Published Jan 8, 2025
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
What do your pets get up to when you’re not around? Cat collar cameras provide a fun way to observe your cat as they wander around the house while you’re at work or out running errands. My cats and I just tested three different cat camera collars to see if they’re worthwhile for curious pet parents.
At a Glance: Best Cat Collar Cameras To Buy
Kestanlora Cat Collar Camera
- User-friendly camera screen
- HD 1080P video quality
- Works for 2–3 hours after full charge
KinetCam Cat Camera Collar
- Single button for easy use
- Automatic night mode setting
- Blue light shows when camera is recording
Mr. Petcam Cat Collar Camera
- Micro SD card included
- Infrared LEDs for night vision recording
- Mounts to your collar of choice
Why Purchase a Cat Collar Camera?
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
These cat cameras are mostly just for adorable fun. You can see what your cat did throughout the day from their point of view. I loved seeing my cats’ little chins and whiskers in the frame!
But wearable cameras aren’t known for being super user-friendly. They’re also not for security or safey purposes—they’re more like mini sport cameras. You won’t find a mobile app to monitor your cat in real time. You connect the device to your computer to review the footage afterwards.
As for the collar aspect, most of my cats wore the cameras fine. Just one seemed to find it uncomfortable and might have broken it had I left it on him. He was, of course, excused from his review duties.
A Note on Breakaway Collars
If you purchase one of these cat cameras, I highly recommend buying your own breakaway collar to attach them to. Breakaway cat collars are vital for cat safety. Other collars may snag on objects, leaving a cat trapped or even choking them.
While I used the collars that came with the cameras for testing and photo purposes, they were worn for a short time while my cats were closely supervised. They were not allowed outdoors, under furniture, or in other potentially dangerous locations.
Why Trust Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The market for cat collar cameras is currently pretty small. When looking for products to test, I chose cameras with a good number of reviews and without safety concerns. For instance, I avoided one camera that seemed to overheat during use. I tested the cameras myself by putting them on my own cats. I also let each camera run until the battery died to ensure that they’d continue recording for longer periods.
Are Cat Camera Collars Worth It? Top 3 Tested
Each of the products I tested work well and come with their own benefits. Below, you’ll find the pros and cons of each camera individually. While the Kestanlora is my top pick, the others may work better for you due to their better pricing or night vision.
#1 Overall Best: Kestanlora Cat Collar Camera
The standout feature of the Kestanlora camera is its HD color screen. It makes setup and troubleshooting more straightforward and results in this camera being the most user-friendly.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The image quality is comparable to the two runner-up products. It is HD 1080P but will be grainy in low-light conditions. My cats found the rubbery collars that were included uncomfortable, and they also aren’t breakaway, making them unsafe for unsupervised or long-term use.
What We Liked:
- User-friendly camera screen
- HD 1080P video quality
- Works for 2–3 hours after full charge
What We Didn’t Like:
- Micro SD card not included
- Collar is uncomfortable and not breakaway
#2 Best Budget: KinetCam Cat Camera Collar
The KinetCam wins out as the best budget option. It is fairly user-friendly with just one button to turn on, record, and power off. A flashing blue light indicates when it is recording. The collar is more comfortable than the Kestanlora one but still isn’t a breakaway collar.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
The camera fits snugly inside a clear box on the collar. It felt secure and was even a bit difficult to get the camera back out. The footage itself was good quality but mostly black and white because the camera automatically shifts to night mode in low light conditions. This camera holds a charge for up to 1.5 hours.
What We Liked:
- Single button for easy use
- Automatic night mode setting
- Blue light shows when camera is recording
What We Didn’t Like:
- Camera gets warm while recording
- Micro SD card not included
- No breakaway collar
#3 Best Night Vision: Mr. Petcam Cat Collar Camera
The Mr. Petcam camera is the most expensive on our list, but it comes with a 16GB micro SD card. It’s a good quality camera with decent footage, night vision mode, and two ways to attach to your cat’s collar or harness. I used the bracket attachment to place it on my preferred breakaway collar. You can also use the waterproof box to record walks outdoors.
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
Katelynn Sobus / Cats.com
I had a difficult time getting this camera to start recording. The instructions don’t seem to reflect the experience I had with setup and I had to troubleshoot more than I would have liked. This camera lasts one hour on a full charge.
What We Liked:
- Micro SD card included
- Infrared LEDs for night vision recording
- Mounts to your collar of choice
What We Didn’t Like:
- Unclear instructions
- Difficult to tell when the camera is recording
How to Choose the Best Cat Collar Camera
Features to look for in a cat collar camera include the following:
- Ease of use: Ideally, the camera will be simple to use with clear instructions. I prefer having a screen so you know the camera is recording without checking the footage.
- Clear footage: While cat collar cameras don’t have the clearest footage, you do want to be able to see your cat’s environment and what they’re doing throughout the day.
- Camera mounts: Look for mounts or attachments that will easily fit your cat’s collar.
- Camera weight: Lastly, make sure the camera you choose isn’t too heavy for your cat’s neck and can be worn comfortably.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are cat collar cameras safe?
Most cameras themselves are safe but not every collar is safe for cats. We recommend buying your own breakaway collar so that your cat doesn’t get stuck in an unsafe place or choked if their collar snags on another object.
Some reviewers (on products not recommended in this article) report cameras getting so hot they might burn a cat. Since technology can malfunction, we recommend testing your individual camera before use by running it for a couple of hours.
What is the battery life of a cat collar camera?
Cat collar cameras typically have a battery life of around 1-3 hours depending on the camera you choose.
Are cat collar cameras always on?
Most cat collar cameras don’t record automatically when powered on. Instead, you may have to press a button or series of buttons to begin recording. Once recording, they typically continue unless you turn them off or the battery dies. The footage is recorded in five-minute intervals and the oldest footage is overwritten when there’s no longer space on the micro SD card.
The Kestanlora camera looks so big on that white cat. Does it really benefit the cat that much ?
Hi Anne-Marie!
Thank you for your concern. As I discussed in the article, the cameras don’t benefit cats and are more of a fun activity for cat owners. My cats didn’t mind wearing the camera collars, even the one with the larger Kestanlora camera, but every cat is different. Cats who aren’t used to wearing collars may dislike the cameras more, and I would never recommend leaving one on a cat who is uncomfortable. You’re right that it’s not worth causing them any amount of stress!