With 70% of US households having a pet and 32% of those being millennials, home security is no longer just about protecting your home, but your pets as well.
Fires, floods, carbon monoxide leaks, and other emergencies can all threaten your pets while you aren’t home, all things a good home security system can alert you of. However, there are issues with pets and home security, mainly the triggering of false alarms.
This means you need the right kind of pet-friendly home security to ensure your furry friends are safe and comfortable while your home remains protected. It’s a way to have peace of mind knowing your pets are safeguarded from fires and other emergencies while preventing the triggering of false alarms.
By choosing the right devices and configuring your system properly, you can create a secure environment that meets pet owners’ unique needs. This includes using pet-immune motion sensors, smart cameras with two-way audio, and environmental monitoring devices.
With a pet-friendly security setup, you can go about your day without worrying about your pets being home alone. Keep reading our guide on home security and pets to find out how to build a home security system that protects your pets and helps keep them safe.
Let’s start by finding out what pet-friendly home security looks like.
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Key Takeaways
- Pet-friendly home security systems protect both your home and pets, reducing false alarms from pet movement.
- Pet-immune motion detectors prevent pets from triggering alarms while allowing free movement around the house.
- Smart cameras with two-way audio let you monitor and interact with pets remotely, helping reduce separation anxiety.
- Environmental monitoring devices detect smoke, carbon monoxide, and temperature changes, ensuring pet safety during emergencies.
- Smart locks offer secure access for pet sitters, providing temporary entry without the need for physical keys.
- Systems like SimpliSafe, ADT, Vivint, Frontpoint, and Cove provide pet-friendly features, including customizable sensors and cameras.
What Is Pet-Friendly Home Security?
Pet-friendly home security focuses on three aspects: keeping your home protected while preventing false alarms, keeping your pets protected while you aren’t home, and keeping your home protected from destructive pets that like to chew on furniture when they get bored.
To that end, it uses devices and settings that distinguish between pets and intruders, preventing false alarms triggered by animal movements. This way, you can arm your security system even when your furry friends are home alone.
Second, pet-friendly security also includes features that help keep your pets safe in emergencies. For example, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors can alert you and the monitoring center if there’s a fire or gas leak, so you can quickly get help for your pets.
Third, many home security systems with cameras feature two-way audio, so people can talk to their pets when they’re not home. In fact, 25% of pet owners with security cameras use them to keep an eye on their pets and communicate with them. This not only helps prevent separation anxiety but can also help you catch your pet in the act when they’re doing something they shouldn’t be.
Before we discuss specific security measures to protect your home and pets, let’s examine the numerous benefits of pet-friendly home security.
Benefits of Pet-Friendly Home Security
Security systems that keep pets in mind come with three main benefits. These include keeping your home protected from burglars and break-ins while preventing your pets from setting off false alarms, being able to keep an eye on your pet, and ensuring that your pet is safe during emergencies.
Here are the benefits of a pet-friendly home security system:
Fewer False Alarms
Pet-immune motion sensors significantly reduce false alarms caused by your furry friends moving around the house. These sensors are designed to ignore the movements of animals under a certain weight, usually between 40 and 80 pounds.
This means you can arm your security system even when your pets are home alone without worrying about them triggering the alarm. Roughly 30% of pet owners in the US prefer alarm systems with pet-immune sensors to prevent such false alarms.
False alarms can be stressful for both you and your pets. They can also lead to fines from your local police department if they respond to too many false alarms from your home. With pet-friendly motion sensors, you can avoid these issues and have a more reliable security system overall.
Peace of Mind When Away
Leaving your pets home alone can be stressful, especially if you will be gone for an extended period. With a pet-friendly security system, you can check in on your furry friends anytime using your smartphone or tablet. Many systems include cameras with live streaming capabilities, so you can see what your pets are up to in real time.
Checking in on your pets while you aren’t home is important, as they are susceptible to injuries or, worse, due to home emergencies when owners aren’t home. In some cases, it may even be the pets that cause the emergency in the first place, such as the roughly 1,000 fires started by pets each year in the US.
This is why up to 38% of pet owners in the US invest in cameras and another 22% in pet-friendly motion detectors, specifically to keep an eye on their pets. These are great ways to let you keep an eye on your pets when you aren’t home, letting you know they’re safe, while also providing you with peace of mind that they aren’t starting fires or shredding your favorite pair of shoes.
Some pet-friendly cameras also have two-way audio, allowing you to talk to your pets and toss treats using a smart dispenser. This can be a great way to keep your pets entertained and reassured while you’re away.
Protects Pets in Emergencies
A pet-friendly security system can keep your pets safe from intruders and protect them in case of emergencies, which is important considering that up to 500,000 pets are affected by home fires every year.
Furthermore, many breeds are susceptible to fluctuating temperatures, which means that having environmental and temperature sensors is important. They help prevent your pets from being stuck in an environment for prolonged periods that may very well cause them harm.
