Best pet cameras of 2024

We looked at top pet cameras for dogs, cats, and other pets. Sit. Stay. Good cameras. 

Best for dogs
furbo dog camera app on phone
Furbo Dog Camera
  • pro
    Motion detection
  • pro
    Treat dispenser
  • pro
    1080p live video
Most fun
Skymee Owl Robot camera product image
Skymee Owl Robot
  • pro
    Treat dispenser
  • pro
    Night vision
  • con
    No motion detection
Best for budget
TP-Link Tapo Pan-Tilt camera
TP-Link Tapo
  • pro
    Motion detection
  • pro
    360° coverage
  • con
    No treat dispenser
Best for cats
Petcube Play Pet Camera
Petcube Play 2
  • pro
    Motion detection
  • pro
    4x zoom
  • con
    No treat dispenser
Best for sharing
Skymee Petalk AI II
  • pro
    Motion detection
  • pro
    Treat dispenser
  • pro
    180° coverage

SafeWise experts have years of firsthand experience testing the products we recommend. Learn how we test and review. We may earn money when you buy through our links.

The Furbo Dog Camera has winning features that get our tails wagging more than any other smart camera. In addition to a treat launcher and night vision, Furbo Dog Camera is the only pet camera we encountered with sound detection that senses barking. If your pup has a bad barking habit, the Furbo will alert you. From the app, you can also talk to your pet and give them a yummy treat.

That said, it is the most expensive camera on our list.



Compare the best pet cameras

Pet camera
Best for
Price*
Two-way audio
Motion detection
Night vision
Treat dispenser
Best for dogs
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
Most fun
bulletYes
bulletNo
bulletYes
bulletYes
Budget pick
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletNo
Best for cats
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletNo
Best for sharing
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
Also consider
bulletYes
bulletNo
bulletYes
bulletYes
Also consider
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes
bulletYes

Prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

Reviews: Best pet cameras

1. Furbo dog camera: Best for dogs

Best dog camera
furbo dog camera app on phone

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Furbo Dog Camera was designed for dogs and their best friends (you!).

It sports two-way audio, night vision, and a pet treat dispenser—all controllable from the mobile app. You can monitor and play with your pup from work, while you're on vacation, or from down the hall.

Our favourite feature is the bark alert, a feature that sends alerts to your phone when the Furbo detects barking. It's especially helpful if you have a vocal canine.

pro
Pros
pro 1080p camera
pro Night vision
pro Treat dispenser
pro Bark sensor
con
Cons
con High price tag
con Required subscription for cloud storage

Furbo also has two-way audio, so you can talk to your dog from the app. The audio through the speaker is clear enough to catch your dog's attention, too. So whether they're barking up a storm or just lonely, you can talk to them through your mobile device.

Our only complaint is that Furbo requires a subscription to use its cloud storage service if you want to keep records of your dog’s activities. Otherwise, we consider it the best pet camera, paws-down.

You’ll get a 30-day free trial (which can be extended by three months for $0.99), but after that, you’ll have to pay $9.99 per month or $99 for the whole year. Plus, with the camera's price tag around $300, this might be out of reach for many.

2. Skymee Owl Robot: Most fun

Most fun
Skymee Owl Robot camera product image

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Skymee Owl Robot is like a pet for your pet. It’s part robot, part treat dispenser, part HD camera, but all fun for pets and their owners.

Like all the pet cams we’ve picked, it comes with a companion app that lets you talk to your furry friends and control the camera. The big difference is the Owl Robot can move around the house and interact with your pet.

pro
Pros
pro Moving remote-controlled robot
pro Treat dispenser
pro Night vision
pro Two-way talk
con
Cons
con May scare anxious pets
con May lose treats around the house

This cylindrical robot is built for speed with its two tough plastic wheels on each side. The app has pre-programmed actions, so you can make the robot wiggle, spin, and flip to catch your pet’s attention.

Once your pet catches the Owl Robot (or whenever you press the treat button), it dispenses treats.

We love how interactive this Skymee pet camera is. You can play with your dogs and cats from anywhere with Wi-Fi and even take the Owl Robot out for walks with your dogs.

