Pet-friendly alarm system in Mallorca with AlarmaBalear
Having a reliable alarm system at home is essential, but if you live with a dog or a cat, you also need something equally important: a system that protects your home without constantly triggering false alarms every time your pet moves. If you have pets at home, AlarmaBalear brings you the alarm system you were looking for.
Modern, high-end security systems now include pet-immune motion detectors specifically designed to distinguish between normal animal movement and a real human intruder. In this article, we explain in detail how these detectors work on a technical level and why they are the ideal solution if you want a pet-compatible alarm system for your home.
Why Standard Motion Detectors Don’t Work Well With Pets
Traditional motion detectors are usually based on PIR (Passive Infrared) technology. They detect changes in infrared radiation (heat) within their field of view. When something warm, like a person, moves across the detection area, the sensor “sees” a variation and triggers the alarm.
The problem is that pets also emit heat and move within the same protected area. If the detector is not designed specifically to identify and ignore animals, it will treat a medium-sized dog or an active cat as a potential intruder. The result:
-
nuisance alarms when your pet walks around the living room,
-
sirens sounding at night for no reason,
-
calls from the monitoring centre every time your dog decides to stretch or jump on the sofa.
A good pet-friendly alarm system must solve this problem at its root, with both hardware design and intelligent processing.
How Modern Pet-Immune Motion Detectors Work
Modern detectors used in professional alarm systems combine several technical elements to achieve stable, pet-immune detection:
1. Optimised Lens Design and Detection Pattern
The Fresnel lens (the plastic “window” of the detector) is engineered to shape the detection zones in a very specific way:
-
Most sensitivity is concentrated at human torso height.
-
The lower area, closer to the floor, has reduced sensitivity or a different detection pattern.
-
This means typical pet movement (close to the ground) generates a much lower response in the sensor than a person walking upright.
Some detectors are calibrated to ignore movement below a certain height threshold (for example, up to around 50 cm) and a mass equivalent to small or medium animals (e.g., up to 20–25 kg), while still reacting strongly to a normal adult.
2. Digital Processing and Intelligent Algorithms
The detector does not simply trigger when it sees “movement”. It evaluates the shape, speed, duration and energy of that movement.
The internal processor analyses:
-
signal amplitude (how strong the heat change is),
-
movement trajectory (how the object crosses the detection zones),
-
time pattern (how long and how consistently the signal appears).
Typical pet movement is:
-
closer to the ground,
-
often faster and with shorter, irregular bursts,
-
limited in vertical “height” as seen by the detector.
Human movement, on the other hand, usually produces a larger and more uniform infrared signature, with a different pattern as the person walks upright through the room. The algorithm uses these differences to reject animal-related signals while reacting reliably to human intruders.
3. Temperature Compensation
Professional motion detectors include temperature compensation. This is crucial in real homes, especially in warm climates like Mallorca, where room temperature can get close to body temperature. If the detector is not compensated, its sensitivity drops significantly when the environment is warm, making it harder to distinguish people from the background.
Temperature compensation:
-
continually adjusts the detector’s internal parameters,
-
maintains stable sensitivity across a wide temperature range,
-
ensures reliable detection of humans and stable immunity to pets even during hot days.
4. Dual Technology in Demanding Environments (Optional)
In certain versions, motion detectors for professional systems may combine PIR with microwave technology (dual-tech detectors). The PIR stage detects heat-based movement, and the microwave stage measures actual motion within the space using high-frequency waves.
The alarm is only triggered when both technologies agree that a real target is moving. This significantly reduces false alarms in complex environments—especially where HVAC systems, curtains, or reflections could confuse less advanced detectors.
When configured correctly, this approach is also compatible with pets, because the microwave and PIR signals are processed together with the same pet-immunity rules.
5. Anti-Tamper and Anti-Masking Protection
Advanced detectors are not only smart about pets; they also protect themselves against sabotage:
-
anti-tamper switches detect if someone tries to open or remove the detector from the wall,
-
some models include anti-masking technology, which recognises attempts to cover or block the detector with tape, spray or objects.
This ensures that the pet-friendly features do not create new vulnerabilities: your detector remains secure and functional even if someone tries to disarm it physically.
Correct Placement Is Essential for Pet Compatibility
Even the best detector can generate false alarms if it is installed in the wrong place. For a truly pet-friendly alarm system, professional placement is critical:
-
Detectors should not point directly at stairs or furniture where pets often jump or climb, as this effectively “lifts” them into the height zone of a human.
-
Avoid aiming sensors at windows with strong sunlight, heat sources, or areas with constant airflow from air conditioners or radiators.
-
For larger dogs, detectors may need to be installed at a specific height and angle so that the detection pattern crosses above the typical path of the animal while still covering the room effectively.
A professional installer will take into account:
-
the size and habits of your pet,
-
the layout of each room,
-
the furniture and typical movement paths,
-
and the overall security strategy of the house.
Integration With a Modern Alarm System
These advanced motion detectors are part of a complete alarm ecosystem, which typically can includes:
-
door and window opening sensors,
-
glass break detectors,
-
sirens (indoor and outdoor),
-
control panel or hub with internet and mobile network communication,
-
optional indoor cameras for visual verification.
From the user’s side, everything is managed through a mobile app:
-
you can arm or disarm the system with a single tap,
-
receive instant notifications if motion is detected,
-
review which detector was triggered and at what time,
-
and in some configurations, see image sequences for additional verification.
The result is a home alarm system that works perfectly even when your pets are free to move around the house.
Real Security Without Sacrificing Your Pet’s Freedom
A pet-friendly alarm system is not just a marketing label; it is the result of careful hardware design, advanced signal processing and proper installation. When all of these elements are combined, you get:
-
reliable detection of real intruders,
-
stable immunity to normal pet movement,
-
fewer false alarms and less stress,
-
and full peace of mind knowing both your home and your animals are safe.
If you share your home with a dog or a cat and want a professional alarm system that respects their freedom while keeping your property truly secure, choosing a system with high-end pet-immune motion detectors is the smartest decision you can make.