It’s slightly daunting leaving our pets home alone, especially if they’re prone to anxiety, which is why the best pet camera are great for offering peace of mind. No matter where you are, you can now keep an eye on your furry friend at all times, thanks to these handy gadgets and your smartphone. If you’ve ever wondered what your precious pet gets up to behind closed doors, now you’ll know for sure.
According to the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, in 2022 around 62 per cent of households have pets, making around 35 million pets owned - including 12 million cats and 13 million dogs. That’s a lot of animals to keep an eye on! While many owners use camera to keep an eye on cats and dogs that are most likely to cause trouble when they’re home alone, the best pet cameras can be used to make sure all types of animals are as content as can be when left on their own, from rabbits and hamsters to parrots, rats and so much more. If you're finding that pet calming products aren't helping your anxious animal to settle when you're not home, perhaps talking to them via your pet security camera might.
Best pet cameras at a glance:
• Best pet camera with treat dispenser: Furbo Dog Camera – View on Amazon UK
• Best pet camera for integration with other home security: Ring Indoor Camera by Amazon – View on Amazon UK
• Best battery-operated pet security camera: EZVIZ Battery Camera – View on Amazon UK
You may be thinking to yourself ‘why should I buy a pet camera?’ Well, there are many reasons why. You’ll be able to keep watch of them to make sure they’re happy while you’re not there, as well as making sure they haven’t hurt themselves or caused damage to your furniture (whether that’s from naughtiness, boredom or sheer panic that you’re not there with them). You can talk to them to offer that reassurance that you’ll be back soon to keep them calm. They’re also good for general home security as you can capture any comings and goings to your home and can act as a deterrent for burglaries in the same way a security cat flap does.
When it comes to choosing the best pet camera for your needs, you’ll want to think what you actually need from a camera and the features they offer. Are you going to away from home during the evenings? You’ll benefit from having a camera that has enhanced night vision for the picture. Does your pooch have a tendency to hide after they’ve done something they know they shouldn’t? A camera with motion tracking will follow them wherever they go in the room. It’s also worth noting that many cameras may need you to sign up for additional subscription services to be able to store your videos so that’s a cost you’ll want to factor into your final decision. Without further ado, here are the best pet cameras and monitors so you can keep an eye on your little ball of fluff wherever you go.
The best pet cameras and monitors
Best pet camera with treat dispenser
Furbo/AmazonNot just perfect for keeping an eye on your pets, this Furbo Dog Camera distributes a treat with just a push of a button so you can reward them for being such a good boy or girl while you’re away from home. If the treats don’t work to keep them happy and calm until you’re back with them, you can also send audio through the app on your smartphone that’s connected to the camera so your precious pet can hear your voice.
Customer review: "I bought this to give myself some peace of mind while I am away from home. It definitely does that. My dogs recognise when it is in use as the light changes from yellow to blue (colours dogs can see). They quickly learned to recognise the noise it makes to signal that treats are coming and come to get them very eagerly. They also seem to recognise my voice when I speak to them through the microphone and will obey commands I give them."
Pros
- You can talk to your pet, useful if they need calming down
- 360-degree rotating view
- Treat dispensing
Cons
- Some customers have commented that the signal can drop out occasionally, depending on the stability of their WiFi
| Dimensions: | 15 x 12 x 22.5cm |
| Resolution: | 1080p and 720p for video capture |
| Viewing area: | 160 degree wide-angle |
| Colour: | White |
- Treat dispenser, doggie diary, selfie alert, emergency alert, barking alert, two-way audio
Best pet camera for integration with other home security
Ring/AmazonYou may already be familiar with Ring for making security doorbells and floodlight cameras for outside of your property, but they also do an indoor camera so you can keep an eye on your furry friend. It's all connected to the same Ring smartphone app that you use for outside security so if you're already a Ring user, it'll seamlessly integrate with your current setup. With Live View and Two-Way Talk, you can check in on your pet at any time and chat to them to reassure them if needed.
Customer review: "Perfect for checking in on the dog or while away. Clear picture and simple to follow instructions for set up. Highly recommend."
