The Best Gear for Aging Pets | Reviews by Wirecutter

Apr 08, 2025

By Mel Plaut

Mel Plaut is a writer covering pets. They have tested hundreds of products for our best animal friends, including dog beds and pet fountains.

Two of my cats, Porter and Crash, were born in a dresser drawer in Brooklyn. I brought them home when I was in my 20s and they were a few months old. By my 30s, just as I was thriving in adulthood, my BFFs (best feline friends) were starting to wind down. I was lucky to live with them into my 40s, but those last 10 years were distinctly different from the first 10.

There are few things that tax the human heart more than seeing beloved pets approach the end of their lives.

While I couldn’t stop the process of aging, I did everything I could to make things more comfortable for them. I kissed and petted them more, I traveled less, and I bought (or built) things to help them sleep better, eat more, and generally feel at ease as their bodies slowly declined.

For those who have a dog or cat entering their senior years, I’ve put together this list—with the help of vets, behaviorists, and fellow pet caretakers—to guide you through the journey. And while this is by no means a complete inventory of scenarios or products, I hope it at least gives you a good starting point.

Of course, if you have any questions or concerns, your first stop should not be Wirecutter or even the broader internet—it should always be your veterinarian.

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I’m a senior writer at Wirecutter covering pets. The research for this guide builds on the work I’ve done for Wirecutter on cat litter, litter boxes, and grooming tools (like dog nail grinders), as well as other related material. I also relied on the years of experience I gained as a caregiver to my own aging pets.

Like all Wirecutter journalists, we review and test products with complete editorial independence. We’re never made aware of any business implications of our editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

According to the FelineVMA’s chart of feline life stages, a cat is considered a “mature adult” between ages 7 and 10, and a “senior” at age 10 and up. International Cat Care, a nonprofit cat-welfare organization, has an additional life stage, called “super senior,” for cats age 15 and up. But just as some humans seem to age faster than others, “some cats are going to be the same age, but at different stages of frailty or physical aging,” according to cat behavior consultant Mikel Delgado.

For dogs, there’s more variation in aging because a lot of it depends on their size and breed, according to Shelagh McCaffrey, a veterinarian who specializes in hospice and palliative care. “A giant breed dog’s lifespan is going to be significantly shorter, let’s say 10, compared to a small breed dog,” whose average life expectancy is closer to 14 years, she said. McCaffrey estimates that a giant breed dog might be considered a senior at around age 7, yet for a tiny toy breed, that could be closer to age 10. But these numbers are all fairly squishy because there are other variables at play. The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) offers a life-stage calculator to help you figure out where your dog is in their life.

Julie Liu, a veterinarian and cat behavior consultant, said she encourages her clients to start paying closer attention to their pets’ health needs at around age 7, regardless of what species, size, or breed they are. “That’s when I really start to highly recommend they get some sort of baseline—check their kidney function, check their liver values, check for diabetes, thyroid disease, all of that,” Liu told us.

Just like humans, aging animals need more-frequent medical care. For cats, Delgado suggests getting “twice-a-year checkups instead of once a year for preventative care.” Cats are famous for hiding pain and discomfort, “so by the time you know something’s wrong, you may be past the point of being able to help them delay or effectively manage a health issue,” Delgado explained.

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As pets age, their joints often get creaky, and they aren’t able to move around as well as they used to. For both dogs and cats, it can become much harder to walk, jump, and even bend to eat.

“In the senior pet population, mobility ends up being one of the biggest limiting factors for quality of life,” McCaffrey said. “There are a lot of environmental modifications we can make to help pets in their day-to-day life.” These include adding traction to floors so pets don’t risk slipping or falling, elevating their bowls to reduce stress on their necks and frames, and providing steps or ramps to give them access to higher hangout spots.

“Hardwood floors and tile floors tend to be difficult for mobility,” especially for larger dogs, McCaffrey said. But slick floors can be tough for any older pet who might be losing their footing.

“One of the biggest things that you can add is non-slip flooring,” veterinarian Julie Liu said. She compared pets walking on hardwood and tile floors to the feeling of walking on ice, noting that “the fear of falling is really scary for pets, and just navigating around the home when you have that type of slippery flooring” can be stressful for them.

