Product test

Pet Cam & Play: Trust is good, control is better

19.2.2019

Translation: machine translated

Do you ever wonder what your pet is up to all day? With the "Pet Cam & Play" pet camera, you can watch your pet from the office at any time via the app.

Admittedly, raising a dog is no walk in the park. Especially not when you have a little ball of wool to call your own. One that looks at you questioningly with its big beady eyes when it doesn't obey. I have to get through this now and stay tough so that my puppy doesn't turn into a poison dwarf later on.

My Pomeranian Finn has it thick as a fist, even though he looks like an innocent lamb. Because I find it hard to believe that he is well-behaved when I leave him alone at home, I get to the bottom of it: with the help of the "Pet Cam & Play" pet camera from Swisspet. This means I can watch him from anywhere and communicate with him at any time using the microphone. [[product:9396096]]
The promise:

Video surveillance
Infrared night vision
Remote control
Security laser pointer
Two-way communication
Information exchange
340° degree panoramic view
Ø 9.2 / H: 19.5cm
Data centre for Petkit compatible devices*

*I cannot test this point as I do not have any other Petkit products

My dog Finn still ignores the pet camera... A short time later, the growling starts.

The design

The look is not bad: unobtrusive and minimalist. An inconspicuous candidate that matches my interior design. There is also a model with a wooden look. Finn gives the camera the cold shoulder. Then he sniffs it and starts to growl. Does he know what I'm going to do with it? He is clever... [[image:19677414]] The Pet Cam & Play is barely noticeable on my windowsill, next to all the vases and candles.

The installation

First, I download the "Petkit" app. I then have to log in with my email address and click through the registration procedure. I'm amazed at all the things it wants to know. For example, I'm asked if my dog is neutered. How is that relevant for filming? I politely answer all the questions. The whole thing takes about two minutes. When I've finished, I realise why: the app also serves as a kind of social media platform for pets that can follow each other. I immediately receive the first profile suggestions, which I thankfully decline. For me, the cam should only fulfil one purpose and that is to keep an eye on Finn.

Now I carefully take the cam out of the box, connect the power cable to the mains connection and put it in a suitable place. As my dog is mainly in the living room, I choose a windowsill that offers a good view of the action. I connect the device to the power supply and I'm ready to go. The cam starts to rotate and whir quietly. I connect my mobile to it via Bluetooth. Now the observation can begin. [[image:19677467,19677468]] In the app, you create a profile and scroll through the catalogue of questions.

Talk mode

I can talk to Finn at any time using the microphone. His reaction? Loud barking because he recognises my voice but can't see me anywhere. As a result, he runs to the front door instead of the pet camera because he's expecting me there. His disappointment is all the greater when he realises that I'm not there. And his whining gets louder and louder. Even soothing words don't help.

Play mode

With the help of a laser pointer, I can supposedly play with Finn at any time. The problem is that he doesn't react to it because he doesn't understand that anything is happening. The cone of light is too small and moves too quickly. I have to point my finger at it for him to notice it. He curiously follows the red dot. The euphoria doesn't last five seconds because he keeps losing sight of the cone of light. Too bad, that would have been a great way to distract the little one while travelling. I can imagine this play mode working with a nimble cat. [[image:19686689]] The laser pointer (bottom left) is moving too fast. That's why I have to point my index finger at the red dot for my dog to see it. This only works when I'm at home.

Panoramic view

A friend has owned a competitor product from the Furbo brand for some time. She complains that her camera cannot be controlled or rotated. That's not the case here. I can not only turn it left and right via the app, but also swivel it up and down. I'm pleasantly surprised, although everything is slightly delayed. So I have my dog in sight as long as he's in the living room. [[image:19688832,19688837]] Using the navigation arrows, the pet camera can be rotated and panned via the app.

Infrared night vision

I'm particularly excited about this feature as I find it a plus when I can see my little one in the dark. I look excitedly at the screen of my mobile at night and lo and behold, I can actually see something. In my opinion, this function is not a must, but it's nice to have if I'm going out for dinner and don't want to leave the light on all the time. Top! [[image:19774979,19774978]]

Conclusion

First of all, the pet camera fulfils its purpose, or at least the requirement I have for it. I want to see what my dog is doing while I'm away and whether he's doing well. I think it's great that I can swivel the camera and have a clear view of my little one at night. The other functions are superfluous in my opinion. The speech function is okay, but I think it will irritate your dog rather than calm him down. The play mode doesn't work (at least for my dog). If the pet camera wasn't so expensive, I would buy it, but too many promises are not kept for this price. That's why I'm returning it and looking for an alternative.

If you want to hype or bash other products with me, then follow me by clicking on the button at my author profile.

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Vanessa Kim

Editor

vanessa.kim@digitecgalaxus.ch

When I’m not exploring the depths of the sea as an open water diver, I enjoy plunging into the world of fashion. On the streets of Paris, Milan and New York is where I keep my eyes peeled for the latest trends. And I’ll show you how to take them from the catwalk to your everyday life.

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Pet Cam & Play: Trust is good, control is better

The design

The installation

Talk mode

Play mode

Panoramic view

Infrared night vision

Conclusion

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