9 Best Cat Trackers – We Tested Them All

117 thoughts on “9 Best Cat Trackers – We Tested Them All”

1. Laurene Lambertino-Urquizo Jun 12, 2018 at 4:22 am

   Could the waves emitted by these devices be dangerous to cats?

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   1. Mallory Crusta Jan 1, 2020 at 11:45 pm

      Hi Laurene,

      That’s a great question and a difficult one to answer. We know that low levels of radiation like those emitted by cat trackers may have harmful effects, but those effects haven’t been established or proven. Without enough information available to give a definitive answer, it looks like the best you can do is decide if the potential benefits of tracking your cat outweigh the potential—and yet unknown—risks of exposing your cat to more radiation.

      Best,

      Mallory

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      1. Benjamin Cowles Mar 27, 2022 at 3:59 am

         The last thing they’ll do is prove their technology(not the little companies, the system as a whole) is making us ill and die prematurely. They save “viruses” to explain those concerns, where their pharma companies step in. Make no mistake, EVERY technology from weather manipulation to excessive artificial processing of food has some negative affect on us, even small but do the math. Their idea of “acceptable” health is way lower than yours.

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         1. Jason Payne Jul 27, 2022 at 1:42 pm

            This is nothing more than brainwashed tin foil hat hyperbole. You’ve clearly read far too much crap on the Internet. There are enough independent organisations and individuals (such as PhD students) who are able to conduct research directly on devices and publish papers on the results. And this is exactly what has happened. You can’t keep radiation from a device a secret when literally everyone can measure the effects directly themselves with the right equipment. And there are plenty of organisations (both small and large) as well as people who have the means and motivation to do this, and they don’t profit from the technology otherwise.

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      2. Benjamin Cowles Mar 27, 2022 at 4:01 am

         I will say also add that one of my cats died of a horrible tumor right behind his shoulder one vet said is where they get their shots. So if you’ve given your cats shots you won’t be doing much worse with 2g.

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      3. Eva May 4, 2022 at 7:27 pm

         Sorry if I am REPLYING and not commenting. Could not find how to just comment. Just wanted to say that your research is incredibly thorough as well as presented easily and … Just fantastic! Thanks a lot! Our cat is small only 3,3 -3,4 kg (maybe 77lbs if I remember correctly, so were struggling to find a small one. We dont have all the models in Sweden, but yr guide has helped me a lot. Its the best one out there – in any language I know at least 🙂

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   2. Benjamin Cowles Mar 27, 2022 at 3:52 am

      No more than 5g is dangerous to us, so yes. But we’re probably worse off.

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2. Sean Mamo Nov 22, 2018 at 4:54 am

   hey – great review. just wondering your thoughts between the Loc8tor and the Eureka Technology… reason is they seem very similar however the Eureka give a longer range.

   I was about to purchase the Loc8tor but have seen a few complaints about the range on it.. The Eureka seems to be great too however as a “con” you said the battery life isn’t good.. The battery lasts 3 months which seems decent.

   Any thoughts would be great..

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   1. Mallory Crusta Jan 1, 2020 at 11:57 pm

      Hi Sean,

      While the two devices both use RF technology, the Loc8tor has a significantly smaller detection range. It’s limited to just 400 feet. In contrast, the Eureka has a range of 1/2 of a mile up to 2 miles.

      You’re right that the Eureka system does have a decent battery life. According to their FAQ page, the battery lasts for up to 6 weeks and up to 3 days of continuous tracking. The Loc8tor system, however, has an estimated battery life of 4-12 months.

      Altogether, I think the Eureka tracker is a much stronger product and is the one to buy if you’re serious about tracking your cat over long distances. But if tracking range isn’t a priority and you want to save money, the Loc8tor system is the one to try.

      Hope this answers your questions!

      Best,

      Mallory

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   2. Sophie Oct 31, 2023 at 10:29 am

      I recently purchased Sleepets AirPaw with Apple’s Find My support for my cat, switching from Loc8tor, which didn’t quite meet my needs. integration with Find My offers a reliable tracking solution. Despite a few initial glitches, the customer support team was quick to assist. I’m satisfied with my purchase and would rate it 4 out of 5. It’s a step up from my previous tracker, providing peace of mind for my pet’s safety.

