Nothing is more heartbreaking than having to leave your pet behind before you go on a long trip. So, it’s no surprise that more than 60% of RV owners prefer to travel with their pets. After all, one of the greatest advantages of being an RV owner is that there’s room for everyone in the family, including the furrier members!
But there are times when you’ll have to go out, and your pet can’t tag along. Maybe it’s a quick trip to do some grocery shopping, or a nice dinner out with some friends. In those cases, you’ll need a pet temperature monitor.
Best Cellular RV Pet Temperature Monitor
This is likely the best RV temperature monitor but it does come with the need for a monthly subscription plan (because the device uses Verizon). Once you have that plan, however, you can use this device anywhere Verizon receives service.
Check Amazon PriceThe MarCELL Cellular Temperature/Humidity Monitor is a lightweight cellular monitor with support for 4G mobile networks. It’s powered by a lithium-ion battery that allows for 30 hours of uninterrupted use and weighs only 9.6 ounces (about as much as a can of soda). Though it’s built to operate as a permanent fixture, whether in your home or a camper, its light weight and long-lasting battery make it perfect for quick errands, too. Throw it into your car, and you can bring your pet along for trips to the store.
Besides temperature, the MarCell monitor also measures humidity and detects power outages. Notifications are managed through the MarCELL website, where you can set high and low thresholds for the device’s temperature alarms. The platform sends alerts directly to your phone when either threshold is passed and will also report when the power goes out.
Annoyingly, the MarCELL Cellular Temperature/Humidity Monitor’s web service doesn’t actually let you read live temperature reports. Temperature readings from your device are updated once every eight hours on the platform, but you will continue to receive alarms and notifications in real-time as conditions in your room change. However, you can purchase instant status updates for a few cents per update, which feels exploitative in a way.
If you want to use this product, you’ll need to pay a monthly subscription fee for a Verizon data plan. Other cards won’t work, and the device doesn’t support wi-fi, either. It’s a small but sizable monthly cost on top of the cost of the device itself, which is quite a bit higher than the other items on this list.
With MarCELL, you’re paying a bit extra for quality and reliability. The app and online platform are some of the best in the game — straightforward, easy to understand, and highly customizable. Its long-lasting battery and cellular connectivity ensure it will continue to keep you updated even when emergency strikes or the power in your camper goes out. The lack of real-time temperature readings might be cause for worry, especially if you’re the type who likes to check in frequently, but the alarms and notifications work exactly as advertised — you receive a phone call or message the instant power dies out or a temperature threshold is exceeded.
Best Wifi RV Pet Temperature Monitor
If you can count on your internet connection, this temperature monitor is the best option. There's no subscription fee, has a good app, customizable notifications and will give you peace of mind.
Check Amazon PriceThe Temp Stick Wireless Remote Temperature & Humidity Sensor was designed for industrial use. Its built-in temperature sensor returns highly accurate temperature readings with a maximum deviation of only 0.72 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s battery-operated and will continue to give you readings even if the electricity in your camper fails. You can set the device to send text or email alerts to up to 10 contacts.
The remote monitoring platform for the Temp Stick is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It not only tracks temperature and humidity readings for the entire lifetime of your Stick, it can also deliver them in graph form so you can track changes visually. The platform is accessible on phones via the mobile app, but you can also access your Temp Sticks’ readings through your browser. Alerts are also highly customizable, with multiple settings so you can configure your temperature and humidity alerts. The app will also notify you whenever the internet drops and you can monitor battery levels from the dashboard. The cherry on top? These remote monitoring features are free without a subscription.
The Temp Stick is powered by two standard AA batteries so you can easily switch them out when they get low. This also means they’ll continue running even if the power in your camper drops. The manufacturer claims batteries can last up to eight weeks though your mileage may vary depending on how often you set the device to send reports. In my experience, a pair of fresh AA batteries reporting hourly lasted for about two weeks before needing replacement.
The Temp Stick has no DC port so you can’t power it from your electrical socket; you’ll have to replace the batteries once they get low. There’s also no way to set an alert for when your Temp Stick’s battery gets low, so you run the risk of the device powering down if you’re not regularly checking its battery levels. If you’re an RV owner, you likely already have a supply of batteries on hand for emergencies, so this shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.
The Temp Stick Wireless Remote Temperature & Humidity Sensor comes at a hefty price, but you get what you pay for. The accurate sensors and awesome reporting tools put it head and shoulder above most of its competition. It’s only major drawbacks are the lack of a power port and the highly variable battery usage — you can’t keep it powered indefinitely via your electrical socket and there’s no intuitive way of predicting when your battery levels will drop. Still, if you’re looking for a temperature monitor for your RV, the Temp Stick is one of the best products you’ll find.
Best RV Pet Temperature Monitor With Camera
This device is more geared towards people looking to keep an eye on their dogs, cats and other RV animals but, while it does give temperature updates, is mostly designed as a camera monitor and thus doesn't offer temperature notifications.
