A pet camera could give you peace of mind when you're away from home and don't have anyone to check up on your furry friend. Or, you may simply be curious to know what they get up to when you're not looking!
Cameras connect to an app on your smartphone, so you can log in and observe your pet to make sure they're happy, safe and not getting up to any mischief. There are a range of models available with various features and price points from brands like Furbo, Arlec (Bunnings), Eufy and Petcube.
Cameras connect to an app on your smartphone, so you can log in and observe your pet
Owners of anxious dogs might be reassured by models with two-way audio that alert you to any distressed barks, and let you talk to your pet to calm them down.
People worried about their pet being bored home alone may enjoy a model that lets you throw treats for them, and some models even have laser pointers for a game of chase!
Some pet cameras do require you to pay for an additional subscription on top of the unit's purchase price in order to unlock certain features, while others are just a one-off cost. Here we outline how to choose the model that's right for your home.
On this page:
- Why not just use a security camera or baby monitor?
- What are the different types of pet cameras?
- Pet camera features to look for
- Cost
- How easy are the cameras to connect?
- How private is my data?
- Where do I place my pet camera?
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Why not just use a security camera or baby monitor?
You can, but pet cameras have special pet-specific features you might find useful.Security cameras and baby monitors let you remotely check on activity that's going on in your home, just a pet camera would.
They also share common features with pet cameras – for example many have a two-way audio feature that would allow you to talk to your pet. If all you want to do is view your pet and talk to them throughout the day, the right model of baby monitor or security camera could do the trick.
A security camera could also be worth considering if your pet spends a lot of time outdoors and you have a security camera there already. They have alerts to let you know if there's movement, with some also employing algorithms to differentiate between humans and animals. This feature is sometimes included as part of the upfront price, or you may need to pay for a subscription to access it. And it'll focus on frequently recording human motion to help identify potential intruders which might be annoying if you're using it as a pet monitor.
A security camera could also be worth considering if your pet spends a lot of time outdoors and you have a security camera there already
A baby monitor comes with baby-specific features that are unlikely to be very useful for your pet like crying alerts (that won't work for barking) and the option to play lullabies or white noise, which may not be effective for your dog or cat. But, again, if you already have one in your home and it's easy to move it to the area where your pet spends most of its time, it can certainly allow you to monitor them remotely.
Pet cameras, on the other hand, are designed for entertainment and reassurance. They often come with specific dog/cat detection features you won't always find with other cameras.
What are the different types of pet cameras?
There are three main types of pet camera currently on the market.
The Eufy dog camera dispenses treats to your pet.
Treat dispensing cameras
Many pet cameras have a small treat dispensing feature that will toss dry pellets to your pet. You can shoot treats out remotely as a reward if they've been quiet and well-behaved and see your pet scramble towards them. When we recruited a range of triallists to check them out with their dogs, many learned to associate the camera with treats, but this may require some perseverance. Some models, like the Petcube Bites 2 Lite, have different "ranges" for tossing treats, so you can make them shoot out closer or further away for a bit of variety. Look for a model that is easy to clean and is suitable for the size of treat your dog or cat likes.
Robot pet cameras
These look like a lovable pet in their own right and are designed to both allow you to watch and chat to your pet remotely, while also interacting constantly with your fluffy friend. They're wireless and roll around the house on wheels. There aren't too many of these on the Australian market at the moment, but as with all robot-related tech, it's probably only a matter of time.
The Arlec smart feeder is an example of a budget pet camera with no added subscription fees.
Pet feeders
Much like the old-fashioned automatic pet feeders, these have a far bigger repository for dry food than treat dispensing models and could be useful if you're leaving your pet overnight or for long spells of time during the day. You can schedule portions to be doled out into the feeding bowl at certain times, via an app. The camera detects when your pet is at the dish. (As with all dry food, always make sure you have a supply of water nearby.) The feeders often have secure lids to keep the food fresh and away from prying paws.
Pet camera features to look for
Not all pet cameras will have all of the features listed here, but you can look into what's important for you and your pet.
Media storage
Pet cameras generally ping your phone when your pet is in view, so you can view real-time footage of them in action. But you won't always be able to view activity (or you might want to turn notifications off if they become excessive). Once the camera detects your pet, you'll need to find out whether it captures the raw footage for later viewing.
Cheaper models (like the Arlec pet feeder from Bunnings we tested) won't do this at all, and you can only save footage in real-time, when you're logged on to the camera. Others will automatically store activity (movement) on the unit itself or via a built-in memory card.
This means you'll need to get it off the unit and onto your phone regularly, before the storage gets full. Some will upload content to a cloud account (usually subscription-based) and hold it for a certain amount of time before it gets deleted, so you'll need to download and save whatever's relevant (or worth sharing on social media).
