Survey reveals pet owners’ tech hopes for the future of animal care

Automatic poo collectors, anxiety aids and paw-recognition doors are among the innovations pet owners most want to see, according to a new survey from Pet Drugs Online.

The poll of 2,000 UK cat and dog owners found that 34% want devices to automatically pick up waste, while 29% called for anxiety and emotional support solutions. Other future technologies included automated teeth brushing (26%), temperature-adjusting beds (26%), and pet-specific public transport (13%).

One in five owners said they would like smartwatches for pets, and 13% said they wanted artificial intelligence (AI) companions to keep their animals company. Around 14% said they would like home appliances to be voice-activated by barks or meows.

When asked what they would most want to ask their pet, 20% of respondents said they would want to know about their animal’s physical health, followed by 17% who said their happiness.

Commissioned by the veterinary medicine retailer to mark its 20th anniversary, the survey also found that 29% of owners would like to see paw-recognition technology for doors.

Sarah Page-Jones, head of veterinary compliance at Pet Drugs Online, said: “This research paints an exciting picture of the future of pet care. Pet owners are eager for more innovation, especially relating to health and everyday convenience.”

She added that mental health would likely become a growing priority for pet owners, mirroring broader trends in human health.

The survey also showed how attitudes to pet care have evolved. More than three quarters (76%) of owners believe the standard of pet care products has improved over the past two decades, while 74% said expert-backed information was more accessible. Just under 60% believe pets now live longer than they did 20 years ago.

Looking ahead, 30% expect future products to be more health-focused, 29% more sustainable and 27% more personalised.

Supplement use among pet owners has also grown. Joint and muscle support was the most common (30%), followed by general multivitamins (24%) and stress and anxiety-reducing products (18%).

Trent Webb, product sales data expert at Pet Drugs Online, added: “Over the past 20 years, we’ve seen a clear trend of humanisation in pet care, particularly in nutrition and health. Dog owners are moving towards specific supplements tailored to individual needs.”

Sales of general multivitamins have declined, but purchases of targeted nutritional support have risen sharply. Among cat owners, demand for stress and anxiety supplements has grown by 1,703% in five years.

There has also been a major shift in pet diets, with owners now buying from nearly three times as many food brands as a decade ago, including organic, vegan and hypoallergenic options.

In total, 69% of owners said they felt optimistic about the future of pet care. Page-Jones concluded: “Pets are part of the family – we’re excited to see how future innovations help us care for them better.”