14 Feb 6 Best Pet Monitors & Treat Dispensers

Do you get really nervous about leaving your pet behind when you go to work? Would you like to keep an eye on your pet at all times? If so, you need to buy a pet monitor.

A pet monitor is basically a camera that can keep track of your pet while you’re away. Most are equipped with features like motion detection and GPS tracking. The former sends you an alert on your phone when there’s some sudden movement while the latter helps you locate a pet that happens to run away.

Pet monitors come in a lot of different shapes and sizes. Some can be kept in plain sight, some can be hidden inside ordinary-looking objects, and some can even be fitted to the pet’s collar or body. All of them come with a unique sets of advantages and disadvantages.

There are many pet monitors on the market. You can get wireless units that double as health devices or feeders. And there are those that can be attached to their collars, so you get a POV shot of where they are and what they are doing.

Choosing a pet monitor can be difficult, especially since it concerns your pet’s safety.

To help you out, in this article, I am giving you a thorough overview of some of the best pet monitors out there. Here are some good reasons for getting one:

• If you often go away for work, you can install a monitor to keep an eye on your pet at all times and make sure it is okay.
• You can get a pet monitor with a 2-way visual to be able to see them and communicate commands.
• If you have a special needs pet that can’t go everywhere with you, just seeing it over the monitor will bring you comfort.
• Does your pet tend to run away? If so, the pet monitor’s GPS tracking will be able to find it.
• Finally, a pet monitor is simply a good way to see what your pet is up to when you’re not around.

Best Wireless Pet Monitors

These are monitors in which a camera is simply placed anywhere and easily moves around. Sometimes, they also come hidden in normal everyday objects like pet feeders. These cameras are usually internet-enabled and transmit data and visuals to an external monitoring device, usually a smartphone. In fact, you can access the visuals and enable the camera’s functions from your smartphone app.

1. PetChatz HD

PetChatz HD is the ideal pet monitor for those who want to interact with their pets even when they’re away from home. It has a camera records HD videos. It is WiFi-enabled and comes with a PetChatz app that allows you to stream live footage and upload recorded videos to the cloud. Furthermore, the noise and motion detection features will send you a push notification whenever some unexpected sound or movement is detected.

This pet monitor really stands out because of its wide range of interactive and entertainment features such as PawCall, Treat Dispenser, Aromatherapy, Brain Games, and DogTV.

PawCall allows you to check in on your pet through video. The camera is equipped with a little screen through which your pet can see you. You can then communicate via the intercom. You can also activate the Treat Dispenser to give your pet some treats regularly. If you trigger the Aromatherapy feature, the camera will give off a relaxing aroma to calm your pet in your absence. You can also schedule games and subscribe to DogTV to keep your pet entertained through engaging visuals and programs.

You should, however, note that the Treat Dispenser should only be used with specific PetChatz treats which you can purchase separately. Non-authorized treats could potentially damage the pet monitor and void your warranty. However, PetChatz provides high-quality, grain-free treats, including salmon and chicken. Additionally, the DogTV feature is only accessible if you subscribe to the program and pay for it specifically.

While this pet monitor has a wide range of features, it lacks the simple ability to take snapshots. You can record videos using the app, but not take pictures. You can, of course, take screenshots with your phone or pull images from the recorded video, but it’s confusing to me why they haven’t included the snapshot features in the app.

Nevertheless, the lack of a snapshot feature is really a small concern and easily bypassed. Considering the wide range of features available, you can’t find a better pet monitor to watch over and entertain your pet in your absence.

Pros

• Records videos in HD
• Easily configured with the PetChatz app so you can watch from several devices
• No additional cost for a PetChatz subscription
• Wide range of interactive and entertainment features available
• Your pet can see and hear you
• The motion and noise detection work well

Cons

• Need to pay extra for DogTV
• Doesn’t include a feature to take snapshots
• Extremely expensive

2. Nest Security Camera

Nest is widely considered to be one of the biggest and most reputable brands of home surveillance devices. They have recently carved out a niche for themselves in pet monitors. The Nest Security Camera is undoubtedly one of the best wireless pet monitors on the market for a number of reasons. In terms of video recording, this camera provides full HD 1080p visuals along with an 8x zoom capacity, and the recorded footage can be directly uploaded to the cloud.

