Introduction: The Evolution of Smart Pet Care and Plant Care
For busy people, companion cats and houseplants are precious sources of energy and joy. But commuting, business trips, and travel can make it hard to care for them consistently. As of 2025, the “Pet Technology & Animal Welfare” category was newly added at CES 2025, reflecting the rapid rise of Thefrontier-style AI-powered care solutions. This guide introduces the latest AI devices and apps that help you manage cats and plants more smartly, with hands-on, real-world tips.
1) AI Smart Devices for Cats
AI-Powered Automatic Feeders
Key products & features
- Varram Pet “Milly” recommends a tailored daily calorie intake for your pet and calculates calories by kibble type to enable personalized feeding. You can receive real-time alerts about when and how much your pet ate, so you can relax while you’re away.
- PurrsPock “Bit-Eye” (Perspock) offers a 2K high-definition camera to clearly check the food bowl and an anti-blocking kibble mechanism that keeps feeding smooth and stable for continuous food supply. (GTTKorea)
Practical tips
- Personalized feeding: Calculate daily calories by age, weight, and activity level, then auto-distribute across the day.
- “Yum-Yum” report: Analyze eating patterns to monitor health.
- Remote monitoring: Check live video and talk to your cat via the app.
- Multi-cat homes: Use individual recognition and tailored portions for each cat.
What to consider before buying
- Wi-Fi compatibility: Many feeders support 2.4 GHz only; confirm your home network before purchasing (e.g., Varram).
- Kibble size limits: Each device has recommended kibble sizes (typically 2–13 mm). Check compatibility with your current food.
- Fully washable parts: Choose a model that can be completely disassembled for hygiene.
AI Healthcare Monitoring Devices
- Petpuls is an AIoT device that collects and recognizes a dog’s vocal and activity data. Worn on your dog, it analyzes data and reports emotional states (calm, anxious, angry, sad, happy) in the app. (KT)
- BrainU introduced the VET CAI, a veterinary EEG-based anesthesia depth monitor. With built-in AI cameras, it recognizes breeds and assesses health conditions in real time. (Thefrontier)
2) AI Apps for Plant Care
Groo (그루우) — Korea’s leading plant-care app
Core features
Groo provides four AI-based solutions:
- AI Plant ID identifies species and teaches you how to care for them.
- AI Plant Diagnosis checks plant conditions and recommends actions.
- AI Plant Recommendations suggest suitable plants for your indoor environment.
- AI Plant Chat provides real-time consultations.
How to use
- Register plants: Take a photo; AI auto-identifies the species.
- Personalized guides: Watering, sunlight, temperature—tailored to each plant.
- Watering alerts: Smart reminders adjusted for weather and seasons.
- Growth log: Keep a diary; your AI plant can “comment” back.
Users say, “I used to forget watering, but the plant-care scheduler keeps me on track.” (Abegail1000)
Planta — Global plant-care app
Highlights
With 2M users and 8M plants, Planta sends smart care alerts based on species, region, weather, and room lighting. (Google Play)
Practical features
- Light meter: Measure light around the home to match plants to each spot.
- Growth journal: Record progress with photos and notes.
- Step-by-step guides: Beginner-friendly instructions.
- Plant scanner: Snap a picture to get the name and care tips instantly.
PictureThis — High-accuracy plant identification
PictureThis identifies over 1,000,000 plants daily with more than 98% accuracy and answers gardening questions—your pocket plant expert for confident care. (App Store)
Plantgram — Community-driven app
Plantgram recommends plants similar to those you’ve registered (watering, light, temperature), and suggests options that fit your lifestyle (busy schedules, pets at home, low-light apartments). (Google Play)
Special features
- Plant exchange marketplace: Chat with neighbors for quick, easy trades.
- QR code management: Convenient, intuitive per-plant tracking.
- Per-plant boards: Share info with other users and get expert advice.
3) AI Indoor Growers — Automation at Its Best
Smart indoor planters
An AI indoor grower that won a CES 2025 Innovation Award uses AI and agricultural big data. Insert a seed capsule, and the built-in AI camera recognizes the variety and monitors growth in real time, automatically controlling temperature, humidity, and light. (EPNC)
Use cases
- Herbs: Grow basil, mint, parsley year-round.
- Salad greens: Lettuce, arugula—fresh from your kitchen.
- Ornamentals: Keep air-purifying plants in optimal conditions.
4) App Selection Guide: Recommendations by Goal
For plant-care beginners
- Groo: Korean UI, intuitive, AI chat support
- Difficulty: ★☆☆☆☆
- Price: Free core features; premium available
For structured management (intermediate)
- Planta: Detailed schedules, growth journal
- Difficulty: ★★★☆☆
- Price: Trial + subscription
For high-accuracy identification (advanced)
- PictureThis: 98%+ recognition accuracy
- Difficulty: ★★★★☆
- Price: Premium subscription recommended
For community lovers
- Plantgram: Plant exchange, active boards
- Difficulty: ★★☆☆☆
- Price: Free
5) Building an Integrated Smart Home
Cat + Plant care system
Morning automation
- Smart feeder dispenses breakfast automatically.
- Plant app sends watering reminders.
- IoT sensors check indoor humidity and temperature.
- Humidifiers and air purifiers activate as needed.
Out-of-home monitoring
- Watch live video of your cat on your phone.
- Snap plant photos for instant AI diagnosis.
