Dyson for $199.99.

[ Dyson DC16 Animal Handheld ] VIA [ Shiny Shiny ]

By Andrew Liszewski

One of the things I like about dogs is that they do their ‘business’ outside, instead of in a small box in the corner of your laundry room like other pets. But without the ability to operate a deadbolt or a door knob on their own, they’re pretty much reliant on you to let them outside. And if you forget to do so, things could get messy, so installing this pet sensing doorbell will ensure you always know when they’re ready for you know what.

The unit mounts to the wall near a door in your house and relies on a smart key attached to your pet’s collar to know when the animal is in the vicinity of the door, and presumably wants to go outside. The range can be adjusted from 6 inches to 3 feet, and when your pet does approach the doorbell it will ring a tone for about 7 seconds, every 5-10 seconds, until you get up and let them out. The volume can also be adjusted with 4 different settings that go as loud as 101 decibels. The Pet Sensing Doorbell ’starter kit’ comes with one of the smart tags and will set you back $79.95 from Hammacher Schlemmer. But it can actually be used with up to 5 different pets at once and additional smart tags are $29.95 each.

[ Pet Sensing Doorbell ]

By Luke Anderson

Have you ever gone to feed your dog, only to watch them devour it in a matter of minutes? Well apparently it’s just as bad for dogs to wolf down their food as it is for humans. To slow your pooch down you could always slowly give them more food, but that’s extra work for you. A better option might be this DogPause bowl.

This bowl has “SlowZones” which are simply raised areas of the bowl that intend to slow your pup down. According to the information, it can slow down consumption by up to 50%. If you’re concerned about the way your dog eats, then this $18 investment might be what you need.

[ DogPauseBowl ] VIA [ RedFerret ]

By Luke Anderson

I have a small black cat which I love very much, however, over the last month or so she has been driving me nuts. No, she’s not in heat, she’s just turning into a spaz. Seriously, she attacks everything that moves (and quite a few things that don’t). This of course includes my feet while I’m running up the stairs, which has nearly caused me to fall and break my leg a few times. Perhaps I need to invest in one of these Fling-Ama-String contraptions.

Essentially what you have here is a device that dangles a ribbon in front of your cat, which they will no doubt go crazy for. Just pop in 3 AA batteries and hang it from any door knob. You can select high or low, then watch your cat bat at it for a while. The only issue is that most cats aren’t entertained by a single object for more than a few minutes, so it’s a toss-up whether or not they’ll actually play with this $30 gadget any more than your shoelaces.

[ SkyMall ] VIA [ RGS ]

By Luke Anderson

How smart is your dog? I can bet that you really don’t have to think about that question. If you do have a dog, it’s pretty easy to tell if they’re something of a genius, or if it would have taken the short bus. However, if you’re unsure as to the intellect of your pooch and simply must know, you can purchase a Dog IQ Test.

This kit features 12 different tests that cover problem solving, ability and memory. Of course, I have to wonder at the IQ of someone who spends money on a product that will net them nothing more than the ability to say “my dog is smarter than your dog.” At least it’ll only set you back $10.

[ IWantOneOfThose ] VIA [ Red Ferret ]