Rugs, carpets, and yoga mats can give your pet more control and confidence when they’re moving around. McCaffrey said she also recommends using them to create “pathways throughout the house” leading to a pet’s usual spots. “You can use those runners to get them to the door to go outside, to the food bowl, and then to the areas where they like to rest,” she said.

Liu pointed out that it can be helpful to use inexpensive, washable area rugs, in case they get mucked up. Most of our area-rug picks will work well for this—and they’ll look good, too. But if you had to pick just one, the Target Threshold Eliot Geo Area Rug is your best bet, according to senior staff writer and textiles expert Jackie Reeve. It won’t slide around, and “you can spot-clean it, but it’s also somewhat affordable to replace if your senior pet makes a lot of messes,” Jackie said.

No matter which one you choose, a good rug pad can keep a rug in place, and it will also add some cushioning under feet and paws. If a yoga mat would better suit your purposes, our budget pick is a great option.

This rug is stylish and affordable. It’s also easy to spot-clean, and it won’t slide around your floors.

This felt-and-rubber pad offers the most cushioning underfoot of any pad we tried, and it’s also one of the best at keeping rugs in place.

This squishy, all-PVC mat is a bargain—because it lasts. And it’s 4 inches longer than the average inexpensive mat.

If you live in a multilevel home, Liu suggests adding treads to stairs if they’re slippery. These WaterHog Diamonds Stair Treads have a rubber backing, and they can be used indoors and outdoors, but you may want to secure them with double-sided tape. You may also need to modify where things go. If your pet’s bed is on one level but her food is on another, then “this might be very difficult now. So you might decide to move everything to the same floor,” said Carlo Siracusa, a veterinary behavior specialist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine.

In addition to modifying your flooring, you may need to make changes to your pet’s resting areas. Some pets, especially cats and smaller dogs, may start to have trouble getting up onto the couch, bed, or other normal resting spots, as well as getting into and out of the car. You really have to make it easy for your pet to access places that used to be accessible but are no longer “accessible because their mobility has changed,” Siracusa said.

McCaffrey agreed. “Having stairs or steps for them to use can be really helpful on their little joints that might be arthritic,” she said. But whatever you get, it needs to be stable underfoot. Liu said she prefers carpet-covered wood stairs because they typically don’t move much. Even the slightest wobble could be disconcerting to a pet.

Steps with anti-slip feet will stay put better on floors and reduce the chance of scratching them. And if your floors are uneven, like mine are, a set of shims might help reduce any shifting.

When Porter and Crash started having trouble getting up and down, I used Armarkat Classic Pet Steps to help them reach their favorite window perch in the living room. Later on, I added the Trixie Adjustable Cat & Dog Stairs to give them access to the bed.

This stable set of steps is 25 inches tall, and it’s available in both a 3-step and a 4-step configuration. Made of wood covered in “faux fleece,” it doesn’t wobble on flat floors, but it requires assembly.

Made of medium-density fiberboard covered with a thin, felt-like carpet, these steps can be adjusted to reach between 23 and 26 inches high. The support leg can be folded up to make storage easier.

A ramp, like the WeatherTech PetRamp, may be a good option to help dogs get in and out of the car. And there are other well-reviewed options that may fit your car and your budget (though we haven’t tested these ramp models yet).

You can also use little stools, chairs, or ottomans that you have around the house, but stairs are “more graduated,” Liu said. This way, pets don’t have to jump up and down from such heights, and stairs allow them to take their time, she explained.

Siracusa agreed. “Always make sure that there’s a lot of points or surfaces they can use for smaller jumps,” he said. At one point, I needed to feed Porter on the kitchen table (don’t judge) to keep his food from getting stolen. So I used an inexpensive yet strong foldable plastic step stool to help him reach the kitchen chair, which he could then use to finally get onto the table’s surface. I also picked up a few little stools at thrift stores and put them in various spots around the house.

If your dog needs extra help moving around, you can use a special type of harness or sling that will help you lift them from beneath the hips.

