What To Look For In A Pet Camera
Two Way Communication
To capture your dog or cat’s attention, the ability to talk to them could be essential. This could either be to tell them off if they are up on the sofa, stop a little fight from breaking out or just to reassure them and give them some company.
It will also allow you to hear them, say if they are barking, and tell them not to. You could also purchase a camera which has a video display, so the dog or cat can see you as well as hear you.
You may have to use this function sparingly, as some animal behaviourists believe hearing your voice could confuse your pet or make them excited.
Motion And Noise Alerts
They may spend most of the day sleeping but it is a good idea for you to get an alert if they happen to be up and about in the house. It could also help if there is noise elsewhere in the house.
Alerts will be sent to your phone, and you can often change how sensitive the detection is.
Continuous Footage
Being able to see footage just after your dog has barked and ran around the house is no good – you’ll want to see what caused the barking. Getting a camera with continuous recording means that most of the incident will be caught.
It is also a really nice way to see what they get up to in the day if you’re curious on your lunch break.
Food Dispensing
Some dedicated pet cameras can dispense a treat at your command. This could be a great way to help train your dog or cat when you aren’t there.
If they bark at the postman, and your voice command makes them stop, dispensing a treat is a good way to keep up the training. It can also just be a good way to keep them entertained as well.
General Security
Many of the cameras we have featured can also be used as part of a wider security system, and it is worth considering whether you want this before you buy.
When your pet is alone, it isn’t just them that you have to worry about, but also their safety in the house if your home was to be broken into. They can also be expensive items, so purchasing a camera which can do both jobs could save money in the long run.
Some cameras will require a hub for the control, and others can be standalone. Hubs usually mean that you can usually connect more cameras to the system, or hook it all up to a carbon monoxide alarm, smoke alarm, window and door sensors or burglar alarms to ensure your pet (and home) are safe from all eventualities.
Smart Speaker Connection
Many of those above can also be connected to a smart speaker, such as Amazon’s Alexa, which could allow you to schedule treat-dispensing every hour, or work the camera with other cameras around the home such as video doorbells or outdoor cameras for a full 360-degree security check.