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Pet Trends: Custom-made Products, Artisanal Foods & Wearable Tech

cat couture

Three millennial trends that have crossed the species line from humans to our furry companions.
 

Custom Couture

cat couture

Once upon a time, the only thing that separated us from the animals was our ability to accessorize. No longer, as a wave of street-savvy designers are devoting themselves to upgrading your pet's lewk, creating custom leashes, collars, and clothes meant to show off your our-legged friend's best assets. Why get caught carrying a tacky leash when you can have one that coordinates with your chic new fall coat, with a kicky collar to match? And your home is no different.

Bespoke pet beds come in all shapes and styles, from Hollywood regency glam to mid-century modern sleek, all sized according to your pet's measurements so the fit is just right. Custom upholstery means they'll never clash with your color scheme. Even playtime has got an upgrade from the same old sad squeaky toy. Sleek and smart, a new world of toys can learn from your pet's behavior, changing patterns and upping the difficulty as Fido plays. He'll be ready for the puppy Ivy League in no time--with a back-to-school outfit to boot.

Sauder Natural Sphere Cat Tower (pictured), $259.99. Sauder.com

Custom-made Sock Dogs, $110. SockDogs.com

LazyBonezz Cat Scratch Pad, $49. LazyBonezz.com

Fluffy Foodies

kale

Nothing's more embarrassing than a pudgy pooch. As we all pay more attention to our diets, pet food makers are getting on board with the latest trends, using everything from locally sourced ingredients to Amazonian superfoods to entice picky pets. Artisanal wet and dry foods now come in gluten-free, high-protein, and low-carb options--there's even paleo pet food (hey, anyone who's ever watched a cat hunt a fly knows they're closer to their wild state than we are).

No matter their special needs, pet owners are trading in convenience for haute cuisine, dishing out servings of hand-crafted fresh or frozen meals instead of the same old kibble day in and day out. Aside from the satisfaction of knowing your pet's eating as well as you do, the new-school nutritionists promise such long-term benefits as shinier coats, boosted brain activity, and, of course, a slimmer physique.

Grandma Lucy's Artisan Grain-Free Venison Freeze-Dried Dog Food, $89.99. Chewy.com

Crunchy Kale Dog Treats, 14 oz., $7.95. Wet-Noses.com

The Healthy Hound Cookbook: Over 125 Easy Recipes for Healthy, Homemade Dog Food -- Including Grain-Free, Paleo, and Raw Recipes! $16.99. AdamsMediaStore.com

Fido Fitbits, Apps, and More

tech

There's an app to simplify every pet owner's task, from first aid tips to finding the perfect dogwalker, not to mention pooch-level nanny cams that let you FaceTime with your pet while you're at the office. High-tech fabrics are popping up in beds that keep furry friends cool in the summer or warm in the winter, and in repellent-embedded coats that keep fleas and ticks away, spray-free. And a new wave of robo-collars are doing double duty, from tracking activity and food intake to playing soothing music or your own recorded voice to help ease separation anxiety.

There's even a collar upgrade for the social media-savvy that sends updates about your pet's activity straight to the Twittersphere. Want to know if Fluffy's tearing up the house when you're at work? Just check his Twitter feed!

PetChatz, A videophone that allows pet parents to interact with their pet from anywhere and even dispense treats. $349, PetChatz.com

StarWalk, an application-based activity tracking device for dogs that goes on her collar. $79.99, IQPet.com

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