If you’re anything like me, you love to see the secret lives of your cats. Cat cameras are fantastic gadgets for watching your cat’s behavior – day or night, whether you’re home or on the other side of the world.
There are a bunch of different cat cameras out there, each with unique features – some act as treat dispensers, some let you talk to your cat, and others let you drive the camera around like a remote control car.
I put together this list of cameras so you see what your cute friends are up to when you’re not around the house! I’ve used a bunch of these in my time and found the following to be the best!
Product
Details
Best Value for Money
Mr Petcam
- PRODUCT DIMENSIONS:
6 X 8 X 4 INCHES - ITEM WEIGHT:
0.3 pounds
Best Interactivity
Petcube Play 2 & Bites Wi-Fi Pet Camera
- PRODUCT DIMENSIONS:
3.5 x 3.5 x 3.2 inches - ITEM WEIGHT:
1.76 pounds
Packed With Features
SKYMEE Owl Robot Camera
- DIMENSIONS:
6.7 x 6.7 x 4.9 inches - ITEM WEIGHT:
2.56 Pounds
Most Versatile
Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera
- DIMENSIONS:
3 x 3 x 6 inches - ITEM WEIGHT:
0.8 pounds
Best Wireless
Pawbo + WiFi Pet Cam
- DIMENSIONS:
4.4 x 4.4 x 7.9 inches - ITEM WEIGHT:
1.2 pounds
Easy To Angle
Catit Smart Mouse Camera
- DIMENSIONS:
2.8 x 2.8 x 3.8 inches - ITEM WEIGHT:
0.3 pounds
Our Top Picks For The Best Cat Cameras
Here are the best cat cameras I recommend for any cat owners!
1. Mr Petcam
Mr. Petcam is an easy and fun camera for spying on your cats – it’s made by one of the biggest names in pet cam companies that have years of experience in this field. I really like all the smart features it offers and the image quality – the price is even more of an attraction.
I’ve used this as a stationary camera and sometimes attach it to my cat’s neck to capture my furry friend’s point of view. I found it really easy to use, small, and light, making this a great choice if you are new to the world of pet cameras for cats.
I found the audio and image quality of this cat camera to be crisp and clear, capturing 1080P full HD video and sound. The field of view lets you record live videos showing everything in the surrounding area, and doesn’t feel narrow or limited.
Thanks to the motion-detecting setting, you can control the camera so it only records when your cats are moving around the room. I like this because it doesn’t drain memory space or battery life unnecessarily. It doesn’t have motion alerts, but this feature ensures that you only capture the action you need to.
As for storage, you can use this with any micro SD card, and the footage is easily copied to your computer using a USB cable. The process is really simple and even people with a minimal understanding of technology will find it easy.
These cat cameras feature high-quality night vision with infrared LEDs. I love this dark mode feature because you can get a clear view of what your pets (or your neighbor’s cat who sneaks into your house) get up to at night.
Moreover, if you plan on using this as a collar camera, you can fit it with a waterproof casing to protect it from water damage – not that many cats love swimming, but it’s still a useful feature to have.
I think this cat camera is very fairly priced for the level of features and functions, specifically given the high image quality. If you are looking for a strong entry into the world of cat cameras, then Mr. Petcam is a great place to start.
Pros
- Powerful night vision
- Motion detection setting
- Great video quality at a reasonable price
Cons
- Limited battery life
- No wireless connectivity
2. Petcube Play 2 & Bites Wi-Fi Pet Camera
The Petcube Play 2 is a high-quality, fully featured, and interactive cat camera for monitoring your cats.
The Petcube app gives easy watching from the camera in real-time and also has a range of features so you can interact with your pets from anywhere around the world. It even has a built-in laser toy for winding your cats up.
The video quality is super high, coming in at 1080P full HD with a super wide angle lens at 180 degrees. This also features night vision. The motion or audio triggering mode lets you automatically record your pet’s activities whenever some action starts kicking off. You can also set up motion alerts.
This triggering can also be configured to send notifications directly to your phone which is another useful feature. Any time activity is detected, alert notifications are triggered and sent t your phone.
The main selling points of the Petcube Bites cameras are the powerful app and interactive features. This camera connects to wi-fi and has a range of features that can be remotely controlled from the mobile app. It even features Alexa!
Built into the camera is a full array of microphones and speakers. Unlike other cameras, this gives you two-way audio communication with your pets. I love this feature, as it means you can give your pet some company if they are getting lonely while you are away. Or, if they are misbehaving you can give them a verbal warning!
You can zoom in with up to 4x zoom, so you can really see what’s going on with your pets. I also love the built-in red dot laser pointer – you can play silly games and engage with your cats no matter how far away you are.
This is one of the best cat cameras out there, and while the price is high, it’s justifiable thanks to the futuristic and powerful features and laser pointers.
While this pet cam is high-tech, it’s still super easy to use and comes with a very clear instruction manual. The app is well-designed, and user-friendly, making it quick and simple to monitor your pet and use the features.
