Ensuring the safety of your cat, especially in a world where they can easily wander off, demands a reliable solution, and a cat tracker equipped with robust GPS technology emerges as the optimal choice. Capable of monitoring your cat’s whereabouts globally with satellite or cellular coverage, it serves as a vital tool even if international risks may seem unlikely. Whether your feline friend roams outdoors or stays indoors, the potential for unexpected disappearances exists, be it a contractor’s van or a momentarily open door. Despite the investment involved in purchasing the tracker, charger, and a subscription for the tracking service, ensuring your cat’s safety is well worth it. Selecting the best cat tracker depends on your cat’s willingness to wear it as well as the specific information you seek. There are various options available, including cellular, non-cellular, Bluetooth, and RF trackers, catering to different needs and preferences.
Types of Cat Tracking Devices
When choosing how to keep an eye on your cat, the technology used in the tracker is key. It helps you figure out what suits your specific situation best.
Let’s explore different types:
- Radio Frequency Trackers
- Bluetooth Trackers with a Mesh Network
- GPS Trackers with Cell Connection
- GPS Trackers without Cell Connection
RF Trackers
Radiofrequency trackers are some of the best GPS trackers for cats. These work by linking a handheld device to a tracker attached to your cat’s collar or harness using radio waves. This setup helps you play a sort of “warmer or colder” game to locate your cat.
These trackers often use sounds and lights to signal when you’re nearing your pet. They’re known for their long-lasting batteries and being very precise, sometimes to within an inch.
However, these aren’t GPS devices, so they can’t give you your cat’s exact spot. But they are handy for finding your cat over a short distance.
The good points include being really accurate, cost-effective since there’s no ongoing fee, having batteries that last a long time, and the trackers being small and light, making them good for cats. The downsides are that they only work over a limited area and are most effective when you always have an eye on your pet. Also, they don’t provide GPS-based location information.
Bluetooth Trackers
The best pet tracker for cats for those in smaller backyards are Bluetooth-based. Bluetooth trackers, like the well-known Apple AirTag and Tile, are popular among pet owners for tracking cats since these are small, easy to attach to a collar, don’t cost much, and help you find your cat.
These devices, originally meant for keys or bags, use Bluetooth to connect to your smartphone. They beep to help you find them. Their range varies – Tile models can reach from 150ft to 400ft, while AirTags can go up to 800ft. Since they need a direct line to work, they’re best for finding your cat in your house or yard.
A handy feature is that if your tracker goes out of range, your phone shows its last known spot on a map. Plus, these devices use a network of similar devices to update their location. For AirTags, nearby Apple gadgets help update their location. Tile uses other Tiles nearby for the same purpose.
There are more Apple gadgets than Tiles out there, so AirTags might work better, but this is just a theory. In less crowded areas, this feature might not work at all.
The advantages: They’re cheap, small, have good battery life, and can make noise to help you find your pet. The downsides: They have a limited range, depend on nearby devices for the best tracking, and aren’t great in isolated areas.
Cellular GPS Trackers
The best best cat tracking collar for real-time location tracking are cellular-based trackers. GPS trackers for cats use GPS and cellular data to let you know where your cat is. GPS helps the tracker figure out how far it is from at least four satellites in space. This is how it precisely finds out where it is.
Remember, the GPS tracker can know its location without the internet, but it needs a way to send this info to you. That’s where cellular data steps in. It’s a common and not-too-expensive way to get the tracker’s location to you.
These trackers need a subscription, which you have to buy from the company that makes the tracker. Sometimes, you can use your own SIM card in the tracker. But either way, it’s not just a one-time cost; you’ll need to pay every month or year.
Non-Cellular GPS Trackers
When you look for GPS pet trackers that don’t need a cell connection, you’ll mostly find advanced satellite tracking options like the Spot Trace or the Garmin Astro 430, which is priced at $649 and mainly for hunting dogs. These products are generally more expensive and larger.
The Spot Trace is typically used for tracking valuable items like boats or cars. It operates using satellite internet instead of cellular networks, broadcasting its location to your device. You’ll still need a monthly subscription, but it works nearly everywhere globally, regardless of 4G/5G availability. While it’s not specifically made for pets, it’s reasonably priced, and the monthly fees are on par with cell-connected GPS trackers.
However, its size is a drawback. It’s quite large, about 7cm tall and weighs 88 grams. Fitting it onto your cat’s collar might be tough, but it could be feasible with a harness.
Choose the Best Cat Tracker for Your Cats
To ensure your beloved cat’s safety and your peace of mind, consider investing in a cat tracker suited to your needs and environment. Whether it’s a simple radio frequency tracker for close-range searches, a convenient Bluetooth tracker for home and garden use, a real-time GPS tracker with cellular connectivity for comprehensive monitoring, or a robust satellite tracker for global tracking, the right tool can make all the difference. Choose wisely, considering factors like range, accuracy, size, and subscription costs, to keep a watchful eye on your adventurous feline friend, wherever they may roam.