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We love pets, but they are little free riders. Between food, trash, toys, and all that other accessories, it can feel like you have a very cute roommate who refuses to pay rent. Your requests to “get a job” may go unanswered, but everyone knows that stomach rubs are priceless. Here at WIRED we have enough pets for a zoo – maybe two – and we’ve tested a lot of pet supplies, toys, and equipment. Some of our favorites are on sale for Cyber Monday.
WIRED’s Black Friday and Cyber Monday coverage
We test products all year round and have handpicked these offers. Products marked with (Sold out) are either sold out or no longer discounted upon publication. We’ll be updating this guide throughout the Black Friday weekend.
If you buy something through links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This is how we support our journalism. Learn more.
DNA tests and subscriptions
Your dog has a secret ancestry and he won’t tell you anytime soon. Find out where their ancestors came from with our canine DNA testing kit guides, and while you’re at it, browse our guide to the best subscription boxes for a few recommendations for your furry friend.
Embarkation race + health test
Photo: Embark
Enter the code HOUND at checkout
Just as it’s interesting to see our ancestors, pet DNA testing is a fun thing to learn about your best buddy. Some of them also offer a health aspect so you can get an idea of what they will be struggling with in the future and hopefully help bring them long, healthy lives. Embark is the most expensive dog test we’ve tried, but it’s packed with information. You can even find your dog’s relatives.
Enter the code DNAFRIDAY at checkout
Cats are often overlooked when it comes to DNA and breed, but this DNA test is super comprehensive – with lots of health and breed information. It fell to $ 69 in 2019, but that’s not bad business. I found out that my orange girl, Eely-Rue, is at risk for dental disease so now I’m trying to brush her little fangs.
This offer is for new members, and you essentially get two BarkBoxes for the first month when you subscribe to a six- or twelve-month plan. Your puppy will be given a mix of toys, treats, and chews. You probably won’t go through all of the goodies the company has to offer, but it’s nice to find good affordable dog toys with cute designs. The company donates 10 percent of profits to housing and emergency services in the United States and Canada.
Throwing offers
Cat litter is a good start, but you will need a lot more to transform your home into your cat’s too. Take a look at pet supplies and tips for newly adopted cats and dogs and the best cat toys and accessories.
Kitty Poo Club
Photo: Kitty Poo Club
Shouldn’t your cat get a fancy litter box so that it can go about its business in peace? I love Tuft & Paw products because they actually look great in your home without losing any of their cat appeal, but they are expensive and rarely sold. The Cove litter box is too heavy for scratchy cats to poke around, and it has a shovel, dustpan, and brush that fit right into their own slots on the box. I recommend adding the shelter part which prevents litter from flying around and gives your pet extra privacy.
We saw this drop to $ 13 in June, but now there are more bedding options, and therefore prices, available. The $ 20 retail price is for the clay litter, and you’ll need to sign up for the newsletter to get access, but this listing also includes a shovel and dome box. Kitty Poo Club is a trash subscription that has boxes made from sturdy recycled cardboard (and they’re recyclable when you’re done). As long as you actually change the box every month, it shouldn’t leak or fall apart. If you need a grooming box for a few months, or otherwise need temporary boxes, it’s a nice subscription to try, but we think you should get your cat a permanent box at some point.
Pet camera deals
Set up a monitoring status to see what your pet is up to when you are not home. You won’t know anyway. We’ve tested a number of the best pet cameras and have our opinions on them.
Furbo dog camera
Photo: Furbo
Furbo, Amazon (sold out)
The price of the Furbo Dog Camera (9/10, WIRED recommends) fluctuates and $ 118 is not an uncommon deal. It is still one of our most popular dog cameras. A bark alarm sends notifications to your phone and you can remotely toss treats to your pets. It even takes pictures when your dog looks inside.
Amazon (Prime members only), Pet Dice ($ 172)
The price of this camera is up and down too, but at $ 180 you will find it the most common. It’s another of our favorites, made specifically for cats, with a built-in laser that you can control through the app. You can use two-way communication to check in, have a remote play session, or ask Alexa to control the laser if you can’t.
Amazon, Eufy (enter code WS24BFT7200 at checkout)
This camera is new and is similar to the Furbo in that it flings goodies. I (Medea) have tested it on my cats even though it is marketed for dogs – my chubby cat is very motivated by treats. Unlike the Furbo, you can rotate the camera 270 degrees to get a better view of a room. Notifications are instant and clicking on it takes you straight to a live view (instead of the main page of the app, as with some cameras).
More Pet Tech Deals
We understand No expense is spared for the health and safety of your special fur ball. Pet health care these days is just as high tech as human health care. Take a Cruise through the Top Veterinary Telemedicine Services and Tech to Keep Your Dog Happy and Healthy, to see what is pure magic and what is more magic trick.
Fi Smart dog collar
Photo: Fi
Enter BLACKFRIDAY at checkout
We tried the older Fi collar and loved it. It uses your home’s Wi-Fi, cellular, and GPS networks to track your dog if he’s lost and track his or her fitness (step counting isn’t just for Fitbit wearers!). There is a light on the collar to go at night and the brand says the battery should last three months. Adrienne So, WIRED’s Senior Associate Editor, received a notification while in use that her dog had escaped. She turned and saw them trotting towards a neighbor’s house.
Catit is made for cats, of course, but the brand’s fountains can also be used on dogs if you think they’ll like one. We tried this one and the top of the line stainless steel, which is also discounted to $ 33 ($ 11 off), and think you’ll be happy with both of them. No matter what you choose, you need to keep it very clean and replace the filter once a month. Almost everything on the Catit site is 25 percent cheaper, including the Vesper seat mentioned below.
More pet-friendly deals
As much as we love them, pets are autonomous, mobile machines that wreak havoc. It is only fair that the machines that are tidied up afterwards are also autonomous and mobile. Grab an automatic robot vacuum cleaner, but be sure to check out our guide to the best robot vacuums first. For more information, check out our guides to the best dog technologies and accessories, as well as the best cat toys and accessories.
Roborock S6 MaxV
Photo: Roborock
Walmart, Amazon (Prime Members Only)
Having a pet means fur, usually everywhere. A robot hoover can hold most of it in check without you having to lift more than your phone. This roborock is our favorite for pets as it is specially designed for them. It uses ReactiveAI, which uses two stereoscopic cameras at the front to detect and avoid obstacles such as power strips, but most of all animal poop. My cats occasionally get a piece of their droppings by their hair and then sprint around the house until it flies away. When that happens, when I’m not careful (or not home) I don’t want to look up to find every inch of my floor smeared.
Walmart, iRobot
This is another robotic vacuum cleaner that we love – it’s our favorite of all the bot vacs we’ve tried. It doesn’t have poop detection, but it cleans well and can empty its own container.