Pros
- Powerful interactive features
- Activate motion alerts
- Gives you two-way communication with your pets
- High video quality and clear audio
- Night vision
Cons
- The sensitive camera which can be scratched
- The laser pointer is very bright and can damage eyes, or scare sensitive cats
- Requires a subscription
Petcube Play 2 & Bites Wi-Fi Pet Camera
The price of “Petcube Play 2 & Bites Wi-Fi Pet Camera” varies, so check the latest price at
3. SKYMEE Owl Robot Camera
This uniquely futuristic pet camera offers some incredibly fun and powerful features.
Most notably, this HD camera is drivable! Yes, it works essentially like a remote control car using the fully featured app. You can manually drive the cat camera around to play with your cat, or get the perfect viewpoint.
This interactive cat camera also has an automatic mode that senses your pet using infrared and plays a hide-and-seek game. This is more than just a camera – it’s a fun toy and companion for your pet to play with.
As for video and image quality, this SKYMEE camera model records in crystal clear 1080P full HD and has the capacity for 4x digital zoom. It also features high-quality night vision so you can capture your pet’s activities day or night.
The SKYMEE also works as an automatic treat dispenser, so you can reward pets with any treats that your cat loves directly from the app. You can also configure the treat dispenser to automatically dispense treats based on our pet’s interactions with the camera, or activate motion alerts.
The software is very powerful, and lets you drive the car, manage motion recording, activate records, take images, and dispense treats from iOs and Android phones. The cat camera also features a built-in mic and speakers, letting you easily communicate with your cat through a smartphone with two-way audio.
Multiple different people can log into the account on their phones, so anyone in the family can access, or monitor and interact with the household cat through this interactive cat camera. The maximum number of connections is 8 at one time. The instructions are easy to follow.
It’s durable and suitable to be used outside, so you can drive it around your garden and check up to make sure your cat is behaving when they are outside.
Battery life is surprisingly good given the level of functionality. It holds enough battery for around 16 hours of continuous use. It comes with different modes and can last for a total of 50 days in sleep mode.
This is one of the best pet cameras I’ve seen, it really lets you interact with and play with your cat wherever you are. If you are interested in interactive cat cameras, this is one of the best out there.
Pros
- Unique drivable camera
- Built-in treat dispensing feature
- Powerful app
- Multiple people can connect
Cons
- Complicated
- Interaction drains battery
SKYMEE Owl Robot Camera
The price of “SKYMEE Owl Robot Camera” varies, so check the latest price at
4. Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera
The Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera is a handy gadget that makes monitoring your house and pets a breeze. With a long list of features, this easy but powerful camera is a great accessory for pet owners.
You can watch the pet camera feed live at any time using the app – the camera records in HD, with a wide lens giving you a great view. I love the two-way audio feature that lets you remotely communicate with your cats, which is something I’d use all the time when I’m out of the house.
This offers the highest zoom of any cat camera on this list, allowing a whopping 10x magnification even in night vision mode – it also comes with a built-in climate monitor, so you can make sure the house is warm enough for your precious kitties at any time. We all know how grumpy cats can be if they are too cold!
This cat or dog camera also features a built-in siren, which can be triggered to ward off intruders or trespassing cats whenever they are detected. Another cool ability enables automatic activation of the video recording whenever it detects motion.
The google assistant and Alexa integration make it even more powerful and are powerful features not seen in many cat cameras. I didn’t use this feature much, but I know some people who find it really useful.
I will say, there are a lot more features that are blocked behind an additional paid subscription. But if you want to pay, then you can expect to get a range of smarter features and more uses out of this cam.
Overall this is another fantastic cat camera that offers a huge level of functionality and captures high-quality videos – it can also double up as a home security camera.
Pros
- Powerful app
- Huge zoom
- Smart assistant compatible
- Good night vision
- Wide angle lens
- Alexa built-in
Cons
- Some features require an additional subscription.
Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera
The price of “Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera” varies, so check the latest price at
5. Pawbo + WiFi Pet Cam
Another great option that makes the list is the Pawbo pet camera packed with so many features. This device can be used for cats and dogs, is WiFi-compatible, and works with both Android and iOS platforms.
Not only that, it allows you the pleasure of taking a snapshot of your pet and posting it directly to social media. How Gen Z of them!
This smart camera also doesn’t let your pet get too lonely with its two-way audio feature. Your cat can feel your presence even if you are miles away. And since the camera also dispenses treats, you can reward your kitty no matter where you are. A happy cat equals happy life!
And no, the list doesn’t end there. It is also an interactive device with a laser game so your cat can have fun and stay occupied while you’re not home. It includes ringtone notifications that you can also use for training your pet to respond.
The Pawbo WiFi camera lets you monitor your pet in real-time with a 130-degree wide-angle lens and a 720p HD resolution. It allows a 4x zoom to really focus on that cute furry face. The app also supports up to 8 users simultaneously, making the whole process more user-friendly.
I also like the fact that the camera doesn’t constantly keep recording and saves you that cloud storage. The videos that are recorded can be stored on your mobile device.
Pros
- Wifi compatible
- Two-way audio
- Interactive design with laser game and treat dispenser
- Wide angle lens and 4x zoom
Cons
- The resolution could be better.
