The 4 Best Pet Temperature Monitors for Your RV Adventures in 2024

Traveling with pets is so much fun and a great way to keep the family together on long road trips in your RV. But of course, there are times when taking your dog or cat with you just isn’t possible, and you have to leave them behind in the RV.

When you leave Fluffy in the RV, you want to be sure that he or she is safe and comfortable. That’s where a pet temperature monitor can help by sending you alerts to your smartphone about changes in temperature, humidity, and loss of power.

With a remote temperature sensor, you will be notified instantly if the air conditioning in your RV breaks down and it’s getting too hot or even too cold. Then you can return immediately to your vehicle to rescue your cat or dog before the temperature reaches dangerous levels.

When it’s only mild and sunny outside, the temperature inside an RV can get surprisingly hot very quickly—putting your pet’s life at risk. Similarly, even when there is only light snow outside, an RV interior can cool down fast. That’s why having a pet temperature monitor in your RV is essential.

A pet temperature monitor allows you to leave your dog or cat in the RV but still keep tabs on what’s going on while you are away. It sends data about the temperature, humidity, power status, and presence of water inside the RV to your smartphone via email, text, or a phone call. You set the safe temperature range, and the monitor will alert you when your RV is outside this zone.

After extensive testing and research, we found that the Temp Stick Temperature & Humidity Sensor from Ideal Sciences (click here to check the price) is the best model overall. It’s a trustworthy and affordable sensor that you can depend on to monitor the conditions inside your RV accurately.

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WiFi vs. Cellular Pet Temperature Sensors for RVing

There are two main types of RV pet temperature monitors you should consider—those operating on WiFi and those using a cellular network.

WiFi Pet Temperature Monitors

A WiFi pet temperature monitor works by connecting to the Internet via WiFi to send you alerts and relay information. In order to operate effectively, it requires a reliable internet connection. Guest networks at RV parks are notoriously unreliable and sometimes require you to reconnect every couple of hours manually. So, we recommend purchasing a mobile hotspot, such as a Verizon Jetpack to ensure a more consistent connection no matter your location.

After the initial purchase price, the operational costs of a WiFi sensor tends to be cheaper because you do not have to pay cellular data subscription fees, but the mobile hotspot does incur extra charges. The advantage of using a WiFi monitor combined with a mobile hotspot is that you can also connect other devices (e.g., laptops and smartphones) to the hotspot and make use of the internet connection for entertainment or business purposes.

Cellular Pet Temperature Monitors

A cellular pet temperature monitor has its own inbuilt cellular network connection which is usually more reliable than a WiFi connection when on the road. However, these devices can be more costly to run as they do have subscription fees to maintain the mobile service.

It’s important to remember that even the best RV pet temperature monitors are only machines. They must be used with human common sense. Do not leave your pet inside your RV if temperatures are going to be extreme, even with a monitor. Also, remember that all these RV pet temperature monitoring systems require you to have a working cell phone on hand and for you to be in cellular range to receive alerts.

Best RV Pet Temperature Monitor Reviews

1. Temp Stick WiFi Temperature & Humidity Sensor: Best WiFi Pet Temperature Monitor

The Temp Stick WiFi Temperature & Humidity Sensor from Ideal Sciences allows you to set triggers for temperature and humidity levels and it will send alerts to your smartphone by text or email when it detects changes in your RV conditions. The device can monitor temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity between 0% to 100%. You can set alerts, update all your settings and view historical data remotely with the intuitive smartphone app built for Android and iPhone to check and monitor the temperature.

Made in the USA and built to work in Canada as well, the Temp Stick temperature sensor is not only reliable but it’s simple to use and easy to set up—it only needs 2 AA batteries to operate, and it takes just 3 minutes to set up. The average life expectancy of the batteries is approximately 1 year, depending on how often you configure the sensor to take readings. No messy cords or external power sources needed.

It is also quite small measuring at only 1.42 inches x 1.23 inches x 3.5 inches. The Temp Stick comes in two colors (black and white) and can remain inconspicuous and take up very little space inside your RV.

There are no recurring subscription fees to use the Temp Stick. However, as it requires a reliable WiFi connection to function, you will need a dedicated mobile hotspot in your RV (such as a Verizon Jetpack), and this is an extra expense if you don’t already own one. Guest RV park internet networks are not recommended.

