# Webcam as pet monitor

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webcam-as-pet-monitor/334413>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 6, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webcam-as-pet-monitor/334413 "2005-12-06T21:42:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webcam-as-pet-monitor/334413/1 "2005-12-06T21:42:13Z")

</div>

What’s the simplest way to set up a PC + Webcam + cable modem as a pet monitor (i.e. check on my dogs from my office)? I’ve done it once before, but I used FTP to upload images to a server - and I no longer have an account that allows FTP. The only way I can think of is to use UltraVNC or a similar remote PC access program, but is that the best option?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\
**Post date:** [December 6, 2005, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/webcam-as-pet-monitor/334413/2 "2005-12-06T22:05:49Z")

</div>

You probably want something like [this](http://www.webcamsoft.com/en/watchdog.html). It features automatic recording, either continuous or motion-activated, and you can access the recorded archives or monitor in real-time from anywhere using all major browsers. Pretty reasonably priced, too.