- Dispense treats remotely via the feeder.
- Receive low-water alerts and handle it when you’re back.
Data-driven health management
- Analyze your cat’s eating patterns to catch issues early.
- Track plant growth to find optimal conditions.
- Review weekly/monthly reports to spot trends.
6) Real User Stories
Case 1: Office worker A (2 cats)
Problem: Frequent late nights made dinner feeding inconsistent.
Solution:
- Installed two Varram Milly units
- Set calorie targets per cat
- Switched to four small feedings per day
Result: Reduced overeating, lower obesity risk, no worries on late nights.
Case 2: Solo resident B (15 plants)
Problem: Frequent business trips led to underwatered plants.
Solution:
- Registered all plants in Groo
- Set watering alerts
- Created a pre-trip checklist
Result: Survival rate improved from 30% → 95%; easy to ask family for help during trips.
Case 3: Newlyweds C (1 cat + 8 plants)
Problem: No caretaker during a two-week honeymoon.
Solution:
- Installed large-capacity smart feeder + water fountain
- Shared app access with parents (remote monitoring)
- Set up auto-irrigation + light timers for plants
Result: Real-time checks from abroad; everything stayed perfectly managed.
7) Cost Analysis: ROI You Can Feel
Cat-care devices
Initial investment
- Smart feeder: ₩100,000–₩300,000
- Smart water fountain: ₩50,000–₩150,000
- AI health device: ₩100,000–₩500,000
Savings
- Pet sitter costs: save ₩50,000–₩100,000 per trip
- Optimized food use: save ₩20,000–₩30,000 per month
- Early health detection: save ₩100,000–₩500,000 per year
Payback period: ~6–12 months
Plant-care apps
Cost
- Free apps cover core needs
- Subscriptions: ₩3,000–₩10,000 / month
Savings
- Fewer plant replacements: save ₩20,000–₩50,000 / month
- Lower expert consult costs: ₩30,000–₩50,000 per session
- Less trial-and-error = time saved
Recommendation: Start free; upgrade if/when needed.
8) Troubleshooting: Common Issues & Fixes
Smart feeders
- Issue 1: Won’t connect to Wi-Fi
Fix: Confirm 2.4 GHz network, place near router, reinstall the app. - Issue 2: Kibble clogs
Fix: Follow recommended kibble size, clean regularly, avoid very oily foods. - Issue 3: Cat fears the feeder
Fix: Start with sound off and manual feeding; gradually acclimate; use favorite treats.
Plant-care apps
- Issue 1: Misidentification
Fix: Take sharp photos from multiple angles; show leaf features; compare across apps. - Issue 2: Overwatering despite alerts
Fix: Alerts are guides—always check soil by hand and adjust to your environment. - Issue 3: Vague AI diagnoses
Fix: Pair with community/expert help; upload clearer, more detailed photos.
9) 2025 Trends & What’s Next
Pet-tech evolution
At CES 2025, five innovation awards (including LG Electronics) went to pet-life products. (Thefrontier) We’ll see integrated solutions beyond feeding—health monitoring, disease prediction, and personalized nutrition.
What to expect
- AI veterinarian features: Input symptoms, get real-time triage and clinic guidance.
- DNA-based personalized care: Diets and routines tailored to your pet’s genome.
- Advanced emotion tracking: Measure stress via facial and behavior patterns.
Plant-tech growth
According to Korea’s Rural Development Administration, the home-gardening market was about ₩60 billion in 2020 and projected to reach ₩500 billion by 2023—around 8× growth. (ET News)
Future tech
- Fully automated indoor farms: AI + IoT control water, nutrients, and light.
- Plant health prediction: Use big data to prevent pests and disease.
- AR guidance: Real-time, step-by-step pruning and repotting with augmented reality.
10) Pre-Purchase Checklists
For cat smart devices
✅ Network: 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi available
✅ Power: Battery backup for outages
✅ App compatibility: iOS/Android support; check reviews
✅ Noise: Low-noise models for sensitive cats
✅ Capacity: Match hopper/tank size to trip length
✅ Service: Domestic A/S (after-sales service) available
For plant-care apps
✅ Language: Interface and guides in your language
✅ Database: Includes the species you grow
✅ Community: Active Q&A and quick responses
✅ Offline use: Basic features without internet
✅ Free tier scope: How much can you do without paying
✅ Privacy: How photos and location data are handled
Conclusion: Happier Co-Living Through Smart Care
AI devices and apps don’t replace care; they enable us to care better. Technology offloads repetitive tasks and monitoring—but love and bonding are ours to give.
Step-by-Step Starter Plan
- Assess your pain points: Forgetfulness, overwatering, worries while away, etc.
- Prioritize: Address the most urgent issue first (feeder → app → integrated system).
- Start small: Try one or two solutions and measure impact.
- Scale gradually: Expand to other areas if satisfied.
- Use your data: Refine routines with the insights you collect.
Even with a busy schedule, AI helps keep your cats healthy and your plants thriving. Pick one solution now and take the first step into smart care—your whole household will feel the difference.
Recommended Starter Setups
- Minimal (around ₩150,000): Smart feeder + Groo (free)
- Intermediate (around ₩300,000): Smart feeder + water fountain + Planta Premium
- Full (₩500,000+): Feeder + fountain + health device + AI indoor grower + paid apps
Which setup will you choose to begin your smart-care journey?