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With Amazon's big Pet Day sale on its way this week, it's the ideal time to think about adding tech like a pet cam to your home.
When I talked to Andrey Klen, co-founder of Petcube, he mentioned how he uses his pet cam: "My Pomeranian has separation anxiety but honestly so do I. Leaving home for longer stretches of time gets tough for both of us. Interactive cameras prove to be very handy," he told me. "I chime in with real-time audio and some play time with treats."
That's just the start of what pet cams can do: From Petcube and Furbo to PetSafe and Tapo, cameras of all kinds are made to watch over our four-legged friends. But that invites some health and safety concerns as well as advantages. Here's what you should know.
Are pet cams safe for pets?
Usually, yes. But every pet is different and some run into trouble with smart pet tech. We've seen instances of pets attacking or chewing on automated food dispensers, for instance. Smart pet cams, on the other hand, can cause anxiety in some pets. They may not recognize the voice coming through the speaker or they may see a moving camera as a threat while their owner is away.
Because of this uncertainty, we suggest setting up a few scenarios with your pet. Try leaving a smartphone (on speaker settings) or smart display near your pet, then walk out of your home and make a video call so you can talk to and view your pet through the device. See if this agitates your pet or causes problems.
Likewise, consider how your pet responds to the toaster, timed air purifier or (if you have one) robot vacuum. That's a good indication of how happy they'll be with a pet cam. When in doubt, ask a trusted vet for advice.
Pet cams help keep tabs on pets but it's important to test your pet's reactions first. Getty Images
Why would I connect a vet to my pet cam?
Some pet cams offer subscriptions to 24/7 vet communication services, consultations or similar offerings. Overall, we don't think any of these vet services are necessary. You're far better off downloading a concerning video to your phone and showing it to your own vet, who knows your pet and can give in-person advice (or local emergency vet services, if necessary).
An online vet consultation is unlikely to make much of a difference and we're concerned it could increase owner paranoia rather than helping out.
Can a pet cam save recordings for me?
It should. Saving videos is an important part of a pet cam, whether you want to post a cute clip on Instagram, prove the dog really did eat your homework or send your vet a video of a pet acting strangely. We'll discuss more options below in our recommendations but pet cams usually allow you to save footage through cloud video storage -- which can require a subscription -- or with local storage via a microSD card, etc.
Pet cams can help some pets but make others anxious: Understand your pet's needs before you buy! Petcube
Do pet cameras need to connect to Wi-Fi?
Yes. Today's pet cams need to be connected to your Wi-Fi for remote viewing and control through their apps. Always put the cam in an area where you have a strong signal with your current Wi-Fi router.
Is tossing treats from a device healthy for pets?
On the positive side, tossing treats can help pets feel better if they suffer from separation anxiety and may even be used in distance training efforts. However, some pets will happily dig into a cam looking for the source of the treats, which can quickly lead to damage. Also, if your pet is on a diet plan or in danger of gaining too much weight, having their treats at your fingertips isn't a good idea for either of you.
Where do I put a pet cam in my home?
Most pet cams are designed to be placed on the floor or on low shelves. Some can be mounted to lower positions on the wall. Placement is about interactivity and treat launching: The closer to your pet, the higher the risk that pets may damage the cam but proximity is also important for interactivity. Give cams a good view of areas where pets can play -- or get into trouble, like the living room.
Animal detection can be as simple or as complicated as you want. Google
Are pet cams secure?
Pet cam security isn't always equal to the security practices of larger home security brands (which can occasionally run into problems of their own). To keep your personal data private, we suggest sticking with companies that encrypt their data and using strong passwords on all your pet cam accounts.
If you'd like to watch your rambunctious pet in an outdoor setting then swing by our list of the best outdoor home security cams too and our picks for the best wireless cams. And if pet cam prices are making you wince, take a look at the best cheap security cams.
