Pet Camera: Top Picks for Safety

Who doesn’t love a cute animal video? How about a real-time, live feed of your pet? Being away from your pet isn’t always easy, especially if you’re worried about their health, behavior, or safety. Take the stress out of Fido’s “Home Alone” sequel with a smart, versatile, budget-friendly pet camera! Here’s what you need to know about choosing and using the best home and pet security cameras on the market.

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Don’t Guess When It Comes To Your Pet’s Care

Sign up for expert-backed reviews and safety alerts all in one place.

Help Me Protect My Pet

Why a Pet Camera is Essential for Pet Safety

Being away from your furry friend can be hard, and not just because you miss the cuddles. What if they get into something dangerous, have a health emergency, or escape? While these are (hopefully) unlikely, there’s nothing like a pet camera for some peace of mind when you’re away from your pal.

Keep an Eye on Your Furry Friend

A pet camera can help monitor your pet’s behavior and alert owners to destructive behaviors, health issues, accidents, and other concerns you might otherwise miss. 

Manage Separation Anxiety

Many pet cameras offer two-way sound capabilities and interactive features, such as treat dispensers. You can soothe your anxious pet with the sound of your voice or offer them their favorite treat, even when you are miles away.

Boost Home Security with a Pet Camera

With a good pet camera, your pet isn’t the only thing you’ll be able to see on your screen. A pet camera can double as a home security tool, alerting you to any sounds or movements while you’re out of the house.

Monitor Pet Behavior

Dogs and cats act differently when their owners are away, and understanding your pet’s habits is key to identifying potential issues before they become bigger problems. Remote viewing of your pet’s behavior while you’re out of the house can help you spot signs of stress, identify training needs, and make changes to their environment. 

How to Choose the Best Pet Camera for Your Needs

Variety is the spice of life, and when it comes to pet cameras, there is a lot. Choosing the right camera for your home means thinking about a whole host of features and capabilities that can improve your—and your pet’s—life.

Key Features to Look For

Here are some valuable features to look for in a quality pet camera:

• Two-way audio for communication
• High-resolution video and night vision for clear visibility 24/7
• Motion and sound detection with the option for alerts
• Treat-dispensing or other interactive features for engagement

Other Factors to Consider

It’s great to have a gadget that can do more than just display a live video feed, but there are other details to consider:

• Ease of Use: A pet camera should be easy to set up and use (or as easy as any unfamiliar tech can). Look for user-friendly interfaces, integrated mobile apps, or other features that make it easier to get the most out of your pet camera.   
• Placement and Range: Look for a spot in your home where the camera will be able to view all the desired areas, or at least as much as possible. 
• Budget: Like many techy toys, pet camera prices range from the cost of a meal to (potentially) a chunk of your paycheck. There are options for almost every price point—it’s all about what makes the most sense for you and your home.  

Top 5 Pet Cameras for Safety

The pet camera market is bursting at the seams, and you can only scroll through so many search results before they all blur together. We’ve nixed some of the guesswork by putting together a list of our favorite cameras.

Our Picks

1. Furbo 360-Degree Dog Camera

Get a full-circle view of your space with a 360-degree dog security camera. This multi-functional pet camera offers treat tossing, real-time audio, and color night vision, so you can see what your pet is up to, even in low light. 

Highlights

The camera’s adjustable treat-tossing options will keep your dog happy and engaged. It also easily integrates with other Furbo devices, such as their 360-degree cat camera. 

Things to Consider

Extra features, like alerts for carbon monoxide and smoke alarms, require a Furbo Dog Nanny subscription.

2. Eufy D605 Security Pet Camera

Keep your pet happy and your home safe with this all-in-one security pet camera. Enjoy a complete view day or night with a wide-angle lens, night vision, and AI motion-tracking capabilities.

Highlights

This device offers three different distances for treat dispensing, keeping your pet engaged and on its toes. You can also set up alerts for sound and motion in the free Eufy pet app without worrying about paying for a subscription for all the best features.

Things to Consider

While it offers many great features, this camera is significantly more expensive than some similar products. It also only supports 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connections.

3. Petcube Bites 2 Lite

If you’re looking for an interactive pet camera that won’t break the bank, this is the gadget for you! It offers a wide 110-degree field of view, with clear night vision up to 30 feet. Toss treats at various distances and comfort your pet from afar with clear, high-quality, two-way sound.

Highlights

Toss treats in real-time or schedule automatic treat dispensing in the Petcube app. The treat dispenser is also dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning.

Things to Consider

While this camera offers a wide viewing angle, it’s stationary and does not rotate (unless you feel like moving it manually, of course!).

4. Google Nest Cam

It doesn’t need to have “pet” in the name to work as a great virtual dog-sitter. This indoor security camera is a compact, easy-to-use smart device that you can stick almost anywhere in your home. 

Highlights

Get useful alerts thanks to a smart motion sensor that can differentiate between a person, animal, or vehicle driving by outside (no subscription required!). Go beyond real-time with three hours of video history whenever you check in. And if your wifi goes out, the Nest camera automatically stores up to an hour of footage, so you don’t miss a beat.

Things to Consider

To use the app features, you’ll need a Google account. Some basic versions of the camera’s features are free, but for expanded capabilities like facial recognition, you’ll need to pay for a Nest Aware subscription.

5. Budget Find: Tapo TP-Link Home Security Wi-Fi Camera

It may not toss kibble, but this affordable pet security camera is a treat for you and your wallet. The weatherproof design means it’s suitable for indoor and outdoor use, and with the option for local or cloud storage, you can save hours of video whenever you need. Smart motion detection can distinguish between people, pets, and vehicles, allowing you to set specific alerts for the animals you care about.

Highlights

The Tapo camera can link with your Alexa device for easy control and connectivity. Take advantage of its flexible mounting options with almost 10 feet of power chord and a strong magnetic base, capable of sticking to everything from railings to refrigerators.

Things to Consider

Cloud storage is only available through a Tapo Care subscription.

How We Chose the Best Pet Cameras

Now that we’ve delved into all the details, it’s probably obvious that there is a lot to consider when it comes to choosing the perfect pet camera. To avoid getting lost in the weeds, here are some important factors we used to find the best cameras:

• Product Specifications: A worthwhile pet camera should offer clear image quality and additional useful features, be it treat-tossing or automated alerts.
• Reputation: We trust the experts, and sometimes, that includes you. To find the best pet cameras, we looked at expert reviews and customer feedback to choose products from established brands with consistently high ratings.
• Safety: It always comes first. We picked cameras with useful safety features so you can protect the things that matter most.
• Tech Integration: Nobody wants to sit on hold with tech support while their furry friend is home alone. Connectivity, accessibility, and reliability are all key concerns when it comes to finding the best pet security tech.
• Price Point: While we’d all love to have a bottomless budget to take care of our homes, reality isn’t on board. We looked for cameras that checked the most important boxes at various price points. 

Whether you’re trying to soothe a lonely kitty or put an end to that pillow-chewing once and for all, a smart pet camera can help you stay connected, informed, and involved. We just can’t promise it will make you miss them any less.      

Feature Image by Fran • @mallorcadogphotography from Pixabay