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      1. Jonathon Nov 3, 2023 at 2:06 pm

         so where I can find Sleepets product? I want to check some details

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3. David Dec 19, 2018 at 9:31 pm

   Tile Mate has a 1yr battery life. How is it “Short Battery life”?

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   1. All About Cats Dec 31, 2019 at 7:58 pm

      Hi David,

      Good catch, we’ve updated the product info to reflect the 1yr battery life.

      Thanks!

      Pedro

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      1. George Richman Oct 17, 2021 at 6:08 pm

         My neighbor bought us the TILE for our indiir cat who likes to escape. Within the first six months it found our car 4 tiimes. Three of the times it was wondering up to a half mile away. It found our cat each time. A couple times the cat was not in the location at that time, but it would goniff again and we’d find her. The other time was when our cat returned into our yard at 3am.

         I can honestly say that the TILE worked great. We live in Los Angeles and it worked great!

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         1. Mallory Crusta Post authorOct 18, 2021 at 9:10 pm

            Thanks for sharing, George! My experience is probably shaped by the fact that I used it in a less populous area with fewer Tile users, so I imagine in Los Angeles, it would be more effective—your story certainly seems to suggest that this is the case. Glad it’s been helpful!

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            1. George Richman Oct 19, 2021 at 11:47 pm

               Yes, there are a couple tile people in my neighborhood, and in a few surrounding neighborhoods. That helps the situation. The crazy thing is that the battery worked for 8 months. Thank god, 🙂
      2. J. W. May 3, 2022 at 5:18 am

         Thank you for this comprehensive review. We have two cats now and although both indoor, Spring is here and so are all the Lil wee beasties just outside the windows buzzing, flittering, hopping, n calling our house panthers to come out n play. They are determined to make their escape, they are devious, and they are fast! So we shall outfit them w RF.

         For those worried about radio waves and vaccinations …hopefully you will never watch a beloved cat die from feline leukemia. It is a terrible slow heartbreak we’ve lived through twice. Preventable w a vaccination now.

         Radio waves? Really? Ditch you wifi, bluetooth, smartphone, am/fm radios, tv, microwave oven, computer, shut the main to your house down, and live in a faraday cage if you’re that concerned. They are not nearly as hazardous …if even…to your kitty as a 2,000 lb vehicle, cat-killing neighbors (we had one), or other outside animals domestic or otherwise .

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4. Marilyn Wickee Mar 24, 2019 at 2:55 am

   Very helpful thanks. I would like to know how cats adapt, if the devices can come off, or wear down at attachment. Also do the GPS/ Radio Frequencies transmitting all the time harm the cat’s health, or do they heat up like a mobile phone? I like the look of one incorporated in a reflective collar that I saw, but would need to see if it has a quick release in collar.

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   1. Mallory Crusta Jan 2, 2020 at 12:14 am

      Hi Marilyn,

      Thanks for your questions! We just updated the review to include answers to questions like yours. If you’re still in the market for a cat tracker, you may want to check out the updated guide.

      To give you a quick answer, the comfort factor really depends on the tracker and the cat. Both of my cats—one a petite 7 lbs and the other weighing about 13—seemed comfortable with all of the trackers we reviewed. Your cats may react differently. We recommend trackers that attach to your cat’s existing collar rather than those built into a collar. Most tracking collars are made for dogs and therefore don’t have breakaway mechanisms.

      All of them appear to be sturdy and secure with no wear at the attachment point. A breakaway collar, of course, will increase the risk of your cat losing the tracker. It’s worth the safety investment, though, and the tracker should be easy to find if it goes missing.

      Finally, it’s not clear whether or not cat trackers pose a health risk. GPS trackers don’t transmit any EMF, but RF and Bluetooth trackers do emit low levels of radiation. It’s possible—but not confirmed—that this radiation could cause negative health risks. However, those risks are ambiguous and unconfirmed. Remember that trackers don’t transmit signals constantly, so you’re not exposing your cat to constant radiation. Instead, that radiation is usually limited to the duration of your search.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,

      Mallory

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      1. Rob Jul 10, 2022 at 4:09 pm

         Are you saying that a GPS tracker that sends a signal so strong that all repeaters around you can receive is less dangerous than a RF tracker which must only communicate with your remote control?? Can you explain to me why?