This pet monitor can be configured with 1 camera, 3 cameras, or even an indoor and outdoor camera bundle. This gives you great versatility for monitoring your pets, as you can install the camera in all the rooms they frequent and even outdoors. It also happens to be voice activated so you can use it along with Alexa devices.

As a wireless pet monitor, the unit comes with a smartphone app. I found the app to be pretty user-intuitive, and it allowed me to easily access live footage from all the cameras, while also setting up a time-lapse of the recorded footage. You can use the Sightline feature to review the previous 3 hours of footage and speed through them using the Nest Aware time lapse.

One of the most important features with pet monitors is motion-detection, and this camera is pretty decent in that regard. In addition to simply getting a push notification when motion is detected, it also allows you to activate the 2-way intercom. If your pet is acting up, you can soothe it with your voice and if someone has broken in, you can speak to them.

Now that I’ve gone over the things I love, it’s time to discuss the drawbacks. My biggest issue with this camera is its reliance on Nest Aware. In order to record videos, you have to pay for a monthly or yearly Nest Aware subscription. Furthermore, one subscription only gives you access to one camera, so you’ll have to get multiple subscriptions to monitor multiple cameras. Plus, it cannot be integrated with Amazon cloud; the videos have to be uploaded to Nest Aware. This can get extremely expensive in the long run because you don’t just pay the one-time cost of the pet monitor, but also must keep paying for the Nest Aware subscription regularly.

There are, of course, means of bypassing this. You can set up a Screen Grab app in your phone that can record all the live footage and save it. However, this will drain your phone’s battery and it’s not a convenient solution. Several of Nest Security Camera’s customers have returned the product because of this reliance on a paid subscription. This is seen as a cash-grabby move by some people and it’s hard not to agree with them.

All things considered, this is a really powerful pet monitor with excellent video quality and user-intuitive app, and a great suite of features. However, it locks users into its native platform and forces subscriptions and upgrades by promising and withholding specific useful features. As such, accessing its complete suite of features can be insanely expensive.

Pros

• Records 1080p videos
• The app is extremely easy to use
• Works with Alexa
• Videos are directly uploaded to the Nest Aware cloud
• Time lapse can easily be set up
• Great motion detection sensitivity
• Multiple cameras can be installed

Cons

• It is necessary to get a Nest Aware subscription to record videos
• You need separate subscriptions for each camera
• Total cost of device and subscriptions for each camera can be extremely expensive
• Useful features are withheld from users to force upgrades

3. TENVIS HD IP Camera

TENVIS HD IP Camera is probably one of the cheapest pet monitors on the market while still being effective and powerful. At less than $50, it is a mere fraction of the cost of the aforementioned options.

This pet monitor can record 720p videos. However, the best aspect of the lens is that it is completely rotational with pan, tilt, and zoom features. It has 355° horizontal and 120° vertical rotational ability, which effectively gets rid of all blind spots on the periphery. You can also add as many cameras as necessary and connect all of them to the TENVIS app for no additional cost. If your pet wanders to several different rooms and locations, this pet monitor is pretty useful, as you can install additional cameras wherever you want.

This pet monitor also has a night vision range of up to 32 feet, so you can watch over your pet in complete darkness. This night vision is enabled via 11 infrared lenses around the camera, so it’s quite powerful and capable of providing clear visuals. As is customary with most pet monitors, this camera comes equipped with a microphone to communicate with your pet. If you see that it’s getting anxious, you can speak to it through the intercom and soothe it. The motion detection feature sends you a push alert notification within 3 seconds of being triggered and immediately records a 15-second video.

In terms of sending alerts, I thought this pet monitor was missing one feature. You can set it up to record videos throughout the day at specific intervals or record them when motion-detection is triggered. However, some people like to receive alerts and want the device to record videos at specific times. This pet monitor isn’t capable of such scheduling. This, however, is a very small issue for me.

The most popular means of recording videos through this pet monitor is via the smartphone app, which can then be uploaded to the cloud. However, you can also record videos directly in the camera’s microSD card as well. It can accommodate a maximum SD card of 128GB. Furthermore, you can record videos via the PC’s web browser once you find the camera’s IP address through the UID. This enables you to record and store videos directly in your PC.

You should note that this pet monitor isn’t completely reliant on WiFi. You can configure it via the Ethernet if you have a device connected to the same LAN network as the camera. In this case, however, videos will only get recorded when the motion detection is triggered, and they’ll get directly stored in the SD card.

