The Best Pet-Friendly Home Security Systems for 2020

Overview

If you want to keep your home secure but have pets who stay inside when you’re away, we have our top picks for pet-friendly security systems. Motion detectors that animals can trigger are the biggest concern for pet owners, so we took a close look at the equipment offered by each company. Then we considered factors that let you set up your system to be pet friendly.

The great news for pet owners is that ADT motion sensors can tell the difference between a human intruder and a pet under 40 pounds. If you have a bigger animal, you can adjust the motion sensors to recognize pets up to 60 or even 80 pounds. Very few companies do that, so ADT is our top choice for pet owners with larger pets.

As a pet owner you’ll want to place cameras and sensors so your animals won’t trip the alarm. That’s where professional installation comes in handy. Work with your installer to customize your motion sensors and cameras to avoid places your pets usually wander to (like litter boxes or other pet relief areas). ADT’s professionals will come out to your home usually within a day or two of requesting a new system.

ADT offers other features that make a security system pet-friendly—mobile access, home automation integration, smoke and carbon monoxide detection, and live video feed—but only with the top-tier packages. ADT’s longtime experience and extensive monitoring balance those slight drawbacks.

>>Learn more: Read our full ADT review to learn more about packages and pricing.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: ADT’s fast professional installation and adjustable motion sensors make it our top choice for pet owners, especially if you have larger animals.

>>View ADT Plans

The great news for pet owners is that ADT motion sensors can tell the difference between a human intruder and a pet under 40 pounds. If you have a bigger animal, you can adjust the The biggest risk with pets around armed security systems is false alarms. With a self-monitored security system, you don’t have to worry about false alarms. SimpliSafe offers both professional and DIY monitoring, and with no long-term contracts, you can switch between monitoring types month-to-month as you figure out what works best with your pet.

SimpliSafe is also great for pet owners because its motion detectors will ignore a pet of up to 50 pounds instead of the typical 40 pounds. You can find instructions for how to optimize the range of your detectors with pets on the SimpliSafe website.

SimpliSafe is more basic than other systems, but it’s also more affordable and flexible. Plus, the indoor cameras have night vision so you can monitor your pet day and night. The biggest drawback is that home automation integrations are limited, so if that’s important to you, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

>>Learn more: Read our full SimpliSafe review for more information about equipment and monitoring options.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: While we generally recommend using a professional monitoring service, SimpliSafe’s flexible DIY monitoring is great for pet owners who want to avoid the headache of false alarms.

>>View SimpliSafe Plans

If top-of-the-line home automation is a priority so you can care for your pet even when you’re away from home, Vivint is our top choice. Vivint has impressive home automation support and high-quality equipment, including smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.

So if you need to let the dog walker into your house or you want to be sure your furry friends are comfortable at home while you’re away, a strong home automation system is key.

Vivint’s motion detectors can ignore pets of up to 55 pounds. You have to keep animals at least six feet away from the sensors, which could create some logistical problems. But with professional installers to help, you can come up with the best placement for all your equipment.

Vivint’s plans all come with mobile access, another pet-friendly feature. And its cameras are equipped with night vision, but video monitoring is available only with the most expensive plan, which may not work on a tight budget. Vivint has flexible payment options and even offers a no-contract plan, making it more accessible to more people.

>>Learn more: For answers to all your questions about Vivint’s packages, pricing, and equipment, read our full Vivint review.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: Vivint has a lot of features that make us happy to recommend it, especially for pet owners who want top-quality home automation support to make sure their pets are always taken care of.

>>View Vivint Plans

Like other pet-friendly security systems, Frontpoint’s motion detectors use passive infrared (PIR) sensors, which means they detect changes in heat. PIR detectors can ignore small animals up to 40 pounds. Plus, Frontpoint’s cameras have night vision so you can keep an eye on your good boy all the time.

With Frontpoint’s signature straightforward DIY installation, you can easily move your sensors to find the ideal spot that both protects your home and allows your pets to roam freely. And if you’re feeling unsure, Frontpoint offers online tips and advice for working around pets.

Frontpoint also offers lots of home automation options, as well as top-notch customer service. Monitoring plans are a bit more money compared to some other companies, but you get mobile access at the basic plan level. Overall it’s a great company with pet-friendly features.

>>Learn more: For more information, read our full Frontpoint review.

ASecureLife’s recommendation: Frontpoint’s PIR motion detectors have small pet immunity, plus they offer super-easy DIY installation so you can adjust your setup as many times as you need to.

>>View Frontpoint plans

Here’s what to look for when selecting a security system while keeping your pets in mind.

• Choose a wireless security system. Not only is wireless safe against tampering by intruders, it’s also one less thing your pup can chew on.
• Use passive infrared (PIR) motion detectors. Passive detectors alert you if they detect a significant change in heat, so a small pet like a cat won’t trip the alarm. An active infrared motion detector automatically goes off if its beam is interrupted, regardless of what or who does it.
• Pay attention to your pet’s daily activities. If you know your dog likes to snooze on the couch all afternoon, don’t point a motion sensor directly at the couch, and definitely keep sensors away from pet relief areas like litter boxes or newspaper-covered areas for puppies. If that’s not feasible, set up gates or close doors to keep animals out of the motion sensor range.
• Keep motion detectors away from pets. Don’t install sensors near the floor or on an easy-to-reach shelf. In other words, don’t give your curious kitties something to play with.
• Install the motion sensors upside down. A motion sensor range usually extends out and downward. When you install a sensor upside down, the range extends out and up, leaving your animals free to roam near the floor without tripping the alarm.
• Disconnect the motion detectors. If all else fails and your pets are still setting off the alarm, you may need to disconnect the motion detectors. In that case, consider installing more door, window, or glass break sensors to make up the difference in security.

A good home security system should protect all the members of your household, including the furry ones, without tons of false alarms to deal with. The placement of high-quality motion detectors is especially important with pets, so we recommend an ADT system, especially if you have large pets at home.