Best Apps for Pet Owners

Technology can be a great tool for pet owners. Luckily, there are several apps available today that can be a great way for pet parents far and wide to help bring more reassurance and convenience to their day-to-day animal care. From remote animal location tracking to pet first aid, these digital platforms make it easy to get the extra support you need.

What Are the Best Apps for Dog Owners?

While some mobile applications can be used for any kind of pet, some apps are best used specifically for dogs.

Whistle

Whistle is the perfect one-stop shop for behavior and activity monitoring. It’s a free app that has a GPS tracker for dogs to alert owners if they go outside of the pre-set bounds. Not only can Whistle make sure your dog isn’t lost, but it can also provide key health and activity measures to assess how much exercise your furry friend is getting. The app is available for download on iOS and Android.

PupTox App

We all want to keep our pets out of harm's way, especially when it comes to digestive safety. PupTox App was designed specifically to meet the needs of pet owners questioning what substances dogs should avoid to stay healthy. The app has compiled a wide range of lists, including toxic plants and food items that should not be ingested by dogs so you don’t have to second guess yourself. It’s available on iOS and even has a built-in vet contact feature so you can quickly call your vet or animal control services if something goes wrong.

Rover

Many dog owners may have already heard of Rover. Rover is an essential app to find dog walkers or pet sitters in a pinch. If you have a busy working schedule or travel often, you’ll need to make sure your dog is still given its basic needs such as food, water, exercise, and loving attention. The app makes it easy for owners to see the profiles of the pet sitters and connect with them so they can communicate important details such as training preferences and more. Rover is free and available on web, Android, or iOS devices.

What Are the Best Apps for Cat Owners?

Some dog apps can be used interchangeably with cats. Here are our top picks for cat owner apps.

MeowTalk

MeowTalk may not be the most practical app, but it is so much more fun. Cat owners can record “meow” voice notes on the app and AI can help owners determine what mood their cat is in. Machine learning technology can notice intonation patterns of when your cat may be happy, sad, or angry. MeowTalk is free and available to be downloaded on Android and iOS.

Cat Training

It’s common knowledge that cats are more difficult to train than dogs. Many pet owners would say that training a cat is not even possible to begin with. However, the Cat Training app is there to help cat parents make positive behavior changes using the litterbox or minimizing furniture scratching. The app is designed to improve cat behavior by providing a toolkit of knowledge for different pet problem scenarios and is available for download on your mobile device.

Relax My Cat

The Relax My Cat app is a favorite of many cat owners with its specialized TV and music for cats. This app caters to anxious or stressed-out house cats that need help relaxing (or, let’s face it, distracting). The noises from the games, TV, and music are based on feline communication patterns and offer different settings ranging from playful to soothing or sleepy music. Relax My Cat is available on iOS and Android, making it even easier to soothe a hyperactive cat.

What Are the Best Apps for All Pet Owners?

If you’re looking for some general pet apps that can be useful for all kinds of animals, look no further! These are some of the best general pet apps with services like first aid, or tracking.

Pet First Aid

For owners who need help if their pet gets sick, Pet First Aid can give instructions such as how to bandage a wound, give flea drops, and much more. This app is from the American Red Cross Association and provides detailed information about different pet ailments and the emergency signs that might entail a visit to the vet. Pet First Aid is free for download on iOS and Android.

PetDesk

PetDesk is perfect for pet owners who need help with reminders. To keep your pets healthy, they will need to have updated vaccinations, flea drop administration, medications, or vet checkup appointments. The app can even connect owners with vet care nearby when they’re ready to take their animals in for a professional evaluation. PetDesk is free for download on Google Play.

Pet Monitor VIGI

To stay updated on your pet’s activity while you’re away, the Pet Monitor VIGI app is a great digital tool. What makes this app unique compared to other monitoring systems is that you don’t need to order a brand-new device that dispenses treats, instead all you have to do is connect the app to a tablet or computer to watch your pet while you’re gone. With a one-time app purchase, the app can be downloaded on Android and iOS as a cost-friendly alternative to other pet monitors.

What Features Should You Look for in a Pet App?

Depending on what your needs are as a pet owner, you may have a specific app program in mind. However, some key features you should check to see if the app has included:

• Pet sitting functions
• Pet location tracking
• Health monitoring
• Pet insurance
• Online community of animal lovers
• Diet recommendations

What Should You Do if an App Doesn’t Answer Your Pet Questions?

Apps nowadays give pet owners a wealth of knowledge at their fingertips. However, you should always make sure the app is a trusted source of information and verify any concerns you may have with a professional.

Always Contact Your Vet

When in doubt, always contact your local veterinary office. A vet can determine if the information you find on an app is a trusted source, or they can help you with your pet problems directly.