Cats are probably the best pets that ever came by. If you are a cat lover and looking to monitor your cat’s activity when far from home, you should consider investing in a cat camera collar. Pet home cameras add fun and immense bonding into your relationship, allowing you to engage freely with the cat. The cameras offer a unique perspective making it easy to develop a closer relationship with your cat.
That aside, YouTubers will definitely consider this a worthwhile investment. You get to share intriguing videos recorded easily by the collar camera. With such importance, it is prudent to invest in a good cat collar with a camera. The various options available on the market may make it challenging to select the best.
However, worry not as our guide provides an in-depth insight into the best cat collar camera available and a guide on how to select the best.
Top 10 Cat Collar Cameras
1. Petcube Play Smart Camera
Whereas a number of cat cameras are obtrusive and can raise questions from the guest, the Petcube Play Smart Camera is a small and compact camera that can barely be seen. The camera is available in rose gold, matte silver, and carbon black colors, increasing variety.
Like other Petcube cameras, videos from this model are transmitted in 1080p with a viewing area of 138 degrees. You can leverage Petcube’s zoom feature to get a closer look at your cat. The camera’s night vision also makes it simple to view your cat’s activities at night if you happen to be out of the home.
Video recordings by the Petcube Play Smart Camera are triggered by motion or sound. Upon purchase, you will get up to 4 hours of activity. However, if you’d like to check out multi-day recording history, you can subscribe for Petcube care.
Probably among the top Petcube’s features is the limited 2-way voice communication and a laser pointer that can be controlled from a smartphone. With this feature, you can play with your cat regardless of where you are, provided there is a strong internet connection. Besides, if you can’t make to play sessions on time, you can schedule an autoplay feature.
- Night vision capability.
- Active laser pointer.
- Scheduled autoplay.
- Compatible with Alexa.
- Lacks treat dispensing feature.
- Quite pricey.
2. Pawbo Cat Camera
Whereas most cameras focus on either providing a laser pointer or treat detection, the Pawbo Cat Camera provides both. The camera doesn’t shoot treats across the room but rotates and drops the treats down. Without the projectile feature, treats could land anywhere, including on the coffee table or bookshelf. This means that you should think about frequent replacements.
The camera also has a wall-mounting option. This is a good choice if your cat is much playful and has a tendency of knocking over objects. The Pawbo Cat Camera is also versatile and is easily compatible with various accessories. For instance, if you have several toys, you can create a “Pawbo Theme Park.”
That aside, the video quality is probably the biggest shortcoming of this camera. Whereas other cameras provide 1080p full HD, this camera records and streams at just 720p. Though still a high definition, it is not the best available on the market. The other shortcoming is that it doesn’t record at night as it lacks night vision.
- Dispenses treats.
- 2-way microphone.
- Wide-angle lens.
- Laser pointer feature.
- Lacks night vision.
- Low 720p resolution.
3. The Petcube First Generation Camera
The Petcube First Generation Camera should be among your top considerations due to various reasons. The brand, to begin with, is among the most respected and well-reputed having produced other high-end and overly functional products. This unit comes with a non-slip base, and the unique design prevents it from slipping from surfaces easily. It can be placed on all flat surfaces without worry.
The other intriguing feature of this camera is how easy it is to customize access to family and friends. It also comes with a WIFI HD pet cam that allows owners to check their cats from the comfort of their phones. You will also like the camera’s 720p HD that captures crystal-clear videos.
Another great feature of the Petcube First Generation Camera is the wide angle lens that enables pet owners to watch live videos. You can as well instantly share photos and videos with friends if you want to engage your cat while on your way home or miles away, you simply need to activate the built-in laser toy for a little play. As if not enough, it features two-way audio where you can see and hear your cat.
- Chew proof cord.
- Easy to install.
- Wide-angle lens.
- Premium feel.
- Doesn’t have night vision.
4. Petcube Bites Cat Collar Camera
The Petcube Bites Cat Collar Camera is another best camera choice and treat dispenser. The initially mentioned Petcube Play combines the camera with a laser pointer for remote play. This model focuses on treats and rewards. It is a slightly larger unit with a full-sized treat hopper that requires minimal refilling.
The unit’s design is sleek, rectangular, and available in three colors. The colors include carbon black, matte silver, and rose gold, offering a wide variety of options to choose from. It can be placed on a shelf, tabletop, or mounted to the wall. Like other Petcube models of this price range, it provides video recording and streaming resolutions of 1080p with a wide-angle view.
It also comes with a three times zoom that enables pet owners to have a closer look at their pet at home. When its night time and darkness sets in, you won’t be in the dark, thanks to the high-quality night vision that makes it easy to see your cat.
The Petcube Bites Cat Collar Camera will send alerts to your phone anytime a motion or sound is detected, prompting you to watch the feed. You can save the triggered videos on your timeline with an option to view the last 4 hours of your cat’s activity. You can as well sign up to Petcube’s care to access more than 30 days of video history stored on Petcube Cloud.
- High resolution.
- Night vision available.
- Motion and sounds alert your phone.
- One Petcube account connects 6 cameras.
- Lacks laser pointer.
5. Uncle Milton Pet’s Eye View Camera
If you are looking for a cat spy camera on a budget, the Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera could be all you are searching for. Despite being affordable, the camera doesn’t compromise on its features. To begin, the lightweight and compact nature are designed that your pet can wear all day with comfort. It also comes with a built-in memory that stores up to 40 pictures.
Like other high-end cameras, the Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera captures high-resolution pictures at intervals. The auto-interval settings programs the camera to take photos at intervals of 1 minute, 5minutes, and 15 minutes. The 640 x 480 resolution makes it possible to print images of above-average quality.
