Pets

Heated insoles generally rely on batteries to warm icy toes. Solecooler has a different idea, getting its power straight from the source: the feet. Its insoles harness basic stepping motions to generate heating and cooling.

Earlier this month, Ella, a three-year-old potbelly pig, entered into a surgical procedure at Oregon State University (OSU). Simultaneously, she entered the record books as the first pig to ever have undergone the complete removal of an ear canal.

Robot pets have been a sci-fi staple for decades, and in recent years we’ve seen a glut of them with varying success. The latest is Loona, a quite advanced-looking bot with a lot of tricks up its sleeves and a personality straight out of a Disney movie.

A pair of new studies from researchers in the UK offer a warning to dog owners who frequently feed their pets raw meat. The research indicates pets fed raw meat diets were more likely to harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

A single protein called Fel d 1 is responsible for the lion's share of human cat allergies, but a company called InBio says its initial research indicates a promising possibility that this protein can be eliminated safely using CRISPR gene editing.

Scientists in Japan investigating the possibility of a vaccine for people allergic to dogs have made a significant breakthrough, identifying the crystal structure of a protein at the heart of the majority of dog allergies for the first time.

The inflatable Air-Topper from California-based Flated provides the cargo-containing security of a shell when the driver needs it but gets out of the way immediately when they don't, deflating and packing small enough to take up a fraction of the bed.

Robots are invading our homes more and more, but (so far at least) their intentions seem nice. Enabot’s latest home robot Ebo looks to give video calls a bit more mobility, letting remote users drop in, roam around and chat.

A new study is offering the strongest evidence to date of COVID-19 transmission from human to cat. The research builds on anecdotal reports but experts stress there is no evidence so far of viral transmission from domestic cats to their owners.

More and more, insect protein is being suggested as a more sustainable alternative to meat. Humans aren't the only omnivores, though, which is why a new insect-based cat food should soon be hitting the market – and it won't be the only one.

A new survey has found owning a pet is associated with better mental health during COVID-19 lockdowns. The survey also linked pet ownership to lower levels of loneliness, and both positive associations were detected regardless of species.

KittySpring is a more sophisticated solution for cat owners with thirsty and clumsy pets, consisting of a gravity-fed fountain that keeps the water supply fresh and uses a stable base to avoid spillage and puddles.