 Pros

• Extremely cheap
• Strong night vision
• Can pan, tilt, and zoom to get rid of blind spots
• The smartphone app is highly intuitive
• Motion detection is effective
• Can communicate with the pet over the intercom
• Can also store videos in SD card or PC

Cons

• Doesn’t include pet entertainment features
• Scheduling could be better

Best Body-Worn Pet Monitors

These are wireless pet monitors that can be attached to a pet’s collar or harness. As such, you get a direct POV shot of what it is doing and where it is going at all times. These pet monitors always come with GPS trackers so you can locate your pet if it happens to run away. They also transmit visuals to an external monitoring device, usually the user’s smartphone app.

4. Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker

Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker is the best body-worn pet monitor on the market. However, unlike the previous pet monitors on this list, it doesn’t have a camera. This type of monitor isn’t used for visually keeping sight of your pet but for monitoring other useful details.

This pet monitor is attached to the pet’s collar, and you need to download the associated monitoring app in your smartphone. Once you do this, you’ll be able to see wherever the pet goes. It is equipped with a GPS tracker so you will know where your pet is at all times. Furthermore, using the app, you can set up safety zones for your pet. And if your pet ever leaves those zones, you’ll immediately be notified. This feature can be useful if your pet tends to run away.

In addition to GPS tracking, this pet monitor also has a number of other useful features. It works as a communication hub for the pet’s caretakers such as dog walkers, friends, etc. You can download a number of pet activity monitoring apps on your smartphone to get live updates of your pet’s activities. You can find out how much distance your pet is covering, get details about the intensity of the activity, etc. Furthermore, you can also enter your pet’s age, weight, and breed to get a complete recommendation on health statistics. As such, you can find out the ideal weight range and activity level for your pet and rest assured that it is meeting these levels.

In terms of receiving notifications, one feature I really appreciate is that it’s not reliant on the smartphone app. Sure, the app makes things a lot easier. But if you don’t have WiFi at the moment, you can just enter a phone number or an email address at which you want to receive notifications. If you don’t have the app, you can receive email or SMS updates whenever your pet leaves the safe zone.

The battery on this pet monitor can last for 7 complete days, and it only takes 2 hours to charge completely. So the battery is really not an issue, and you can make your pet wear it all the time. I personally prefer to keep my pet on the monitor 24/7, so I can always access all of its movement and activity history for future reference.

I only have one issue with this pet monitor. In order for the GPS tracking feature to work — which is its most important feature — you have to purchase a monthly subscription. so, in addition to the cost of the device, you also have to make a monthly payment. Over time, it can really add up. I don’t personally mind making that payment since it means I can keep 24/7 track of my pet, but I know many people who aren’t prepared to pay for a monthly subscription.

Pros

• You can receive live GPS updates
• Track your pet’s activity levels and health
• You can receive notifications in your app, SMS, or by email
• Excellent battery life

Cons

• You must purchase a monthly subscription
• Can’t see video footage

5. FitBark Dog Activity Monitor

 

FitBark Dog Activity Monitor comes in the form of a stylish collar that you can put on your pet, available in pink and gray. This monitor is similar to the aforementioned Whistle 3 in that it doesn’t have a camera, so it cannot record videos. It has a lithium polymer battery that can last for 14 days at a stretch.

This pet monitor comes with an activity tracker along with a recommendation for health goals, making it easier to keep your pet healthy and fit. It also lets you track your pet’s sleep cycle. All of these details and tracking features come at no additional cost because you don’t need to subscribe to anything, just on a one-time fee for complete access.

While this pet monitor is cheaper than the Whistle 3, it is not as advanced. The biggest drawback here is that the unit doesn’t have GPS tracking. Thus, you cannot see where your pet is or if it has run away. Consequently, you can’t set up safe zones.

This pet monitor does, however, have an excellent feature that other similar monitors don’t. The FitBark app allows you to connect to a community of other FitBark users. As such, if your pet runs away or gets lost, you can upload all of the details to the FitBark community. If your pet is identified by another FitBark user, they can receive the pet, keep it safe, and contact you over the app.

Pros

• Get complete health recommendations along with activity tracking
• Connect to a community of FitBark users that can help find a missing pet
• Long battery life
• Easy to use
• No subscriptions necessary

Cons

• Not waterproof
• Cannot track GPS location
• Cannot record videos or communicate with the pet.