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         1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJul 27, 2022 at 5:56 pm

            Rob, I’m not an expert on this subject, but to my understanding, a GPS tracker is a receiver, not a transmitter, so it’s not accurate to say that it “sends a signal”. The signal is coming from satellites over 10,000 miles away, and those satellites are constantly broadcasting information down to earth. In other words, these waves are already all around us, and putting a receiver on your cat’s body makes them no more likely to be affected by them. This is why I said that there is a slight (hypothetical) increase in the risk associated with wearing an RF tracker—it is a transmitter, not a receiver. However, there’s no indication that any of these tracker types are dangerous. It’s all pure speculation.

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            1. Karel Lootens Sep 12, 2022 at 6:15 pm

               without being facetious – the GPS trackers use 2G/4G to send the location data t teh network so you can do your finding and heat maps of where theyve been on the app. so yes the obviously transmit. although at low power.

               In terms of transmission power I’d wager they probably ranks as follows (with the RF the least certain)
               – Bluetooth < RF (Low Range) < GPS (2G) < GPS (4G) < RF (High Range)
5. David Livingston Jul 31, 2019 at 3:00 am

   RF Trackers. Anyone with a smart phone should be well versed with the GPS system and what it does. What does an RF tracker give you that helps you locate your animal. GPS overlay with Google maps shows you exactly where your target is. Do RF trackers “show” you where the target is or do they point you in the right direction of where the target is by signal strength? I don’t like the expense or battery life / weight / network requirements / over kill of information of the GPS units, but at the same time want something that locates the target with a high percentage of accuracy. Will it tell your target is within 100 ft. and do you have to look though that 100 ft. to find the target or will it guide you to it? Great articular, plenty of info, just no nuts and bolts as to exactly what info the device gives you as information on location.

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   1. Mallory Crusta Jan 1, 2020 at 6:58 pm

      Hi David,

      Great question. The article was recently updated to go into more depth on the type of information you’re asking about. To give you a short answer, RF trackers don’t give you visual information on where the target is located. Instead, they use light and sound indicators to point you in the right direction. Again, you’re just listening to beeps and you won’t get a specific distance, i.e. a readout telling you that your cat is “100 feet away”. It’s like playing a game of “Hot and Cold”—the tracker tells you if you’re getting “warmer” until you’re right on target. RF trackers are extremely accurate and consistent, with the ability to pinpoint your cat’s location within a few centimeters.

      Hope this helps!

      Best,

      Mallory

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6. Blair Feb 28, 2020 at 3:52 am

   Dear Mallory,

   Thanks for such useful information. I wrote to you earlier today via YouTube but wanted to circle back now that I’ve done some further reading. I have narrowed the field to: 1) Eureka Technology MARCOPOLO 2) Girafus Pro-Track-Tor and 3) Whistle GO GPS Tracker and wondered what you thought. My main concern is that my 9 lbs, 13 year old American tabby cat who is accustomed to living inside of an apartment may be curious about leaving our new home which has an indoor/outdoor living design. It’s a big home and the doors will sometimes be open we live by the water so I want a tracker that both tracks well inside the house as well as outside the home should she happen to venture out. But, I’d like to be able to set limits so that she can actually have the freedom to walk out to the yard (but not beyond) and receive an alert if she goes beyond. I don’t want to wait to have to find out that she went. Lastly, since we travel frequently, I would feel most comfortable if we could check in (either on our phone via an app/or directly with the cat sitter/or some other way) and track her whereabouts live. I can imagine that no one device will do all that I’m asking for but wondered if you thought anyone of my top choices might most fill my needs. Our dog passed away this past year so now our lives pretty much revolve around our cat. I couldn’t bear for her to go missing when we move into the new house in a few months.

   Infinite thanks to you!

   Blair

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   1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMar 3, 2020 at 10:18 pm

      Hi Blair,

      Sorry about the late reply—it’s good to hear from you again!

      Given this additional information, I’m thinking that the Whistle tracker would be the closest fit. It sounds like it’s vital for you to have some added security while on vacation and neither of the RF trackers will do that. With a radio frequency tracker, you’ll be 100% reliant on your sitter’s ability to notice if your cat’s gone out of sight and use the tracking system on his or her own. It’s a lot better than going without a tracker, but it might not give you the peace of mind you’re hoping for.

      The most comprehensive solution would be to invest in two trackers—a good RF tracker for when you’re at home and want to keep tabs of your cat whether she’s outside or in the house and a GPS tracker for when you’re on vacation.

      Wishing you the best in your search and the move!

