Best Places to Put Your Pet Camera

You've got your PetView camera—now where do you put it? The right placement can mean the difference between watching a wall all day and actually seeing what your pet is up to. Here's our complete guide to strategic camera positioning.

The Golden Rule: Follow Your Pet

Before deciding on placement, spend a day or two observing where your pet spends most of their time. Every pet has their favorite spots—the sunny window, the couch corner, their bed by the door.

According to pet behavior research, most dogs and cats spend 80% of their day in just 2-3 primary locations. Identifying these spots is key to getting the most out of your camera.

💡 Quick Exercise

When you're home, note where your pet goes to: nap, watch the world, wait for you, eat, and play. These are your target zones.

Top 5 Recommended Locations

1. Living Room (Most Popular)

The living room is typically the hub of pet activity. It usually contains their favorite furniture and gets the most foot traffic, making it feel like the center of the home.

Best positions:

• On a bookshelf or entertainment center, angled toward pet beds/couches
• Corner placement for maximum room coverage (use that 135° wide-angle!)
• Height of 3-4 feet for optimal pet-level viewing

2. The Entryway or Front Door Area

Many pets spend significant time watching the door—waiting for you to come home or alerting to passersby. This is especially true for dogs.

Bonus: You'll see that adorable tail wag when you're about to arrive!

3. Their Primary Sleeping Spot

Dogs sleep 12-14 hours per day, and cats sleep 12-16 hours. Placing a camera where they nap lets you check if they're resting peacefully—and night vision ensures you can see them even in the dark.

4. The Kitchen or Feeding Area

If you use an automatic feeder, placing PetView near it lets you watch mealtimes and ensure everything is working properly. You can also monitor water intake.

5. Pet Room or Crate Area

If your pet has a dedicated room or uses a crate, this is an obvious choice. Position the camera to see the entire space, including entry/exit points.

Camera Height: Finding the Sweet Spot

PetView's 135° wide-angle lens is designed to capture as much of the room as possible, but height matters:

📏 3-4 feet (Recommended)

Great for medium to large dogs and general room viewing. Captures floor-level activity while still showing the full room.

📏 5-6 feet

Good for maximum room coverage if you have a large space. May miss some floor-level details.

📏 2-3 feet

Best for cats or small dogs, giving you an up-close view but less room coverage.

Placement Do's and Don'ts

DO:

✓ Place near a power outlet (no cord stretching)
✓ Ensure stable Wi-Fi signal in that location
✓ Position to avoid direct sunlight (causes glare)
✓ Keep the lens at a downward angle for floor coverage
✓ Consider their path of movement, not just rest spots
✓ Make sure the camera is secure and won't be knocked over

DON'T:

✗ Point directly at windows (backlight issues)
✗ Place where cords are accessible to chew
✗ Put in bathrooms or high-humidity areas
✗ Position facing a mirror (confuses night vision)
✗ Place too high (you'll see tops of heads, not faces)
✗ Put where your pet can easily reach and knock it over

Special Considerations for Cats

Cats are vertical creatures—they love heights. Consider these cat-specific tips:

Angle toward high perches — Cat trees, shelves, window sills
Watch for blind spots — Cats often hide in boxes or under furniture
Consider multiple cameras — Cats roam more than dogs
Position near windows — Prime "cat TV" viewing spots

Testing Your Placement

Before committing to a spot, do this quick test:

Set up the camera temporarily
Open the app on your phone
Walk around the room at pet height (yes, crawl if you need to!)
Check coverage of key spots: bed, couch, door, food area
Test night vision with lights off
Speak through two-way audio to ensure volume is good

Multiple Cameras?

If you have a larger home or a pet that roams, consider our bundle deal (2 for $209). Common multi-camera setups include:

Living room + Bedroom — Covers main active and rest areas
Main floor + Pet room — For pets with dedicated spaces
Front of house + Back of house — For full home coverage

Final Thoughts

There's no single "perfect" spot—it depends on your pet's habits and your home layout. Don't be afraid to experiment! Many PetView users move their camera around for the first week or two until they find the ideal position.

And remember: the best camera placement is one where you actually see your pet doing adorable things. That's the whole point!