logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2024
17m 29s

Pets: The growth of pet tech

Bbc World Service
About this episode

With animal adoptions skyrocketing during the pandemic, pet care has evolved dramatically.

From self-cleaning cat litter trays to smart feeding bowls, interactive toys, and pet cameras, we'll hear from some of the brands reshaping the way we care for our furry friends.

But are we missing out on the meaningful connections our pets need as automation becomes more prevalent?

(Picture: Rupert the British Shorthair cat, inside his litter robot. Credit: Deborah Weitzmann/BBC)

Presented and produced by Deborah Weitzmann

Up next
Today
The cocoa conundrum
<p>Can Europe be weaned off cheap chocolate? EU efforts to block cocoa linked to deforestation were due to come into force at the end of this year – but have faced multiple delays. Another vote is due to take place soon. Some parties are pushing for further delay and modification ... Show More
20m 42s
Yesterday
Is this the end for South East Asia's scam centres?
<p>It’s one of the biggest human trafficking operations of modern times. Scam centres across South East Asia have been making hundreds of billions of dollars annually, it’s estimated, conning people into fake crypto-currency investment schemes. </p><p>But now these centres could ... Show More
18m 29s
Nov 24
Monetising Machu Picchu
<p>Peru is home to Machu Picchu - the ancient Inca city in the Andes mountains. </p><p>It's one of the seven wonders of the world, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The popular tourist destination attracts millions of visitors, making it very lucrative for the government, local a ... Show More
17m 38s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2015
In A Purrfect World - Episode 21 Toys Have Many Uses
We might think of cats toys as something to wear out the kitten, but they have many more uses than that. Find out how they are different according to Cat Type, my must-have toys, which toys not to buy, and how toys grow our cat's brain. There's lots of toy tips in this episode! Q ... Show More
29m 39s
Jan 2019
Felinology (CATS) with Mikel Delgado
<p>We love them. We live with them. We are mystified by them. Alie hunted down professional cat behavior expert Dr. Mikel Delgado who dishes on everything from toilet training to feral taming to neonatal kittens to cats eating our dead bodies to domestication, toxoplasmosis, litt ... Show More
1h 24m
Apr 2024
Educating Pet Sitters On Pet Clean-Up With Ali Smith
In this video, host Angela Brown and guest Ali Smith, who has trained over 1,200 dogs and runs the acclaimed dog blog Rebarkable, dive into the often overlooked yet crucial topic of pet clean-up for pet sitters. Together, they explore practical strategies for sitters to seamlessl ... Show More
7m 9s
Oct 2024
How Can We Take Better Care Of Our Community Cats?
Alright, curious people, we’re getting frisky with one of our favorite topics - CATS! No, not the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical fantasia phenomenon…we’re talking to Hannah Shaw (aka the Kitten Lady) and her hubby Andrew Marttila (aka the Cat Photographer) all about their mission to ... Show More
57m 15s
Jul 2024
Loving Their Pets to Debt
<p>Over the past decade, the cost of veterinary care in the U.S. has skyrocketed, as health care for pets has come to look more like health care for people.</p><p>Katie Thomas, an investigative health care reporter for The Times, discusses how pet care became a multi-billion-doll ... Show More
24m 44s
Dec 2024
Parasite Protection by Pet Lifestyle - A New Way to Talk to Clients About the Importance of Year-round Parasite Protection with Dr. Lindsay Starkey | VETgirl Veterinary Continuing Education Podcasts
In today's VETgirl online veterinary continuing education podcast, we interview Dr. Lindsay Starkey, DVM, PhD, DACVM - Parasitology on all things parasitology! Tune in to learn some communication tips when it comes educating your pet owners about year-round parasite protection. F ... Show More
26m 23s
Jun 2025
CEO of Nulo, Michael Landa, on How to Feed Your Pets Correctly
<p>In this episode, Katie chats with Michael Landa, founder and CEO of Nulo pet foods—a brand she knows well since her own dog, Gus, has been a long time spokesdog for their small breed dog food. Michael shares how a last-minute scramble to find overnight care for his dog recentl ... Show More
36m 22s
Mar 2024
Biotech for our Pets
More than half of U.S. households include pets, but there has been a lack of medical treatments developed specifically for small animals. Biotech companies are working to change that with new treatment options that both borrow from and, potentially, advance human health discoveri ... Show More
28m 21s
Oct 2024
Cats Go From Pest to Pet
October 18, 1887. At the Crystal Palace in London, hundreds of cats are ready to be judged. This is the first show put on by the National Cat Club, an organization seeking to bring order to the competitive cat world. But the NCC has another goal, to bring legitimacy and attention ... Show More
29m 26s
Apr 2025
Why British People Love Pets - English Practice Ep 807
Pets aren’t just animals, they’re family. Did you know that India’s pet industry doubled to $3.6 billion in just five years? Or that British households now own 38 million pets, half as many as the human population? Welcome to Adept English, where we help you learn https://adepten ... Show More
13m 37s