Pawbo + WiFi Pet Cam
The price of “Pawbo + WiFi Pet Cam” varies, so check the latest price at
6. Catit Smart Mouse Camera
This cute, mouse-looking wi-fi-pet camera is another high-tech gadget that lets you watch your cats in real time and has a bunch of extra features.
It shoots in 1080P full HD resolution and works with a unique Catit PIXI app for real-time monitoring and recording. It features night vision which activates when the camera detects the light decreasing.
The night vision is one of the higher-quality modes of cat cameras on this list and will leave customers very happy.
The Catit smart camera features a microSD card slot where any video recordings are stored, letting you watch back the full video history. You can activate recording either manually from the app or camera, or automatically using the motion-detecting features.
The feet let you mount the camera anywhere you want, and make it easy to angle in any direction. This flexibility saves a lot of faffing around when you’re trying to mount the camera for the optimal angle.
A cool unique element of this HD camera is that it can connect to any other Catit PIXI smart device, so you can have a full interactive setup. The other compatible devices are the PIXI smart 6-meal feeder, a Smart Feeder tower, and the PIXI Smart Fountain. These can all be managed from the same app.
This cat camera has a built-in microphone and speakers giving you two-way communication with your pet directly from the app. This works smoothly and effectively and can be helpful if your pet misses the sound of your voice.
You can either watch the feed live, record it, or take pictures all from the app. It stores all your photos and videos on an SD card (not included) and has the ability to upload to cloud storage. Find out more detailed information on their website.
This affordable interactive pet camera has a bunch of useful features that are usually on seen in more expensive cameras. While it’s not as fully featured as the Petcube above, it does offer a similar level of quality and has all the core features you need.
Pros
- Interactive over wi-fi
- Two-way audio communication
- Great value for money
- Night vision
Cons
- Limited field of view
Catit Smart Mouse Camera
The price of “Catit Smart Mouse Camera” varies, so check the latest price at
Determining Factors Before Buying a Cat Camera
Here are some things you should think about before you purchase the best cat cameras on the market. The reviews have been written based on my extensive research!
Quality of Camera
One of the main concerns is image quality. Typically image quality is tied to the price of the pet camera, so if you pay more, usually the quality is better.
Cheaper cameras will offer worse camera quality, which is fine for some situations if you just want basic monitoring. However, if you want a more detailed view of your pet’s activities, it’s probably worth getting a cat camera that at least shoots at 1080P HD resolution.
Night Vision
This is another sweet upgrade that lets you see what your cat is up to at night or when it gets dark. I love night vision because it means you can monitor your cat at any time of the day.
Most cameras have some kind of night vision mode, so you won’t have to go out of your way to find one – that said, the level of quality in night vision modes does range quite a bit.
On cheaper cameras, night vision is of pretty poor quality and features a hazy image – I find that more expensive cameras offer better night vision quality.
Angle of Camera
The angle and field of view determine how wide the video captured is. Wider camera angles let you see more of what is happening in your home. Generally, if you live in a larger house or room or use the pet camera to look outdoors, you should go for a wide-angle camera.
Some let you use a variable angle, meaning you can zoom the camera to be wider or narrow based on what you want to see.
Treat-Dispenser
Some other cameras come with a built-in treat dispenser. Treats dispensers are typically controlled by a connected app. A treat tossing feature is a nice touch and can help train or comfort your pet when you are not home.
A treat dispenser feature usually bumps up the price a little, but it can be a lot of fun to play with. Of course – who doesn’t want to treat their fluffy friend?
Smartphone App Integration
Not all cameras feature smartphone app integration, but they can offer a lot of functionality and control. Premium cat cameras often feature an app with varying levels of control via smart devices.
As a minimum, they usually let you view the camera feed in real-time and capture videos and pictures. More advanced products offer deeper features – such as two-way audio communication or even moving the pet camera.
Again, this depends on your needs and budget as a cat owner. If you want to have more interactivity and control over the pet camera, then it’s worth looking at one with a smartphone app.
User-Friendliness
If you’re not a tech whizz, you might be better off looking at simpler cameras. Some cameras are easy to set up and use, but others can be a bit complicated and take a bit more technical know-how.
If you aren’t a huge tech-head, then go for something basic like the Mr. Petcam, but if you are comfortable with technology, then you can get more features from using a more advanced device like the SKYMEE owl robot.
I’m not much of an expert in technology, but I still found all of these cameras easy to use and get them working. I found a lot of instructional videos online too, which made things easier for me.
Cost
This ultimately depends on your budget size. You can find cat cameras at a wide range of prices, anywhere from $30 to $200 plus. If you can afford it, you will be able to get more advanced features and interactivity from a more expensive cat camera.
That said, many of the low-cost models still perform well and offer decent video quality.
Final Thoughts on the Best Cat Camera
Enjoy your new cat camera! Now you can catch your cat sneaking into the fridge and stealing your food in the middle of the night. Using a cat camera will be one of the greatest joys for all cat parents.
I really like the interactive cat cameras, too, as these let you play with your cat no matter where you are. You can also invest in a Cat GPS Tracker if the camera catches your friend running away often!
