What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

It was probably for ages 5-10 and not much higher. Light and simple and campy, similar in that way to Gardiner's _Top Secret_ (human photosynthesis science experiment), and from the same era.

(view spoiler)[The denouement involves the discovery that the pet is in the walls building a nest in the automation computer, causing it to malfunction. (hide spoiler)]

My first thought was Lazy Tommy Pumpkinhead, but it sounds like your book was more of a novel?

I can't be sure of the exact reading level. It wasn't up to the level of the Narnia series, the Westing Game, or even Harry Potter. I'd be very surprised if it were a picturebook, though; it might've had some illustrations, but I think it was at least a novella.

The recollection I have of it is that the plot centered on solving the dual mysteries of what happened to the pet and what was causing the automation to gradually go haywire. Not so much on self-reflection like Lazy Tommy seems to be about, and no storm causing the automation to fail like Lazy Tommy seems to have. The resolution was solving both mysteries and realizing they were connected.

It might be an obscure, mediocre book from the scholastic book club catalog at the time.

The Pets' Revolt?

I don't see anything about home automation, though.

Danny Dunn and the Automatic House?