8 best pet cameras for keeping an eye on your dog or cat when you're out

Worried about leaving your pet home alone? These pet cameras can help you check in, spot signs of distress and even dispense treats

Published: September 28, 2026 at 4:44 PM

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Leaving your pet at home while you head to work, tackle the school run or spend the day out can come with a hefty dose of guilt. While you might assume they're snoozing happily on the sofa, some signs that they're struggling with being alone aren't obvious until you see them for yourself.

In fact, the RSPCA recommends videoing dogs when they're left alone to check for hidden signs of distress, which can include barking, whining, trembling and pacing.

That's where a pet camera can be useful. From compact cameras that let you check in from your phone to clever models with two-way audio, night vision and even treat dispensers, we've selected eight options worth considering.

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The best pet cameras at a glance

How we chose these pet cameras

For this update, we've compared the features listed by manufacturers and retailers, focusing on the things that matter when you're checking on your pet remotely. These include video quality, viewing angles, night vision, movement tracking, two-way audio and additional features such as treat dispensers. We've also considered practical differences, including whether a camera stays in one position, offers recording without an ongoing subscription or needs additional equipment. Our selection includes dedicated pet cameras alongside indoor security cameras that offer useful pet-monitoring features.

Best pet camera overall

1. Furbo Mini 360° Pet Camera, £40

Furbo Pet Cam

Best for: Checking in and dispensing treats

Why we chose it: Combining a rotating camera, automatic tracking, two-way audio and a treat dispenser, the Furbo Mini 360° brings together several features designed specifically for pet owners.

What we like

What to keep in mind

If you're looking for more than a straightforward camera, the Furbo Mini 360° is worth considering. It allows you to follow your pet around the room, listen to what's happening and speak to them through the accompanying app.

Its standout feature is the built-in treat dispenser. Unlike a conventional indoor security camera, this model lets you reward your pet remotely without needing a separate device.

The combination of movement tracking and treat dispensing makes it particularly interesting for owners who want to interact with their pets rather than simply watch them.

However, it's important to consider the ongoing cost. The Amazon version linked here requires a Furbo Nanny subscription to activate, so check the subscription options before buying.

Available from: Amazon

Best pet cameras for different needs

2. Blink Mini 2K+, £39.99

Blink Cam

Best for: Compact monitoring

Why we chose it: The Blink Mini 2K+ combines a small design with high-resolution video, making it a practical option for checking on pets in a particular part of your home.

What we like

What to keep in mind

If your pet has a favourite sleeping spot or tends to stay in one room, you might not need an elaborate monitoring system.

The Blink Mini 2K+ is a compact option that can be positioned to keep an eye on a particular area. Its 2K resolution and digital zoom are useful features if you want a closer look at what your pet is doing.

Two-way audio allows you to listen and speak through the camera, while night vision means you're not limited to checking in during daylight hours. Bear in mind that colour vision in low light requires some ambient light.

It's worth investigating the recording options before purchasing. Blink offers cloud storage through a subscription, while local recording requires a compatible Sync Module and storage device.

Available from: Amazon

3. Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera, £59.99

Ring Cam

Best for: Privacy-conscious pet owners

Why we chose it: The Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera offers adjustable room coverage and a manual privacy cover, giving owners more control over when their camera is in use.

What we like

What to keep in mind

If you want a camera that can do more than watch a single corner of the room, the Ring Pan-Tilt Indoor Camera offers plenty of flexibility.

You can change the camera's viewing direction remotely through the Ring app, making it easier to look around a room if your pet has wandered out of sight.

The manual privacy cover is another useful feature. It allows you to physically cover the camera and disable audio and video streaming when you don't want it monitoring your home.

The camera also includes two-way communication and night vision. However, if you want to review recordings rather than simply watch a live feed, you'll need to factor in the cost of a Ring subscription.

Available from: Amazon

4. blurams 2K Pet Camera, £29.99

blurams Cam

Best for: Colour night vision

Why we chose it: This blurams camera combines 2K video, wide room coverage and colour night vision, offering a selection of useful features for monitoring pets throughout the day.

What we like

What to keep in mind

Not all pets settle down in one spot when you're out. If yours likes to wander around the living room, a camera with movement tracking could make it easier to see what they're doing.

This blurams camera combines a rotating view with motion tracking, allowing it to follow movement within its coverage area.

Its 2K video resolution should also appeal to owners who want more detailed footage than a standard 1080p camera offers.

Colour night vision is another useful addition, particularly if you regularly leave your pet at home during darker afternoons or evenings.

Two-way communication gives you the option to speak to your pet remotely, although it's worth checking how your individual animal responds to hearing your voice through a device.

Available from: Amazon

5. Tapo C211, £39.99

Tapo C21

Best for: Motion tracking

Why we chose it: The Tapo C211 offers automatic motion tracking alongside a wide viewing range, making it suitable for keeping an eye on pets that rarely stay still.

What we like

What to keep in mind

For pets that move around regularly, the Tapo C211 offers a useful combination of movement detection and automatic tracking.

Its rotating design provides 360-degree horizontal coverage, while the 2K camera captures more detail than a standard Full HD model.

You can use the Tapo app to watch live footage, receive notifications and communicate through the camera's built-in microphone and speaker.

An important advantage is the option to save footage locally using a microSD card. This may appeal if you don't want to rely entirely on a cloud subscription.

Its wide viewing range makes it particularly suited to monitoring larger rooms, although it can't follow your pet into another room.

Available from: Amazon

6. Tapo C210, £27.99

Tapo C210

Best for: Everyday monitoring

Why we chose it: The Tapo C210 offers high-resolution video, adjustable room coverage and two-way audio for owners who want a straightforward way to check on their pets.

