Best Pet Camera 2024: Discover the Perfect Companion

A pet camera is specifically designed to enable you to interact with your dog, cat, or other pets while you're away. Some cameras even have a food dispenser function that allows you to give food to your pets even when you're gone. The best pet camera can also double as a security device that will inform you if anything unusual happens in and around your property.

In this page, we will explore the best pet cameras and have a thorough analysis to determine which pet camera is best for your dog, cat, and other pets.

What is a Pet Camera for?

A pet camera is used to monitor and interact with pets remotely. It allows pet owners to keep an eye on their pets, check their well-being, and sometimes dispense treats or communicate with them through built-in features like two-way audio or video streaming.

Best Pet Camera for Different Animals

Animals vary in their characteristics and habits, so when searching for the ideal pet camera, it's crucial to ensure that the device you select is suitable for your specific pet type.

Best Pet Camera for Dogs

Dogs are our most loyal friends and companions. Whether you have a working dog, a guard dog, or just a loveable fluffball that likes to cuddle on the couch, there will always be situations where you’re separated from your pet. A pet camera for dogs is the perfect solution here. But what features should you look for when choosing a dog pet camera? Here are they:

• Pan and Tilt: Unless your dog is stuck in a kennel the entire time, they’re going to roam the house. Pan and tilt functionality allows you to track your dog as they move around and turn your device into the best pet monitoring camera.
• Treat-Dispensing: Treats can be used to reward good behavior and to provide comfort for your pet when you’re not around. Controlling a best pet camera with a treat dispenser can even be fun for you.. However, treat-dispensing isn’t a must-have feature for the best pet home camera and it can drive up the cost of your camera significantly. Think long and hard about whether it’s even necessary.
• Two-Way Audio: You’re part of your dog’s pack, and they can get lonely when you’re not around. The best pet camera with 2-way audio allows you to speak directly to your pet anytime you’re not there. You’ll also be able to hear them – do they sound anxious? Excited? Sad? Use that information to improve your interaction.

Of course, these are only a few of the things you’ll need to consider when shopping for a best home pet camera for dogs. You’ll also need to consider the resolution, whether it offers dual-band Wi-Fi, and more. Our recommendation here is E1 Pro or E1 Zoom.

Best Pet Camera for Cats

Cat owners don’t have the same needs as dog owners, but they do still need to keep an eye on their pets while they’re gone. Cats rarely suffer from separation anxiety, but they do suffer from many different behavioral disorders. Any cat owner who’s come home to find the paper towel roll shredded, or the dishes on top of the cabinets knocked off knows exactly what we mean. When choosing the best pet camera for cat, you’ll need to think about a few important features, including the following:

• Pan and Tilt: Cats are masters at getting into tight spaces and running around the house. Pan and tilt functionality ensures that you can move the camera to match your cat’s motion, whether they’re hanging out on top of the refrigerator or batting at butterflies through the window.
• Zoom: Zoom is a critical consideration with cats, particularly because of their ability to get into tight spaces that might be hard to see without this functionality. With the ability to zoom, you’ll be able to spot your cat wherever it’s hiding. You can use the zoom-in function to empower a best pet photography camera.
• Night Vision: Cats are much more active at night than dogs are, so if you’re going to be away from home during the evenings, night vision is a must-have feature. This will ensure that you’re able to get a good view of the situation no matter what time of night it is.

Other functions to consider here include two-way voice communications, even though cats are not notorious for listening to their owners.Our pick is the E1 Zoom if you own a cat.

Best Pet Camera for Other Animal Types

If you share your home with other pets, considering a pet camera to keep an eye on their daily routines might be beneficial. Check out the essential features to consider when choosing the best pet cameras for various types of animals.

