Pet cameras can help monitor your furry friends, ease separation anxiety, and even toss treats. Here’s a detailed breakdown of popular pet cameras and their pros and cons, based on user experience with both dogs and cats.

Best Overall: Furbo Dog Camera

Price: Starting at $118
- Features:
- Tosses treats, live view, two-way audio, and barking alerts.
- Subscription option ("Dog Nanny") adds activity alerts, daily video summaries, and advanced notifications for $9.99/month.
- Strengths:
- Treat-tossing works well for both dogs and cats.
- Barking alerts and a wide range of extra features through subscription.
- Weaknesses:
- Treat-tossing might emotionally impact pets expecting more treats.

A Close Second: Arlo Essential Indoor Camera

Price: $100
- Features:
- High-quality audio and video, wide viewing angle, and motion detection.
- Subscription unlocks cloud storage and advanced alerts.
- Strengths:
- Great sound quality; captures even subtle noises like a cat hopping off furniture.
- Easier to customize notifications.
- Weaknesses:
- Slightly trickier to set up.

Budget-Friendly Option: Wyze Cam V3

Price: ~$36
- Features:
- Compact size, clear picture, and wide viewing angle.
- Subscription option for advanced features like event recordings.
- Strengths:
- Most affordable option.
- Small and inconspicuous design.
- Weaknesses:
- Small size makes it prone to being knocked over by active pets.

Not Recommended: Petcube Bites 2

Price: $250
- Features:
- Treat-tossing, two-way audio, and video streaming.
- Weaknesses:
- High price for underwhelming performance.

General Setup Tips

Camera Placement:
- Position cameras where pets spend most of their time.
- Secure devices out of reach if your pet likes to knock things over.

Personality Considerations:
- If your pet is scared of loud noises, choose a quieter device or skip treat-tossing models.
- Ensure any device you purchase has a good return policy.

Tech Setup:
- Download required apps and explore free features like live streaming and audio.
- For cloud storage or advanced features, consider subscription costs (typically ~$10/month).

Summing it up

• For Cats: The Furbo can work for cats but may cause emotional stress if they expect more treats than dispensed.
• For Dogs: Arlo and Wyze work well, especially for monitoring behavior and potential dangers.
• DIY Alternative: Use a laptop or tablet to set up a video meeting for remote monitoring.

Pet Anxiety Insights

According to experts:
- Dogs: Cameras can help identify separation anxiety behaviors like howling or pacing and aid in addressing boredom triggers.
- Cats: Cameras help spot subtle signs of stress, like excessive pacing or meowing.

Use two-way communication for positive reinforcement, not punishment, to avoid making your pet anxious about the device.

For both dogs and cats, choosing the right pet camera depends on your pet's personality, needs, and your budget.

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