Some slings are designed to “go under the back end to help with mobility for dogs that are in more advanced stages of the disease process,” McCaffrey said. “It’s basically a sling that goes right in front of the back legs, and you can use that to help them as they’re going up or down stairs or moving to different areas of the house,” she said. It can also help them get into and out of a car.

The Help ’Em Up Harness is a lifting harness that’s been around since 2005. It “lifts from directly under the pelvis, and that helps to avoid strain on joints and ligaments and the spine,” according to Nicole Eastwood, marketing manager at Paw Prosper, which owns the Help ’Em Up. This harness is typically used to support a dog when they’re walking or using stairs, as well as to “provide leverage to their back end when getting up from lying down to a standing position,” Eastwood said.

The Loobani Portable Dog Sling is a more-basic—and less expensive—option (alongside many others that look similar), and it can do some of the same work. But it uses a single, wide point of contact on your dog’s body.

This two-handled harness’ patented system lifts your pet from directly under their pelvis. It helps you support your dog without putting extra strain on their joints.

This straightforward sling is essentially a wide pad that wraps around your dog’s waist, and the handles let you take some of the pressure off your dog’s legs.

If a harness doesn’t provide enough support, your dog might do better with a wheelchair. Walkin’ Wheels and K9 Carts are two good options. Both companies are owned by Paw Prosper, but Walkin’ Wheels has several fully adjustable models in multiple sizes, while K9 Carts offers custom-made wheelchairs for both dogs and cats (as well as chickens, ducks, and turkeys). Wheelchairs aren’t cheap, though, so before you spend your money, make sure your vet is on board with this adaptation.

For dogs—and adventurous cats—who are accustomed to going out on walks, a stroller or wagon lets them keep up their usual routine while reducing the work their legs have to do. “When we’re looking at quality of life, a pet’s ability to continue to do the things that they’ve always loved is part of that,” McCaffrey said. Of course, some pets won’t want to use a stroller or wagon, and you’ll have to respect that response as well, she explained.

If your pet is up for the ride, it’s important to make sure they can’t fall or jump out. McCaffrey said she recommends using a stroller that has a mesh covering or a hook to clip a harness onto. The Carlson Pet Products Portable Pup Pet Stroller is a lightweight, collapsible option with an enclosed mesh canopy. It can do the job perfectly well. However, if you’re looking to splurge on your aging friend, and you want something that rides utterly smoothly, the Tavo Maeve + Roscoe is a versatile—and wildly expensive—stroller that also converts into a car carrier. But it costs nearly 10 times more than the Carlson stroller.

This stroller has a mesh canopy, and the front wheel can swivel 360 degrees, so it’s easy to push. It can accommodate pets up to 30 pounds.

This attractive set combines a stroller with a car-carrier system that attaches to your vehicle’s LATCH anchor bars, but it also has an eye-popping price.

If your bigger dog will ride in a wagon, McCaffrey said she suggests something with high sides to keep them from getting out. “Most pets that I’ve seen that go into these things just plop themselves right down and love it and stay, but every dog is a little different,” she said.

The Doggyhut Premium Pet Bicycle Trailer & Stroller and the Pet Gear No-Zip Expedition Pet Stroller are both good options, but we haven’t tested them yet. You could also just buy a beach cart or utility wagon, as long as the floor is stable and the sides are high enough to keep your dog contained. If the bottom isn’t cushioned, a soft blanket or crate mat can make it more comfortable and help avoid creating pressure points.

Raising your pet’s food and water bowls off the floor can help them to eat and drink more easily because they won’t have to bend down so much. Bending down to eat engages a lot of muscles and involves a lot of joint flexion, according to McCaffrey, and it can aggravate any soreness, tension, or arthritis that might be at play.

To ease the strain, McCaffrey said she recommends elevating bowls to the height of your pet’s shoulders so they just walk up and eat. If your dog (or cat) is lying down to eat, it’s a sign that their current bowl arrangement isn’t comfortable anymore.

