How To Choose The Best Pet Camera For Your Cat – CatTime
Are you going on a road trip? Or maybe you're just headed to work. With a little kitten at home, it's hard to leave when she depends so much on you. Or maybe you wish to make sure your big guy is not making a beeline for your bed as soon as you're out the door. Enter the handy pet camera. Keep an eye on your cat, and even on your house, with one of these handy little devices. We've rounded up the best that can be had at the best prices. Each of the units on our list operates with a 360° view in 1080 high definition and works on 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi unless otherwise indicated.
Best Choice
No unnecessary alarms
Pros:
The Kamtron 1080p Wi-Fi Pet Camera has great image resolution. The video is compressed well and doesn’t need extra bandwidth to load quickly. Setup is easy and uses voice prompts. To download the app, just scan the QR code. The software can connect to multiple cameras. There is an option to store video on SD cards instead of the cloud service. Desktop software is available, and you can use the app via web browsers. It works with the Alexa command system from Amazon.
Cons:
You can choose to have an expert come out to set up the camera, but it costs an extra hundred-odd dollars. You must be logged into a user account to set up and operate the camera. It uses a lot of cellular data.
Best Image Quality
Great quality picture, day and night
Pros:
The Wansview 1080P FHD Dome Camera Q5 can also utilize Alexa and SD cards. The unit transmits a clear picture, even in night mode. It uses an IR LED night vision to view up to six feet in black and white imagery. The device includes a USB cable and mounting brackets, although it also can be placed on a table or shelf. Customer service responds promptly. Best of all: setup is painless.
Cons:
The phone app doesn’t always operate smoothly. The motion detector doesn’t seem to use it’s sensitivity settings and is consistently on high. There are no audio detection notifications. There is a delay when panning the room, and sometimes panning doesn’t work as expected.
Best Security
24/7 security system for the entire home
Pros:
The entire system is compatible with the Alexa smart assistant from Amazon. This makes it easier to automate the security setup at home. There are four cameras included in this package. Each camera has the capability of recording and streaming video content in 1080p resolution. The device connects to the home wireless network. This allows for easy viewing of footage.
Cons:
This is certainly not the most affordable option that is available when considering adding a basic security system to your home. An Alexa account and other compatible device is needed to set the security system up to work with an internal Alexa system at home.
Best Night Vision
Clear vision event at night
Pros:
Night vision can be turned off if the room has low light or for other reasons. The web browser interface for the camera is intuitive and has more features than expected, including the ability to change settings. This pet camera supports SD cards up to 128 GB in size, which store up to six weeks of recordings when using factory settings. Motion notifications are possible without storing video. It has very clear audio quality. There is a video that walks you through the setup process.
Cons:
The interface of the phone app is old-style and not user-friendly. Better software made for other Chinese cameras works with this unit as well. Support is via email and is tardy. The written setup instructions are unclear. (Try the video instead.) The wall mount could be better in quality. The camera is only 720p in resolution.
Best for Interacting
Keep your pet's attention
Pros:
We all know different meows mean different things, and this camera supports two-way audio so you can hear your pet’s response as you chat with her. It allows you to share footage on social media and pairs with Alexa. The power cable is longer than average. There are suction cups on the bottom of the unit to keep it stable even if it receives a few taps. It can be used to dispense medicine for your pet if only one pill is added to the appliance daily.
Cons:
Night vision on the Wopet is not of exceptional quality. Day imaging is clear but not high definition. Customer support can be unresponsive. There are no motion or sound detection alerts for this device.
What Really Matters
The reliability of your pet camera matters.
Because a pet camera helps to secure your home and your cat, the purpose of it will be defeated if it does not always connect to the internet, or if the view angle does not have proper coverage. The app for your phone or another mobile device should also function smoothly without mishap.
An excellent first step is to check whether the camera is compatible with your internet service and phone before purchasing. Once you receive it, test the device and the app to see how well things function before you use it remotely. Pay particular attention to how the software functions when you’re on cell phone data.
The treat dispenser on a pet camera is essential.
Two things are going to get your pet to interact with an inanimate piece of plastic. Your voice will be the first thing, and the treat that gets tossed out of the camera will be the second.
