As millions of people head back to the office, the question remains about what to do with all of those “Covid pets” that were raised during the pandemic.

A recent study conducted by Finder has shed light on the growing trend of pet owners using surveillance technology to keep an eye on their furry companions while they are away from home.

According to the findings, millions of pet owners are now utilising video cameras to monitor their pets remotely.

Spying on pets

The research, which surveyed 1,062 respondents, including 570 pet owners, revealed that approximately 1 in 5 (22%) pet parents admit to spying on their pets using these devices.

This translates to around 1.4 million households across Australia that have installed pet cameras to gain insights into the activities of their beloved cats and dogs when they are not around.

An additional 7% of pet owners expressed their intentions to install such cameras in the future, emphasizing the growing popularity of this technology among pet enthusiasts.

Pet ownership

Australia boasts one of the highest rates of pet ownership globally, with an estimated 28.7 million pets residing in the country today.

In terms of households, the survey noted that 69% of homes with pets now own surveillance cameras to monitor their animals, marking a notable increase from 61% in 2019.

Interestingly, the survey also found that the adoption of pet cameras varies across generations.

Millennials are leading the charge, with nearly 1 in 3 (28%) of them admitting to having installed these devices, in contrast to 20% of individuals from Generation X.

Emotional connection

Gary Ross Hunter, an insurance expert at Finder, shared insights into this emerging trend, highlighting the emotional connection between pet owners and their animals. He stated, “Millions of Aussies can’t stand to be separated from their pets and are flocking to this tech to keep a watchful eye on their four-legged friends. Some of these setups even have voice and treat delivery capability.

“The Big Brother tactics let them catch their animals when they’re up to no good or simply ease separation anxiety.”

However, despite the growing reliance on surveillance technology, only a small fraction of Australian pet owners have invested in pet insurance.

Finder’s Consumer Sentiment Tracker indicated that a mere 16% of pet owners have secured pet insurance policies, raising concerns about the financial protection of these cherished animals.