Tesla’s climate-control feature for pets left in the car got a new name and a few new options this year. The core function that keeps the cabin comfortable while you’re away hasn’t changed.
What’s actually new
The rebrand shipped with the Spring 2026 software update (version 2026.14) and the matching Tesla app update, version 4.55.6. Owners can now pick a dog, cat, or hedgehog to show on the center touchscreen instead of the old balloon-dog graphic, and they can enter a pet’s name under Controls > Display > Customize Pet Mode so the screen reads something like “Don’t worry! Rex is chillin'” alongside the cabin temperature, according to Not a Tesla App. The app icon is still a dog paw for now, likely so longtime users can still find it.
How the feature works
Pet Mode keeps running the climate system to hold a set cabin temperature while the car is parked and you’re away, and it will not let you turn it on unless the battery is above 20%, per Not a Tesla App’s reference guide. Running the climate system this way uses roughly 4 miles of range per hour, and the car sends a phone notification if the charge level drops toward that 20% floor so you know to head back. Some owners can also now check in remotely: Tesla added the ability to view cabin snapshots and real-time temperature, battery, and climate status from an Apple Watch as part of the same update, according to Basenor.
Tesla posted this on August 27, 2026, showing the feature in action:
This is Tesla’s own demo of the feature, so it can be treated as an official product source. The specifics above on the app version, battery threshold, and range usage come from the independent reporting linked in each section.
Photo by 46danz.