Setup is simple—plug it in or use the included batteries, sync with the app, and arrange your cat’s profile. Liz Coleman / Cats.com
On the subject of their well being, cats are masters of disguise. Even essentially the most attentive cat guardian can miss delicate adjustments of their pet’s weight or litter field utilization that may level to a well being problem. Fortuitously, advances in health-monitoring know-how have trickled all the way down to the pet world, making manner for units just like the Petivity Sensible Cat Litter Field Monitor System. This revolutionary software goals to assist pet mother and father handle their cat’s well being by offering insights into their weight and loo habits.
However how dependable is the Petivity’s know-how, and is the info collected truly helpful? Is it definitely worth the worth? To seek out out, we examined the monitor for a number of weeks with two cats. Right here’s what we discovered in regards to the system, the place it shines, the place it may use enchancment, and who may profit most from it.
Scores:
- Ease of Setup: 4/5
- Building: 5/5
- Look: 5/5
- Usefulness: 4/5
- Accuracy: 3.5/5
- Value: 4/5
General Rating: 4.25/5
Why Belief Cats.com
From self-cleaning litter containers to automated feeders, our workforce has examined a variety of contemporary pet gear over time. I’ve personally reviewed plenty of self-cleaning litter containers, cat water fountains, cat trackers, and a microchip feeder, so I’m acquainted with the world of pet tech and the way it has served my very own feline family.
For this assessment, I explored the know-how behind the Petivity system, studying the way it works and the way Purina developed its AI capabilities. Then, I examined the system in my house with two senior cats. Throughout setup, I noticed how simple it was to sync the system with my telephone and “prepare” the AI. I thought of the Petivity’s accuracy and utility, and the intuitiveness of the app. I additionally thought of the system’s worth, weighing the fee towards its usefulness.
Lastly, I learn dozens of buyer opinions and Reddit threads to get a way of how others fared with the monitor. I took word of whether or not they skilled any glitches and the way helpful they discovered the compiled knowledge.
Petivity Litter Field Monitor System and Purina Overview
Purina’s Petivity tracks weight and loo habits. Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Powered by Purina, the Petivity model develops good units that assist pet mother and father take proactive care of their pets. Together with the Sensible Cat Litter Field Monitor, Petivity additionally carries a Microbiome Evaluation Equipment.
The Petivity Litter Field Monitor System is a comparatively new system that was launched in 2022. The corporate has been engaged on this method for greater than a decade with assist from Purina veterinarians, behaviorists, and knowledge scientists. The Petivity’s aim is to assist cats dwell longer and more healthy lives by offering pet mother and father with helpful knowledge about their weight and habits.
Purina consultants developed the Petivity system’s AI know-how by analyzing 1000’s of litter field makes use of from 1000’s of cats. They then used this knowledge to set thresholds for regular litter field use.
The system information your cat’s weight and litter field utilization, compiling this data to detect any adjustments that may require your consideration. If there’s a possible well being problem, equivalent to a UTI, kidney illness, diabetes, weight problems, or hyperthyroidism, the Petivity will ship an alert so you possibly can take immediate motion.
Petivity Sensible Cat Litter Field Monitor System Options
The Petivity system is designed to carry your cat’s current litter field. Liz Coleman / Cats.com
The Petivity Litter Field Monitor system is a low-profile scale that sits beneath your cat’s current litter field. The system syncs with a free app that information your cat’s weight and collects particulars on their lavatory habits, together with litter field go to frequency, waste kind, and time of use. If it detects any adjustments that would point out a difficulty, it sends you an alert in your telephone.
Presently, the Petivity retails for $199.99 on Chewy however ceaselessly goes on sale for $149.99.
Throughout setup, you’ll create a profile for every cat, with particulars about their gender, age, physique rating situation, and food plan. For the primary week or so, the system shall be in “coaching mode”—that means you’ll be serving to it learn to acknowledge your cat(s). Each time it detects an occasion, you’ll be requested to point which cat used the field based mostly on the recorded weight, in addition to whether or not the occasion was a primary, quantity two, or a non-cat occasion (like scooping).
As soon as the monitor collects sufficient occasions for every cat, will probably be in a position to acknowledge them with out enter from you.
The app collects the variety of litter field visits and interprets these particulars into actionable insights. For example, in case your cat’s lavatory visits double over the course of some days, the app will let you realize. The identical goes for weight fluctuations. You possibly can then hold a better eye in your cat or deliver this data to your veterinarian.
You probably have a number of litter containers, you’ll want a Petivity monitor for every one. There are measurement limitations, too. The Petivity Monitor is nineteen inches by 14 inches, so the corporate recommends utilizing a litter field no bigger than 21 inches by 16 inches to keep away from tipping and inaccurate readings.
The Petivity Monitor is appropriate with conventional open litter containers and hooded litter containers, but it surely gained’t work with triangular-shaped containers or self-cleaning containers.
What We Like:
- Helps pet mother and father decide up on delicate adjustments they could in any other case miss
- Distinguishes between cats based mostly on their weight—there’s no want for a chip or collar
- No subscription plan required
- Low-profile design shouldn’t inhibit litter field use for many cats
- Can function with an influence wire or 6 AA batteries, that are included
What We Dislike:
- You’ll want one for every litter field (which might be a major expense for multi-cat houses)
- The AI know-how can get confused in case your cats’ weight is analogous
- Solely appropriate with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi—gained’t work with 5 GHz
- Gained’t work with bigger litter containers
What Did Our Take a look at Cats Suppose?