• Best Pet Camera for Freshwater Fish: Fish can be colorful, fun, and enjoyable to watch. Of course, fish also need close care and monitoring to make sure that they’re safe, healthy, and protected in their environment. A fish pet camera with zoom, pan and tilt, and even night vision can be just the thing!
• Best Pet Camera for Horse: A horse pet camera or a barn security camera is an essential investment to help you protect and care for your horse(s). Many threats exist that can put your horse in danger, from predators to horse thieves. Plus, a horse pet camera allows you to watch as your pet enjoys their pasture or enclosure in the barn. We recommend you choose the best outdoor pet camera for your horse.
• Best Pet Camera for Bird: Birds are fun, loving, and many can learn to speak. However, you will want to make sure that they’re safe and protected while you’re away. The best cheap pet camera with two-way audio allows you to keep tabs on what’s going on and even interact with your bird(s) while you’re away.
• Best Pet Camera for Hamster: Hamsters are little bundles of fun – they’re adorable, whether they’re on the wheel, exploring their habitat, or curled up asleep. However, if you’re away from home, you’ll want to keep an eye on them to make sure they’re healthy and safe. You can choose the best wireless pet camera with night vision to monitor your companion around the clock.

Best Pet Camera Comparison

Here, we’ve elaborated a comparison table of the best pet cameras of Reolink

Recommendations of Best Pet Cameras

If you are still searching for a pet camera, you can consider the following recommendations.

Best Indoor Camera for Pets

The best overall indoor pet camera is the E1 Pro. It’s compact enough to be installed just about anywhere in your home. The firm base offers stable support, and the cord easily connects to any nearby power outlet. Setting it up is a snap – just connect it to your Wi-Fi (it offers 2.4 and 5G dual-band capabilities, so you get blazing speeds) and you’re good to go.

This pet camera also brings a great deal more to the table. One of those is the 4MP super HD resolution, which is such an upgrade from 1080p. Add to that two-way audio capabilities that allow you to communicate with your pet while you’re away (or anyone in your home, for that matter). Plus, you get flexible pan and title capabilities. You can pan the camera a full 355 degrees and tilt it 50 degrees so you always get the best angle on the action.

Pros:

• It costs just $39.99
• It offers pan and tilt functionality
• It provides 4MP Super HD resolution

Cons:

• No optical zoom

Best Pet Camera without Subscription

The best pet camera without subscription on our list is the E1 Zoom. It brings all the features and capabilities of the E1 Pro and builds on them with some critical new additions that help get around the Pro’s rare but real drawbacks. One of those is that it offers 5MP Super HD resolution rather than 4MP like the Pro. That means you can see the entire scene in even greater detail and clarity.

Plus, it brings a SD card slot, which allows you to store the data locally and get rid of the hassle subscription. Like the Pro, it also offers night vision capabilities, but thanks to the better resolution and the ability to zoom in on a scene, it’s even better equipped for keeping tabs on your pet and your home in low-light situations.

Pros:

• Affordable and priced at just $56.67
• 3x optical zoom
• Full pan and tilt capabilities

Cons:

• Not waterproof

Best Outdoor Pet Camera

When it comes to outdoor cameras, the E1 Outdoor is one of the top-rated in the industry**. It delivers all the durability and weatherproof performance that you expect and the features and functionality that you need. The E1 Outdoor is the perfect option for keeping an eye on larger pets that cannot come indoors, such as ponies, and it can also provide you with a live video feed of your paddock and livestock 24-hours per day.

The E1 Outdoor offers several important advantages specific to outdoor use. One is the installation method. It’s designed to be installed with the included arm and mounted to a vertical surface like a wall or post. Another is the fact that it includes person/vehicle detection and can alert you based on that. Finally, unlike the Zoom, the E1 Outdoor offers full color night vision.

Pros:

• Waterproof
• Person/vehicle detection
• Full-color night vision

Cons:

• Requires hardwired power supply

Factors that Define the Best Pet Camera

There are several factors that define the best pet camera,such as the following ones:

1. Pan and Tilt

If you’re looking for a single must-have feature, then pan and tilt is it. Fixed-lens cameras simply don’t compare. This feature allows you to pan the camera left and right and tilt it up and down. That means you can watch every step as your dog runs by, or spot your cat climbing on top of the refrigerator. With the best pan & tilt pet camera, you can use your phone to control up/down/left/right motion with ease, as well. In comparison, a fixed-lens camera is exactly that. You can monitor just one range of view and there is no movement possible.

2. Treat Dispenser

Want to really give your dog a moment of happiness? Get a pet camera with a treat dispenser. You can dispense treats throughout the day and keep Fido happy. These cameras offer easy-to-understand operation, too. Just fill the dispensing/storage bin inside the camera housing, and then leave as you normally would. Later, check-in via the smartphone app and you can dispense treats as you want. Some models offer basic treat-dispensing capabilities, but others can launch treats through the air to give your pet a little bit of exercise and fun. Of course, teat dispensing is really more applicable for dogs, so if you have a cat, this feature might not be quite so important.