Both Liu and McCaffrey said they suggest putting a non-slip surface, like a rug or a yoga mat, in front of your pet’s bowls so they don’t risk slipping or falling while they eat and drink. If their feet are on a nonslip surface, then “they’re going to be able to hold their strength a little bit better,” McCaffrey explained. “So elevating the food bowl, putting a yoga mat underneath, is going to change their world.”

The innovative Neater Feeder Deluxe Mess Proof Bowls do double duty as adjustable raised bowls that also help minimize mess if your pet is a sloppy eater. But the unit is bulky, and it might clash with your home decor. The ZPirates Dog Bowl Stand takes up less space, and the low-key bamboo frame can adjust to fit your existing bowls. It has rubber feet to keep it in place. If your pets nudge their bowls a lot, however, this stand may shift a bit or even get knocked over, depending on how vigorously they eat. The elevated Smallserve bowls are expensive, but they’re designed specifically for cats, and they’re some of the most stylish bowls we’ve seen (we wish they also came in a dog version). These bowls are dishwasher-safe, and they have a wide plastic base, which helps to keep them upright.

This elevated set protects walls and floors from messy eaters. It comes with leg extensions, so you can adjust the height.

This bamboo stand can be adjusted to fit your existing bowls, if they’re between 6 and 11 inches in diameter. It also comes in three different heights.

This elevated ceramic dish sits on a wide plastic base, to catch stray bits. It comes in two attractive colors, but it’s pricey.

If eating quickly and bloating are concerns for your dog, you might consider swapping in a slow feeder bowl, but check with your vet first. A slow feeder may not be necessary because older dogs often have less of an appetite and don’t move as fast as they used to. According to McCaffrey, you need to weigh the advantages of this type of bowl against “the endurance the dog’s going to need in order to stand there and eat for that more extended period of time, because the goal is for it to be easier for them, not harder.”

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No matter their age, many dogs and cats enjoy lounging in a sunny spot or catching the toasty breeze of a heater vent. But as my cats grew older, my house filled up with an assemblage of heated beds, self-warming mats, and extra blankets to give them even more warm and cozy spots to snooze in. “Older animals, they tend to have more difficulty sleeping, like older people,” Siracusa said. This is especially important for pets with less body mass. “The smaller the animal, the more likely it would be to get cold,” he said.

A heated bed can keep an animal warm, but it might also help with joint discomfort. Since “most older cats are going to have some amount of degenerative joint disease or arthritis,” a heated bed can be very soothing for them, said Mikel Delgado, the cat behavior consultant.

The K&H Pet Products Thermo-Kitty Cat Bed, from a time-tested brand, is one option that can keep your cat or small dog cozy.

This bed has a machine-washable cover and a removable heating pad positioned under foam cushioning. It reaches a temp of roughly 102 degrees Fahrenheit, which is the normal body temperature range of most cats.

Dogs can also benefit from a little extra warmth, but they’ll likely also need some extra padding beneath them. Especially for larger dogs, beds “have to be able to support the joints,” Siracusa said. Since there aren’t many heated beds big enough for larger dogs, consider something like the Pet Bed Warmer, also from K&H. It comes in multiple sizes, including large and extra-large, to accommodate most dog beds. We found that it heated nicely underneath a large Pendleton Comfort Cushion, which is about 1.5 to 2 inches thick. But it can work with lots of crate mats or beds.

You can use this waterproof bed warmer on your pet’s favorite bed. It comes with safety settings and in multiple sizes, so it can work for large and small beds alike. But it needs to sit under at least half an inch of padding.

You could also try a regular heating pad, but these pads might get too hot for your animal, even at the lowest setting, so you’ll need to use extra caution. “If there’s mobility compromise, using a heating pad could predispose them to thermal injury like a burn,” McCaffrey said, because they can’t (or won’t) get up when the pad reaches a potentially hazardous temperature.

If you’re nervous about having your pet lie on a heating element, Porter and Crash were also big fans of a self-warming bed like the FurHaven ThermaNAP Self-Warming Cat Bed, which doesn’t use electricity.

The mylar inside this machine-washable mat reflects your pet’s body heat, so it warms them up without electricity, thereby reducing the risk of thermal injury.