With 35% of pet owners reporting massive spending increases on pet products and care over the last year and veterinary care costing nearly $600 per year for dogs and well over $400 per year for cats, people just can’t afford to spend any more money on vet bills.
Although investing in security measures might involve an up-front cost, it can help mitigate the rising cost of pet care and vet bills in the long run. On that note, let’s move on and discuss how pet-friendly security systems work and what aspects they involve.
Essential Security Features for Pet Owners
For pet owners, a home security system should safeguard the property, accommodate pets’ movements, and ensure their safety.
These systems incorporate advanced technologies, such as customizable motion sensitivity and two-way audio, allowing pets to move freely while offering interactive capabilities for remote communication.
Below, we discuss the essential features pet owners should consider, including pet-immune motion detectors, top outdoor security cameras, indoor security cameras, smart locks for pet sitter access, and environmental monitoring devices.
Each of these features contributes to a secure and pet-friendly environment, so let’s examine each one closely.
Pet-Immune Motion Detectors
Pet-immune motion detectors are crucial in pet-friendly security systems, as they allow pets to roam without causing false alarms. These sensors use adjustable sensitivity settings to distinguish between pets and potential intruders, ignoring movement from animals below a certain weight threshold, typically 40 to 80 pounds.
This customization allows pet owners to set sensitivity based on their pets’ sizes, ensuring the system only detects human intruders.
When installing pet-immune motion detectors, placement is essential. Aim to install them high on walls or corners, well above your pet’s typical range of motion. This strategic setup minimizes the chances of pets accidentally triggering the alarm while providing a reliable barrier against human movement.
Outdoor Security Cameras
Next, outdoor security cameras are essential in keeping pets and property safe by monitoring the yard, entryways, and outdoor spaces.
The top outdoor security cameras have features like wide-angle lenses, night vision, and weatherproofing to ensure comprehensive surveillance.
Moreover, outdoor cameras equipped with built-in flood lights or sirens can deter intruders, adding extra security to your pet-friendly system.
Indoor Security Cameras
Aside from outdoor cameras, indoor security cameras allow pet owners to monitor their pets’ activities and well-being inside the home. The best indoor security cameras for pet owners come with two-way audio, night vision, and wide-angle lenses.
The two-way audio feature lets you communicate with your pets remotely, offering comfort and interaction while you’re away. Night vision allows you to monitor your pets clearly, even in low-light conditions, and wide-angle lenses provide a broad view of the room.
These cameras also support interactive technology, allowing you to dispense treats or toys via smart feeders or devices. This feature makes it easy to engage with your pets from afar, keeping them entertained and helping them feel connected to you, reducing separation anxiety.
Smart Locks for Pet Sitter Access
For pet owners who rely on pet sitters or dog walkers, smart locks offer a secure and convenient solution for managing home access. Smart locks allow you to create temporary access codes for pet sitters, eliminating needing a physical key.
These codes can be set to work only during specific time windows, ensuring access is granted only as scheduled.
Smart locks also notify your smartphone when the door is unlocked, helping you track who enters your home. This feature is ideal for pet owners who want to ensure their pets are looked after at the right times.
Environmental Monitoring Devices
Finally, pet-friendly security systems often include environmental monitoring devices that track temperature, humidity, and air quality. These sensors are essential for ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for pets, especially during extreme weather.
For instance, if the temperature rises due to an air conditioning failure, the system will notify you, allowing you to remotely adjust the thermostat or take action to keep your pets safe.
Furthermore, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are crucial components of pet-friendly systems. These detectors monitor air quality continuously, alerting you and emergency services if dangerous levels of smoke or carbon monoxide are detected. This rapid response can be life-saving, ensuring that you and your pets remain safe in case of a fire or gas leak.
Now that you know the most important features of a pet-friendly home security setup, let’s go over some valuable tips on how to get it up and running for the best possible protection.
How to Set Up a Pet-Friendly Security System
Setting up a pet-friendly security system requires careful consideration of your pets’ needs and habits. Choosing the right sensors and devices, placing them strategically, and configuring settings properly ensure your furry friends won’t trigger false alarms or be disturbed by loud noises.
Here’s how to set up a pet-friendly security system:
Choose Appropriate Sensors and Devices
The first step is, of course, to choose the right home security devices for your pet-friendly setup. As discussed above, these can include indoor and outdoor cameras, motion sensors, smart locks, and environmental sensors. Once you have your gear chosen, the next step is to install it properly.
Choose Where to Put Motion Sensors
Positioning motion sensors in the right spots is essential for comprehensive home protection. For the best results, place sensors in high-traffic zones such as entryways, hallways, and areas near large windows or doors, as these are common paths for potential intruders.
Mounting sensors at a height, such as in corners or high on walls, optimizes their field of view, covering a broad area without obstruction. Remember that with the right pet-immune motion sensors, you don’t have to worry about placing them so they aren’t falsely triggered.
