Best pet cameras: Treat dispenser, laser pointer and 360-degree view.
Our furry friends are important members of the family, and leaving them at home while we go out to take care of people’s business can be difficult. However, pet cameras specifically designed for monitoring dogs and cats can make the absence of a person at home less stressful for both parties. If you’ve been thinking about getting a pet camera, now is the perfect time.
Check out our guides Best Indoor Security Cameras, Best Outdoor Security Cameras, Best Technology & Accessories for Dogs, Best Beds for Dogs, and Best Technology & Supplies for Cats to learn more.
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Security camera or pet camera?
Before getting into details about specific cameras, it’s important to clarify the difference between pet cameras and your regular security camera.
Security cameras let you watch your pet while you’re away, but pet cameras often come with a few extra features that can make them more useful. Some may hand out treats or allow you to interact with your dog or cat using your voice or video chat type. They can help address common problems, such as separation anxiety and boredom, which can lead to broken furniture, other property damage, or excessive stress.
This doesn’t mean you can’t use a security camera as a pet camera – we have a recommendation below that can help. No matter what you buy, you must take steps to protect your device. Like any other smart home device that connects to Wi-Fi, there is a chance that it can be hacked and compromise your privacy. Make sure your Wi-Fi password is strong, set up two-factor authentication with the camera app, and keep it up to date. It’s also smart to keep it off when you’re at home.
Best for Dogs
Furbo 360 dog camera revolves around competition (WIRED recommends 9/10). Seriously, the camera rotates 360 degrees compared to the static picture you get on most other pet cameras. Like its motionless predecessor, this stylish pet camera also includes basic features like two-way communication and bark notifications, and even lets you throw a treat.
Most pet cameras have a wide field of view to see more of your room, but the ability to rotate 360 degrees means you can track your puppy’s whereabouts at a moment’s notice. Even better is the fact that it has a feature to automatically track dogs, following them from one place to another, so you don’t have to frantically search every time you open the app. This tracking can be tricky if there are two dogs roaming around you, but I’ve usually found that where one dog goes, the other tends to follow. If it’s nighttime or there’s little light in the room, you’ll still be able to see your furry babies in color night vision with the 1080p camera.
If this basic monitoring and interaction isn’t enough, you have the option to subscribe to the Furbo Dog Nanny service for $7 a month. It will take selfies with your dog, send alerts for smoke, carbon monoxide, and dropped objects — even chew alerts — and can also detect intruders. All of these 15-second videos are saved to the cloud, so you can review the situation as many times as you need, wherever you are.