I've been successfully using a Asus cloudbook running "motion" from the Debian repos
https://motion-project.github.io/
to detect motion, record and push video of the cat at her bowl while we've been on holiday but the internal webcam isn't that great.
So I've basically solved the software problem but I'm looking at a better external USB (?) webcam
Most of the commercial webcams I've seen seem to push people into expensive subscriptions which I don't care about but does anyone have recommendations for cheap, good quality webcams? It would be ideal to be being able to move it remotely and maybe start using it as a more general security cam?