Pros
- Integrates easily with existing Ring home security system but works just as well without prior Ring devices
- 1080p HD video with colour night vision
- Real-time live view
Cons
- To be able to record, review and share motion captures with friends and family, you'll need to subscribe to Ring Protect Plan separately
| Dimensions: | 11.4 cm x 7.4 cm x 7.4 cm |
| Resolution: | 1080p HD |
| Viewing area: | 115 degree wide angle |
| Colour: | Black, White |
- Live view, two-way talk, manual audio and video privacy cover, colour night vision, works with Alexa
Best battery-operated pet security camera
EZVIZ/AmazonPowered by a built-in battery, the EZVIZ Battery Camera works for up to 40 days on a full charge so day-to-day cables do not limit you and you can pop it wherever works best in your home. It also has a magnetic base for easy installation. Just remember to regularly put it on charge when you're back at home so it doesn't run out when you need to use the camera the most.
Customer review: "This convenient little magnetic based camera is a game changer! As you’d expect can pop it ANYWHERE and not just on metal as it comes with a metal disk that can be attached to any surface, and the camera base to that! Genius! The battery life is good so doesn’t need charging more than once a week but can also be connected to the mains. Perfect for a power cut as it keeps running! So good I bought another 2 and will probably buy a few more! 5 stars."
Pros
- Works wirelessly for up to 40 days from full charge
- Clear night vision to keep an eye on your pet even in full darkness
- Magnetic base
Cons
- If you want to capture videos you'll have to pay £50 a year subscription to the EZVIZ cloud or get a 512GB microSD to record/save them locally
| Dimensions: | 50 x 50 x 28cm |
| Resolution: | 1080p FHD |
| Viewing area: | 125 degree wide angle |
| Colour: | Black, White |
- Up to 40 days of battery life, magnetic base, two way talk, smart integration with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, IR night vision
Best pet security camera with motion tracking
Little Elf/AmazonIf you suspect your pet is up to no good or you're just concerned about what they're doing the Little elf Smart Camera is fitted with 360-degree motion tracking so it’ll follow your pet around the room. Plus, once motion is detected at home, you’ll get a notification to your smartphone so you’ll never miss those moments of pure cuteness or minutes of mischief. It’s also fitted with intelligent technology that will detect whether it’s daytime or nighttime based on the light available so you’ll get the best picture for the conditions.
Customer review: "I've installed this camera in my room to keep an eye on my cat when I'm away, at work or elsewhere. It's easy to set up (connects to house WiFi network), easy to operate through the handy app and provides with remote access to my room anytime and from anywhere! Some of the features include night vision, event recording, human recognition, speech allowance, following the object, remote rotation/positioning/zoom and all with a great picture quality! Takes up to 120GB SD card to record onto and can save as well onto a cloud storage or phone. I honestly am extremely happy with it and looking forward to getting more of them to cover other rooms and areas. Great product for very accessible price! Really recommend! 🙂👍"
Pros
- 360-degree motion tracking that will follow your pet around the room
- Daytime/nighttime detection to offer the best picture quality
- Motion detection smartphone alerts
Cons
- Some reviewers felt the audio quality could be a little better
| Dimensions: | 9 x 9 x 12 cm |
| Resolution: | 2K |
| Viewing area | 120 degree wide angle |
| Colour: | Black |
- Motion detection, auto movement tracking, 2K resolution, night vision
Best compact pet security camera
Blink/AmazonThe Blink Mini Indoor Plug-In Pet Security Camera may be small in size but it's big on features. You can see, hear and speak to your pets in your home straight from your smartphone, thanks to the Blink Mini's live view and two-way order. Whether you're heading out for work during the day or heading out for the evening, you'll be able to clearly see your beloved fluffy bestie because it's equipped with day and night HD video.
Customer review: "Bought this to monitor an elderly family member remotely, but ended up using it to watch out new puppy. Excellent all round performance, easy set up and operation. Would like to have the option to record feed without subscription, say to Amazon prime picture cloud or similar, but otherwise no complaints."
Pros
- Compact size so it looks discrete in your home
- HD day and night video for a clear picture whatever time of day
- Customised motion detection zones so you can focus on particular areas of your home
Cons
- App only records motion (when subscribed to cloud service) and you can't choose what you want to record
| Dimensions: | 5.08 cm x 4.83 cm x 3.56 cm |
| Resolution: | 1080p HD |
| Viewing area: | 110 degrees wide angle |
| Colour: | Black, White |
- Motion detection, two-way audio, customer motion zones, Alexa-enabled
Best budget pet camera
Wansview/AmazonThis Wansview camera is great for someone who needs a quick, easy solution to keeping an eye on your pet. You can even edit the sensitivity of motion so that your alerts aren't so frequent. Another with two-way audio and 1080p resolution, this is a staple choice for a new pet camera. You can grab this in black or white to suit your room.
