Ebo Air Pet Camera review: I got a companion robot for my clingy cats

But, to maintain the lifestyle they’ve grown accustomed to, we do have to occasionally leave the house to work. So, spurred on by curiosity (and yes, a little bit of helicopter parenting), we decided to try out a companion robot – the Enabot Ebot Air, which also doubles as a pet camera – to keep our cats company and keep an eye on them. Would they miss us or misbehave while we were gone and is this little robot worth the investment?

What is the Enabot Ebo Air?

So, we all know AI and smart tech are going to take over the world. We’ve got robot lawn mowers, robot vacuums and smart goggles revolutionising our homes, so why should our dogs or cats miss out?

I tested the Enabot Ebo Air, which, as well as being a pet camera (that you can access and control through an app), also acts as a robot companion that watches, talks to and helps to entertain your pet.

Enabot EBO Air Home Security Pet Camera

£199 at Amazon

Pros

Works on carpet
Remote control and auto settings
Clear camera
Can save pictures/videos
Easy-to-use app
Can set patrol schedules
Quiet while moving around the home

Cons

Limited locations (not upstairs, in the garden, or above ground)
Play options could be better
Noisy when it does speak
Could scare some pets

The Ebo Air stands out from conventional pet cameras as it can move around. Its multi-track terrain ball rolls around your home, capturing the action on the ground and at (pet) eye level.

The robot has 1080p HD video resolution with 30fps, infrared night vision, and the ability to return to the charging station when its battery is low. You can set time schedules for it to patrol your home or play with your pet, and it comes with AI-powered obstacle avoidance technology, which means you don’t have to worry about it crashing into your furniture.

You can also chat with your pets from afar through the microphone! You will need either a 2.4 or 5 GHz wireless Wi-Fi connection to use it.

Meet the testers

Ozzy

Lyra

Ozzy is a five-month-old Bengal kitten. What he may lack in life experience, he makes up for in energy and is in dire need of a robot companion for when his older sister gets tired of his games. He is also incredibly photogenic, so I knew he would relish the opportunity to be on camera (security or otherwise).

Lyra is a hardened toy-testing tabby cat with two years’ experience in test-driving everything from feather wands to robotic lasers. She enjoys a high-octane chase and has a knack for disrupting technology, including breaking cat flaps and knocking laptops off desks. The perfect expert to test the Enabot Ebo Air’s durability.

How we tested

I tested the playing functionality while working from home, assessing how both cats responded to the robot. While I was out over the weekend and in the office, I also used the app to spy on and communicate with my cats. These are the factors I considered.

Ease of use: I looked at how easy the Ebo Air was to set up, how intuitive the app was, and how straightforward it was to control.

Performance: Did the robot do what it was supposed to? I rated the quality of the camera and other features, including the two-way talk functionality and play settings.

Reception: Did my cats love it? Were we replaced, or did I just get addicted to the live feed?

Enabot EBO Air pet camera review

Design and installation

The EBO Air can be set up in minutes. Once unboxed and fully charged, you’ll see the cute hearts on its display/the robot’s face change colour. You’ll then need to download the app, which is available on iOS and Android, and connect to your Wi-Fi.

Pick a place for the charging dock that’s easily accessible to the areas of the house you want monitored. I placed the Ebo in our porch looking out onto our open plan living room/kitchen area, which is where my cats spend most of their time. To reset the robot, just use the pin that comes attached to the instruction manual.

Features and performance

From inside the app, you can see four options: remote, play, photo, and voice chat. When it leaves its dock, the robot gives a cute cry of “Ebo!”

The remote takes some time to get used to, but once familiar, you can drive the robot around your house and increase the speed. My cats’ interest was instantly piqued when the speed increased, and we had a good game of chase. Ozzy ran at the robot claws first, so I can safely say it’s very durable. On the lower speed, it worked perfectly as a camera as they essentially ignored it and got on with their days.

The robot can move around the house autonomously without any collisions (even on carpet), and you don’t have to worry about the battery running out as it slinks off to its charging station when it needs to.

The play mode is perfect if a) you’re feeling lazy or b) you want to play with them while you’re not home and you can select from various moods/behaviours, including “spin”, “race” and “excited”. My kitten loved the spin option – it helped him practise his pouncing skills. Even better, Ebo will react to them.

A particular highlight was when it said “ow Ebo” after being swatted in the face with a paw. My other cat was a bit more suspicious of this new house guest, so preferred to observe rather than engage.

Video and photos

I loved the camera; the quality was so clear, and it was great to see what the cats were up to while I was out (mainly sleeping and wrestling, to be honest). I enjoyed seeing life from their POV and the fact that I could snap cute pictures from afar and use the remote-control functionality to find them if they moved out of view.

In fact, I am ashamed to admit I spent a whole train journey watching what they were up to rather than reading my book and I couldn’t resist a quick check while in the pub. So, warning: it can be addictive! One thing to note is that on a slightly darker day, while the camera was still clear, it did give my living room (and therefore all the photos) a strange purple hue.

Voice function

I often thought it would be wonderful to text my pets and let them know I’m thinking of them/I’ll be home soon, and the voice function really does take this to a whole new level.

Although I would recommend turning the volume down a bit as it can come across a little like Darth Vader booming through the house. Ozzy enjoyed meowing back at me, but Lyra did not like this function at all and hid under the sofa until I stopped talking. Awkward.

What I didn’t love

Even though the Ebo is smart, it has its limitations. It couldn’t capture my cats when they headed out the cat flap or jumped up onto the counters, and although it could navigate carpets, stairs were a step too far.

However, this wasn’t a dealbreaker for me as, due to the microphone function, they could usually be found after a call of their name or a little AI-powered searching. This would also be less of an issue if you’re using it with dogs, as they don’t have the same affection for heights. It also can’t dispense treats like some cameras on the market.

Another downside was the noise; like a cute robot from your favourite sci-fi film, the Ebo likes to alert you to its presence by shouting its name. The sound effect on the camera is also very loud, which shocked my kitten awake when I was trying to take a sneaky picture of him all curled up. We learned the hard way that it’s best to turn it off or set it to silent mode at night; being abruptly awakened by the sound of a robot companion felt like a scene from Black Mirror.

What the testers loved

Ozzy couldn't get enough of all the play options—they gave him a great workout. We came home to a tired, cuddly cat. Pure bliss.

Once she had given it a good sniff on day one, Lyra pretty much ignored the robot. She appreciated that her boisterous younger brother had something else to occupy his time when she needed a nap, but she was not soothed by the voice function at all.

Pet camera FAQs

Are pet cameras worth it?

These are some of the factors to consider.

They can offer peace of mind

If you’re the type of person who spends your day panicking about the chaos your pets can cause while you’re out (broken vases and the like), then spying on your cat may save you a lot of stress in the long run. Similarly, if your cat needs reassurance or has separation anxiety, you can provide this through the speaker function.

They can help spot changes in behaviour or illness

Animals are good at hiding their pain, so monitoring them with a pet camera (and having the footage to show your vet) could help you spot any behavioural or physical problems, meaning you may be able to diagnose and treat any underlying issues sooner.

Security

Pet cameras have many of the same functions as security cameras but are often much cheaper, so if you’re not after more high-tech functions then they could be a good option.

Verdict: Is the Enabot EBO Air worth it?

EBO is primarily designed for cat owners but is also suitable for those who own small pet dogs. Note that one of my colleagues tried it with their cocker spaniel, Monty, and he wasn’t a fan at all, so it’s one for more confident, curious pets.