What happens to connected pet tech in a power cut?

Anything that plugs into the mains stops when the power stops. The animal's needs do not.

Whisker's Litter-Robot 4 manual describes a unit that uses the power supply provided with it. No mains supply means no clean cycle. Leave a way to manage the tray by hand, and do not swap in a random adaptor: the manual says to use only the supply that came with the unit.

A water fountain that plugs in stops pumping. PDSA still expects fresh water from a clean bowl. Keep that bowl.

Sure Petcare says its Microchip Cat Flap runs on four AA batteries, claims up to 12 months, and remembers programmed cats when the batteries are removed. A power cut in the house does not remove those batteries. Flat batteries are a different failure, and the page tells you there is a low-battery light. It does not say the flap stays locked once the batteries are already dead, so use the manual lock if you need the hole shut.

A GPS tracker is not on your house circuit. Tractive says it needs charging and mobile coverage before it can send a position. A power cut at home does not, by itself, flatten a collar battery. It does remove Wi-Fi from a camera or feeder that needed the router.

Section 9 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 still requires reasonable steps, in England and Wales, to meet needs such as a suitable diet and protection from injury. Plan the bowl and the meal without the gadget.

Sources

• Litter-Robot 4 manual — Whisker, accessed 14 November 2026.
• The best diet for your cat — PDSA, accessed 14 November 2026.
• SureFlap Microchip Cat Flap — Sure Petcare UK shop, accessed 14 November 2026.
• How does a Tractive tracker work? — Tractive Help Centre, accessed 14 November 2026.
• Animal Welfare Act 2006, section 9 — legislation.gov.uk, accessed 14 November 2026.

On this site

Read automatic litter boxes and kittens, pet water fountains and microchip cat flaps.