3. Two-Way Audio

Another critical feature to consider is two-way audio. the best two-way audio security camera allows you to hear your pet while you’re away from home, but you can also speak to them or other people within your home. Pets that suffer from separation anxiety benefit from this feature the most, as it ensures that they can hear your voice and do not feel alone.

4. Zoom

Zoom functionality works just like it does on your smartphone. The camera doesn’t move, but you’re able to zoom in closer for a better look at the action and the details. This is particularly important when dealing with active pets that like to play (or demolish), as well as for pets that like to get into hard-to-see spaces (if you’re a cat owner, you know exactly what we mean). The zoom function can take you to any corner of the room. However, you need to ensure that you’re investing in the best pet video camera. You should find optical zoom instead of digital zoom to provide magnification up to three times better and excellent clarity with no loss of detail.

5. Resolution

When shopping for the best pet camera, pay close attention to the resolution. The better the resolution, the clearer the picture will be. That applies to more than just the video feed, too. Today’s cameras allow you to take snapshots of your pet, capture funny or adorable moments, and save them for later. A high-resolution pet camera, like 4K pet cameras, will ensure those are crystal clear. So, what should you look for? The minimum resolution you should consider is 2K.

6. Night Vision Capability

Want to keep an eye on your pet while you’re gone at night? Need to keep watch for predators in your paddock and protect your pony or horse? Night vision is the answer. However, you need to check the number of LEDs and the power of the lighting, as this determines the clarity of the image in low-light situations. If the camera has no infrared fill light, you won’t be able to see anything at night. If you want color in low-light conditions, make sure that the camera has a white fill light and not just infrared LEDs.

7. Connectivity

To use any of the features we’ve discussed so far, your camera must be connected to the Internet. Most cameras today still use 2.4G Wi-Fi links, which are slow. Dual-band Wi-Fi links (2.4G and 5G) offer better stability and faster network speeds. Choosing a camera with dual-band links ensures that you don’t get fuzzy, distorted, or lagging video feeds. If you want to enjoy seamless Internet connection, you can consider WiFi 6 security cameras as your first choice.

8. Home Security Features

Many pet security cameras can be integrated into your home security system to defend your property. Not all pet cameras are up to the task, though, so if home security is important, you’ll need to make sure the camera you buy has the following features about home security:

• Alert and Push Message: Your camera can automatically notify you of unexpected occurrences both night and day and send push notifications to your phone.
• Motion Detection: Some pet cameras come with motion detection capabilities, which can be the key to preventing break-ins, particularly when combined with two-way voice communication.
• Google Home/Alexa Integration: The right pet camera for your needs should also offer integration with your personal assistant of choice, whether that’s Google Home or Amazon’s Alexa. The integration allows you to control the camera through the assistant but also connects other home security elements, such as doorbell cameras, and more.

FAQs

What makes the best pet camera?

The best pet cameras stand out due to features like two-way audio, live video streaming, treat dispensers, motion alerts, wide-angle lenses, night vision, mobile app integration, and interactive play options. These elements collectively enhance the monitoring and interaction experience for pet owners.

Do all pet cameras have a treat dispenser?

Not all pet cameras have a treat dispenser due to the specific design of different models. The treat dispenser provides the ability for pet owners to remotely dispense treats to their animals. When selecting a pet camera, it's important to check the product specifications and features to see if it includes a treat dispenser.

How much should I pay for the best pet camera?

The cost of the best pet camera can vary depending on the brand, features, and capabilities. Normally, you can get an affordable pet camera for less than $100 but some models with advanced features can range from $100 to $300.

Conclusion

The best pet camera is a critical investment for any pet owner. Whether you have conventional pets like a dog or cat, or you have other pets like horses or hamsters, a pet camera allows you to keep an eye on things, ensure that they are happy and healthy, and even interact with them while you’re gone. Use this guide to help you choose the best pet camera for your needs.

Have you ever bought a camera to monitor your pet? Do you think it is necessary to have one? Share your ideas and experiences with us in the comment section! We'd love to hear from you!