Best Pet Camera for Dogs and Cats (and What It Can and Cannot Do)

We may earn a commission when you buy through links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Learn more

A pet camera lets you see and hear your dog or cat from your phone while you are out, and talk back to them. Some also toss a treat at the tap of a button. This guide covers what a camera can and cannot do for a pet left home alone, what to look for, the three pet cameras in our catalog and others that reviewers tried.

How we wrote this: hands-on notes come from PetsRadar, whose testers used the cameras in its guide at home (updated June 2025), from Digital Camera World, whose reviewers tested pet cameras with their own dogs (reviews from January and December 2023, guide updated August 2025), and from Reviewed, whose reviewer watched her two Golden Retrievers with a Furbo 360 for several weeks in 2022. Welfare advice comes from the RSPCA, the ASPCA and PetMD. Product facts come from the makers’ own pages, checked on 1 November 2026. We did not test these cameras ourselves, and we do not show prices or ratings.

What a pet camera can and cannot do

A camera is a way to watch, not a fix. The RSPCA says research suggests 8 out of 10 dogs find it hard to cope when left alone, yet half won’t show any obvious signs. It suggests that even if you think your dog is happy, you check for ‘hidden’ signs of distress now and then, by installing a camera to monitor your pet while you’re out.

The ASPCA lists the signs to look for: barking or howling, chewing, digging, trying to escape, and toileting indoors when left alone, often starting within minutes of the owner leaving. It also says to see your vet first to rule out medical causes before working on separation anxiety, and the RSPCA says to talk to a vet if its advice does not help, who can refer you to a clinical animal behaviourist. Vet Dr. Rebecca MacMillan told PetsRadar that a camera can help you spot pacing, vocalizing and heavy panting, and track progress with training, but it can’t directly solve the problem.

A camera also does not change how long a pet should be alone. The RSPCA recommends not leaving a dog alone for more than four hours, and much less for puppies. For cats, PetMD says healthy adult cats can generally be left 8 to 12 hours, kittens need much more frequent care, and you should arrange a pet sitter if you will be away more than 24 hours. If your dog struggles when you leave, see our guide on whether to crate a dog with separation anxiety.

What to look for in a pet camera

Field of view: fixed or rotating

A fixed camera sees one wide angle; a rotating one turns to follow your pet. The Petcube Bites 2 Lite has a 160 degree lens (Petcube) and the Petcube Cam 110 degrees (Petcube). The Furbo 360 rotates through a full circle (Furbo), and PetsRadar’s tester found its tracking follows the pet and records it. Digital Camera World notes a fixed camera is less useful if your pet roams between rooms.

Video and night vision

All three cameras in our catalog film in 1080p and have night vision. Zoom is digital, and reviewers found the picture gets fuzzy at full zoom on both the Furbo and the Bites 2 Lite. Night vision matters if you are out in the evening; the Petcube Cam’s maker lists a range of up to 30 feet (Petcube), but Digital Camera World found it hard to make out a dark pet on a dark sofa at night.

Two-way audio

A speaker and microphone let you hear your pet and talk to them. Quality varies: Reviewed found the Furbo’s audio surprisingly good, while Digital Camera World noted occasional lag on the Bites 2 Lite.

Treat tossing

The Furbo 360 holds up to 100 treats and the Bites 2 Lite’s container holds up to 1.5 pounds; check the treat size each one takes before you fill it (Furbo, Petcube). PetsRadar warns that a treat-filled camera can tempt a big dog to chew it, so place it out of reach. For treats themselves, see our sister site inthekibble.com.

Subscription

Most pet cameras stream live for free but charge for recordings and smart alerts. Furbo Nanny is optional after a free 14 day trial (Furbo); without it, PetsRadar reports Furbo footage stays in the app for 24 hours unless downloaded. Petcube Care adds video history and smart alerts (Petcube), and Digital Camera World found the free Petcube plan gives live streaming only. Check what you get free before you buy.

Placement and pet-proofing

Put the camera where your pet cannot knock it over or chew the cable. Furbo suggests placing its camera 60 to 120 cm above the floor and supplies 3M tape for the base (Furbo). Digital Camera World reports Petcube recommends setting the Bites 2 Lite at least 3 feet off the floor, found it can be toppled by boisterous pups, and flagged the Petcube Cam’s long cable as a snag risk with a curious puppy. All three connect over 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi.

