The Best Cat Gps Trackers & Collars To Buy
- May 27, 2023
- By Dr. Deborah Fletcher
If you've ever waited outside your door calling your outdoor cat and waiting for them to come home, you'll understand the anxiety that comes with your cat failing to appear when you want them to.
They may have simply discovered something interesting to examine, but if they go lost or stuck in a neighbor's barn, they may be much more difficult to locate.
Using a GPS tracker or collar can provide you with piece of mind. These devices attach to your cat's collar and allow you to track their position, usually using an app on your smartphone.
This makes it easier than ever to determine where your cat is - no more worrying while you wait for them to return home!
There are the best cat GPS trackers and collars available, and it can be difficult to determine which product will best suit your cat.
BestForPets' (bestforpets.org) reviews include information about each tracker or collar, as well as its benefits and drawbacks, making it simple to select the finest one for your cat.
Reviews
Jiobit GPS Cat Tracker for Cats – Overall Winner
The Jiobit GOS Cat Location Monitor wins the top rank as our overall pick. This lightweight tag fits to your cat’s existing collar and provides unmatched location data via GPS, cellphone, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.
Because of the infinite range and extended battery life, you’ll be able to track your cat even if they venture far from home.
You may add geofenced zones, live tracking, location updates, and real-time notifications using the app. You may set up an alert to notify you when your cat departs and returns home.
The battery may be charged in 2-3 hours and can last up to 7 days. Because of its light weight and compact size, you can use it on any cat, though those under 4 pounds may find it uncomfortable.
It can be attached as a conventional dangling tag to their collar or threaded through to sit horizontally in line with their collar. Overall, we believe this is the best cat GPS tracker available.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Water-resistant
- The possibilities are endless.
- Battery life is extended.
- Alerts are simple to put up.
- Design that is long-lasting
Cons
- Expensive
- A monthly subscription plan is required.
Best Buy: Cube Pro Bluetooth GPS Tracker for Cats
If you want to watch your cat on a budget, we propose the Cube Shadow Bluetooth Tracker, which is one of the best cat GPS trackers and collars for the money.
For the price, this provides adequate capability; however, be aware that the Cube Pro does not provide as many advantages as some of the more expensive GPS trackers.
If your cat gets too far away from home, this tracker only works with Bluetooth, so the range from your attached device is only 200 feet.
You can set up a separation alarm so that if your cat gets too close to the edge of this range, a loud alarm will ring. Because this tag weighs only 0.05 pound, your cat will hardly notice it on their collar.
The battery has a lifespan of up to 12 months, however it is not rechargeable, so you must replace it when it runs out.
Pros
- Slim design
- Excellent value for money
- Waterproof
- The battery can last up to two months.
- It is simple to attach to your cat’s collar.
- Lightweight
Cons
- The range is only 200 feet.
- Most effective when used indoors
- There is no monthly fee.
PetFon Pet GPS Tracker – The Best Option
If you’re looking for a high-quality GPS tracker, the PetFon Pet GPS Tracker is an excellent option. This tag employs Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, and long-distance wireless technologies to pinpoint your cat’s exact location in real time.
Although the range is up to 3.5 miles, you can also set up a safety fence and receive notifications if your cat leaves this zone or approaches a pre-defined danger zone.
This tag lasts 8-16 hours before it needs to be recharged on the little charging station. If your cat gets lost, the linked app has a search tool that can point you in the right direction.
It can also function as an activity monitor, recording how much time your cat spends walking and sleeping and displaying how far they’ve walked. You can also program the tag to activate lights or a ringtone to help you find your cat even faster.
When it comes to top options, we believe this is the greatest cat tracker available.
Pros
- There is no monthly cost.
- Lightweight
- The app may provide alerts.
- Battery life is extended.
- Radar tracker is included.
Cons
- Range restrictions
- Waterproof but not waterproof
Pet Location Tracker Whistle Go Explore
Whistle Go Explore Pet Location Tracker connects simply to your cat’s collar. It provides tracking and real-time location data via cellular connections, GPS, and Wi-Fi.