What we like

What to keep in mind

If you're primarily interested in discovering what your pet gets up to while you're out, the Tapo C210 covers the essentials without adding specialist pet-camera features you might not need.

The camera can pan and tilt to provide a wider view of the room, while its 3MP video resolution allows you to see what's happening in more detail.

Night vision is included, along with motion notifications and two-way audio for listening and speaking to your pet.

There's also the option to record footage locally using a compatible microSD card.

It's a practical choice if you want an everyday indoor camera that doubles as a pet monitor, rather than a dedicated device designed around playing with or rewarding your pet.

Available from: Amazon

7. Safeview 2K 3MP Window Camera, £49.99

Safeview

Best for: Window-side monitoring

Why we chose it: The Safeview is a more specialised option, designed primarily for monitoring through windows rather than following pets around an entire room.

What we like

What to keep in mind

If your pet spends a lot of time watching the world from a particular window, you might be interested in a camera that can also provide a view of what's happening outside.

The Safeview is designed primarily for window monitoring, with features intended to reduce reflections when filming through glass.

It offers 2K 3MP video and supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi connections.

However, it's important to consider exactly what you want your pet camera to do. A window-focused camera is quite different from a rotating indoor camera that follows your pet around the room.

If your main priority is checking for signs of distress while you're away, a more conventional indoor pet camera may offer more suitable coverage.

Available from: Amazon

8. Enabot EBO SE 2, £149

Enabot

Best for: Following pets from room to room

Why we chose it: Unlike conventional cameras that stay in one place, the Enabot EBO SE 2 is a mobile home robot that lets you move your viewpoint around your home remotely.

What we like

What to keep in mind

If your pet has a habit of disappearing into another room as soon as you leave, a fixed camera might not provide the coverage you need.

That's where the Enabot EBO SE 2 offers something different. Rather than sitting on a shelf, it's a small mobile robot that can travel around your home.

You can control it remotely to check different areas, while its 2K camera and two-way audio let you see, hear and communicate with your pet.

It's also designed to return to its charging dock automatically when it needs more power.

Of course, a moving camera won't suit every animal or every home. Pets may react differently to something travelling around the floor, so it's worth introducing it gradually while you're there to supervise.

For suitable homes, its mobile design provides a level of flexibility that conventional stationary cameras can't match.

Available from: Amazon

What should you look for when buying a pet camera?

The best pet camera for your home will depend on your pet's behaviour, the rooms they spend time in and what you want to find out while you're away.

Here are some features worth considering.

Video quality and night vision

Most of the cameras in our selection offer at least 1080p video, while several provide higher-resolution 2K footage.

If you regularly leave your pet at home during darker afternoons or evenings, night vision is particularly useful.

Remember that colour night vision may depend on the amount of available light, so check the individual camera's requirements.

Movement tracking and viewing angles

A fixed camera may be enough if your pet generally sleeps in the same place.

However, if they move around frequently, a rotating camera with automatic motion tracking could make it easier to keep them in view.

For pets that travel between different rooms, a mobile camera is another option, although you'll need to consider obstacles and the layout of your home.

Two-way audio and treat dispensers

Two-way audio allows you to hear your pet and speak to them remotely.

Some dedicated pet cameras also include treat dispensers, allowing you to reward your pet through an accompanying app.

However, these features won't suit every animal. Pay attention to how your pet responds, particularly if hearing your voice without being able to find you appears to cause confusion or distress.

Subscriptions and recording options

It's worth checking whether a camera requires an ongoing subscription before you buy it.

Some cameras provide free live viewing but charge for cloud recording or additional alerts. Certain models offer local recording using a memory card, although you may need to purchase additional equipment.

If your main reason for buying a pet camera is to identify signs of separation-related distress, the ability to record and review footage could be particularly important.

Can a pet camera help with separation anxiety?

A camera won't treat separation anxiety, but it can help you understand what your pet does when nobody is home.

The RSPCA recommends recording dogs when they're left alone to identify signs of distress that owners may otherwise never see.

If your footage repeatedly shows your dog pacing, trembling, whining, barking or otherwise appearing distressed, speak to your vet or an appropriately qualified animal behaviour professional.

It's also worth remembering that features such as two-way audio won't suit every animal. Hearing your voice without being able to find you could affect pets differently, so watch how yours responds.

How long can you leave a dog alone?

The RSPCA advises that dogs generally shouldn't be left alone for longer than four hours, although the appropriate length of time depends on the individual dog.

Before going out, suitable exercise and a small meal may help your dog settle, while an appropriate toy can provide enrichment.

If you return to chewed furniture, toileting or another unwanted behaviour, the RSPCA advises against punishment. Your dog may associate the punishment with your return rather than something they did while you were away.

A camera may help you understand your dog's behaviour, but it isn't a substitute for arranging appropriate company and care when you're going to be away for longer.

What about leaving a cat home alone?

Cats may seem famously independent, but they still need their basic physical and emotional needs met when you're away.

Purina recommends providing fresh water and food, a clean litter tray, comfortable sleeping space and suitable toys or enrichment.

Purina says most adult cats can be left for up to eight hours during a working day and that some cats, with appropriate provisions, can be left for up to 24 hours.

Your individual cat's health, age and needs should always be taken into account, and longer absences require suitable arrangements for their care.

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Young kittens need more frequent care and supervision. If you're unsure what's appropriate for your pet, particularly if they're very young, elderly, unwell or showing signs of distress, ask your vet for individual advice.

Authors

Finn ByrneEcommerce Writer

Finn Byrne is a Digital Writer for Immediate Media. He works across several brands including The Recommended, RadioTimes.com, MadeforMums and BBC Gardeners’ World. Finn has previously written for publications including MyLondon, The Mirror, The Express, and The Star. When not writing Finn enjoys spending time on the football pitch and getting stuck into a book.

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