      Best,

      Mallory

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      1. Blair May 21, 2020 at 6:55 pm

         Again, thanks so much Mallory! After much due consideration, I am going to move forward with purchasing the Girafus Pro-Track-Tor for daily use and the Whistle Go Explorer for when we travel just in case she gets out while the cat sitter is on duty. Thanks for your terrific video and advice!

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         1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMay 23, 2020 at 5:18 am

            Hey Blair, it’s good to hear back from you and thank you for the update! Let me know what you think of this two-tracker system.

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         2. Lea Oct 15, 2022 at 2:57 am

            Build a Cat Cado she will be “inside” while actually outside.

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7. keld Mar 8, 2020 at 3:10 pm

   came across your review. we are looking for a tracker. our cat is a 24 hours outdoor cat (only take her in case of bad weather). she is not feral she just prefers outdoor. she is a small 9 lbs toitoise.

   we are looking for a tracker where we can see where she goes at nighttime (we don’t think she wanders far – maybe 1500 feet from our house) and also where we can find her when need to, especially if she does not show up for her breakfast or dinner.

   suggestions?

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   1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMar 9, 2020 at 4:06 pm

      Hi Keld, thanks for your comment. If you’d like to track your cat’s movement outdoors, a GPS tracker may be the best option for you. In addition to letting you see where she goes at night, a GPS tracker will help you to find her when you need to. We recommend the Whistle GO as a reliable GPS tracker for cats. Hope this helps!

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8. Jen Morrill Apr 17, 2020 at 11:09 pm

   Hi Mallory! I have actually kept this page saved on my computer for some time as I keep debating which tracker would work best for me. I have a multi-cat household (usually between 4-6), and they are all primarily indoor cats with access to a fenced in backyard. What spurred my desire to have some kind of tracker was that a few years ago my HOA landscapers went into the backyard and didn’t bother to close the gate behind them. Many of my cats got out of the yard but thankfully all but one returned fairly soon. Sadly, that one completely disappeared, and despite my spending hundreds of hours and dollars over the ensuing months searching for him, I’ve never seen him again, which continues to be heartbreaking. Since then I’ve wished he had had a tracker of some kind, as I may well have gotten him back quickly, and I certainly don’t want that to ever happen again. I’ve already tried a couple of trackers, including the Cat Tailer and the PawScout. My experience with the Cat Tailer was exactly as you described: battery life was great but actual tracking was terrible. I would have a cat right next to me on the couch and it would tell me he was 20 feet away, and it would also keep changing as if he was moving. I just couldn’t see that really helping me find a cat that was actually lost and probably hiding. I loved the tracking ability of the PawScout, but the battery life was ridiculous – often as short as a few days even though they only went around the house, plus it frequently lost tracking ability entirely, again even though the cat hadn’t gone anywhere. So I have eagerly looked through your reviews hoping to find something that will work for us, but there obviously still isn’t a perfect answer. I like the accuracy of GPS trackers but battery life for any of those seems to make them unusable with multiple cats. I really don’t need to track them in the house or yard, it would only be in the case of them actually getting out of the yard. I’ve kind of been leaning toward the Loc8or or the Girafus..? But I would really love to know what you would suggest. Thanks!

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   1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 20, 2020 at 2:23 am

      Hi Jen, I’m so glad you decided to come back and leave a comment!

      It’s no surprise that you’d be interested in finding a good tracker after what happened to your cat a few years ago. Based on what you’ve described, I’d agree that an RF tracker like the Loc8tor or Girafus would be your best bet. Either one would probably help you out if one of your cats got out of the yard, but the Girafus will give you a greater range. If you’re looking for something even more powerful, I might think about the Marco Polo tracking system from Eureka Technology. It’s significantly more expensive than the two on this list, but it can pick up a signal from up to 2 miles away—a significant upgrade from anything else on the market.

      Hope this helps you to narrow down your options and brings you a bit closer to finding the tracker that’s right for you.

      Best,

      Mallory

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9. Lisa Apr 23, 2020 at 8:35 pm

   What about putting a small gps tracker such as finster and a small rf one on the same collar or harness? Will that interfere with signals?

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   1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 25, 2020 at 6:35 am

      Hi Lisa,

      Good question! Doing that wouldn’t interfere with the signals of either tracker and could certainly be a way to fill in the gaps presented by each system. I’d think your biggest concern would be ensuring that your cat is comfortable and not weighed down by both of the trackers on their collar or harness.