With all the features and controls in the app, you and your pup are bound to have lots of fun, even when you aren’t home.

3. TP-Link Tapo: Budget pick

Budget pick
TP-Link Tapo Pan-Tilt camera
TP-Link Tapo
$58.76

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The TP-Link Tapo security camera wasn't designed for pet monitoring. It lacks pet-focused features in the other cameras, but its key features (like two-way audio and wide-angle viewing) show that you don't need a pedigree to make the top of our list.

This TP-Link model has helpful smart pet camera features, including night vision, motion tracking, video streaming, and two-way audio. It can swivel a full 360°, and it has pan-and-tilt capabilities to give you an additional 114 degrees of vertical viewing.

pro
Pros
pro 360° coverage
pro Night vision
pro High-definition video
pro Two-way audio
con
Cons
con Noisy movement
con No treat dispenser
con Stream cuts out after five minutes

Its motion detection feature moves the camera as it tracks your dog or cat around the room, however, a subscription is required for this feature. If you're after a completely fee-free experience, the slightly pricier Tapo C225 might be a better fit for you as it includes all the Tapo C200's features (and more, like barking alerts and motion tracking) with no need to pay a monthly fee.

Other downsides include its noisy motor, average sound quality, and the fact that unless you're on your home Wi-Fi network, you'll have to refresh the stream every five minutes to keep an eye on your pet. Still, the TP-Link Tapo’s 1080p high-definition live video is clearer than many other pet cameras we saw.

Given the low price point, we’re impressed.

4. Petcube Play 2: Best for cats

Best app
Petcube Play Pet Camera
Petcube Play 2
$224.95

*Amazon.com prices are accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Petcube Play 2 is the newest incarnation of a camera we love, and it’s powerful enough to keep up with your pets.

Its newest version has the same built-in laser toy, two-way audio, and night vision from the first one. But new software updates boosted its field of view from 138° to 180°, plus a 4x zoom. So you can count the whiskers on your furry friend’s face from anywhere in the room.

pro
Pros
pro Controllable laser pointer
pro Easy setup
pro Built-in Alexa
con
Cons
con No treat dispenser
con Best features require subscription

The optional Petcube Care subscription costs under US$10 per month, giving you filters, 30-second video clips, three days of video history, smart alerts, and more. Adding another subscription service to your list might be a turn-off, the benefits are worth it.

And while the Petcube Play 2 doesn’t have a treat dispenser, its sister pet cams do. The Bites and Bites 2 can both bring the goods to your pets.

bullet
We unbox Petcube Play 2

We got our paws on a Petcube Play 2! Check out our unboxing video on YouTube to see it in action.

5. Skymee Petalk AI II: Best for sharing

Best for sharing

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

With an up to 180-degree view, two-way audio, a motion sensor, and a treat dispenser, the Skymee Petalk AI II rivals the Furbo as an interactive pet camera. We love that the free app allows login on up to 8 devices, which means more family members can check in on their beloved pets throughout the day.

pro
Pros
pro 180° coverage
pro Motion detection
pro Treat dispenser
pro Night vision
con
Cons
con No volume control
con Average video quality
con Spotty streaming

In terms of video quality, the Skymee Petalk AI II is a little touch-and-go. But it's a more affordable alternative to the Furbo and a great way to give your pupper treats throughout the day. 

Also consider

6. Tech 4 Pets Smart Treat Dispenser

SafeWise recommends

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

If you like the sound of the Furbo Dog Camera but not the price tag, allow us to introduce you to the Aussie-owned Tech 4 Pets Smart Treat Dispenser. Coming it at just under $200, it's another great budget alternative to our pricier top pick. It still offers great features like two-way talk, 1080p video, night vision and a 130° lens.

pro
Pros
pro Affordable
pro Good video and audio quality
pro Treat dispenser
pro Night vision
con
Cons
con Can occasionally toss more than the selected amount of treats
con A wider lens would be great

In our testing, the only issue we came across was the occasional extra treat being tossed (not that my dog seemed to mind). If that was perfected and the camera was a wider-angle lens, it'd be higher on our list.