It may also be used as an activity tracker, allowing you to keep track of how much time your cat spends exercising, which is useful if your cat needs to lose weight!
In addition to real-time data, you can view where your cat has been in the last 24 hours. This tracker offers a safe space setting that allows you to define pre-defined regions where your cat can travel freely.
When your cat exits this region, the app will notify you. The Whistle Go is powered by rechargeable batteries that should last up to 20 days between charges.
If you’re concerned that something is bothering your cat, this tracker can also record actions like licking or scratching and submit a 30-day report to your vet.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Rechargeable
- Waterproof
- A long distance
Cons
- A subscription plan is required.
- Quite large
GPS Tracker for Tractive Cat
The Tractive Cat GPS Tracker can follow your cat’s activity and real-time location, as well as alert you when they leave a pre-defined area.
When you engage the LIVE mode, you will receive location updates every 3 seconds. The battery has a lifespan of up to 5 days and can be recharged in as little as 2 hours.
This tag is thin but substantial. Some cats will not mind, but some may become angry if they feel this on their collar.
You may share the app’s monitoring data with friends and family, or even create a public link to your cat’s whereabouts if they go missing and you need help finding them.
This can also be used as an activity tracker, keeping track of how many calories your cat burns every day as well as how much time they spend exercising.
Pros
- Excellent value for money
- The possibilities are endless.
- Battery life is extended
- Waterproof
- Lightweight
Cons
- A monthly subscription is required.
- Tag is a touch large.
Choosing the Best Cat GPS Tracker: A Buyer's Guide
We understand that there are numerous cat GPS trackers and collars available, and determining the differences and benefits of each can be difficult.
We’ve included our Buyer’s Guide to assist you in swiftly determining those differences.
Who Needs a GPS Tracker or Collar for Their Cat?
If you have a cat, you might think a GPS tracker is a good investment. Even indoor cats can escape if a friend comes to visit and mistakenly leaves the door open for too long, or if your cat decides to examine an open window.
If you’ve recently relocated, putting a GPS cat collar on your cat can provide some peace of mind in case they become disoriented while exploring their new surroundings.
Some outdoor cats enjoy wandering far from home, and it can be concerning if they don’t appear for their food when you expect them to.
In this instance, a GPS tracker with an infinite range is a terrific choice because it allows you to immediately check on your cat’s current location.
Some trackers even allow you to send a pre-recorded message to your cat to encourage them to return home!
How to Choose the Best Cat GPS Tracker
When choosing the finest GPS tracker for your cat, there are a few factors to consider. Here’s what to look for while making your decision.
The first thing to determine is the sort of tracking mechanism used by each tracker. Some trackers employ numerous approaches to extend their range and precision. Here’s a quick recap:
- Radio Frequency: Commonly abbreviated as RF, these trackers transmit a radio signal of a specified frequency, which can then be picked up to pinpoint your cat’s whereabouts.
- GPS: GPS-enabled cat trackers communicate with satellites to deliver location data, just like Google Maps or your car’s navigation system.
- Bluetooth: These trackers use Bluetooth to communicate with your phone. They operate well indoors but have a considerably shorter range than other trackers.
- Cellular networks: Cellular network trackers aren’t exactly GPS trackers, but many of them do use GPS signals. Cellular network trackers have a wide range because they can work everywhere there is a mobile phone connection.
Tag Weight and Dimensions
Because some cats dislike the feeling of anything heavy around their neck, the size and weight of a tag should be considered.
Some systems are intended for both dogs and cats; these are appropriate for larger, adult cats but are ineffective for smaller breeds or kittens.
GPS tracker tags that hang vertically on your cat’s collar, similar to a regular name tag, are available. Others will slide onto your cat’s collar and sit horizontally on it. These are more secure, but some cats will not tolerate them.
Always attach a GPS tag to a regular breakaway cat collar, but make sure the width of your selected collar fits through the attachment points on a tracker.
Tracking App or Handheld Remote
Many GPS trackers communicate with their corresponding smartphone apps.
These can display a variety of statistics, such as real-time location, alarms if your cat exits a “safe zone” established by the app, your cat’s activity levels, or the amount of time they spend snoozing!
