The Verge Guide to Pets

August 18, 2026 Kara Verlaney

Circles containing different textures and colors of animal fur, feathers, and scales.

Ah, the relationship between animals and the technology they can’t quite understand. 

Today, it seems like there’s a high-tech solution to every element of pet ownership, with devices on the market designed to keep pets fed, cleaned, watched over, and entertained. And if you have a pet you know: nothing is too good — or too cutting-edge —  for your (furry, slimy, feathery) best friend.

But while some tech can help care for your pet, it can be complicated when dogs and cats meet wires and waves. You might feel complicated about offloading elements of kitten parenthood to a robot. Some pet tech innovations over-promise or are over-hyped. And of course, your puppy (or parrot) might well mistake your gadgets for a snack. 

To that end, we’ve put together a week of stories that explore the intersection of technology and pet ownership. Read on for how to take a decent photograph of your cat, pet scales and the chunky companions who need them, and takes on our favorite tools, both simple and complex.

Previous Article
Google’s Pet Memory forgot who my cats are
Google’s Pet Memory forgot who my cats are

One of the best things my smart home does is help me care for my pets, and security cameras are particularl...

Next Article
My parrot ate my keyboard
My parrot ate my keyboard

One of the great joys in life is having pets. The unconditional love, the snuggles, the excitement they sho...