The Temp Stick is factory calibrated, and you can also manually calibrate the readings with the offset value settings in the app. The app is very user-friendly, triggers for alerts are easy to set, and all your historical data is automatically saved to the cloud network so you can log in and view the conditions in your RV while you’re away.

You can also add up to 10 contacts to receive alerts under the one account, and you can customize those temperature alerts for specific recipients.

The device can be set up to take readings every 60, 30, 15, 10 or 5 minutes. Unfortunately, as 5 minutes is the shortest interval, it is not an actual real-time reading. Another drawback is that it can’t monitor the power status of your RV, so if your air conditioning stops working due to power loss you will only be notified when the temperature eventually changes. However, the Temp Stick can be set up to inform you if it loses the internet connection.

The Temp Stick comes with a 3-year warranty, and if you need any help, there is free phone and email support available 7 days a week from a customer service team that is based in the USA.

For those looking for a trustworthy WiFi pet temperature monitor that is simple and easy-to-use, the Temp Stick is your best option.

It’s affordable as there are no subscription fees, it’s reliable, and thanks to the intuitive smartphone app it’s incredibly user-friendly. Just remember you will need a mobile hotspot (like a Verizon Jetpack) in your RV for the Temp Stick to function.

Click here to check the price of our #1 recommendation: the Temp Stick

2. MarCELL Cellular Monitoring System: Best Cellular Pet Temperature Monitor

The MarCELL Cellular Monitoring System allows pet owners to monitor a comprehensive range of conditions inside their RV. It can monitor temperature, humidity, water leaks, and power status, and it will send alerts if safe ranges that you set are exceeded via either a text message, phone call or, email.

This extensive range of data collection is handy for RV owners because not only will the MarCELL tell you when your ideal temperature or humidity levels have been exceeded, it can also tell you if your RV has lost power (causing the air conditioning to stop working) or with the optional SPuck water sensor it can tell you if there is water inside your RV (useful if a pipe bursts, for example). This pet temperature monitor will provide reliable alerts so you can immediately return to your RV to rescue your pet before the inside temperature rises to a dangerous level.

The MarCELL boasts an app with an advanced dashboard that has easy to read charts and simple settings to create and modify alerts. The device works by checking all levels within your RV every 10 seconds and reports immediately if an alarm threshold is met. Provided everything is safe, no alert will be triggered. Every hour this information is recorded, and then the historical data is uploaded to the cloud every 8 hours so you can view it online.

You can also pay for ”Instant Update” activations, which allows you to see in real-time what is happening inside your RV and view updated historical data without waiting for the next automatic update. The ”Instant Updates” cost 25 cents per update (sold in packs of 8 for $2), and they never expire.

It’s important to note again, that if an alert is triggered because the temperature inside your RV is too hot for your pet or other conditions are beyond your safe ranges, then an alert will be sent instantly and automatically to your mobile device via email, text message or a phone call. Like we said earlier, the MarCELL checks the conditions very close to real-time—every 10 seconds, to be exact.

You can make changes to your chosen alert settings remotely, and your alerts can be fully customized. For instance, you can set up a text message alert to be sent to a specific person informing them that your power may have been disconnected and requires addressing. The dashboard system also allows you to allocate multiple users to the account and specify what permissions they have (or don’t have).

The MarCELL uses a built-in cellular connection to operate. There is no need for an existing phone line, WiFi, or internet connection. Due to the cellular connection, the MarCELL has a small fee to maintain the service each month. The fee can be paid annually at a cheaper rate or month-to-month when required.

The unit is powered by a wall outlet with the included AC adapter. It will also function when the power is out for up to 48 hours thanks to the rechargeable back up battery. The MarCELL comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, 1-year warranty, and it has been designed and manufactured in the USA.

The MarCELL is an all-in-one RV pet temperature monitoring system that can monitor temperature, humidity, power, and water. The device operates independently with a built-in cellular connection, so you don’t need to locate reliable WiFi. There is a monthly fee to maintain the cellular service, and the initial cost of the unit is more expensive than the Temp Stick. However, for pet owners that want complete peace of mind and aren't bothered by the extra fees for reliable protection when leaving their furry friend behind, the MarCELL is hard to beat.