      Hope this answers your question!

      Best,

      Mallory

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10. Amy Johnson May 6, 2020 at 6:56 pm

    I have a question about the Whistle Go – where did you get the harness it is attached to? They are not for sale on the Whistle website. Thanks!

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMay 7, 2020 at 12:44 am

       Hi Amy! I just attached the Whistle Go to my cat’s RC Pets Adventure Kitty harness.

       You can check it out here: https://www.amazon.com/RC-Pet-Products-53803001-Collection/dp/B07GC5HD8D/?tag=wwwallabou001-20

       The Whistle Go can be attached to essentially any collar or harness, so you can choose whichever one you like. Harnesses work well for walks, while a collar is probably your best bet for a free-roaming kitty. Hope this helps!

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11. May Jun 8, 2020 at 9:39 pm

    Hi! Thanks for great review.
    Have you tested PetFon or know anything reliable compared to ones listed here?

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJun 9, 2020 at 9:41 am

       Hi May, we haven’t tested PetFon or done any in-depth research, but based on a preliminary search, it looks like it could be a good, reliable option with no monthly fees. Other customers seem to like it, too, so I’d definitely consider giving it a try. Hope this helped a bit! – Mallory

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12. Kirk Jul 5, 2020 at 10:03 pm

    Why did you not include the Pawtracker it seems to be the best of all of them but nobody is reviewing it?

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJul 7, 2020 at 7:10 am

       EDIT 2023: After ordering the Pawtrack and not receiving a unit (with no refund offered) and doing further research, we learned of deceptive practices by the company and will not recommend this product.
       Hi Kirk, we weren’t aware of the Pawtracker at the time this review was written, but we will consider it for future updates. Thank you for contributing! – Mallory

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13. Jen Jul 21, 2020 at 5:00 pm

    Aww…bummer! I loved this info and your video. Very informative, and I love that you actually tried them all. Unfortunately, I was all set to buy the Girafus one but it’s out of stock at Amazon. 🙁 The Findster looks like an okay option for us if we could go out when the cat does, start the walk, and then go back inside, but I’m not sure if it would keep working then. We don’t want to go on an adventure with our cat; we just want to be able to locate him when he’s away for longer than usual. Oh, well. I’ll keep checking back on Amazon for the Girafus and hope it comes back soon. Thanks for the reviews!

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJul 23, 2020 at 4:30 am

       Hey Jen, thanks for the comment! You may be able to buy the Girafus tracker from their store: https://www.girafus-shop.com/girafus-pro-track-tor-haustier-hund-katze-kleintier-finder-sucher-ortung-mit-varianten/ortung/a-10162
       It’s shipped from Germany and your shipping expense will be higher, but it may be a good solution. Alternatively, there’s another RF tracker not mentioned on this list that seems to be an excellent choice: the Marco Polo tracking system from Eureka technology. It has an outstanding range and a lot of useful features. Here’s a link in case you want to learn more: https://eurekaproducts.com/

       Hope you’re able to find a tracker that works for you and your cat!

       Best,
       Mallory

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14. Dan Stein Aug 16, 2020 at 11:37 am

    Thanks very much for the very thorough reviews! We’ve been wanting a good cat tracker for some time, but I needed help making a decision. Your field tests were exactly what I needed. I especially like the “lost cat” test, which is really the most germane scenario. Our guy disappears for a few days on end, and while we’re not too concerned about his being on an adventure, we really do worry about his being trapped somewhere.

    I bought the Whistle Go from your Amazon link. I hope it works and you get a commission – you deserve it!

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 18, 2020 at 4:41 am

       Thank you, Dan! Your feedback and support are both appreciated. Hope the Whistle Go works for your adventurous little guy! – Mallory

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15. Susan Pollich Aug 26, 2020 at 2:18 pm

    Thank you for the in depth reviews. However, I still need your advice. I have a blind cat that comes outside with us inside a fenced in yard. Sometimes I can turn my back for a split second and she jumps the fence. Of course I panic. I’m thinking a GPS model is best because it can alert when she is out of her safe zone. Which would be most reliable and quickest to alert? Then if it takes a minute to see which direction she went in, which is best to locate? She doesn’t go far, but I need everything to be quick.
    I’m thinking the Findstar…..

