PetTechHQ

How we score

Criteria suited to each kind of product, weighted and applied the same way every time, with the reasoning shown in full on each review.

Most review sites give a single star rating with little explanation. We do the opposite. Every product is scored out of 10 against a set of weighted criteria, and the weighted total is the headline score. We show the full breakdown on each product's page so you can see exactly how we reached it.

A feeder and a GPS tracker are not judged on the same things, so each product category has its own criteria, chosen for what actually matters in that type of product. The categories we have scored so far are below, with more added as we build out each cluster.

Automatic cat feeders

Criterion Weight What it covers
Reliability and jam resistance 25% Whether it dispenses consistently, without jamming, failing or skipping.
Power and connectivity backup 15% What happens in a power cut or when the internet drops. Battery backup and offline operation.
Portion accuracy 15% How closely the amount delivered matches the amount set, and how finely it can be controlled.
App and scheduling 15% The reliability and usefulness of the app, scheduling flexibility and alerts.
Capacity and food suitability 10% Capacity, and whether it suits the food type the buyer needs, including wet food.
Ease of cleaning 10% How easy the parts are to clean, and whether they are dishwasher safe.
Build quality and noise 5% Materials, durability and how quiet it is in everyday use.
Value 5% The price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Automatic dog feeders

Criterion Weight What it covers
Reliability and jam resistance 25% Whether it dispenses consistently without jamming, including with larger-breed kibble.
Capacity and size suitability 15% Hopper size matched to the dog. A feeder that lasts a cat 10 days may last a large dog two.
Portion accuracy 15% How closely portions match the setting, and how finely they adjust for weight management.
App and scheduling 15% The reliability and usefulness of the app, scheduling flexibility and alerts.
Power and connectivity backup 10% Dual power, mains plus battery, so meals are not skipped in a power cut or wifi drop.
Build quality and security 10% Heavy tip-resistant base, reinforced internals and a locking lid to defeat determined dogs.
Ease of cleaning 5% Dishwasher-safe parts and a stainless bowl that resists bacteria.
Value 5% The price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Water fountains

Criterion Weight What it covers
Filtration quality 20% Multi-stage filtration, and ion-exchange resin for UK hard water, that keeps water clean between changes.
Pump noise 15% How quiet the pump runs. Under 30dB matters; a noisy fountain gets unplugged.
Hygiene and materials 15% Stainless steel or ceramic versus plastic, and how well the surfaces resist biofilm.
Ease of cleaning 15% Wireless pump, dishwasher-safe parts, and whether the spout channel can actually be reached.
Filter cost and availability 10% The real ongoing cost of replacement filters and how easy they are to buy in the UK.
Capacity and suitability 10% Reservoir size for the household, plus dry-run protection to stop the pump seizing.
Drinking encouragement and design 10% Flow type and bowl design that gets pets drinking, including whisker-friendly basins.
Value 5% The price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

GPS trackers

Criterion Weight What it covers
Location accuracy 25% Real-world positioning accuracy, and the signal mix (GNSS, wifi, cellular) behind it, including in cities and woodland.
Battery life 20% How long it really lasts between charges, judged against the maker's claim, which is often inflated in this category.
Subscription value and transparency 15% The ongoing SIM subscription cost, total cost of ownership, and how clearly the brand states it upfront.
App and alerts 15% How fast the app updates location, how reliably alerts fire, and how usable the map and interface are.
Geofencing and safe zones 10% Reliability and flexibility of safe-zone and escape alerts, the main reason most owners buy a tracker.
Durability and water resistance 5% Build toughness and water rating. IP67 is the sensible minimum for a collar-worn device.
Size, comfort and fit 5% Weight and bulk on the collar, which matters most for cats and small dogs.
Value 5% The hardware price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Activity monitors