There’s a type of bed that doesn’t produce heat and instead uses something called pulsed electromagnetic field therapy (PEMF) to provide some relief to old or injured pets—especially pets who are suffering from joint injuries, hip dysplasia, or arthritis.

“PEMF therapy systems target tissues to help with reducing pain and inflammation as well as accelerating healing,” said Nicole Eastwood, marketing manager at Paw Prosper (which owns several brands geared toward aging pets, including Respond Animal Therapeutics, a PEMF bed manufacturer).

When an animal lies down on a PEMF bed, “pulsed electromagnetic fields are passing through the fur and skin and the bones and are able to penetrate through the entire body,” Eastwood said. PEMF therapy can reach the joints and help with circulation and healing, but the animal doesn’t feel it happening.

For many people, a price north of $600 (and up to $1,600) may be prohibitive. I, too, was skeptical, suspecting this was just a bunch of marketing for a high-ticket yet worthless item. But McCaffrey said she does believe it works. “There is actually science to back this stuff. It sounds a little woo woo, but it’s pretty cool,” she said.

If your vet recommends PEMF therapy—and you can afford it—the Assisi Loop Lounge and the Respond Animal Therapeutics Bio-Pulse PEMF Bed are two good options to consider.

Your vet’s office may also have a program that lets you rent a PEMF bed, so be sure to ask about that before you buy anything.

I think my pets are all beautiful, no matter how bad they smell or how gross their fur might get, but even I will admit that they sometimes need a touch-up. As our dogs and cats grow older and their mobility becomes more restricted, they might need help keeping up with their normal grooming routine.

McCaffrey recommends brushing older cats regularly with a metal, wide-toothed comb, to prevent mats from forming. “It’s a gentle way to get that undercoat out and stimulate all the hair follicles and the natural oil glands,” she said. The JW Pet Gripsoft Cat Comb is an affordable option for cats, while the Oster ShedMonster De-Shedding Tool and the Hertzko Self Cleaning Slicker Brush work well for both cats and dogs.

Bathing your old dog at home may also become challenging, especially if you have a tub that’s hard for them to get into or stand up in. Senior staff writer Rachel Cericola has used Pogi’s Dog Grooming Wipes and this no-rinse shampoo from Wahl to freshen up her aging dog, Sparky, in between baths. Earth Rated also has a waterless shampoo that reduces the stink and helps with coat maintenance.

As they age, dogs and cats may also require a few extra mani-pedis. “Just like older people have to go to a podiatrist to get their nails worked on, the same kind of thing happens particularly in older cats,” McCaffrey said. This is because cats may not use their scratching posts as much, “so the nails become thick and they can become ingrown,” she explained.

McCaffrey said she has also seen thick and ingrown nails in small breed dogs. No matter their species, you (or a groomer) should be doing regular nail trims on your pets. A good set of sharp clippers—like our top picks from Millers Forge, for large and small dogs, and the Well & Good Nail Clippers, for cats—can help you get the job done quickly and (hopefully) painlessly. But you’ll want to keep some styptic powder on hand, just in case you nick a quick.

This clipper is sharp, affordable, and the right size for most dogs.

If your pup weighs less than 20 pounds, this clipper is the way to go.

This nail trimmer is great for cat claws.

In case you nick your pet, you can use this powder to quickly stop the bleeding.

If your dog hates having their claws clipped, see if they’ll tolerate a grinder. Our top pick, the Dremel PawControl 7760-PGK, makes quick work of tough dog claws. But if your dog won’t tolerate a grinder either, a professional groomer should be able to help.

This grinder is a safe, affordable, quiet, and cordless way to trim your pooch’s nails.

If you see a tangle or knot in your pet’s coat, leave the scissors for your craft projects. “If you’re reaching for the scissors, what can happen and does happen is you can cut the skin instead of the fur,” McCaffrey said.

Buzzers are safer to use than scissors, but they also require some skill to maneuver. If you’ve ever given yourself a bad haircut (as I have many times), it might be best to spare your pet from the same fate. To safely give them a glow-up, hire a skilled professional, such as a groomer, a vet, or a vet tech. This is especially helpful for preserving your bond with your pet, if they really hate nail trims or fur-cuts—and they get to come home looking spiffy.