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 27, 2020 at 12:45 pm

       Hey Susan, of the GPS trackers reviewed here, I found that the Whistle Go was the fastest to send an alert when my cat left the safe zone. That said, since this article was written, I’ve discovered another tracker that combines multiple technologies to give you alerts when your cat leaves the safe zone while also being able to provide the nuanced locating information of an RF tracker.

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16. Chris Oct 21, 2020 at 11:38 am

    You should test this one too https://shop.pettracer.eu/shop worth having a look.

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17. Amanda Oct 21, 2020 at 8:38 pm

    Have you tested the Tractive LTE tracker? According to their website, the 3G cat tracker does not work in the US (at least not anymore). I was just wondering if the newer LTE tracker is better or if there is another tracker that is not on the list that you would recommend. I go between two houses in two different states and I am most concerned about finding my cat at my house in CA because he has gotten out a couple of times before. However, there is not great cell coverage and I have a lot of bushes and trees in the backyard and surrounding area so I am not sure how well a standard GPS tracker will work vs an RF tracker. I am hesitant to go with the Whistle Go because it does seem to have a significant amount of negative reviews. Thank you for your article, it has helped a lot.

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorOct 23, 2020 at 9:31 pm

       EDIT 2023: After ordering the Pawtrack and not receiving a unit (with no refund offered) and doing further research, we learned of deceptive practices by the company and will not recommend this product.

       Hello Amanda, unfortunately, we haven’t tried the LTE version of the tracker and I can’t comment on the experience. That said, we have since discovered another tracker that seems to perform as well or better than the others on this list: the Pawtrack. This one includes both RF and GPS technology to allow you to find your cat regardless of the environment. This seems like it would be very helpful for your house in California. It’s also well-sized for kitties. Here’s a link for you: https://pawtrack.com/
       Hope this helps!

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18. Eric Grimsey Nov 18, 2020 at 7:03 am

    Hi,
    We have used both the Loc8tor and a GPS tracker (Pod 3, now unavailable) on our cats. I have no hesitation in recommending the Loc8tor. It is light (for both user and cats), simple to use and 100% reliable, and with long battery life. Our backyard is large with numerous hiding spots but we can always rapidly find our cats with the Loc8tor. Occasionally they jump the fence. Again, easy to find. Range has not been an issue since if necessary we just walk around the neighbourhood to find the signal. A great feature of the Loc8tor is that when activated, the unit on the cats collar gives out a low level beep. We have used this to train our new kitten (a fence jumper) to come when signalled, by providing treats when we detected her using the Loc8tor. Now she just appears (often from over the fence) when we activate the unit. The GPS tracker was useful GPS tracker but not especially accurate and sometimes indicated that a cat was remotely located when in fact it was home. Also not nearly as useful when trying to quickly locate the cat. Have used the Loc8tor for 6+ years now. Gives great peace of mind. 10./10
    Eric (Australia)

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19. Jim Feb 15, 2021 at 7:26 pm

    I have tried a variety of cat trackers including bluetooth, GPS and RFID on my two cats. Hands down my go to favorite is the Loc8tor series. GPS is great…when it works. The battery life of GPS systems is abysmal – usually at absolute best 2-3 days. If your cat disappears when the battery is low the system rapidly becomes useless. In addition cats are very good at losing collars. If your cat drops his/her collar and you are unable to retrieve the collar before the battery goes dead you are out a considerable sum. The tags also tend to be large and clunky. Subscriptions are awful as the costs add up quickly often costing several times the original price of the system.

    Bluetooth systems have a much better battery life but short range and no directionality. If however the cat loses the collar its not to expensive to replace.

    The RFID systems of the Locator is still one of the best on the market despite being over 10 years old. In my experience the 6+ month battery life of the RFID systesm along with their very usable range of 400-600 ft is by far their greatest advantage Also no #^$%& subscription!

    Thanks to their small size, reliability and long battery life Loc8tor systems are also popular in the RC aircraft and model rocketry crowd. These folks have developed various tricks and tips to improve the Loc8tor system:

    1) A combination of the older, silver handset and the newer round tags give the best overall performance by far. The older handset has a backlit alphanumeric display, can store 32 tags (as opposed to the black handset’s four) and is 100% compatible with the newer round tags which offer a battery life twice that of the original oval tags or up to a year. The range is roughly doubled as well. In a side by side, real world, open field comparison of this combination of Locator and Girafus I found the performance pretty much identical.