Check Amazon PriceThe Geeni Smart Home Pet and Baby Monitor looks like it was pulled straight out of a Pixar film! This device is a camera monitor that offers 1080p live streaming, a temperature sensor, motion and cry detectors, and two-way audio for voice communication with your pets.
Although the Geeni Smart Home Pet and Baby Monitor with Camera does come with a basic temperature reading function, it’s first and foremost a camera monitor. This means you’ll get excellent live video footage of your RV or trailer, but none of the temperature alerts or notifications of a dedicated temperature monitoring device.
Its main selling point is the 1080p camera that can stream live HD footage of your camper to your laptop or mobile phone. The device’s excellent range of motion (355 degrees of rotation with up to 100 degrees of tilt) makes it easy for you to track your pet’s movements. The video quality is crisp and clear, making this device the best monitor with a camera in its price class.
The Geeni Smart Home Pet and Baby Monitor with Camera is controlled through the Geeni app. The app allows you to rotate and reposition the camera as well as toggle the device’s various features. The app is smooth and effective if a bit lacking in customization options. It’s also free — all of the device’s features are available without a monthly subscription.
The unit connects to the internet through wi-fi. For RV owners, this can mean frequent drops in service as decent wi-fi connections aren’t a sure thing when you’re on the road. The device also streams in true HD, so even a mobile connection through a hotspot tether might not be sufficient to provide high-quality, stable video footage of your RV’s interior.
If you can find a decent wi-fi connection and prefer to visually monitor your pets while you’re away, nothing beats the Geeni Smart Home Pet and Baby Monitor. It has excellent video quality, decent voice call capabilities, and a solid web service that’s fully functional without a subscription. It’s no good in emergency situations — it has no built-in battery or temperature alert capabilities — but for general monitoring purposes under normal conditions, it’s one of the best all-round options on the market.
Best Bluetooth RV Pet Temperature Monitor
An excellent temperature and humidity sensor for your RV but is only useful for people who will remain close to the RV. That makes its use case a little more niche but, if you'll stay close, it could work well for you.
Check Amazon PriceThe tempi.fi Mini Wireless Temperature and Humidity Sensor is an excellent temperature monitor. Unfortunately, one critical drawback makes it a non-option for many RVers and campers.
The tempi.fi Mini fits comfortably into the palm of your hand and looks great, too, with soft rounded edges and a convenient loop hole for easy grabbing and placement. The tempi.fi Mini is also accurate to within 0.54 degrees Fahrenheit, making it the most accurate device on this list. The tempi.fi Mini is also incredibly power efficient — it can last up to a year on a single CR2477 coin cell battery.
The downloadable app isn’t as streamlined or easy to use as its competition, but it does a great job serving you the data you’re looking for with a no-nonsense aesthetic. Alerts and notifications are sent directly to your phone and can be customized using a series of sliders for easy configuration. You can even export the device’s readings to a standard format CSV file for archiving purposes on your PC!
Unlike other devices which have report rates of up to eight hours, the tempi.fi Mini returns readings every minute. Did I mention it’s also incredibly affordable? You won’t find another pet temperature monitor with these features at this price range.
So, if it returns accurate readings on the minute, lasts forever on a single battery, has an awesome app, and is cheaper than its competition, why am I not recommending it to you right now? Well, unfortunately, the tempi.fi Mini Wireless Temperature and Humidity Sensor currently has no support for remote monitoring. You have to be within 300 feet of a device before it can send readings to your phone, making it virtually useless in situations where you need to leave your camper or RV.
tempi.fi is already working on a solution for this problem; a wi-fi hub that gives your tempi.fi Mini the ability to connect to a wi-fi connection so you can access your readings from anywhere in the world. However, until that product is released, I can’t recommend this device for anyone who will be leaving the 300 foot radius of their RV for any meaningful amount of time.
How to Pick a Pet Temperature Monitor
To make sure we’re on the same page, a pet temperature monitor is a small device you hang in your camper, trailer, or RV that will record and monitor temperature changes. Most devices come with a mobile app that you can use to track how hot or cold it is in your RV. With an internet-ready temperature monitor, you can check up on your buddy and know she’s comfortable even when you’re out.
So, how do you know which pet temperature monitor is right for you? I wish I’d asked myself that question when I bought my first monitor! I learned the hard way that, although most temperature monitors offer the same basic functions, it’s the small things that matter. Here’s a quick rundown of the things you should consider before making a purchase.
Wi-fi vs. Cellular
Pet temperature monitors connect to the internet in one of two ways — your wi-fi connection or through a cellular network.