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Your pets may be slowing down, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to end. Many older pets struggle with cognitive decline, so McCaffrey suggests using enrichment games and puzzles to keep pets engaged.

You could also think about ways of adjusting the kinds of play they’re used to. For example, this could mean rolling a ball toward them while they’re lying down, instead of throwing it. But there are any number of modifications you can make.

If your dog can stand for a little while, a snuffle mat, like the Paw5 Wooly Snuffle Mat, allows them to do some nose work while foraging for treats or kibble. The Woof Pupsicle can also keep an old pup entertained for a while, and scent games can help keep them mentally stimulated.

Cats may still want to watch or chase a wand toy, like the Frisco Bird with Feathers Teaser Wand. But if your cat has mobility issues, you may have to drag it along the floor instead of making it “fly.” And a scratcher like the Made4Pets Cat Scratching Post—which has two wooden ball tracks in the base—can provide a cat with hours of varied play options (if they’ll deign to use it).

Dogs may need more help going outside, but you’d also be wise to invest in some washable pee pads, in case there are any indoor accidents. The Peepeego Non-Slip Dog Pad and the Pupiboo Washable Pee Pads for Dogs come in multiple sizes and have a nonslip backing. And when we tested them, each one kept a full cup of water from penetrating through. The Pupiboo comes in rug-like designs, to blend in with your decor (or not).

These reusable pee pads can contain messes and help minimize waste.

These pee pads come in a variety of sizes and designs to fit in your space.

For older cats, you should “consider having more litter boxes to make it easier because they might just have difficulties moving around the house,” Siracusa said. And no matter how many litter boxes you have, you need to make sure your cat can comfortably get in and out of them. Look for boxes with a low-cut entryway that’s easy for a cat to step over or through.

The extra-large Frisco High Sided Cat Litter Box, our top litter-box pick, has an entryway that’s 5.6 inches tall. If that’s too high for your cat, you can always make your own litter box using a storage tote. We like the 74-quart version of the Iris WeatherPro Storage Box, but any large tote with a smooth floor will do. You can also use the Creative Plastic Concepts Small Mixing Tub; it’s cheap and just 6 inches tall all the way around, so your cat can enter it from any angle.

Simple and inexpensive, this litter box has an accessible entryway, high sides to keep messes in check, and a smooth interior for easy cleaning.

This clear container can be cut to convert it into a high-walled, low-entry litter box.

Marketed as an all-purpose shallow pan, this low-walled option works well for kittens and cats with limited mobility.

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With pets both young and old, one of the more difficult tasks is getting them to take medication. I’ve found that a good pill cutter, like the JohnBee Pill Splitter, is sharp enough to break medicine into small pieces that you can sneak into high-value foods. This cutter also comes with a little storage vial to keep the rest of the pill safe.

You should always confirm with your vet that the medications they prescribe are okay to cut. Some pills have extended-release properties that might be canceled out if you cut the pills, according to McCaffrey. Also, cutting or crushing pills can make their bitter taste more prominent, and this might tip off a pet to your ruse.

This pill cutter has a sharp blade. And it comes with a metal pill holder, to store the other pill segments and keep them ready for the next dose.

You can also try hiding the pill in a Greenies Pill Pocket (they’re made for dogs and for cats) or in Milk-Bone Pill Pouches (for dogs only). Or you could wrap them up in a flavored paste, like the Tomlyn Pill-Masker. I’ve used a combination of all of these products, and I’ve found that switching among them can help bring a pet’s defenses down, at least temporarily.

Peanut butter is another go-to for many people undertaking the Sisyphean task of disguising treats, but McCaffrey said she encourages caution. Peanut butter is sticky and can get stuck in your dog’s throat. That can cause certain medications (like the antibiotic doxycycline) to stick there, and the medication “can irritate the esophagus and cause esophageal strictures,” McCaffrey said. If peanut butter is your only good option, she recommends following it with some food or water to make sure it goes all the way down.

These pill pockets for dogs come in four flavors and two sizes, to accommodate different kinds of pills.

