Resolution

A higher resolution gives you more information about what your pet is up to. A 1080p resolution is usually sufficient for indoor cams, although we do like picks like Eufy’s, which bumps that up to 2K — the better for spotting furry details.

Field of view

A wide field of view or a panning cam is a big plus. Panning pairs well with object detection and tracking to follow your pet automatically.

Wireless or wired

Pet cams don’t need to be wireless, and their indoor locations usually make finding a nearby outlet easy. However, wireless cams are a bit safer around pets without electrical cords to worry about, and make placement more flexible.

Object detection

It’s important to find a cam that can detect animals and screen out other distractions. Not every cam provides the abundant AI alerts that Furbo does, but it should at least let you know when a pet appears or log pet interactions automatically.

Audio

Two-way audio allows owners to console pets — or tell them to stop eating shoes. Pets don’t always recognize what’s happening, but it’s an important feature for most pet owners.

Treat options

As long as the vet doesn’t have a problem and your pet doesn’t have weight issues, tossing treats can be an important pet cam feature. We suggest staying open-minded about how well treat tossing will work with your pet as it can stir up a lot of emotions, including the ones that lead to damaged cams (or pets trained to make a fuss). But this feature is readily available if you want it.

Video saving and sharing

If you’re primarily interested in live views of your pet throughout the day, you don’t need video storage. But if you want to capture and share cute videos, look for cameras and subscriptions that have these options.