Appy-pets! Pet tech market explodes as SureFlap announces app-enabled pet door

Seems a day doesn’t go by without the unveiling of a new pet gadget. According to Euromonitor, spending on pets in the UK reached a record high of $7.16bn in 2015; a 3 per cent increase on $6.92bn in 2014 and a growth of 25 per cent since 2010.

And with the rise of IoT (Internet of Things), we are seeing more and more app-based smart gadgets for our furry friends.

One company hoping to get in on the trend is pet lifestyle specialist SureFlap. It’s just announced the Microchip Pet Door Connect, the world’s first app-enabled pet door. The Sure Petcare App will allow pet owners to control the pet door remotely from a smartphone or tablet, as well as monitor their pets’ activity and habits.

Available this summer, the Microchip Pet Door Connect is based on the existing Microchip Pet Door, which allows pets to access their home only when their existing identification microchip is recognised.

With the addition of the communication hub, connectivity is now extended through the Petcare App to provide pet owners with a host of new, useful features. These include the option of receiving notifications when a pet leaves or enters the house, logging and track pets’ activity throughout the day and remotely locking or unlocking the pet door anytime, anywhere.

Owners can also set a curfew to keep their pets in at specified times during the day and share access to the App with friends, family or pet sitters and manage their permissions.

Says Dr Nick Hill, founder and CEO of SureFlap: “Our aim is to create connected products that are easy to navigate, instinctive and make pet owners’ lives easier.  The Microchip Pet Door Connect ticks all these boxes.

“The app-enabled pet door gives owners greater peace of mind by allowing them to check in on their pets when they’re away from home.  The technology is non-intrusive and runs seamlessly in background until it is needed.”

Built on the Xively by LogMeIn Connected Product Management platform, the Microchip Pet Door Connect and Hub can be purchased for £159.99.  It measures 234mm H x 207mm W x 70mm D (hole size) and 170mm H x 178mm W (flap opening).