Cats once ruled the internet. In fact, some might argue they still do. Cat memes transcend generational divides on social media, and videos of their goofy antics are almost always winners.
Recently, however, the relationship between pets and screens has evolved. Instead of simply creating videos about animals, content creators are making videos for them.
Across YouTube, streaming services and dedicated television channels, pet-focused entertainment has become a booming niche. Pet owners can now find endless hours of content designed specifically for dogs and cats, including videos featuring birds, squirrels, fish, mice, bouncing balls and even animated strands of string. Some services, such as DOGTV, have gone so far as to create entire programming lineups tailored to canine viewers.
The Rise of Animal Entertainment
DOGTV began with a simple mission: helping dogs feel less lonely and anxious when left home alone. (Oddly enough, a cat named Charlie was the original inspiration. “He just gave me the saddest eyes one day,” the creator of DOGTV, Ron Levi, told Entrepreneur magazine.)
Launched as a cable channel in 2013, it has since evolved into a streaming platform offering content “for dogs and their humans,” with calming bedtime videos, breed-specific playlists and programs designed to desensitize nervous dogs to everyday sounds. Many of these programs are produced with specially colored videos, since dogs can’t “see” reds and greens.
Meanwhile, platforms like YouTube have lowered the barrier to entry, allowing independent creators to build massive audiences with pet-focused content. Videos of Birds and Squirrels for Separation Anxiety, for example, posted by Paul Dinning, has generated over 25 million views. (Admittedly, I left the video playing while I wrote this article, and it is pretty soothing for people, too.)
For cats, surprisingly simple concepts often seem to work best. Videos featuring moving strings, scurrying mice or fluttering birds can captivate feline viewers for extended periods of time. TV BINI’s most popular video, with black mice squeaking and scurrying across a yellow background, has more than 150 million views.
What Does Science Say?
Although pet entertainment has exploded in popularity, researchers are only beginning to understand whether animals actually respond to screens.
Studies suggest that dogs are selective — and sporadic — viewers. One 2017 study used gaze-tracking technology to reveal that dogs tend to pay attention to screens in very short bursts (a few seconds at a time). Another study from 2024 found that dogs show the greatest interest in watching other dogs, much like humans tend to prefer content featuring people. (Clearly, those scientists didn’t have access to my Netflix queue, which is just a long list of animal documentaries.)
At the same time, veterinary specialists caution against assuming that all dogs experience television the same way; their reactions can vary dramatically, depending on personality. A 2025 study conducted at Auburn University found that excitable dogs may eagerly chase objects that disappear off-screen, while anxious or fearful dogs are more likely to react to sounds such as doorbells, thunder or car horns. In such cases, television may actually increase stress rather than reduce it.
Less research has been conducted on cats than on their canine counterparts, which is apparently par for the course in veterinary science. (This is likely part of the feline plan for human subjugation.)
Why Humans Love Pet TV
The success of pet television may say as much about people as it does about animals. Pet-centered entertainment can help ease owners’ guilt about leaving animals alone, or provide a convenient distraction when energetic pets demand constant attention. For many households, turning on a bird video for a cat or a calming playlist for a dog offers peace of mind, whether or not the pet remains glued to the screen.
Still, some owners worry that relying on digital entertainment may be a poor substitute for real-world enrichment, exercise and companionship. The debate has even sparked online discussions about whether pets, like children, can have too much screen time. Some are also concerned that this kind of entertainment could contribute to what vets call Laser Pointer Syndrome, which is a detrimental behavioral condition that can develop when an animal’s prey drive is stimulated without providing a tangible reward.
On the other hand, scenarios do exist in which pet TV could help us learn about our beloved animals, enhancing our interactions and strengthening the bond. The National Law Review recently wrote about how DOGTV is partnering with the 10th annual Pet Anxiety Awareness Month (PAAW) campaign, which seeks to raise awareness of our pets’ sensitivities to “peak noise events” like fireworks, travel and summer storms. Throughout the month of June, DOGTV will provide “expert-led video content designed to help pet parents understand what their pets may be experiencing, and how to help.”
Top image: tirc83 from Getty Images Signature, via Canva.com