Senior cats Floyd and Amber had no drawback utilizing their litter field with the Petivity scale. Liz Coleman / Cats.com
Right away, I can say I used to be impressed with the know-how behind the Petivity. The setup section went off with no hitch, and it solely took a couple of minutes to sync the system to the app. My cats have been unfazed by this addition to their litter field setup, and the slight top distinction shouldn’t hinder entry for many cats.
Through the studying interval—roughly 5 days—anytime the monitor registered an occasion, I acquired real-time notifications on my telephone prompting me to confirm the occupant and what they left behind. Take word: You’ll must hold an in depth eye in your cat’s lavatory habits throughout this time. For those who work exterior the house, you possibly can nonetheless use the Petivity, however the AI may want just a few further days to turn into acquainted along with your cats.
As for accuracy, the Petivity was largely spot-on, with occasions showing within the app inside a minute or so. That stated, it wasn’t excellent. There have been cases the place it swapped my two cats. And certainly one of my cat’s weight was everywhere in the map. The load adjustments appeared too drastic to be correct, so I did some investigating. I discovered that sure behaviors (i.e., peeing and pooping in tandem) can confuse the AI. As well as, an imbalanced scale can throw readings out of whack.
I appreciated the app’s user-friendly interface and intuitive navigation. I used to be introduced with knowledge in easy-to-digest graphs and lists. Every cat had their very own profile the place I may consider their each day occasions individually.
Every cat has a profile the place you possibly can see their each day litter field use. Liz Coleman / Cats.com
As soon as the AI learns to establish your cats, you’ll cease getting pinged after each occasion. However should you’re involved about one cat specifically and also you’d wish to hold an in depth watch, you possibly can set the app to inform you each time they use the litter field. You possibly can even generate month-to-month stories to obtain and share along with your vet.
Because the guardian of two paunchy senior cats (one with hyperthyroidism), I feel the Petivity monitor is a extremely invaluable software. As we all know, it’s practically unattainable to trace one cat’s lavatory habits, not to mention two. Which might make it tough to know which cat may need an issue. Getting up-to-the-minute particulars on my cats’ little treasures—and having the ability to differentiate between them—is a significant win for proactive pet care.
It’s not excellent, and we skilled some accuracy hiccups. However total, the Petivity actually impressed me. I’d enterprise to say it’s a extra correct health-monitoring system than Fairly Litter, and it’s undoubtedly extra reasonably priced than a Litter-Robotic 4.
The Petivity may deliver peace of thoughts to households with senior cats, cats liable to urinary tract infections, anxious first-time cat mother and father, or any cat guardian who desires to be extra educated and proactive about their pet’s well being.
What Do Clients Consider the Petivity Litter Field Monitor System?
Constructive Evaluations
“This Petivity monitor is nothing wanting superb. My kitty was identified with FLUTD and this monitor provides me peace of thoughts to know when and the way typically he’s utilizing the litter field. It’s correct in telling when he’s utilizing it and what he’s doing in there. Couldn’t advocate extra when you’ve got a kitty that has urinary points!”—Brittany, on Chewy.com
For essentially the most half, cat mother and father respect the peace of thoughts that the Petivity brings. The vast majority of customers thought of the setup course of simple and the app simple to make use of. A lot of reviewers remarked that they appreciated having the ability to hold tabs on their cat whereas out of city. And others appreciated the flexibility to trace progress with their cat’s food plan.
Unfavourable Evaluations
“I used to be excited to get this attached at our farm home, however have now put it apart. The unit is not going to hook up with our 5 GHz router. We have to buy an extender as a result of our Verizon community doesn’t have the two.4 GHz possibility for his or her router. We had to do that for the Furbo unit at house as that has the identical requirement. Can be useful to present a heads up so patrons may be ready.”—Phosphorus, on Chewy.com
A lot of the complaints deal with points with accuracy. Some people stated the Petivity had hassle distinguishing between a number of cats. Just a few cat mother and father have been additionally irked by the web necessities (the unit works with 2.4 GHz, not 5 GHz). And a few felt the fee was prohibitive for households with multiple litter field.
Related Manufacturers & Merchandise
On the lookout for different merchandise that may aid you hold higher observe of your cat’s well being? Take a look at a few of our different model opinions.
Incessantly Requested Questions
What number of cats can use Petivity?
Petivity ensures accuracy for as much as 5 cats.
What’s the weight restrict for Petivity?
The Petivity’s weight restrict is 60 kilos.
What sorts of litter containers work with the Petivity?
The Petivity will work with most litter containers no bigger than 16 inches by 21 inches. This consists of conventional open litter containers and lined containers. It gained’t work with a triangular-shaped litter field or a self-cleaning mannequin.
Can I take advantage of any kind of litter with the Petivity?
Most litter sorts are appropriate with the Petivity, together with customary clay litter and crystal litter. Nevertheless, the model notes that paper-based litter and different sorts that “require actions exterior of scooping” may confuse the AI and compromise the integrity of the info.
Can kittens use the Petivity monitor?
The corporate advises towards it. As a result of a kitten’s weight and habits change so shortly, the info may be inaccurate.
The place ought to I put my Petvity system?
The Petivity monitor needs to be positioned indoors, with a minimum of one inch of clearance from the wall and furnishings. It should work finest on a tough, stage floor and inside cheap vary of a Wi-Fi router. Keep away from putting the monitor in high-traffic areas or vibrating home equipment, like a washer.
