Best Pet-Friendly Home Security Systems

Home security isn't just for humans, there's plenty it can do for your fuzzy companions too. Our top pick, Vivint, has a few features that made us sit and stay.

We’re especially fans of the one-of-a-kind Vivint Indoor Camera, which doubles as a motion sensor and takes 20-second clips of activity whenever it detects action. It also has two-way talk, so you can comfort anxious animals or catch them in the act of digging through the garbage.

For all its purebred glory, Vivint is accessible for folks on a budget (now you can buy the fancy dog food). Professional monitoring and equipment from Vivint start at around $30/month.

Vivint's cameras have all the features you need to keep an eye on your pets while you’re away. The two-way communication can comfort anxious pups or catch cats in the middle of their antics. It has crystal-clear infrared night vision and a wide-angle HD view to watch them from your living room, kitchen, or bedroom at all times.

We also like the 20-second playback feature that kicks on when the camera notices activity in the room. And there’s also a one-touch call button for the human members of your family who may need to contact you too.

It is worth mentioning that Vivint costs a pretty penny up front and requires a 60-month contract, but it’s a worthwhile service for many customers who want to protect their human and animal family.

Learn more in our full Vivint review and check out these other Vivint articles:

• Vivint FAQs
• How much does Vivint cost?
• Vivint Installation
• Vivint Customer Service: Reviews and Contact Info
• Vivint Outdoor Camera Pro Review

SimpliSafe is a great choice for cat owners because of its DIY setup. You know your cat better than anyone else (and even then, they can be unpredictable). Setting up your own security system lets you adjust for your cat’s climbing, chewing, or sleeping habits.

Even small cats can trip a motion sensor if they tend to scale cabinets and bookshelves while you’re gone. Installing your own system can help you avoid false alarms and keep your kitties happy.

Each package comes with a range of safety, emergency, and home automation equipment. We were disappointed to see that CO detectors were missing from the lineup and that the motion sensors have a low weight range—bad news for pets over 30 pounds. Although the SimpliSafe manual has instructions for dog owners, it puts the sensor in reach of tampering.

Learn more in our full SimpliSafe review.

Most pet-immune PIR (passive infrared) sensors ignore animals up to a certain weight limit, typically 30 to 45 pounds. The motion sensor is adjustable, allowing you to customize this range to match the size of your pets.

ADT has been in the home security business for 150 years, so you know you can rely on them to protect your home. That said, we can’t ignore the vague pricing on their website.

Learn more in our full ADT review.

This allows you to set up sensors out of reach of your pets. And while Frontpoint’s setup is DIY, it offers professional monitoring, keeping emergency response times fast and your pets safe.

With Frontpoint, you can have an advanced security system with motion detectors, window and door sensors, and a tough, smash-proof smart hub to connect the whole system.

Frontpoint has several packages to choose from, but you’ll need to pay a little more than $475 to get The Bunker equipment package, which comes with a smoke and heat sensor. Or you can build a custom system for a little cheaper than the standard packages if you don't need as many cameras and window sensors.

There's a solid selection of Frontpoint indoor and outdoor cameras. Both of the indoor camera options have two-way communication, so you can speak with the two-legged and four-legged members of your family through the app. You can also get a durable outdoor camera and a doorbell camera to keep an eye on the outside of your home.

Learn more in our full Frontpoint review.

With a pet-friendly home security system like Vivint, you can keep an eye on them all day and come to the rescue when they need you most. Monitoring from the professionals at Vivint also helps you reach emergency services quickly if you need them.

Even the sharpest border collie can’t call 911, so it’s important to find a system that alerts you to real threats like fires and carbon monoxide leaks. If a security system isn't right for you and your fur baby, you might consider buying a pet camera instead.

We started by looking for alarm systems with compatible equipment like high-range motion detectors and indoor cameras with two-way communication. We looked for features like motion detectors, glass break sensors, video monitoring, and smoke and CO monitoring to keep your pet safe while you’re home and away.

We also consider professional monitoring an essential feature because it generally gives you better control over your system remotely and is more effective at reaching first responders in an emergency.

We have hands-on experience testing Vivint and SimpliSafe. For the other brands, we spent most of our research reading through product manuals, setup guides, and customer reviews.

Learn more about how we researched this and our other reviews by reading our full methodology.

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