6. Eufy Pet Dog Camera D605

SafeWise recommends
eufyPet Dog Camera D605

Price is accurate as of post date. Read full disclaimer.

The Eufy Pet Dog Camera D605 comes with a steep price tag but offers some nifty features. The 170° wide-angle lens can swing 270° so it never misses the action. Plus, its treat shooter has three distance settings to keep snack time interesting.

Maybe the best feature is the Doggy Diary. The camera's AI will create a digital scrapbook of the best fur baby moments so you can enjoy them later.

If you already have Eufy cameras, this pet camera will fit in nicely.

pro
Pros
pro 270° coverage
pro Adjustable treat dispenser
pro Free 16GB local storage
pro Night vision and motion tracking
con
Cons
con Expensive

What to consider before buying a pet cam 

Pick pet-friendly features

Pet sitters and doggy daycare are good options when you need to leave your pet home alone.

Pet cams require only one up-front payment unless you opt for cloud storage or subscription-based extras.

When shopping for a dog or cat camera, think about how much time you spend away from home and what your biggest concerns are when it comes to your pet.

If you’re worried about your pet’s safety, you’ll want a pet monitor camera with a wider field of view and two-way audio. If your pet has anxiety, a camera with treats and games might help them relax.

Provide pet-friendly toys and entertainment

If you leave your pet at home for long periods of time, they’re going to need food, water, and plenty of entertainment. Some pet cams come with safe toys like laser pointers, but you’ll want to make sure their other toys are safe, too.

Create a pet-friendly environment

While pet cams can help you keep an eye on your furry friends, they don’t guarantee complete safety.

Cats and dogs may eat dangerous household items and plants. So before you leave them alone, be sure your home is poison-proofed and that any hazards are out of the way.

There are plenty of reasons to get a pet cam, but a security system can also help keep your pets safe. If you get a system with professional monitoring, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors will alert a monitoring centre that can send help right away in an emergency.

Final word

One of the reasons we picked the Furbo Pet Camera as our top choice is because of the live stream video in sharp 1080p resolution, night or day. You get a clear image of your pet from the app, and they'll get reassurance that you're never far away.

Pet cameras FAQ

A dedicated pet camera can be helpful to keep an eye on your pet's health, moderate their behaviour, and engage with them while you're away.

Catching your dog chewing on furniture could not only save your couch, but it could also alert you that your dog is hungry, anxious, or stressed. When you're gone, your pet can get bored, lonely, and anxious.

Taking time out of your day to visit your pet, even virtually, can help keep both you and your pet content and happy.

It’s all in the features. While most pet cameras work for all kinds of pets, we recommend getting a camera with features that fit your pet’s needs and interests.

  • Pet cameras with laser pointers work best for cats.
  • Pet cameras with treat launchers and bark sensors are better for dogs.

Putting your pet camera at (or slightly above) your pet’s eye level will give you the best viewing angle.

If your camera comes with extra features, experiment with placement to find the right spot. Keep in mind that laser pointers usually work better when the device is closer to the ground, and bright lights from windows or lamps can interfere with video quality.

Positive reinforcement works best. Several of the cameras on this list have tones and calls you can use to condition your pet to come to the camera.

Start by showing the camera to your pet, and dispense a treat. This shows them where the camera is and that it’s safe. Then, use the ringtones or two-way audio to call them to the device, and dispense a treat.

Do this several times—then get a friend or family member to encourage your pet to respond to the camera while you’re out of the house or in another room. Like any learned behaviour, it just takes practice (and lots of treats).

How we reviewed the best pet cameras

eufyPet Dog Camera D605 with a dog

Image: Eufy

As pet owners ourselves, we couldn't pass up a chance to test these cameras in our own homes. So to get a closer look at pet cameras, we took one home and tested it out. We checked for video quality, ease of use in the app, and extra features that made the pet cam fun for humans and animals alike. Based on our findings, we compared the cameras and created our best-of list along with the reviews below.

Read our full methodology to find out more about how we research and review products.


Disclaimer
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time of publish and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on the retailer’s website at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. SafeWise Australia utilises paid affiliate links.
Katie McEntire
Written by
Katie McEntire

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