Every home should have a good security system. It might cost a pretty penny upfront, but the safety and peace of mind you receive are truly priceless.
But what if you have a pet? Your furry friend prancing around the house while you’re gone can trip all the motion sensors and cause constant false alarms.
When you’re a pet owner, you must consider various features when choosing your home security system. What sensors should you install? Do you need extra smart functionality? What brand should you choose? We’ll cover all this and more, so read on!
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What Makes A Home Security System Pet-Friendly?
So what exactly makes a security system “pet-friendly”? The answer is fairly simple yet multifaceted.
Motion sensors
Motion sensors are the main issue regarding the interaction between pets and security systems. These devices detect movement and activate the alarm, which will start blaring, notify the security company, call the police department, or all of this at once.
Choose a security system with pet sensitivity settings to avoid dealing with false alarms daily. This means that the motion sensors will be calibrated to not activate by objects lower than a set weight (that of your pet).
Glass break sensors
If your pet is too big and exceeds all the weight sensitivity options available on the market, then you will have to forgo the use of motion sensors altogether. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy the safety a security system provides.
Glass break sensors are another popular type of sensor. They detect the specific sound of breaking glass, which will trip the alarm and notify the relevant authorities. The usual range of such sensors is around 6 metres, which will cover most standard room sizes.
Indoor cameras
Cameras are the most important aspect of any effective security system. They allow surveillance, on-demand, or even live video footage, so you always know what’s happening at home.
Having cameras indoors will allow you to see what’s going on, especially if you receive notice that the alarm has been activated. But for pet owners, it goes much further than that. Having a way to see what your pet is doing when you’re not home and even having the opportunity to hear and talk to them (if your cameras have two-way audio) is truly priceless.
Outdoor cameras
Outdoor cameras are necessary for safety reasons, but if your pet roams outside, they double their functionality. You can monitor what they’re doing, where they’re headed, and even who/what they interact with around your home.
When it comes to outdoor cameras, proper placement is key to a good view of what’s happening. But always keep the privacy of your neighbours in mind, as well.
Smart lights and switches
Many modern security systems can fully integrate with your smart home system. As well as allowing live surveillance and two-way audio, they can also let you turn on lights and appliances. For this purpose, you must purchase smart switches to plug your appliances into and smart light bulbs to screw into your fixtures.
If your pet has separation anxiety, you can either switch on the lights through your phone or put the radio or television on to help them feel better while you’re gone.
The Best Home Security Systems for Pet Owners in 2023
More than a few companies offer security systems for your and your pet’s safety. Choosing the right provider can be quite a headache, so we’ll list some of the best companies and what they offer.
SimpliSafe
DIY packages from SimpliSafe, one of the most affordable home security systems, include motion detection sensors with pet sensitivity of up to 23 kg.
If you’re looking for a low-commitment security system, SimpliSafe is the way to go. This system has no long-term contracts, and the monitoring fee is reasonable. It has six monitoring stations and is self-installed but has higher equipment costs.
Vivint
Vivint’s security systems offer a great variety of pet-friendly equipment. Vivint’s motion sensors offer the highest weight settings of all the companies listed in our article – maxing out at a whopping 36 kg!
Vivint’s home automation features give you control of all the connected devices in your home. This means you can easily use your smart locks and doorbell to unlock the door for your pet sitter, for example.
They also offer some advanced pet-friendly options aside from video monitoring, such as fire/smoke and carbon monoxide monitoring.
Frontpoint
Frontpoint’s DIY security systems have earned plenty of accolades over the years, including their exceptional customer service. Frontpoint offers pet-sensitive motion detectors for pets up to 18 kg.
The pet-friendly system has 24/7 environmental sensors for fire/smoke, floods, and carbon monoxide that will alert the monitoring station if they detect anything unusual. Video monitoring and home automation solutions are also being offered by Frontpoint.
Cove Security
Cove offers pet-friendly motion sensors that don’t register anything under 23 kg. Their indoor cameras will let you check in with your furry friends while you’re away from home.
Cove’s AI-enhanced motion sensors actually pick up heat (not furry bodies), and you can also tweak distances and weights.
Cove doesn’t offer any home automation functionality as of yet.
Petcube
The Petcube concept is the ultimate pet interaction system.
It offers an interactive Wi-Fi pet camera system that enables you to:
- monitor your pet and talk to them;
- play with them, or train them;
- reward your furry friend with dispensable treats remotely.
Remember, Petcube is not an actual security system, but its cameras are probably the most innovative interactive video camera option available for pet owners.
What to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Home Security System for Your Pet
You must carefully consider a few specifics when choosing and installing your new pet-friendly home security system.
- Live Video
If your system offers a live video feed, you can check on your lovely pet at any time from any smart device, wherever you are. - Take Advantage of Schedules
Set up your system according to your pet’s routine. This could mean disabling certain sensors at specific times of the day, so your pet can use the doggy/kitty door freely. - Placement
Placing the sensors properly means not only that they work correctly but also that they prevent your pets from triggering a false alarm. - Professional Monitoring
Some companies offer 24/7 live surveillance, enhancing the safety of your home and your loved ones, whether furry or not.
Many security systems offer DIY options, but if you’re not so confident in your skills, don’t be afraid to call a qualified locksmith to do the installation for you.
Conclusion
Having a quality security system is essential for the peace of mind of any safety-minded homeowner. But throwing pets into the mix can stir up all sorts of headaches. Thankfully, more than a few companies have come up with ingenious solutions for this!
And now that you’ve read our article, you’re one step closer to getting the most suitable security system which will safeguard both your home and furry friends’ well-being.
