Maybe you or your pet feels separation anxiety when you’re not together, or you are curious to see what your cat, dog or house rabbit is doing all day. Perhaps you’re just a pet-loving tech fan – whatever the reason for your interest in pet cameras, there is a device out there to suit your needs and budget.
These nifty cameras allow you to keep in touch with your pets via an app on your phone, keeping them in sight either all day long or just when movement is detected, they allow you to talk to your pet via the camera and you may choose one which has barking alerts, Alexa compatibility or even a pet camera which also dispenses treats! We’ve put together this guide to help you recognise which features and functions are available, and why they should be considered, plus we share our favourite products to buy online in the UK from Amazon, John Lewis and Argos.
Quick List - Top Pet Cameras
TP-Link
An Affordable Pet Camera With 360°Field of View
TP-Link
Use With Smartphone App to Keep an Eye on Your Pet
Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
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Jani is a professional photographer and filmmaker from Finland with over 15 years of experience in both fields. He has studied at some of the best schools and universities across the globe, leading him to become an expert in creative industries. Today he is the creative director and the owner of JP Harrow Portraits that specialises in portraiture for same-sex couples and families in London, UK.
If you're looking for an expert in portrait photography, filmmaking, drone flying or anything else technical, make sure to visit Jani's website JP Harrow Portraits for quotes and direct contact, or follow him on Instagram.
With technological advancements of screen technology, the new normal resolution for most cameras is 1080p, also called Full HD or FHD. For those who want the highest quality footage, 4 K resolution will provide you with the best quality image capturing and help to future proof your device. But remember that higher resolution images will eat up your cloud or SD card storage space, if you want to save footage.
Most pet cameras come with 1080p or even 4K resolution. The 4K cameras will require the most amount of bandwidth which can quickly eat up your cellular data plan. So while a high-resolution pet camera can sound nice, it can suddenly force you to upgrade your monthly SIM plan!
Indoor pet cameras (unless roving) will have a standard lens that can then be panned or tilted to see around the room. Most cameras come in between 110 and 180 degrees. The angle which will be right for your room will depend on the room itself, we’ve found that those offering 110 degrees or over usually work within most average UK homes.
If you have larger rooms or you’re not planning on placing the camera in the corner of the room, then we would recommend opting for a panning/tilting camera. These will offer almost complete 360-degree access horizontally, but their vertical access will be less if at all. This isn’t so much of an issue if you’re looking for a camera to watch a dog, but if you own a cat, the more the camera can move vertically, the better.
Before deciding which pet camera model to purchase, think about the exact location where you plan to put it. If you are putting it in a corner, then having the option to tilt or pan might be useless since you can see everything at one go anyway.
However, if you have small or narrow rooms, a pet camera with a tilt and pan feature might be a good investment instead of purchasing two separate cameras.
Night vision might not be pertinent to those who are generally home most evenings, but for those pet owners who work nights, or have an active social life, this could come in handy. Most will only offer that typical green, black and white image, but it’s better than nothing. Night vision can also be handy if you have dimly lit rooms during the day, as the function jumps into action according to the lighting and not the time.
A night vision feature is a must if you plan to be away when it gets dark. Most cameras don’t perform well in low-light, so this feature is definitely worth paying extra if you need it. Even if you don’t need this feature right now, it might be worth buying a pet camera that supports night vision so that if you ever need this feature, it is there for you.
Although we’d like to spend our away-from-home time staring at our phone screen wistfully watching our pets, we do all have other engagements needing our attention. So, picking up a camera that has motion detection allows you to tune in only when you need to.
This is particularly useful if you like to keep an eye on your pet's eating or drinking habits, or if you are trying to keep them away from the living room with the nice sofa. Whatever the reason, motion detection is a useful feature that works by sending a notification to your device when activated.
To keep your pets comfy and busy when you are away from home, take a look at our best waterproof dog beds, cat scratching posts and interactive dog toys.
Motion detection has a lot of benefits since it allows you to continue monitoring what is happening in the house without constantly recording an empty room.
The most significant advantage of motion detection is that they work with pets and people. This means your pet camera can also act as a security camera to spot would-be thieves.
While some pet owners will be happy just seeing that their pet is okay, others will need the extra comfort of being able to speak and hear them via two-way communication. This is also a useful feature if you have a cheeky, untrained, anxious or ill-disciplined animal, because a lot of the time just hearing a familiar voice can stop them from performing unwanted behaviour.
Some animals can get quite anxious when being left alone, and if your pet is one of those, you should consider a pet cam with a two-way talk feature. This will often alleviate the separation sadness until you get home, and if needed, you can use this feature to stop your pet from doing things they shouldn’t!
Certainly, the most dazzling feature of some pet cameras is their ability to dispense treats or snacks to your pet if you’re not there. This might not be important to some owners, but those who are training or just like treating their animals may find it a must-have.
One thing you’ll want to double-check before your purchase is the type or size of treats that the camera can hold. Most cameras will distribute small snacks, however if they’re too small they may pour out and too-large snacks will get stuck. It’s worth the extra investigation into optimum snack size, because cameras with this function aren’t cheap.
Pet cameras that have a feature allowing you to give occasional treats to your pet can be quite nice, but note that they don’t replace you by providing proper meals.
