We take you through the best options and the most important features to consider. This ranges from the camera’s quality to all their extra features. You’ll have a good idea of what will work best for you and your pet! We recommend the Petcube Bites 2 as our top choice. It has a durable build, great features, and an easy-to-use app! [Note: ExpertPhotography is supported by readers. Product links on ExpertPhotography are referral links. If you use one of these and buy something, we make a little bit of money. Need more info? See how it all works here].
What Are the Best Pet Cameras?
A dedicated pet camera is helpful for every pet owner. It can do everything from helping you find out how your hamster escapes to keeping an eye on your dog during work. Of course, it’s more helpful with bigger pets. But most animals should not be left alone for more than four hours. This is especially true with dogs. Long absences can create separation anxiety. The best pet cameras have two-way audio functions. These can help reduce anxiety. And an interactive pet camera can go a long way—and even drop treats on demand! This helps keep pets entertained and your favorite cushions out of their mouths! They can be the most helpful for people who have busy schedules. Or if you’re obsessed with your pet and can’t stand a second without them, a pet camera is for you. Some even allow you to save cute video clips straight to your phone. But most importantly, pet cameras are for everyone who has a pet and values their security. And they can be extremely valuable for monitoring the health of your beloved pet. The best part is that some pet camera options are cheap. This means you can look after your furry friend without breaking the bank. But remember, even the best pet cameras shouldn’t be a substitute for having someone look after your pets if needed. Here’s a quick roundup table of our top choices. Keep on scrolling for an in-depth look at each option! And check out our buying guide at the end for tips on what to look for in a pet camera.
8 Best Pet Cameras
Let’s look at all the options in more detail! The Petcube Bites 2 is the best pet camera because it features everything with a high degree of quality. It may not be the most discreet device. But it is packed with many features. The camera can detect your different pets. This is helpful when you see direct notifications on your phone tailored to each of your pets. And the device is triggered by movement or sound. So if anything is happening with your pets, the system captures it. The paid subscription service features 24/7 assistance and direct contact with online vets! This is extremely helpful as you could even send images or video clips to the vet. The extra paid service also gives you a load of cloud storage. This allows you to save your favorite clips without uploading the videos from a memory card. And this pet camera is durable and tough. It’s built with an aluminum case. So it won’t break even if it falls over! The only downside is that Bites 2 is expensive, especially if you want the extra features. It is also quite big and stands out against your decor. But it seems to give you the best connection with your pets when you’re away from home! Wyze Cam v3 is a cheap and powerful indoor or outdoor security camera. Not only is it weatherproof and dustproof. But it also has exceptional night vision. This is useful for pet owners out late at night or who work night shifts. In fact, this pet cam’s night vision is 25 better than its previous version. It lets you see in color, which is rare for a security camera. And it also has much higher processing power. You can pair the camera with Alexa. And if you place multiple cameras around the house, you can easily swap between them via voice commands. The camera has pet, person, vehicle, and package detection abilities. Only the top two are relevant for pet cameras. But it’s still worth knowing and an added benefit. The Cam v3 records 24/7 directly onto an SD card. This is very useful because you can find cheap SD cards online. And I’m also a fan of the accessories that come with the camera. This includes a headlight, an auto-charge solar panel, and a window mount. But the best part about this camera is its low price! The Furbo Pet Cam is a dog camera that throws treats. It looks like the most satisfying dispenser on this list. Not because of how it fires the treats. But because you get to press a fun button on the app. It has a cute little treat logo. The device works with Alexa. So it can be handy for Alexa users. You can give the dog treats or even set the times for treats all through your voice commands. The Furbo pet camera also has a “spill-proof” body. Its creators planned for your dog’s naughty habits or your own accidents as a pet owner. Plus, the design is sleek and simple. So it fits with several styles of decor. They also provide a subscription-based service called Furbo Dog Nanny. It allows you to access Smart Alerts to identify the dog’s activity or a house emergency. The camera also has a 4x digital zoom to give you great close-up views of your pet. And Furbo Dog Nanny also has a “dog diary” that sends you a minute clip of your pet daily! The Arlo Pro 4 is a wireless camera aimed more specifically to be a security camera. But it still functions great as a pet camera. Its winning feature is the 2K camera. This is the highest-resolution camera on our list. And a 2K camera makes a big difference when saving your pet’s best clips. It does not have many features geared toward watching over your pets. But it is weather resistant. So if your dog drops their water bowl or chucks it outside, the camera will be fine! Because it’s a wireless camera, it is easy to set up and install. You just have to put it on its base plate. And it attaches magnetically. It is easier to install on a wall or somewhere high up. This is ideal for a great view of your pet’s stomping grounds. It’s also smart-home integrated. So if you have any of these systems, you can easily add this into the mix. And it comes with a rechargeable battery that can hold its charge for a long time. The Arlo Pro 4 has great AI detection capabilities, focusing on privacy and protection. And it does have a paid app subscription for extra features. One of these features allows you to mark a specific zone. Then if the camera senses movement within that zone, it will send you a notification. It’s a great way to alert you if your dog gets onto your sofa or bed for a nap. The eufy pet camera is a great dog treat dispenser with a camera. The treat dispenser is probably its best feature. The dispenser has three options for the distance it fires them out at! This means you can keep your dog entertained for a while. You’ll have them guessing where the treats will go. This is also helpful if you have several dogs. It’s especially helpful if you have a big one that likes to get in the way and steal all the treats. Plus, the treat dispenser has an anti-clog mechanism. (Clogging is a big issue with treat dispensers.) My other favorite feature is that you can spin the camera 270 degrees. This means you can aim the treats in different directions. And you can