    2) An external antenna can DRAMATICALLY improve the range. The Loc8tor system uses a frequency of 2.4GHz which is the same as most home wifi systems including bluetooth. There are videos showing how to mount a loc8tor handset to an antenna without any modifications to the handset. The Locator uses a three element YAGI antenna (one reflector, two passive elements) Basically you put the dipole antenna of the handset in the focal plane of the external antenna. This shapes the beam into a very narrow ( and very polarized) beam with a much longer but narrower “reach”. In my own testing I was able to lock a signal 820 meters away (line of sight) using a 24dB parabolic antenna. Sounds good but the signal was highly polarized and dropped to zero when the antenna was rotated 90 degrees so in a practical sense this may not be all that except in the most desperate situations.

    3) The Brickhouse Child locator is a rebranded original “good” silver handset Loc8tor system that can often be purchased used (or better yet new-old stock) for a fraction of the cost of an identical Loc8tor system. I picked up a few NOS ones on Ebay for under $20 shipped. These are functionally identical to the Loc8tor silver handsets and are 100% compatible with the round Loc8tor/Tabcat tags..

    A significant weakness IMO of these systems is that the tags can only be paired to a single handset. Had Loc8tor designed these to be paired to multiple handsets they could have made finding lost pets much easier as the entire household could have split up to cover more ground. Fortunately the tags are small and light enough that a cat can carry two tags without a problem. This is the system I currently use – two tags/cat with two handsets for redundancy.

    REAL WORLD experiences: I purchased my first Locator set after my cat went missing for over a week. I searched high and low, I enlisted the help of the neighborhood children (while int he presence AND with the consent of their parents). I put up posters I did everything I could to find my cat earning a reputation as the crazy neighborhood cat person. Eventually a neighbor found my cat, hiding in her garage attic two doors away.
    Had I had a loc8tor tracker on my cat at that time I am very confident I could have found my cat within a few minutes instead of over a week. I have replicated this exact scenario many times and had no problems tracking the tag even in an attic from the sidewalk.

    After this scare I bought my first Loc8tor and have used it to successfully find my wayward cats ever since. Because they are indoor/outdoor cats they know the neighborhood well and the neighbors know them. At one point however one cat went missing for more than a couple of days. He had gone well out of his normal territory. I scoured the neighborhood and after almost a week I eventually got a signal. I traced it to a dilapidated, flat tired car parked on a driveway. He was standing under the car and was so filthy I didn’t see him even as I was looking RIGHT at him. He didn’t even look like a cat – rather a pile of debris. That is another huge advantage of the Loc8tor – cats are GREAT at hiding so if your cat doesn’t want to be found a visual search can fail even when you are looking right at your cat. Many times I have tracked my cat to his favorite outdoor perch, a neighbor’s dense juniper bush, impossible to see inside but I knew he was happy in there just watching the world go by.

    Summary: Get a combination of old silver Loc8tor/Brickhouse handset with newer round Loc8tor/Tabcat tags for the best overall results.

    Reply ↓
20. Elsa Mar 1, 2021 at 12:19 am

    Hi Mallory,
    Thanks for your great work. I am thinking of buying a findster duo+. My cat is young (6 months) and I want him to be able to go out and spend his energy, get exercise, be happy. I live in an urban residential neighborhood (3 stories buildings mostly). But my neighborhood is always full of lost cat posters, and I don’t want to be one of those people. My first question is this one: you’ve performed a lost cat simulation in the woods, but how do you think it would have worked in an environment like mine? Second question: cat collars are made to be easily removable in case they get hung or caught (since cats crawl in tight places, climb trees, slip under fences, etc.).. So… What’s your experience with this issue? What kind of collars do you use for your cats? If the cat loses its collar, obviously you lose the cat, and the tracker if the battery dies before you can find it. What do you think is the best approach? Thanks in advance!!