These soft treats come in three flavors to help camouflage your cat’s pills.

These soft treats are large and come in two flavors.

This bacon-flavored paste can accommodate pills of any shape or size. It’s formulated for both dogs and cats.

If you’re really having trouble getting your animal to take their meds, a local compounding pharmacy might be able to custom-make the medication in a form that’s easier for you to dispense. “We can get a pill compounded into a treat or even into a flavored liquid, which can then be hidden in a small amount of food,” McCaffrey said. For cats, a transdermal formulation might also be possible, and it can then be rubbed on the inside of their ears. I successfully did this with my anxious cat’s Prozac for many years, though it did eventually wear away the fur in that area.

As for shoving a pill down a dog or cat’s throat, McCaffrey said she’s not a fan. “A lot of dogs are going to know that’s coming and start running away from you. And again, that’s not preserving the human animal bond,” she said. I’ve had a similar negative experience with pill injectors, which look like syringes, but your mileage may vary.

Spying on your pet might sound creepy, but a strategically placed spy camera might alert you to changes in your pet’s behavior. If you leave home for work all day, your animal might be excited to see you and seem very energetic when you get back, said Carlo Siracusa, the veterinary behavior specialist. But this liveliness might be disguising a change in activity patterns that a camera can pick up on.

You can point a camera at the areas where your animals spend most of their time, such as in their beds, at their food bowls, and, for cats, in their litter boxes. This will let you see if they skip a meal or vomit or behave oddly. An inexpensive indoor security camera—like our top pick, the Eufy Indoor Cam C120—lets you store footage either in the cloud, for a fee, or locally on a microSD card. So you can go back in time to see what happened—and when it happened.

There are also some automatic litter boxes with built-in cameras. But if your older cat has been using a manual litter box their whole life, Siracusa said he cautions against introducing this type of litter box to them in their old age. “That is changing the rules. The brain loses plasticity, so adapting to something new, it’s more challenging for an older cat,” he said.

This inexpensive security camera offers great video quality, multiple storage options, and useful pet-specific features.

If you notice your dog or cat is losing weight, a trip to the vet should be your first order of business. And since weight loss is often the first symptom we notice when something is wrong, monitoring your aging pet’s weight could help you get on top of an illness early.

For at-home monitoring, you can use the Beurer BY80 Digital Baby & Pet Scale to weigh cats or small dogs. If your cat puts up a fight (because being weighed is obviously a violation of their feline rights), you might try something like the Petivity Smart Litter Box. It sits under their regular litter box, so they don’t even know they’re being weighed. But it’ll add 2 inches to the box’s height, so you may need to add a step for them to get in and out.

If you have a larger dog, some pet-supply stores have scales, so you can weigh your dog there when you’re on a regular pet-food run. Or you can drop by your vet for a quick weight check. “It never hurts to have that information. And that way you can hopefully detect an issue earlier and then bring it up to your vet,” Julie Liu said.

Some vets use the Purina Body Condition System to evaluate a dog’s body composition. And if you ever find yourself wondering whether your pet is too thin or too chunky, the company offers a 3D interactive version of this system, for both dogs and cats, on its site.

This mostly accurate litter-box scale monitors your cat’s weight and bathroom habits.

The article was edited by Harry Sawyers and Jason Chen.

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Mikel Delgado, PhD, certified applied animal behaviorist and certified cat behavior consultant, phone interview, January 9, 2025

Julie Liu, DVM, veterinarian and cat behavior consultant, owner, My Family Cat, phone interview, January 9, 2025

Carlo Siracusa, DVM, veterinary behavior specialist, associate professor of clinical animal behavior and welfare, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, phone interview, January 9, 2025

Shelagh McCaffrey, DVM, certified hospice and palliative care veterinarian, practice owner of Senior Pet Vet, phone interview, January 22, 2025

Nicole Eastwood, marketing manager, Paw Prosper, phone interview, January 23, 2025

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When searching for a lost pet, a GPS collar can come to the rescue.

by Mel Plaut

Treating your pets for pests isn’t cheap or convenient, but it’s necessary.

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