If there are any behavioural issues such as barking, soiling or separation anxiety, the camera may be able to detect them so you can show your vet
Apart from keeping a history of your pet's antics and sharing them on social media, there is also a serious side to being able to share your pet's activities. If there are any behavioural issues such as barking, soiling or separation anxiety, the camera may be able to detect them so you can show your vet. Injuries, excessive itching or pain may also be evident.
Some cameras will record activity throughout the day and automatically compile it into a fun video. The Furbo can even detect and collect "selfies" (when your pet is looking at the camera).
Multiple accounts
Some units allow several logins from more than one device, and/or the ability to share footage to other people.
Laser pointers
Some pet cameras have laser pointers that you can activate remotely, so cats can play chase via a dot on the floor.
Camera range
Some models have a 360 degree range – they rotate and pan so you can see what's happening around the entire room. Others may have a wide-angle lens (we've seen models with 160 and 270 degrees) to capture as much activity in the frame as possible.
There will be some distortion wth some camera lenses if they are trying to capture as wide an angle as possible.
Video quality
Look for pet cameras with 1080p full HD video quality. The models we tested all have this level of detail and we rated the videos excellent, with smooth movement.
Some units have infrared night vision capabilities, which is handy, and detail was good on the models we checked. If the model uses a wide-angle lens, there will be some distortion – far-away activity may appear small, and close-up shots will make your pet's head appear bulbous. You need a good wireless signal between the camera and your router for the video to work smoothly. Some cameras offer the ability to lower the resolution if you have a choppy connection.
Cat vs dog specific
You may not find a difference between units made specially for dogs vs those made for cats. Furbo has two virtually identical pet cameras but the cat one has a feather wand for them to bat.
Extra features (with extra cost)
Some subscription-based services will provide added reassurance such as Furbo Nanny's "vomit alert", or the ability to ask questions in a virtual chat such as when the pet was last at its feeding bowl or what certain behaviour might mean. Smoke, fire or broken glass might also trigger alerts.
Petcube models require a subscription to access locked or additional-tier features which may be "nice-to-haves" such as an online vet chat service or the ability to store videos of your pet in the cloud. There are also special filters to eliminate the "noise" from activity alerts so you only see what's relevant to you (such as barks or certain actions). In those cases, look for a free trial and cancel before it expires if you don't want to commit.
Can I talk to and hear my pet?
Yes, generally two-way communication is an important part of a pet camera's functionality. Barking detection means you can identify an issue before your neighbours do and you may be able to reassure your pet with your voice.
We found that the detection (if available) kicks in when noise reaches the volume of a normal conversation (about 60 decibels). Audio quality is good enough to be able to understand what's going on; more critical audiophiles may not be overly impressed though.
What about other pets?
Dedicated pet cameras are generally designed with dogs and cats (and their activity) in mind. A general web camera might be enough for monitoring other pets like fish and birds.
Cost
If you have an ongoing subscription to a pet camera service, the costs can add up. An annual payment option might be better value if you've trialled the service and are happy with it. For example a Furbo Nanny yearly plan costs $99, but month-by-month it costs $9.99. This is on top of the camera's initial cost ($109 for a subscription-only service, or $359 for a model with some basic smart features that don't need a subscription).
Models from brands like Arlec and Eufy (who sell pet cameras without the need for a subscription) can cost from about $150 to $500.
Over time the manufacturer may no longer support the model's smart features. For example, as of September 2024 Furbo no longer supports models purchased before August 2017.
Connect the pet camera to your home network and access it via an app.
How easy are the cameras to connect?
Your pet camera will usually connect to your internet router's 2.4GHz Wi-Fi frequency band, not the higher-capacity 5GHz band that your phone might run on. Some of our pet camera triallists had problems connecting certain cameras with their apps, because their phone's Wi-Fi also needed to be connected to the 2.4GHz band. A decent instruction manual would reduce or eliminate frustrations like these.
A cluttered 2.4GHz network (with many devices on the same frequency) might cause some slowness or lag when retrieving video feeds.
How private is my data?
If you're worried about sensitive data being kept in the cloud, make sure that the services encrypts it. Or, you might want to choose a camera that doesn't do this at all, and instead stores data locally on the camera.
As with smart devices generally, you'll have to set up an account which will require you to disclose some personal information (such as your name, email address or payment methods). Furbo's privacy policy states it "may also collect video and audio information of individuals when they pass in front of the camera or speak when the Furbo Camera is on".
Where do I place my pet camera?
Most of the pet cameras you'll see on the market are designed to sit on a shelf or table, while a few can be mounted on a wall. You connect them to your usual AC power outlet. Choose a location where your pet usually spends a lot of their time, and where you'll get the widest range of vision.
Some have cameras that will pan or even automatically track your pet, while budget models offer a static wide-angle or fish-eye vision. You can put them on the floor, too (especially those that rotate 360 degrees), but some stronger pets may knock it over and gobble up all the treats if the base isn't heavy or stable enough. Some trial and error may be required to find the sweet spot for your camera.
Stock images: Getty, unless otherwise stated.