Another likable feature of this camera is the included USB port that makes it easy to upload media files directly from the camera to the PC. Through this, you can simply share the files with friends and family members.
- Easy to use.
- Affordable.
- USB port makes it easy to share pictures.
- Auto-interval settings.
- Not good in low light.
- Quite bulky.
6. Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera
Though not specifically made for pets, the Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera is a good system to keep your lovely cat in check. Besides enhancing bonding times, it provides an assurance that your pet is safe back at home. Starting off its intriguing features is the 1080p high resolution that comes with 147 degrees wide-angle lens.
The camera also has a night vision ability to enable homeowners to watch their cats during the day and at night. Once connected to your smartphone, the Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera sends activity notifications and alerts of human activities. This makes it easy to note when the cat is up to some mischief or possible human intruders.
In the case of trans passing, the Canary Wi-Fi Pet Camera has a one-touch emergency responder with a 90dB siren that raises the alarm by clicking the touch. That aside, the camera also monitors house temperature, air quality, and humidity. This helps in ensuring that your cat is enjoying favorable home conditions.
- Compatible with Alexa.
- Sends alert notifications.
- High resolution.
- 90dB siren and quality air control.
- Doesn’t dispense treats.
7. Hosecurity Digital Pet Collar
The Hosecurity Digital Pet Collar is another affordable option pet cam. The device is very lightweight, thus suitable for cats and other small pets you have at home. The device can record both audio and video with an 8GB storage, thus you will never run out of storage space.
The camera also boasts an above-average video resolution of 640 x 480that ensures that all the precious moments are captured in good quality. The camera’s resolution of 1280 x 1024 also provides an assurance of clear and crisp images. That aside, the device sources its power from a high capacity lithium-ion battery that lasts long.
- Easy to operate.
- Large external storage space.
- High camera resolution.
- Inexpensive.
- Lacks internal memory.
- Lacks night vision ability.
8. GoPro Hero HD Waterproof Camera
The GoPro Hero HD Waterproof Camera is a popular household name with extensive use for various beneficial reasons. Those on a budget will find this camera collar satisfactory, probably due to its waterproof feature and HD recording.
Unlike other models, you might need to purchase separately a mount or harness to use, but the extra investment is totally worthy. Unlike other standard models, the GoPro Hero HD Waterproof Camera comes with 4K resolution and a 12MP lens that provides crystal clear images and videos.
- Ultra HD resolution.
- Built-in GPS.
- Images auto-upload to cloud.
- Waterproof design.
- Pricey.
9. DOGTEK Eyenimal Cat Videocam
The DOGTEK Eyenimal Cat Videocam features everything you can expect from a premium collar camera. Unlike other models, the device attaches automatically to the cat’s collar without requiring an additional mount. It is also very affordable, thus a good bargain for those searching for a feature-packed camera on a budget.
The device comes with auto-focus and night vision abilities that enable homeowners to watch their cats all day and night. It also comes with a powerful rechargeable lithium ion battery that provides more than 2.5 hours of continuous surveillance.
- Easily fits all collars.
- Long battery life.
- High resolution.
- Auto focus and night vision abilities.
- Doesn’t record in full HD.
- Not waterproof.
10. National Geographic Pet’s Eye Camera
The National Geographic Pet’s Eye Camera is another exceptional cat camera that aims at capturing high-quality still photos than videos. It can work for video recording but is overly functional for cat-eye photographs. The camera can easily be clipped to any collar and takes more than 40 pictures.
It has an auto-interval setting where owners can set the timer to take photos after several seconds to form a slideshow of the cat’s escapades. Though the camera doesn’t record video or provide GPS tracking, it is good quality and the least expensive camera on this list.
- Lightweight.
- Auto-interval setting.
- Clips to all collars.
- Doesn’t record video.
What to Consider When Buying Cat Collar Camera
As mentioned before, there are several cat collars with camera models available on the market. This makes it challenging to select one, even with the top models outlined above. To ease your search, learn a few things to look into from the outline below.
- Camera Resolution : A good cat camera should have a high resolution with HD video. Through this, you can extract images and view videos in detail. That said, any camera with resolutions above 720p is recommended. However, for YouTubers who need high quality excepts, a camera with 1080p is a good buy. Note that a low-resolution camera may result in blurred shots.
- Battery Life : Though often overlooked, it is important to consider how long the unit’s battery can last. Otherwise, you will have a camera that hardly captures a few hours of video before it turns off. Based on the length of footage you want to be captured, find a battery that supports your length demands.
- GPS Tracking : Though not a mandatory, it is important to check if you can find a cat collar camera with GPS. GPS tracking makes it easy to know the whereabouts of your cat. Besides, it helps homeowners comprehend the footage the dog captures all day. This is an important consideration if you are watching out for your cat’s outdoor escapades. It also comes in handy when finding your cat in case it gets lost.
- Night Vision : As you might have noticed from our list, not all cameras have night vision capabilities. Therefore, it is important to check out that you purchase one that has this feature. However, if you need a camera to track your cat’s whereabouts only during the day, night vision abilities is not a must.
- App Functionality : Some cameras have smartphone applications that make it simple to access your cat’s camera from mobile phones wherever you are. This makes it flexible to track your cat’s footage at any time. Besides, you should ensure that the app is compatible with your phone.
- Two-Way Audio Functionality : A good number of cameras have one-way audio communication that allows you to see the pet only. However, there are situations where you want to talk to your cat. This is where two-way communication becomes handy. Through this, you can play games with the cat regardless of your distance.
The Bottom Line
Regardless of the cat collar with a camera you settle for, it is important to ensure that you find one with all the necessary features to meet your needs. The cameras do an incredible job of making it easy to monitor your cat away from home. Cameras with advanced features such as two-way communication, laser, and treat dispenser also foster bonding with your cat.