Criterion Weight What it covers
Tracking accuracy 25% How well it distinguishes real activity from collar scratches and paw shakes, and maps steps, rest and behaviour.
Health insights and alerts 20% Depth and usefulness of the data, especially behavioural-deviation alerts that flag early illness signs.
Battery life 15% How long it lasts between charges. A week or more is the expectation for a constantly worn device.
App experience 10% Clarity and usefulness of the app where the data lives, including trends and goals.
Size, comfort and fit 10% Weight and bulk on the collar, light enough that small dogs and cats will still wear it.
Subscription value and transparency 10% Whether health insights need a monthly fee, and how clearly the brand states it.
Durability and water resistance 5% Build toughness and water rating. IP67 is the sensible minimum for a worn device.
Value 5% The hardware price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Pet cameras

Criterion Weight What it covers
Video quality 20% Resolution and clarity of the live feed, day and night. 1080p is the sensible baseline.
Night vision 15% Infrared range and clarity after dark, when many pets are most active.
Treat dispensing reliability 15% Whether the treat launcher actually works: jam resistance, treat-size tolerance and range. Cameras without one score low here.
App and alerts 15% Usability of the app and how reliably motion and sound alerts arrive.
Two-way audio 10% Clarity of talking to and hearing your pet, without crackle or lag.
Subscription value and transparency 10% What features sit behind a paid plan, and how upfront the brand is about it.
Field of view and tracking 10% Wide-angle coverage and any pan, tilt or auto-tracking to follow the pet around the room.
Value 5% The price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Smart pet doors

Criterion Weight What it covers
Recognition accuracy and reliability 25% How reliably it scans and admits the right pet, including when they approach fast or at an angle.
Security and stray exclusion 20% How well it keeps strays and wildlife out, plus the locking modes on offer.
Weatherproofing and seal 15% Magnetic seal, weather stripping and insulation against drafts, rain and cold.
Response speed 10% How quickly it unlocks. Slow scanning startles timid pets and can deter use for good.
Pet capacity and compatibility 10% Microchip format support (9, 10, 15 digit) and how many pets it can store.
App and access control 10% Curfew scheduling, remote locking and entry alerts. Many fine doors work well without an app.
Installation and fit 5% Versatility across door, wall, glass and uPVC, and how easy it is to fit.
Value 5% The price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Smart litter boxes

Criterion Weight What it covers
Cleaning reliability 20% Whether the cleaning cycle clears waste fully and consistently, without jamming or leaving residue.
Safety 20% Multi-sensor protection (weight and motion) that stops the unit operating with a cat inside. A failure here can harm the cat.
Odour control 15% Sealed waste compartment and deodorising, and how well smells are contained between empties.
Noise 10% How quiet the cycle is, which matters in flats and at night and affects whether a nervous cat will use it.
Capacity and cat suitability 10% Waste bin and drum size, and whether it suits large breeds and multi-cat homes.
App and health monitoring 10% Weight and usage tracking and alerts, useful for spotting health changes early.
Ease of cleaning and maintenance 10% How easy the unit itself is to deep clean and maintain, given it handles waste.
Value 5% The price against everything above. Not cheapness for its own sake.

Where the scores come from

We combine two things. The factual specifications, such as capacity, food type or battery life, come from the manufacturer and product data. The experiential judgements, such as how reliably something works or how stable the app is, come from the weight of feedback across owners and independent reviewers, read and summarised in our own words.

The score is our own synthesis of that evidence. We do not copy other reviews, and we do not let any commercial relationship change a score. Where a detail needs confirming on a specific model, we say so on the review rather than guess.

How we rank

Category pages list products in order of their weighted total. Because every product in a category is measured the same way, the ranking is a genuine like-for-like comparison. A lower-ranked product is not a bad product. It may simply be the best choice for a specific need, which is why each review explains who it suits. We do not compare scores across different categories, since each uses its own criteria.

We update scores when products change, when new versions appear, or when a clearer picture emerges from longer-term feedback. Each review shows when it was last updated.