Click here to check the price of our #1 rated cellular monitor: the MarCELL on Amazon

3. RV PetSafety Temperature Monitor

The RV PetSafety Temperature Monitor is a cellular device that has been purpose-built for monitoring pets in RVs. The device will monitor the temperature inside your RV and can send alerts via text and email (to up to 5 users) or through in-app notifications when the cabin exceeds the limits you have set. The RV PetSafety monitor can send alerts for temperature, low battery, loss of cellular connection, and loss of power.

The device uses the 4G Verizon cellular network for connectivity and is powered by a wall outlet with the included USB adapter. It also has a backup battery that will last approximately 2 days if there is a power outage and it will alert you if your RV's power goes out.

Setup is straightforward, and there is a peel-and-stick mounting bracket system allowing you to attach it to the interior wall of your RV where it is the least intrusive. The included app—which works on both iPhone and Android phones—has a clean and simple design making it easy to create alerts and modify any settings.

Once you purchase the pet temperature monitoring device, you will then need to pay for a cellular subscription through the mobile app. You can choose to buy the data subscription on an annual plan (which is the best value), a half-yearly plan, or the pay as you go monthly plan that unfortunately has an activation/deactivation fee every time you start and stop the service.

We have heard from customers that they have had trouble with the tech support being hard to reach and not helping to resolve issues promptly. If you’re after a pet temperature monitor that comes with a reliable customer service team and no subscription fees, we recommend using the Temp Stick combined with a hotspot instead.

4. SensorPush Wireless Thermometer & Hygrometer

Compatible with both iPhone and Android, the SensorPush Wireless Thermometer & Hygrometer is a compact remote temperature monitor that measures just 1.57 inches x 1.57 inches x 0.65 inches and weighs only 40g. The SensorPush runs on a CR2477 coin cell battery which typically provides over a year of regular use. The sensing component of the device is created in Switzerland ensuring quality and precision.

Data is taken down at one-minute intervals and alerts are sent out instantly via push notifications. Unfortunately, email and text message alerts are not available just yet. However, the company advises that this functionality is coming soon.

Because the SensorPush is Bluetooth reliant and has a limited range of 100 meters, on its own, it is not practical for RV users who want to leave their pets in their vehicles while doing other activities. You will also need to purchase the SensorPush G1 WiFi Gateway and connect to a mobile hotspot to enable the RV remote temperature monitoring capabilities of this device. When combined with the gateway device you can monitor your RV from anywhere via the Internet and receive real-time updates, full data history and alerts through the SensorPush app while you’re away from your pet. There are no monthly subscription fees to use the SensorPush or the Gateway cloud service, everything is included in the purchase price.

The WiFi Gateway can also connect to an unlimited amount of SensorPush sensors. As the sensors are quite portable and very affordable, you may wish to make use of this extra functionality and purchase multiple sensors at once for your RV—for example, you can use them to monitor the temperature inside your freezer and refrigerator as well as your RV cabin all at the same time. Multiple mobile devices (users) can also be logged into the same Gateway cloud account simultaneously to monitor your RV.

The SensorPush app is one of the most user-friendly on the market. It’s very straightforward to connect with the sensors, create alerts and view the data history. However, having to organize the additional WiFi Gateway and a mobile hotspot might be too much of a hassle for some users. If that doesn’t bother you and you’d like to add multiple temperature monitors in your RV, then the SensorPush will be the most cost-effective solution for doing so.

Conclusion

RV temperature sensors can be extremely useful tools to allow dog and cat owners flexibility when traveling with pets. There are times where you will have to leave your pet behind in your RV when you’re on the road. When you do, an RV pet temperature monitor can help you monitor the conditions inside your RV, so you know your pet is safe and comfortable while you’re away. It’s important to choose a device that is reliable, accurate and user-friendly.

After reviewing the best RV pet temperature monitors on the market, two models stood out above the rest—the Temp Stick WiFi Temperature and Humidity Sensor and the MarCELL Cellular Monitoring System.

Both devices have user-friendly apps and provide reliable alerts for remote monitoring, so whichever one you choose you will be able to spend time away from your furry friend exploring the sights and running errands assured that their comfort is taken care of.

It's important to test your pet temperature monitoring system beforehand inside your RV on a warm day WITHOUT your pet to make sure it works correctly. At the same time, make yourself familiar with the alerts and notifications and set them up the way you like.