Last updated April 4, 2019

Advances in technology have helped to create a plethora of entertaining and useful new products for pet owners, one of the most fun being the wireless pet camera. These devices stream video of your pet to a cell phone, computer or tablet, so pet owners can see what their dogs or cats get up to when they are out.  They also have features that let you dispense treats to your furry friends, play games and speak to them. Some of these cameras can be a massive help for animals who suffer from separation anxiety, giving owners peace of mind their pets are safe and happy.

Most of these cameras are pretty new and still have some kinks to work out, but we have searched through the expert and consumer reviews and have broken down what you need to look out for to help you find the best wireless camera to suit you and your pet’s needs.

What to Look for When Shopping for a Wireless Pet Camera

Features

The basic idea of these cameras is that you can view your furry friend when they are at home alone so you can see what they are doing. The most simple pet models will have video streaming that you can watch live. Not surprisingly, the more you spend, the better the quality and the more features you get. What makes some of these products especially useful for pet owners are the extra features that include:

Two Way Voice: Most of the devices have at least one-way voice, but some of the pet cameras offer a two-way voice option. It means that not only can you hear any sounds that your pet is making, but you can also talk to them.

Night Vision: If you are leaving your pet at night, you may want to consider looking for a product that has night vision. Night vision doesn’t tend to be a standard feature with these devices, so don’t assume that you will be able to watch your pet in low light unless it is specifically mentioned in the specs.

Motion Detection: Motion detection is useful if you are going to be recording your pet to playback later or you want an email alert when your pet is moving. The use of motion detection technology allows users to avoid taping hours of inactivity.

Treat Dispenser: One of the best features of these types of device is the treat dispenser option. If you have a pet who is overweight, then you will probably want to skip this feature, but pet owners who purchase products with this feature tend to love the ability to give a treat while they are away.

The Camera

The camera itself is the most critical feature of any of these devices. You will want to pay close attention to reviews about the resolution of the different options. A common complaint of these pet cams is that the resolution isn’t high. Companies generally tend to list the cameras as HD quality video streaming, although how companies are classifying this isn’t clear. The highest resolution that can be captured and stored is 704 x 480 (NTSC for the United States). Although trying to find the resolution specs on any of these devices is somewhat tricky, so it is hard to confirm exactly the resolution you are getting for each of these products.
Delay
Another common complaint regarding pet cams is that there is a delay or a lag when viewing the streaming video. All of these types of camera (similar to security devices) have some delay versus real time; you can’t avoid it even if you buy a higher end product.

Light

In most cases, you will need a decent amount of light to get a good quality image, so before you set up the camera you should think about your lighting conditions and how much light is available where you want to set it up.

Durability

Depending on where you are planning on positioning the camera and the temperament of your pet, you may need to think about how durable the device will be if your dog or cat tried to chew on it (to get at the treats if it has that feature). If you are planning on putting it in a crate, choose a unit that is made of durable material. Avoid a device that has corners, edges or electrical cords that can be chewed.

Security

Security is something that you need to think about when putting any wireless device into your home, as it is possible to hack a Wi-Fi camera. Most companies know that this is an issue, and have included different layers of security to ensure that your camera cannot be compromised. Although users need to make sure that they follow all recommended security precautions that companies suggest (i.e., use a long, complicated password).

System Requirements

Generally, you will be able to watch the live feed from your desktop or via an app on your smartphone. The chart above lists the minimum system requirements for each of our recommended products. All of these products use Wi-Fi, so you will need to have internet access with Wi-Fi for them to work. You should also be aware of the type of broadband that you will need. Generally high speed (broadband) internet access is required to support two-way video

Top 3 Pet Cameras for 2019

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Marie Davis

Website reviewer and traveler. Would rather be shopping.

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