Do you ever wonder what your pets are up to when you're not home? You can easily find out with a pet cam that lets you drop in and view a live feed of your cat or dog from your smartphone anytime, anywhere.
Pet cams are great for managing separation anxiety—both for pets and their doting pet parents —making it possible to interact remotely by "chatting" over two-way audio, dispensing treats, or even playing a quick game together.
The Best Pet Cams
Best Overall
Bites 2Petcube
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Best Budget Pick
Puresight 360Instachew
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Best for Dogs
360° Dog CameraFurbo
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Best for Cats
Play 2Petcube
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Best Interactive
EBO AirEnabot
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The Expert: As a pet product blogger and reviewer, I'm always on the lookout for innovative products that make your life easier and that of your pets, better, too. When it comes to pet cams, I chose products that are loved by pet parents for their reliability and adored by dogs and cats for their fun, interactive features.
What to Consider When Buying a Pet Camera
Monthly subscription
Many pet cams can be used for free, but usually require a subscription to access premium features like storing videos on the cloud. A few pet cams also offer SD card storage, allowing you to store video without paying each month for a subscription. An SD card is included with some pet cams, but if it isn't, you can purchase one for around $5-$15 bucks.
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Alerts
Most pet cams can be set up to alert you when sounds or movements are detected. Some pet cams can distinguish between barks and other non-pet noises. If you're concerned about neighbors being disturbed by your dog barking, then a pet cam with bark alerts is a must. It works like this: You'll get notifications when your dog barks. Once you receive the alert, you can open an app on your smartphone to see what's happening and talk to your pet through the camera to help them calm down. You might also be able to identify what's causing your dog to bark so you can eliminate triggers.
Night vision
This technology allows you to keep up with your pets at any time—day or night. It's an essential feature if your pets sleep in another room other than your bedroom. You can check in with your dog or cat during the night or review recorded footage the next day to determine if they got into mischief while you were asleep. Most pet cams automatically emit "invisible" infrared light via LEDs that is picked up by an infrared sensor to generate black-and-white video in low-light conditions. Typically, you can see in the dark anywhere from 6 to 10 feet. If you need to watch your pet overnight in a large room, you'll either need to set up the camera closer to their bed, or invest in a model that features high-quality night vision.
How We Evaluated Pet Cameras
When researching pet cams, I looked for products from trusted manufacturers with excellent customer service and glowing reviews from pet parents like you. I also trialed my favorites with my dogs Matilda and Cow, and my cat Sabrina. From anything-but-basic cams that start at $35 to so-worth-it splurges that go for over $200, this roundup will help you find the perfect gadget to keep an eye on your pets.
Best Overall
Petcube
Bites 2
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
Choose from three tiers: Free, $5.99/month, and $14.99/month
Alerts
AI-powered human and pet motion and sound recognition
Special Feature
Treat-tossing
Best Budget Pick
Instachew
Puresight 360
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
None, can save video to microSD card (not included)
Alerts
Motion alerts
Special Feature
110-degree vertical tilting
Best for Dogs
Furbo
360° Dog Camera
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
Basic (free), add Dog Nanny subscription for $6.99/month
Alerts
AI-powered human and pet motion and sound recognition
Special Feature
Treat tossing
Best for Cats
Petcube
Play 2
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
Choose from three tiers: Free, 5.99/month, and 14.99/month
Alerts
AI-powered human and pet motion and sound recognition
Special Feature
Built-in laser pointer
Best Interactive
Enabot
EBO Air
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
None, stores video on included 32G microSD
Alerts
Motion detection
Special Feature
Moves and interacts with pets
Free Local Storage
eufy
Pet Camera
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Only Supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Connections
Monthly subscription cost
None, free 16GB local storage
Alerts
Motion and sound alerts
Special Feature
Treat tossing
Best 2-in-1 Camera Feeder
PetLibro
Automatic Cat Feeder with Camera
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
None, can save video to TF card (not included)
Alerts
Motion and sound alerts
Special Feature
Dispenses meals
Works with Existing Security System
Wyze
Cam Pan v2
Key Specs
Wi-Fi
Supports 2. 4Ghz and 5Ghz Wi-Fi connections
Monthly subscription cost
Basic (free), Cam Plus Lite (name your price) or Cam Plus ($1.25/month) Can save video to microSD card (not included)
Alerts
Motion and sound alerts; smoke and CO alarm alerts
Special Feature
360-degree pet tracking
Expert Lindsay Pevny Helps You and Your Pets Connect with a High-Tech Cam!
PM: How can you get the clearest view of your pets?
L.P.: High-resolution cameras are the standard so you can expect decent video quality from many pet cams no matter which product you choose. There are a few things you can do to make sure you're getting the clearest view. First, check for a strong internet connection. Choose a model that uses 5Ghz Wi-Fi and place your camera as close to the router as possible. Lighting also makes a big difference; just set it up so that it's not directly shining into the camera or you'll get a hazy glare.
PM: Is treat-tossing a must-have?
L.P.: I used the treat-tossing feature a lot more in the beginning to get my pets interested in the camera. Now I tend to forget to refill it, but my dogs are excited just to hear my voice when I check in with them. It's nice to have, but not an absolute must-have.
PM: What is the best room or location to situate the pet camera?
L.P.: It's easiest to confine pets to one pet-proof room, like a living room or bedroom, with access to their water bowl, food, and a litter box or potty pad if your pet uses one. Then you can wall-mount the camera tilting downwards so you can see the whole room. Setting the camera on a table or shelf works in a pinch, but you might not be able to see your pet as well when they're sitting below it unless the camera tilts downward. Keep in mind that no pet camera is indestructible. Your pet could get excited and knock over the camera when they hear your voice or they might try to break into the treat reservoir.
PM: How easy is set-up for a typical cam?
L.P.: It shouldn't take more than 10 minutes. You need to plug in the cam, download an app on your phone, and follow the on-screen instructions to connect the camera to your Wi-Fi.
Lindsay PevnyLindsay Pevny is a pet-industry writer who has worked closely over the past decade with pet professionals to spread the word about innovations in behavioral training, veterinary care, and household products that make our pets' lives happier, healthier, and most important, longer.
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