6. Tagg GPS Pet Tracker

The Tagg GPS Pet Tracker is very similar to the previously mentioned Whistle 3. It serves as a collar that you can make your pet wear so you can track its GPS location throughout the day. There’s no camera so you can’t see your pet or what it’s doing.

The GPS pet tracking technology gives you real-time updates about your pet’s location over your smartphone app. You can check out your pet’s location on the map and you get notified whenever it leaves the designated safe zone. The pet tracking app is completely free and gives you driving directions to its location. Unlike the Whistle 3, you don’t have to pay a monthly subscription fee.

In addition to GPS tracking, this pet monitor also gives you access to Activity Monitoring. You can enter your pet’s details to get health recommendations. You can then monitor the amount of activity it is getting to decide how to optimize the activity levels so it stays fit and healthy. You get access to an extremely sophisticated graph on which you can view past statistics, compare goals, spot long-term changes, etc.

While this pet monitor has a lot of great features, it is also riddled with issues. The biggest drawback is that it will only work if you have a Verizon subscription. Furthermore, there’s a 3-5 minute lag in the GPS tracker. As such, if your pet runs away from the safe zone, you’ll only find out about it after a few minutes, which can delay your ability to take prompt action. I also found that this device has a much weaker battery life than other pet monitors on this list. Plus, the device doesn’t fasten well, and it’s possible that it may fall off once your pet is on the run, preventing you from tracking it successfully.

Pros

• Sophisticated pet monitoring app
• Wide range of activity tracking statistics available
• You don’t need a subscription to access GPS tracking
• Can set up Safe Zones and receive alerts

Cons

• You need a Verizon subscription
• There’s a lag in the GPS tracker
• The device doesn’t fasten well to the collar
• The battery life is weak

What is a Hardwired Pet Monitor?

Hardwired cameras include several wires and are fixed in position. They are connected to a power source and have a set of wires leading from the camera to the recording unit. They are cheap but they’ve pretty much gone out of fashion because it’s difficult to change their positions regularly. And if you’re getting a pet monitor, you’ll find that you’ll need to change the monitor’s location often. That is why we have not included them in this review.

Factors to Consider when Buying a Pet Monitor

POV

You need to figure out where you want to install the pet monitor and why. Do you want to be able to see pets from a third-person point of view? If so, you need to get an external wireless pet monitor. However, maybe you want to track their every movement wherever they go? If so, you need to a body-worn pet monitor.

Self-Recording or Streaming

Self-Recording pet monitors start recording visuals automatically and then store them in the camera’s internal SD card. You can later retrieve the SD card and view the events that transpired while you were away. The recording on these devices is usually triggered by motion-detection. The camera only starts recording if your pet makes some sudden movement, breaks something, or if someone else comes into the frame.

Streaming pet monitors are those that send live visuals of the camera’s feed to your smartphone app. You can monitor your pet’s every movement in real time. These are also often equipped with motion-detection so you receive an alert when there’s a sudden movement. It is a lot more useful as a pet monitor because it enables you to take immediate action, should something go wrong.

Power Supply

Some pet monitors are AC-powered and some are battery-powered. AC-powered pet monitors cannot be attached to a pet’s collar or harness, so they’re only available as external wireless monitors. If you’re going away for a long time, they will be useful as there’s no risk of the battery running out.

Battery-powered pet monitors can be installed externally as a wireless or body-worn monitor. They can only function and record videos for a limited time, but they’re a lot more flexible. Remember, it is extremely unlikely that you’ll leave your pets behind without human supervision for long, so these are ideal.

Video Quality

Pet monitors aren’t as clear as other modern cameras. Furthermore, video quality isn’t as important as some of the aforementioned features. You should aim for an HD camera of at least 720p resolution so you can see your pet clearly. In addition to the resolution, also make sure that the colors are bright and clear, so you can capture all the small details.

This feature won’t be necessary if the camera is simply installed in your home in a fixed location. However, if it is a body-worn pet monitor and the pet runs away, you’ll need clear visuals to see exactly where it is going and be able to read the street signs to track it.