Wi-fi pet temperature monitors are dependent on a ready, stable wi-fi internet connection. If your RV or trailer is mostly fixed in one location, like a mobile or trailer home, then you might already have a wi-fi connection set up by your Internet Service Provider. But if you’re the type who’s often on the road, then you likely don’t have constant internet connectivity. In the latter case, a wi-fi pet temperature monitor would only work when you’re parked in a spot that’s nearby a wi-fi connection, such as a cafe or mall.
Cellular temperature monitors have built-in cellular capabilities; all you have to do is pop in a standard cellular SIM card with a data plan. Since cellular pet temperature monitors connect via a mobile connection, they can stay connected wherever your provider has a cellular tower. The reliability and speed of your connection depend on your provider and the data plan you’re subscribed to.
If you’ve already bought a wi-fi monitor but want the constant connectivity of a cellular network, there’s a workaround. Purchase a cheap, internet-ready smartphone with hotspot capability. Then, tether your pet temperature monitor to your new hotspot phone to keep it connected even when you’re on the move. You can always turn it off when you’re in an area with a strong wi-fi connection.
Cost
Think about the cost of the pet temperature monitor and your budget. Some monitors are completely functional after a one-time, up-front fee, but an increasing number of monitors require a monthly, paid subscription. Also, don’t forget to include cellular data or internet costs in your calculations. If you’re often on the road, you’ll need to be subscribed to a mobile data plan to stay notified of temperature changes.
App Quality
Not all apps are created equal. Most pet temperature monitors offer the same basic features. The quality of its app determines how easy your monitor is to use. A low-quality app makes for a frustrating user experience. A quick scan of app reviews will give you an idea of its quality — if users often complain about lag, delays, or regular crashing, you might want to consider an alternative monitor.
Don’t forget to make sure the temperature monitor’s app is compatible with your phone! While most temperature monitors support both iPhones and Android devices, a few are exclusive to one or the other. Once again, user reviews are your friend here — even apps that claim to support both platforms may have issues with some devices.
Power Source
Nearly all pet temperature monitors plug into a wall socket, but since this will be used in your RV or camper, you should look into monitors that are battery-powered. This way, you’ll continue to receive temperature reports even if the power goes out in your RV.
Notification Options
Make sure the app on your pet temperature monitor allows for alarms and notifications. It’s not enough to simply be able to view temperature readings when you want; your monitor should also keep you regularly notified of the conditions in your RV.
The app for your monitor should let you set warnings for when it gets too hot or cold for your pet. Ideally, it should also allow you to create custom notifications, so you know if your monitor is running low on battery or has internet connectivity issues.
Extra Features
Some pet temperature monitors come with extra features beyond simple temperature monitoring and recording. These include things like:
Camera
This is an important feature if you prefer to actually see how your pets are doing on top of receiving temperature readings. Note that a live camera feed can put quite a strain on your internet connection, so you could end up paying much more for your cellular data plan. And if the internet in your RV isn’t great to begin with, you’ll only get choppy footage with a significant delay.
How Hot is Too Hot for Certain Types of Pets?
Every species of pet has its own range of temperatures that they can tolerate. There can also be other variables that affect an individual pet’s heat tolerance, such as health and age. Remember that your pets are accustomed to the temperatures that you live in — after all, they’ve been living with you! So, here’s a good rule of thumb: if it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your pet.
Dogs/Cats
As long as there’s plenty of air circulation and water in your RV, your dog should be fine in temperatures up to 85-degrees Fahrenheit.
Dogs regulate their body temperature through panting; so, breeds with breathing problems (like pugs) won’t be able to cool themselves as easily. Thick-furred breeds that come from cold climates will also have difficulties dealing with heat. Additionally, if your dog is very young, very old, or obese, it will also be at risk in above-average temperatures.
In any case, always be sure to leave out a bowl of water for your pup. Park your camper or RV in a shaded area whenever possible to prevent quick heating from direct sunlight.
Birds
Since most pet birds originally come from tropical areas of the world, it’s easy to assume that they’re more resistant to high temperatures. But even parrots in the wild make an effort to avoid too much direct sunlight and humidity, so why would your feathered friend be comfortable in a stuffy camper? Most birds can tolerate temperatures in the range of 40 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit but are most comfortable in 65 to 80 degrees.
Reptiles
Cold-blooded pets, like reptiles, tend to be more tolerant of higher temperatures. Your pet reptiles will be quite happy in temperatures between 68 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Beyond that, they’ll overheat.
Guinea Pigs/Hamsters/Rabbits
Small mammals like bunnies, hamsters, and guinea pigs prefer temperatures between 55 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. While your hamster or guinea pig can tolerate temperatures up to 75 degrees, anything beyond that will cause severe overheating and increase their risk of heatstroke.
In Summary
Now that you know what to look for in a pet temperature monitor for your RV, you’re probably excited to go out and buy one right now. Just remember that it’s the health and safety of your pets at stake here, so take your time and do your due diligence in researching the right product for you and your animal buddy.