also keep an eye on your pets wherever they go. I like the smart AI tracking that is inside the camera. This means the pet camera can identify and follow your pet around the room! It can also detect barking and send an alert to your phone. The eufy camera only comes with a 2.5x digital zoom. This isn’t great. But its swivel feature makes up for this with a 360-degree view. And it has 16 GB of local storage. This is plenty to keep your camera functioning for a while. Plus, the device works without a paid subscription. You can alert yourself if your pet does anything unusual. And it also gives you a Doggy Diary, showing you the best clips of your dog daily! Skymee’s Owl Robot is the best camera for pet monitoring. I say this because you must drive the owl around the house until you find it. But it can even be found by your pet! If the device is off, it has an activated thermal sensor if your pet walks toward it. The robot can move in a few different ways. You can control the motion live from your app like a remote control. Or you can preset a path for the robot to follow. And you can schedule it to follow this path at certain times of the day. This means you can automate it to lay out a set amount of treats around your house without your intervention. I don’t know any other pet camera that would provide your pet with the same entertainment. The Owl Robot comes with eight hours of battery charge. This is just long enough for a full workday. But it also means you must remember to charge it every night. It also saves videos on the hardware. But you must buy a TF (tiny flash) memory card. And finally, you can also speak to your pets through the app. A moving robot that has your voice might confuse them a little. But it will definitely grab their attention! The Petcube Bites 2 Lite is an amazing security camera primarily for pet owners. The more advanced “sibling” is further up this list. What’s the main difference between them? This “lighter” version is made with cheaper protective materials. Petcubes advertise the Lite as having a hard plastic body. It’s okay. But compared to its aluminum sibling, it is not quite as durable. The other main difference is that this one has only one microphone compared to the four on Bites 2. This means the voice or bark recognition will not be as refined as its advanced version. The Bites 2 Lite is also slower than the normal version as the Wi-Fi abilities are less advanced. But the good news is that the Lite version is half the price of the complete version. And it’s actually free after being subscribed to their Petcube Care Lite plan for a year ($10/month). Or you can buy a $10 annual subscription separately. It is about the same cost either way. The device shines with its app. But it can get expensive. It may be better to pay more for its more advanced sibling. But this version is cheap and still comes with the treat dispenser. The Ring brand revolutionized home security. It was the first brand to make an accessible and easy security camera for your front door. And even though the Ring indoor camera isn’t specifically for pets, it works perfectly as one. Its best feature is its small body, which can fit almost anywhere! This means you can even hang the camera up if you want! Ring is a well-known brand. And most people may want to go with their camera because their app is refined and familiar. If you have a Ring device already, the indoor camera fits into your app with minimal setup. I am a fan of the photos the Ring camera can send as a preview with notifications. It may just be of your pet walking past the camera. But it could also capture the image of your dog barking loudly, which may be helpful. One point worth mentioning is that Ring has a few subscription-based options for its device. You cannot use the device to its full potential without paying a monthly fee.
Buyers Guide for a Pet Camera
Here are four features to look for in a pet camera. You can decide which is most important to you and your furry friend.
1. Wide Fields of View, Swivel, and Zoom
An important feature among the best pet cameras is a wide field of view lens. These are often very wide-angle lenses measured by the degree they can capture. Ideally, you want to see as much of the room as possible. We all know your pet has its favorite spot. But the bits you want to track often happen out of this area. So a wide-angle lens is crucial in a pet camera. To a further extent, a pet camera that can swivel on its own is even better! This lets you track your pet anywhere it goes. You can even set this strategically to get the best view of your living space. A zoom function is also handy on a pet camera, especially on a wide-angle lens. This is because you may want to see the smaller things that happen with your pets. This could be checking what they’re playing with or seeing their faces more clearly.
2. A Form Of Communication
Most of the best pet cameras have two-way audio capabilities. Two-way audio means that both sides of the screen can talk and respond to each other. (Even if the response is just a bark!) Two-way audio may not seem important. But a comforting voice can help with separation anxiety (pets and owners alike). Dogs can be great at responding to commands. A stern voice through two-way audio could get your favorite shoes out of your dog’s mouth and settle them again. Or two-way audio can just be a way to remind your pet of how good they’re being.
3. Security Features
Maybe you bought a guard dog, but it turned out to be a softy? Not to worry. You can keep guard over nap time and the whole house with a pet camera. This can be particularly useful when watching over your house at night. Most pet cameras have Skymee’s Owl Robot abilities. This ensures that whatever happens in your house in the dark ng caught on camera. An outdoor camera is the most helpful security. But a pet camera can do both. Some pet cameras are even designed to recognize if a person is at the window! And an indoor pet camera can also help keep an eye on any trouble caused at home.
4. Toys for Your Pet
The best pet cameras come with toys or some form of interaction. You can find pet cameras with laser pointers for cats or ones that throw treats for dogs. These can confuse your pets. But mostly in a cute way. Sometimes their attention is all you need to worry about. Some pet cameras on this list include toys in their roster of features. I like the ones that get creative, like the Skymee Owl Robot. And this pet camera lets you remotely control your camera to find your pet. You can even set preset paths for the camera to follow to get your dog in the right room for a treat.
Conclusion: The Best Pet Cameras
There are lots of options to choose from on our list. But the best pet camera is the Petcube Bites 2. This pet camera is designed with the latest technology to provide a secure and reliable way to keep an eye on your pet while you are away. It features a 1080p HD camera with night vision, two-way audio, and a treat dispenser. So you can interact with your pet even when you’re away! With its easy setup and user-friendly app, this is the ultimate pet camera for keeping your pet safe and entertained.
