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Photography: Molly Higgins
Enabot Rola PetPal Robot Pet Companion for $229 (no attachments): This rolling pet camera has the best intentions, but the sometimes problematic app makes the camera/toy/pet feeder combo a little unpredictable. Through the app, you can monitor your pets on the security camera and drive the robot by pressing buttons to do tricks and dispense treats. You can watch the live camera feed from the app, but you can also schedule recordings, which are viewable via cloud playback, and it compiles a 30-second “day in the life” compilation. The robot is also supposed to detect abnormal movements or sounds, like barking or broken glass, and send a smart alert to the owner with a timestamp when they are not home. With AI-based animal recognition, the robot can also take a photo of your pet, but the AI features were unreliable.
Photography: Molly Higgins
Petcube Camera for $32: This simple, compact camera doesn’t have all the features, but it’s a great price for being a reliable, basic pet camera. Like other products in the Petcube line, it has a 1080p HD camera, night vision and two-way audio. It sits on hinges and can tilt up and down, with the option to reverse the video feed in the app if you want to lay it horizontally. You’ll need the brand’s Care subscription plan to get all the features beyond the live stream. You can set a “motion zone” to receive notifications only in a specific area and log your phone’s location to the app, so you’ll be alerted more often when you’re away. You can also share the camera feed with other people so they can watch it remotely and only specify certain times you want to share. This camera is basic, but it has a high-quality camera feed and advanced extras that make it a bargain at this price.
Photography: Molly Higgins
Catit Pixi Smart Mouse Camera for $75: This cutie looks like a miniature mouse with oversized magnetic feet that attach to a metal stand, and the mouse feet are articulated so you can adjust the height and angle of the camera. It’s cute but expensive for what it is: the lens doesn’t move and requires a microSD to get video footage beyond a live feed (with the SD card, you can scroll through video to see events from days past, record live footage, and save photos and videos to your smartphone’s camera roll). Although it’s difficult to determine exactly what time you’re watching when viewing footage, the video stream can be slow and there have been several instances of connectivity issues. It’s a bit expensive at this price point for its (lack of) capabilities.
Photography: Molly Higgins
Closer Pets TreatView with Pet Camera for $100: This sturdy pet camera features an HD camera, two-way communication, motion detection, a built-in memory card, and one-cup storage for kibble or treats, which can be programmed or given randomly. The video feed was still crystal clear, although the audio was a little slow and difficult to hear. The treat portions were huge, dishing out a big handful of kibble even on the lowest setting. The alert sound during dispensing is very jarring and my pets were afraid of it – there was no way to silence it. Due to the location of the kibble dispensing hole, the camera is tilted downward, making it difficult to view the desired area. This is a solid pet camera whose extra features become a burden rather than an asset.
With the above criteria in mind, I looked for security cameras with additional pet-specific features. I set up each camera individually, noting any difficulties or issues with initial setup, setup with Wi-Fi, and the speed and reliability of the camera feed. I tested each camera for at least a week (most, much longer) in various locations throughout my home and rigorously tested the additional features available on most cameras, like scheduled feedings, food delivery, playtime, and scheduled recordings, and noted any issues. During the months of testing, I went out of town several times and relied entirely on these cameras to keep an eye on my two kids, I mean, cats.
So, is there Really a difference between Security cameras and pet cameras? Sort of
Security cameras allow you to monitor your home (and your pet) while you’re away, but pet cameras often have a few extra pet-specific features, like dispensing treats or the ability to interact with your pet through a two-way speaker. These cameras with special features can help alleviate common problems like separation anxiety or boredom. THE Enabot Rola PetPal Robot Companion for Petsfor example, is equipped with accessories that allow you to give your pet a treat from a distance or participate in “playtime”.
That’s not to say you can’t use a security camera as a pet camera, but like any other smart home device that connects to Wi-Fi, it’s possible for it to be hacked and compromise your privacy. Make sure your Wi-Fi password is strong, set up two-factor authentication with your camera app, and it’s not a bad idea to keep it turned off when you’re at home as an extra precaution.
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