Viewing Angle

The pet monitor’s viewing angle determines the camera’s field of vision. You should always aim for a wide viewing angle ranging from 120-degree to 170-degree. This will enable you to see what’s happening all around the pet. Furthermore, if the camera is installed in a fixed place, it will minimize blind spots, allowing you to keep an eye on the pet wherever it may be.

Night Vision

Night Vision is a pretty useful feature if you often go out at night. It will help you keep an eye on your pet even when it’s dark outside. You can determine the strength of the camera’s night vision by how many infrared lenses it has. The higher the better.

Another specification to look out for is the LUX rating. This determines the camera’s ability to see in low-light situations like in evenings. The lower the LUX rating, the better.

Remote Accessibility

Modern pet monitors give you access to remote accessibility. This is an extremely useful feature and it’s worth spending extra for it.

Basically, pet monitors with remote accessibility come with an associated smartphone app. As such, you can connect the app to the camera and make sure both devices have access to the WiFi or 4G network.

The camera will send you live visuals and streaming to the smartphone app. You, in turn, will be able to use a number of remote features to control the camera from afar. Some of these features include:

Motion Detection

You can remotely trigger the motion detection feature in your smartphone app and set up the sensitivity according to your needs. Whenever there is sudden movement, the pet monitor will take snapshots, start recording a video and send you a push notification. This will allow you to take immediate action and review the source of the movement.

Noise Detection

Similar to motion detection, this feature sends you a push notification if there’s a sudden noise. This feature won’t work if your pet barks or makes a lot of noise constantly, as it will keep getting triggered. However, if you have a generally quiet pet, this feature will send you a notification if a sudden and unexpected noise is made.

Zoom, Pan, and Tilt

This feature pertains to the ability to control the camera lens. Some of the more advanced pet monitors allow you to adjust the lens, moving it around the room and zooming in on certain things. If you have a room with a lot of blind spots, this feature will be useful.

Interactivity

A lot of pet monitors come with a wide array of features that allow you to interact with your pet in a number of different ways. These features help you make sure your pet behaves or even soothes it remotely.

2-Way Audio and Video

Some cameras come with little screens along with a microphone. If you find that your pet is acting out, you can activate the screen so your pet can see and listen to you. Hearing your voice and commands might alleviate its anxiety and make it calm down.

Treating and Feeding

A lot of modern pet monitors come with the ability to remotely feed or treat your pet. This is a pretty useful feature because it allows you to stick to your pet’s eating schedule and provide food at the correct time without relying on anyone else.

This feature usually works in relation to a wireless camera installed in the pet feeder. As such, when the time comes, you can remotely trigger the pet feeder to dispense small treats. However, when using the feature, be sure that you know what kind of treats you can use because some might get stuck in the dispenser.

Laser Pointers

Do you want to remotely play with your pet from afar? Does your pet get agitated in your absence and require occasional distraction. If so, you can get a pet monitor equipped with laser pointers. Whenever the pet is in need of distraction, you can start pointing the laser around the room to chase.

Health Tracking

This feature only applies to body-worn pet monitors. A lot of these pet monitors help track a pet’s health and activity level. They come with associated veterinary resource and health apps that allow you to gauge the pet’s overall health status. This feature is helpful even when you’re in the pet’s physical presence as it allows you to make sure it remains healthy.

Storage

Most pet monitors come with internal storage that usually accommodates SD cards ranging from 32GB to 128GB. As such, if you choose to have videos recorded, they will get stored in the memory card so you can review or retrieve them later. If you want to record a lot of videos over an extended period of time, get a pet monitor with decent storage space.

Where to Install a Pet Monitor?

For Body-worn Pet Monitors

If you’re getting a body-worn pet monitor, you can install it in one of two locations — a collar or harness. If you install the pet monitor on a collar, it will be more discreet and no one will know that the pet has it, making it safer. But if you install the pet monitor on a harness, the camera will be easily visible on the pet’s back, but it will also capture where the pet is going and what it’s doing better.

For Wireless Pet Monitors

You might have to change the location of the pet monitor a couple of times, depending on where your pet spends most of its time. If it has access to multiple rooms, place the monitor in the room where it spends most of its time.

When installing a pet monitor, be sure that it’s high up on the wall and angle it downwards. This will grant you complete visual access while keeping it out of the pet’s reach.

Conclusion

I hope this article has helped you decide which is the best pet monitor for your needs. So go ahead and ensure the safety of your pet and see what it’s up to!