If you’ve already been training your pet, you know how useful treats can be. Apply the same training procedure while using your pet camera remotely. You can reinforce the training you’ve already used to keep your cat off furniture and out of danger. You can also use the camera to calm the pet with your voice so it won’t tear up the arms of chairs out of frustration.
Setting up your pet camera in a good location is crucial.
What you don’t want is for the camera on which you spent quite a bit of money to get destroyed because it’s in a lousy location. If it dispenses treats, it could get touched, tapped, or bitten if your pet can easily reach it.
Most pet cameras come with wall mounts so that you can install them in your area of choice to get the best view coverage and keep them out of harm’s way. If your camera rotates 360 degrees, you should get the best coverage. Otherwise, stand in each corner of the room, on a stool if necessary, to mimic the view of the camera and see where the best angles are located.
What’s in right now
It’s all about features, features, features! Pet cameras are cool gadgets, and the more features they have, the more attractive they are to pet parents. Some throw a ball so you can play catch with your pet. Others omit essential oils for their relaxation. There are cameras with two-way high-definition video so that you can see your pet and home in great quality and so your pet can see you, too! Some varieties have built-in laser games for the enjoyment of your cat. Some models play music and others with night vision. Paw pads are built into a few that you can train your cat to send you an alert when she wants to see you. There are even automated cat food dispensers that have a camera up top and speakers as well.
Pricing
Expensive, $200 – $500. The more cool features that a pet camera has, the more costly it will be. Most of the pet cameras in the upper range double as automated meal dispensers at the very least.
Mid-range, $100 – $200. Pet cameras that dispense treats are in this price range. The quality of the image varies by unit, so look for high definition (HD) in the description.
Cheap, $25 – $100. These pet cameras do not normally dispense treats, but they help secure your pet and home in high definition with 360-degree views. Sometimes they also have two-way audio.
FAQs
How does a pet camera work?
Pet cameras usually plug into the wall for a stable power source. However, battery-operated varieties are available. Regardless of the power source, they need a good, reliable, and consistent internet connection to monitor surroundings and deliver voice and video.
Most of these little units store the footage that’s recorded in your home on cloud servers. Then the videos are delivered to your cell phone according to the options you’ve set. Explore the settings available via the phone app or web browser interface. Some apps allow full streaming video all the time, or only upon specific alerts. For instance, your camera should have a motion sensor that conveys a notification when your cat seems to be in distress or if there is an intruder.
What about privacy issues when using a pet camera?
Privacy issues surrounding your pet camera are about the same as those surrounding a cell phone. For comparison’s sake, mobile phones also use apps to capture audio and video that are then transmitted to the cloud servers of those particular apps. While you can access the data, there are no clear guidelines about what is done with it by the companies that own the servers where it is stored.
The main difference between the privacy of a pet camera and a phone is that the cell phone has intermittent views of the interior of your home taken from different angles. In contrast, a pet camera has consistent interior views. One way to help preserve your privacy is to unplug the device or disconnect it from the internet when you’re at home.
Why do I need a pet camera?
Buyer’s reasons differ for purchasing a pet camera. Some use it for trips away from home. Others use the device daily while they are at work, especially when they have young pets who are prone to extreme separation anxiety. Many pet camera owners like the convenience of being able to see and communicate with their pet while they are in the office. It dramatically lowers work-related stress levels to be able to do so. Pet cameras are essentially security cameras with more features, so of course, they are used to keep the home safe, too.
Will my cat interact with a pet camera?
It might take some time. At first, your feline might get a little spooked by your voice coming out of an inanimate object, so do a little role play before leaving the house. You can stay in the same room and speak to her through the unit. Show her that you can see her by phone! (The experience is even better if you’re using two-way video.)
After playing around in the same room, try moving to another room. Your cat will begin to understand that, in a way, you’re just projecting your voice through the pet camera. Don’t forget to dispense a treat from the pet camera as positive reinforcement for her interacting with it, however much or little she does.
Why Trust Us
Since 2008, CatTime has provided millions of cat owners with all the information they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. Our experts know exactly what it takes to raise our furry friends and our goal is to help all owners, new or experienced, care for their cats with all the right food, toys, equipment, and accessories.