Some may allow you to share a link to your cat’s position, which might be beneficial if your cat has gone missing and you need assistance searching a specific region where they were last seen.
Others go so far as to track behaviors like scratching and prepare a 30-day behavior analysis that you can share with your veterinarian.
A handheld remote-controlled GPS tracker is an alternative to a smartphone-linked GPS tracker for locating your cat.
These follow your cat using radio frequency signals, and the remote will inform you to its whereabouts using different-colored lights and audio signals.
You may need to wander around for a bit until you pick up the signal from your cat’s collar, and then you must follow the remote’s alerts as the signal strength increases or declines.
Monthly Fee for Cat Tracker
Many GPS trackers that connect to your smartphone app need monthly subscriptions that you must sign up for in order to obtain your cat’s position data.
Other trackers, typically those that use simply Bluetooth or RF signals, do not require monthly fees.
Before you invest, make sure you understand whether your desired GPS tracker requires a monthly membership and if you’re willing to pay it as an ongoing expense.
Durability of Cat Tracker
Although most cats dislike water, it makes sensible to look for a tracker that is at the very least rainproof.
Some trackers are entirely waterproof, which can be the perfect option if you have a breed that loves water, such as the Maine Coon!
Battery Life of a Cat Tracker
Some GPS tracker manufacturers claim that their trackers’ batteries may last up to a month; others claim that they can only last a few hours before needing to be recharged or replaced.
The longer the battery lasts, the simpler the tracker mechanism. Choose a tracker with a battery life that corresponds to your cat’s habit.
If your cat comes home every night like clockwork, you can choose a tracker that has to be recharged everyday or every other day. If your cat is frequently absent from home, opt for a simpler system with a longer-lasting battery.
Cat GPS trackers are available with rechargeable or changeable batteries. If you have the latter, have a supply of spare batteries on hand!
Range of Cat Tracker
You may not believe that your outdoor cat wanders far from home, but you may be surprised! According to one study, while some cats do stay close to home, others can go up to 3 kilometers away.
Some trackers only have a range of about 500 feet, which is OK if your cat never wanders far from home, but if they do, you won’t be able to find them.
Some trackers allow you to set up an alarm that alerts you when your cat leaves a pre-defined zone, which you may set up to be just within your tracker’s range, but if your cat leaves this area quickly, you may not be able to find them in time.
Choosing a GPS tracker with an infinite range might provide piece of mind, especially if you know your cat enjoys roaming.
GPS trackers that use a combination of cell coverage, RF, Wi-Fi, and GPS data typically have the longest ranges, with some even giving an unlimited range.
Conclusion
BestForPets (bestforpets.org) chose the Jiobit GOS Cat Location Monitor as the finest GPS cat tracker available.
This tracker provides the most accurate position data of any tracker we examined by combining GPS, cellphone, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. The infinite range makes it ideal for cats who want to roam far from home.
We recommend the Cube Shadow Bluetooth Tracker as the best value.
The range is limited by the fact that this only uses Bluetooth to track your cat, so if they wander more than 200 feet from home, your connection to their whereabouts will be lost.
We hope that our reviews of the best cat GPS trackers & collars have assisted you in determining which tracker is ideal for your cat.
From trackers with an infinite range and real-time location data to basic trackers with a handset to assist you in locating your cat, you will never have to worry about your cat missing their meal time again.
If you are concerned about your cat walking too far away from home or becoming trapped or stuck somewhere, utilizing a GPS tracker can provide you with piece of mind as well as the enjoyment of seeing what your cat gets up to when they are away from home!
Dr. Deborah Fletcher
Deborah R. Fletcher, DVM, is a skilled veterinarian with more than 15 years of experience dealing with companion and exotic animals. She has experience caring for a variety of animals, including household cats and dogs, reptiles, birds of prey, and even primates. Dr. Fletcher is a valuable part of the BestForPets team, where she contributes to their aim of providing pets and their owners with the finest possible treatment and services.
Veterinarian (DVM) Dr. Deborah Fletcher
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