Install Wireless Security Cameras Properly
Proper placement of wireless security cameras is key to effectively monitoring your home and pets. Mount cameras high enough to capture a wide view of the room without being easily knocked over by curious pets.
To prevent unnecessary triggering, avoid placing cameras in areas where your pets spend a lot of time, such as their beds or feeding areas.
When installing outdoor cameras, choose locations that cover your yard and entryways while keeping cords and wires out of reach of your pets. Use cord covers or conceal wires behind furniture to prevent chewing and potential electrical hazards.
Configure Settings for Pets
Once you’ve installed your pet-friendly security devices, configure settings specifically for your pets. Adjust the sensitivity of motion sensors based on your pets’ size and weight, ensuring they won’t trigger alarms while still detecting human intruders.
If your security system includes cameras with two-way audio, set up notifications for when your pets enter a specific area or make noise. This allows you to check in on them and provide reassurance or commands as needed.
Test the System with Pets Present
Before relying on your pet-friendly security system full-time, thoroughly test it with your pets present. Activate the system and let your pets move around the house as they normally would, monitoring for false alarms or unexpected triggers.
Adjust sensor placement or sensitivity settings as needed if you notice any issues. Finding the perfect configuration for your home and pets may take some trial and error, but the effort is well worth the peace of mind knowing your furry friends are safe and secure.
What Are the Best Security Systems for Homes with Pets?
When choosing a security system for your home with pets, look for pet-friendly features like pet-immune motion sensors, two-way audio cameras, and environmental monitoring. Some of the best security systems for pet owners include SimpliSafe, ADT, Frontpoint, and Cove.
Here’s a quick look at each of them:
SimpliSafe
SimpliSafe offers a comprehensive security solution with pet-friendly motion sensors that can be adjusted to ignore animals under 50 pounds. Their cameras also feature two-way audio, allowing you to check in on your pets and even toss them treats remotely. SimpliSafe’s smoke and carbon monoxide detectors provide an extra layer of protection for both you and your furry friends.
ADT
ADT is another top choice for pet owners. Their customizable packages include pet-immune motion sensors and cameras with two-way audio. Their professional installation ensures your system is set up properly to accommodate your pets’ needs. ADT also offers 24/7 monitoring, giving you peace of mind knowing your home and pets are always protected.
Vivint
Vivint’s smart home security system is ideal for tech-savvy pet owners. Their cameras feature two-way audio and night vision, allowing you to keep an eye on your pets day and night. Vivint’s smart locks also make it easy to grant temporary access to pet sitters or dog walkers without the need for physical keys.
Frontpoint
Frontpoint offers a DIY security system with pet-friendly features like adjustable motion sensors and cameras with two-way audio. Their system is easy to install and can be customized to fit your home’s layout and your pets’ needs. Frontpoint also offers crash and smash protection, ensuring your system stays online even if a panel is damaged.
Cove
Cove’s security system is another DIY option that’s well-suited for pet owners. Their motion sensors can be fine-tuned to ignore pets, reducing false alarms. Cove also offers professional monitoring and cellular backup, ensuring your system stays connected even during power outages or if your Wi-Fi goes down.
Arlo
Arlo may not be pet-specific per se, but this security system does have pet-friendly features, such as cameras that have two-way audio and can distinguish between people and pets. That said, you may want to compare Arlo and Blink security systems to see which of these two is best for your specific situation.
The Bottom Line on Home Security and Pets
The best pet-friendly security systems provide peace of mind by combining home protection with features that prioritize your pets’ safety and comfort.
With options like pet-immune motion sensors, two-way audio for communication, and environmental monitoring, a well-chosen security system can help keep your pets secure from threats, reduce false alarms, and let you stay connected even when you’re away.
By investing in a security setup tailored to your pets’ needs, you’re ensuring a safer, more comfortable environment that gives you the freedom to go about your day worry-free. Creating a pet-friendly security system isn’t just about safeguarding your property, but about keeping your pets safe and sound as well.
For the security of your home and pets, trust Batten Safe.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Do Pet-Immune Motion Sensors Work?
Pet-immune motion sensors are designed to ignore movements from pets up to a certain weight, typically 40-80 pounds. They focus on detecting human-sized motion, allowing your pets to roam freely without triggering alarms.
Can I Talk to My Pets Through My Home Security System?
Yes, many pet-friendly indoor cameras come with two-way audio, allowing you to talk to your pets from your smartphone. This feature can be especially helpful in soothing pets or preventing destructive behavior while you’re away.
What Types of Environmental Sensors Are Beneficial for Pet Owners?
Temperature, humidity, and air quality sensors are essential for pet owners, as they help maintain a safe environment. These sensors alert you to conditions that might be uncomfortable or harmful to pets, such as high temperatures during summer.
How Can I Ensure My Security Cameras Are Safe Around My Pets?
When installing cameras, place them out of reach to prevent curious pets from tampering with
them. Use cable covers or wireless options to avoid potential chewing hazards, and position cameras in locations that monitor key areas without invading your pets’ personal spaces.