Customer review: "Only had the camera a couple of days but it was quite easy to set up and the app is reasonably good. Took a bit of time to find where I can watch clips that are saved on my memory card (refuse to pay for a subscription)."
Pros
- 360-degree coverage and pan and tilt
- The app can play four live camera streams
- Great camera for under £20
Cons
- Some customers have commented that they are hesitant about Wansview's cloud storage and would prefer to save footage directly to their devices. Though you can put a Micro SD card in the camera
| Dimensions: | 13.4 x 11.2 x 9cm |
| Resolution: | 1080p |
| Viewing area: | 105 degree wide-angle |
| Colour | White, Black |
- Built-in microphone and speaker, motion detection, smart pan, tilt, zoom
Best pet camera for monitoring remotely
Winees/AmazonThe picture quality is the biggest selling point of the Winees Pet Camera WiFi Security Camera, with a 1080p resolution and night vision - you can keep an eye on your furry friend at all times of the day. This one is a little bit tricky to set up because a micro SD card isn't included so you'll have to grab one of those. Otherwise, though, we like that it has sound and motion detection as well as two-way audio.
Customer review: "Excellent picture. You Can move the camera position by moving your fingers on the phone screen when you keep an eye on your pets. It has a two-way mic so can calm animals if getting boisterous. The picture is so clear and easy to install. The picture screen shorted from mobile whilst out - well worth the money. Easy to set up elsewhere. We change rooms and use it for grandson when he stays."
Pros
- Superior picture quality
Cons
- 5G WiFi is not supported
| Dimensions: | 10 x 6 x 8cm |
| Resolution: | 1080P |
| Viewing area: | 120-degree angle |
| Colour: | White |
- Night vision, sound and motion detector, two-way audio
How we chose the best pet cameras
All of these pet cameras have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered features, quality and ease of use in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching pet cameras to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
And, with pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by us and our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval.
FAQs
Are pet cameras worth it?
If you're away from home and are often thinking about how your dog or cat is doing at home, investing in a pet camera is definitely worth it. Peace of mind is everything when you're an animal lover and the ability to check in with your pup helps settle worries and anxieties about what they get up to when they're home alone. They could help stop your dog or cat scratching your furniture or shredding cushions or curtains out of anxiety or panic as you'll be able to reassure them over the camera. The experts over at Furbo have revealed that their cameras have saved thousands of dogs' lives over the years through continuous innovation and features that have been specifically designed to keep dogs safe and happy.
There are tonnes of benefits of pet cameras, including minimising separation anxiety and keeping an eye on little naughty puppies for the first time. Here's a full list of benefits:
• Built-in speakers and ultra-sensitive microphone allows you to hear and speak to your dog, giving them the comfort of a familiar voice throughout the day
• Can tell if there is a security threat in your home
• Some offer a 360 degree rotating view meaning you can see every corner of your home
• HD camera and night vision
• Barking alerts, meaning you get delivered notifications to your smartphone
• WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities that are compatible with both iOS and Andriod
• Every Furbo Dog Camera comes with a free 30-day trial of Furbo’s exclusive AI subscription service. Furbo Dog Nanny helps you care for your dog around the clock with such features as Cloud Recording, Smart Alerts, and Doggie Diary. Smart Alerts also include Activity Alerts, Person Alerts, Home Emergency Alerts, and more.
Things to consider when buying a pet camera
Even though they have loads of benefits, it is important to consider the following things when you're looking into buying a camera to keep an eye on your beloved pet.
• You will need a stable WiFi and mobile connection for the camera to work at its very best. An unstable connection can be known to cause issues
• They are expensive but the features are worth the splurge if you know you'll get a lot of use out of the camera
How do I know my pet is safe at home?
By using any of these best pet cameras, you can know your dog, cat or any other animal is safe and sound in your house without any accidents.
Keeping an eye on them with tracking cameras including motion and audio detection means you can get live updates on what's happening at home, and keep yourself happy when you're out. Most of the time, things will be fine. However, accidents can happen and it's great to know what's going on when it does.
Whether you need a cheaper, easy option or a high-end pet camera with a dispenser, these are the top picks and we would recommend them to all pet owners.
Caitlin Casey is a Senior Writer for Take a Break. When not out and about, you can catch her reading books at home with her two cats.