The Furbo Dog Camera has winning features that get our tails wagging.
In addition to a treat launcher and night vision, it’s 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.
And while it’s on the pricey side, it’s not the most expensive camera on our list.
Here are the top pet cameras for 2021
- : Best for dogs
- : Most fun
- : Best for budget
- : Best for cats
- : Best for sharing
Compare the best pet cameras
| Best for dogs | Most fun | Budget pick | Best for cats | Best for sharing | |
| Pet camera |
Furbo Dog Camera |
Skymee Owl Robot |
 Wyze Cam Pan |
Petcube Play 2 |
 |
| List price* | |||||
| Video quality |
1080p |
1080p |
1080p |
1080p |
1080p |
| Two-way audio |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Motion detection |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Night vision |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Treat dispenser |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
| View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
Reviews: Best pet cameras
1. Furbo dog camera: Best for dogs
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
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 favorite 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.
1080p camera Night vision Treat dispenser Bark sensor
High price tag Subscription required for cloud storageFurbo 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 90-day free trial, but after that, you’ll have to pay $6.99 per month or $69 for the whole year. With a price tag around $200, this might be out of reach for many.
2. Skymee Owl Robot: Most fun
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
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.
Moving remote-controlled robot Treat dispenser Night vision Two-way talk
May scare anxious pets May lose treats around the houseThis 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. Wyze Cam Pan: Budget pick
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
The Wyze Cam Pan 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 Wyze model has helpful smart pet camera features, including night vision, motion tracking, video streaming, and two-way audio. It can swivel a full 360 degrees in under three seconds, and it has pan-and-tilt capabilities to give you an additional 93 degrees of vertical viewing.
360-degree view Night vision High-definition video Two-way audio
Noisy movement No treat dispenser Delayed motion detectionIts motion detection feature moves the camera as it tracks your dog or cat around the room.
The motion tracking is both noisy and a little delayed, and the sound quality for the two-way talk feature isn’t crystal clear. But the Wyze Pan Cam’s 1080p high-definition live video is clearer than many other pet cameras we saw.
Given the low price point, we’re impressed.
Wyze has a growing suite of smart home products and cameras for anyone watching their wallet. Check out our in-depth Wyze Cam Pan review to learn more about this camera.
4. Petcube Play 2: Best app
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
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 degrees, plus a 4x zoom. So you can count the whiskers on your furry friend’s face from anywhere in the room.
Controllable laser pointer Easy setup Built-in Alexa
No treat dispenser Best features require subscriptionPetcube Care costs under $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.
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
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
With a 180-degree viewing angle, 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.
180-degree angle Motion detection Treat dispenser Night vision
No volume control Average video quality Spotty streamingIn terms of video quality, the Skymee Petalk AI II is a little touch-and-go. But it's an affordable alternative to the Furbo and a great way to give your pupper treats throughout the day.
More pet cams worth a look
Whether you want a pet cam to watch your puppy during his first week home alone or to keep an eye on your mischievous cats, there are tons of options out there. Here are a few other nominees you should check out.
6. WOpet Smart Pet Camera
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
There's plenty to like about the WOpet Smart Pet Camera. It features a treat dispenser, two-way audio, and night vision. But it falls short with no motion detection and only 720p video streaming (which, to be fair, is still considered HD).
At $129.99, it costs the same as our #5 pick but offers less functionality. Still, it's a highly-rated dog treat camera and works with Amazon Alexa.
7. Yi Dome Camera: Budget pick
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
The Yi Dome Camera is subtle and understated, but its swiveling head allows you to see everything in the room. This pan/tilt/zoom (PTZ) camera makes it easier to see more from anywhere you put it and it costs less than $30.
Whether your dog’s wandering just out of frame or the cat’s hiding out of view again, you can follow them from the Yi app.
It has motion detection, night vision, and shoots footage in clear 1080p HD. But while the Yi is a great camera, it lacks pet-focused features like treats or laser toys for kitties.
Check out our take on other Yi cameras in our full review.
8. Conico Pet Camera: Best multipurpose camera
*Amazon.com prices as of 05/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST.
While this Conico camera is designed with pet owners in mind, its motion trackers mean it can double as a security camera or nanny cam for humans as well.
Similar to the Yi Dome Camera, the Conico Pet Camera swivels, tilts, and zooms to catch the action from any angle. It also connects with your Amazon Echo, so you can integrate it with the rest of your smart devices.
It costs under $50 and comes with optional paid cloud storage. It’s an affordable investment if you want to keep footage of Fido even with a subscription.
What to consider before buying a pet cam
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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 center 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.
Our approach
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.
Pet Cameras FAQ
A dedicated pet camera can be helpful to keep an eye on your pet's health, moderate their behavior, 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 behavior, it just takes practice (and lots of treats).
Related pages
Sources
- Angie’s List, “How Much Does Doggy Day Care Cost?" June 2015. Accessed May 27, 2021.
Disclaimer
*Amazon.com list price as of 5/27/21 09:00 a.m. MST. Product prices and availability are accurate as of this date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any prices and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product. Safewise.com utilizes paid Amazon links.
Certain content that appears on this site comes from Amazon. This content is provided “as is” and is subject to change or removal at any time.
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