The pet cameras we list

Furbo 360 Dog Camera: best for following a dog around the room

The Furbo 360 Dog Camera has a rotating 360 degree view, 1080p video with color night vision, 4x digital zoom, two-way audio and a treat tosser that holds 100 pieces (Furbo).

It is PetsRadar‘s best pet camera overall. Its tester found it easy to set up, with clear video free of lag, though the picture quality isn’t perfect. Digital Camera World found sharp images, crisp audio and a quiet treat tosser with good range, but called the tosser not quite perfect because of a labored motor and overzealous tracking. Reviewed‘s tester found it simple to set up and clear at night. PetsRadar and Digital Camera World both note that the extra alerts and longer video history need the paid Furbo Nanny plan.

Petcube Bites 2 Lite: best fixed camera with a treat dispenser

The Petcube Bites 2 Lite has a 160 degree wide-angle lens, 1080p video, 8x digital zoom, automatic night vision, two-way audio and a treat dispenser you control from the app, including how many treats it tosses and how far. The treat container is detachable and dishwasher safe (Petcube). It works for dogs or cats.

It is the top pick in Digital Camera World‘s guide. Its reviewer tested it for several weeks with her young Flatcoated Retriever and found the treat dispenser reliable, the night vision surprisingly good, and setup under 10 minutes (review). The downsides she found: occasional audio lag, a fuzzy picture at full zoom, a subscription to store video, and it can be toppled by a boisterous dog, so wall mounting helps.

Petcube Cam: a small, simple camera with no treat tosser

The Petcube Cam is a compact camera with 1080p video, a 110 degree lens, 8x digital zoom, night vision up to 30 feet, two-way audio and a magnetic mount (Petcube). It has no treat dispenser, which suits cats or dogs that would rather nap than be called to a camera.

Digital Camera World‘s reviewer tested it with his Lancashire Heeler puppy. He found it quick to set up, small and sturdy, with surprisingly good audio, but video quality was average, the app often dropped to 720p and the stream sometimes froze. Sound and motion recordings need a subscription. Choose it for simple check-ins rather than detailed footage.

Other pet cameras reviewers tried, not in our catalog

• Reolink Go PT Ultra Plus: PetsRadar’s subscription-free pick. It runs on a 4G SIM rather than Wi-Fi and has 4K video and color night vision; PetsRadar’s editor mounted it on her pony’s stable. It is an outdoor security camera rather than a pet camera, so we do not list it.
• Enabot ROLA PetPal: a remote-controlled robot camera with a laser, teaser and treat dispenser that PetsRadar’s writer tested with her cats; she found the battery life short and the audio and picture not the best. We could not load the maker’s product page to confirm current facts, so we name it without a link.
• Ring Indoor Cam and Lorex 4K Spotlight: home security cameras PetsRadar suggests for privacy (a manual lens cover on the Ring) and for security. They have two-way talk but no pet features such as treat tossing.

FAQ

Do pet cameras help with separation anxiety?

They help you see it, not treat it. The RSPCA suggests a camera to check for hidden signs of distress, and the vet who spoke to PetsRadar says a camera can show pacing, vocalizing and panting and track progress. If you see distress, the ASPCA and RSPCA say to see your vet, who may refer you to a behaviourist.

Do pet cameras record all the time?

Most do not. PetsRadar says most record only when triggered by sound or movement, and some record continuously by writing over older footage. On the Furbo and Petcube cameras, saved clips and alerts mostly depend on the maker’s subscription.

Do you need a subscription for a pet camera?

Not for live video and two-way audio on the cameras we list. Furbo Nanny is optional after a 14 day free trial, and Petcube Care is optional too, but recordings, video history and smart alerts such as bark alerts mostly come with the plan.

Can a pet camera work without Wi-Fi?

Most need home Wi-Fi; all three in our catalog use 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. PetsRadar’s subscription-free pick, the Reolink Go PT Ultra Plus, runs on a 4G SIM card instead, which suits a stable or a place without Wi-Fi.

Are treat-dispensing cameras safe for dogs?

Place them out of reach. PetsRadar warns a big dog may try to chew a camera full of treats, Digital Camera World found the Bites 2 Lite can be toppled, and Furbo supplies tape for its base. Keep power cables away from chewing pets too.

How long can I leave my dog or cat alone with a camera?

The same as without one. The RSPCA recommends no more than four hours for a dog, and much less for a puppy. PetMD says healthy adult cats can generally be left 8 to 12 hours, with a sitter for anything over 24 hours.

For more on keeping a pet safe at home, see how to choose a dog playpen, the best dog gate and the best toys for indoor cats.