In most situations, you might be better off having a separate pet camera and a separate feeding device than having them all merged into one.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Furbo Dog Camera | ![]() | Treat Dispensing Pet Camera With Impressive Features and Wide-Angle Lens | |
2 | TP-Link Tapo Pan Tilt Home Smart Security Camera|C200 | ![]() | An Affordable Pet Camera With 360°Field of View | |
3 | SKYMEE Owl Robot | ![]() | Robot Camera That Follows and Interacts With Your Pet | |
4 | TP-Link Tapo Mini Smart Security Camera for Indoor CCTV|TC60 | ![]() | Use With Smartphone App to Keep an Eye on Your Pet | |
5 | SKYMEE Pet Camera with Treat Dispenser | ![]() | Treat-Launching Camera With 1080p Resolution and 4x Zoom | |
6 | Enabot Moving Pet Camera|Ebo SE | ![]() | A Moving Camera That Can Entertain All Your Furry Friends | |
7 | Petcube Pet Camera | ![]() | Reliable Pet Cam Which Takes Data Security Seriously | |
8 | Petcube Treat Dispenser & Pet Camera|Bites 2 Lite | ![]() | Wall Mountable and Great Fun to Treat Your Pet From Your Phone | |
9 | Blink Mini Compact Indoor Plug-in Smart Security Camera | ![]() | An Alexa-Compatible Security Camera for Watching Your Pet | |
10 | AOBOCAM Mini Camera 4K HD | ![]() | A Miniature Camera Which Can Be Wire-Free When Needed |
One of the factors that set this pet camera apart from the others is its solid and sturdy build, making it much more robust than other options. But you're not paying that extra cash just for that, as the device is crammed full of features too, such as a barking sensor alongside its motion detection.
On top of this, it has great visibility thanks to its impressive 160-degree wide-angle lens, as well as clear-cut night vision. It might be a little more expensive than some models, but if you're here to find the best, then we wholeheartedly believe Furbo deserves that crown.
If you're looking for the ultimate outlook, then this camera from Tapo has the most superior field of view of any camera in our ranking. So this could be useful for those who have a large room to observe.
You have the choice of storing the footage on the cloud or locally, as the device also has a micro SD card slot, so there is no need for a costly cloud subscription. The performance is pretty standard and the features basic (without a zoom function), but if you're looking for a reliable pet camera that isn't going to break the bank, then this is a great choice.
This device certainly has something that few of the others do, and that is that it can follow your pets around! The camera can be controlled either manually or smartly. It won't follow them all of the time, but it is kicked into life by an infrared sensor which activates when the animal passes by.
In addition to this, the device has the full sweep of features from motion detection to clear night vision and a very admirable 130-degree field of vision so you'll see plenty when it's parked. It might not be the best for anxious animals, but if you have a fun-loving pet they might take it on board as a new friend.
This pet camera from TP-Link has a fast set-up speed and works alongside all popular iPhone and Android smartphones and tablets. The app will allow you to watch your pet in real time, as well as giving you the option to discipline from wherever you are with the two-way talk.
However, perhaps the top trump is the user friendly simplicity, it may not be perfect as an intruder device (as if you choose to save data it goes onto an easily removable mini SD card), but as a pet monitor the reviewers are raving about it.
This high tech camera-with-treat-dispenser comes with 1080p resolution, 4x zoom. and a 130-degree wide-angle lens. There are motion sensor alerts but no noise (barking) alerts with this device.
We also love that the treat dispenser in this machine doesn't just drop the snacks, instead, it uses more power to fire them further and faster, therefore inspiring a little more action and adding a bit more fun to the proceedings. Just be careful t locate it so that the treats don't get stuck somewhere your dog can't reach them!
Pet cameras are virtually all stationary, so where the Enabot stands apart from the crowd is that their device trundles around the room, meaning you can guide it towards even the most aloof or well-hidden cat, to keep an eye on them.
This helpful robot will send you movement alerts (if required) but no sound detection is included. All data is stored on the SD card, rather than cloud storage being required. It's worth noting that the device lacks a little sturdiness and quality, and we wouldn't suggest using it as a home security item, but it is a fun and interactive pet monitor.
The Pet Cube has all of the features you need - 110 degrees wide angle day and night vision and an 8x digital zoom option. Pleasingly the company takes data security very seriously, which isn't always the case with such recording devices.
The camera is not wireless, but an almost 2m long cable is provided. The major drawback is the subscription - if you just want to check on your pet and talk to them it's free, but saving videos and getting alerts requires a costly subscription.
The treat dispensing camera from Petcube certainly has a lot going for it. It is easy to set up and the image quality is great, even in low light conditions. The ability to release treats by flicking your phone screen is the really fun part! Handily this device can be wall-mounted to protect it from even the most boisterous or determined pet.
However, do be aware that to save videos and photos you need a subscription - if you don't have one already in place, this will add up on top of an already pricey initial outlay. So do research this aspect fully before committing.
Okay, this isn't technically a pet-specific product and is more of an indoor home security camera. Nonetheless, it still has many of the useful functions such as motion detection, two-way talking and night vision and comes in at a snip compared to some of the other cameras so it's still worth a look. Dog owners particularly should note that it doesn't have sound (barking) alerts though.
Being an Amazon brand, it can also link to your home's Alexa set up, which means it can be up and running in no time. On the downside, there is no SD card slot on this device, so you do need to have a cloud subscription.
If you're looking for a non-pet-specific camera that is discreet and can be moved easily around the home, then this is a fantastic choice. It has a rechargeable battery, providing up to 6 hours of wire-free use, or it can be plugged in for 24/7 monitoring. With motion detection, you will be notified of your pet's activities instantly via the app, but there is no two-way talk option.
This camera has superior and future-proof 4K HD image resolution, night and day (when the night vision setting is activated). You will have to purchase an SD card but this does mean no ongoing cloud storage expense. As it is a compact design, do be careful that it is put out of reach so that your pet doesn't eat it!
No. 1: Furbo|Dog Camera
No. 2: TP-Link |Tapo Pan Tilt Home Smart Security Camera|C200
No. 3: SKYMEE|Owl Robot
No. 4: TP-Link| Tapo Mini Smart Security Camera for Indoor CCTV|TC60
No. 5: SKYMEE|Pet Camera with Treat Dispenser
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