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMar 2, 2021 at 9:36 am

       Hello Elsa, thank you for commenting! I believe that the Findster should work a bit better in your residential area compared to the woods, because any tree cover will obstruct the satellite signal. You’ll still have to contend with roofs, bushes, trees, and other barriers, but my guess is that the accuracy is going to be a bit higher in your neighborhood. As for your second question, I’ve not encountered an issue with my cats removing the trackers, but of course, they only wore them for a few hours for the sake of this review. I would expect it’s more likely that your cat’s breakaway collar would pop off (and you should be using a breakaway collar!) than the tracker itself, in which case, you’d have to track down the abandoned tracker just as if it were your cat. Again, a breakaway collar is the only appropriate option, even if you’re using an expensive tracker that you don’t want to lose. It’s better to lose the tracker than to have your cat get it caught on something and not be able to get away. And with the tracker on the collar, I’d think there’s an increased risk of snagging, twisting, and the bad outcomes that non-breakaway collars are known to lead to. I know it’s a weird decision, especially since the battery may die before you’re able to find it, but the alternative isn’t any better. This is a key part of why, ultimately, I don’t think that trackers are the best solution for cats.
       Personally, I think your cat sounds like a good candidate for a harness and leash. He’s young and probably quite trainable, and once you get the training down, I think that going for walks will be a solution that gets out that energy without giving him as much of a chance of something going wrong.
       Hope this helps! – Mallory

       Reply ↓
21. Nancy Apr 9, 2021 at 6:03 pm

    Hello Mallory,

    Thank you for your excellent review of these products! Your cat is too cute.

    I am leaning toward the Girafus for our kitten. Sadly, we lost our last kitten who accidentally got out of the house. I am trying to find a tracker that will alert us as soon as our kitten leaves the house. I am assuming I will need a tracker with a virtual fence? I am also looking for the smallest option since our kitten is small.

    I look forward to hearing your advice.

    Thank you!
    Nancy

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 10, 2021 at 8:17 pm

       EDIT 2023: After ordering the Pawtrack and not receiving a unit (with no refund offered) and doing further research, we learned of deceptive practices by the company and will not recommend this product.

       Hi Nancy, I am sorry to hear that you lost your last kitten. Yes, one with a virtual fence would work best. We hope to update this article soon with more products, one of which will be the Pawtrack. With multiple tracking technologies and a streamlined cat-oriented design, the Pawtrack seems like it could be the best match for your kitten’s needs. Check it out here: https://pawtrack.com/

       Reply ↓
22. Sally Apr 13, 2021 at 4:44 am

    Thank you for all your information about cat trackers. My elderly cat stays indoors but likes to escape whenever he can to wander the neighborhood. I worry about his safety and am thinking of purchasing a cat tracker. Based on your video and reading comments from others, I thought I’d get the Whistle Go. But you also referred to the Pawtracker, PetFon, and Marco Polo. Have you tested these other trackers? If so, which would you now recommend? I value your opinion. Also, will all of these work if we have Verizon?

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 16, 2021 at 5:23 pm

       EDIT 2023: After ordering the Pawtrack and not receiving a unit (with no refund offered) and doing further research, we learned of deceptive practices by the company and will not recommend this product.

       Hi Sally, thanks for commenting. We plan to release an updated version of this article in the near future. As you’ve noticed, I’ve discovered some other trackers that should have a place in this article. When re-doing this article, believe I would rank the Marco Polo as the best RF tracker given its larger range and excellent reputation. The Pawtrack also seems to be an excellent option with multiple tracking technologies to allow you to find your cat just about anywhere. The Whistle GO still looks like a strong GPS tracker, though, so unless you appreciate the features of the Pawtrack, you may want to go with your initial intuition.

       Reply ↓
23. Beth McGown Apr 14, 2021 at 11:22 pm

    Question
    I live in a rural area with plenty of coyotes and other potential predators. my shelter rescue cat is kept strictly indoors but she likes to make a break for it when doors are accidentally open. I need a very light weight tracker (my cat is maybe 10 pounds) with a beeper and a strong light. I would be happy to wander around until I got a signal so don’t necessarily need GPS. but that beeping and reasonably strong light would be very important. What do you recommend

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 16, 2021 at 5:15 pm

       Hi Beth, thank you for sharing your question. It sounds like something like the Cat Caller might suit your needs. I haven’t reviewed it in-depth, but, in keeping with your interests, it has a combination of a beeper and LED light.

       Reply ↓
24. Carl May 2, 2021 at 6:00 pm

    Thanks for your review. But wondering what happened to Whistle Go? It was your top-rated tracker in the video, but seems to have been removed from the list.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMay 5, 2021 at 11:01 pm

       Hi Carl, that’s a good question. We’ve partnered with a number of the brands mentioned here to gather affiliate commissions, and Whistle was one of them. Earlier this year, we were told to remove the Whistle Go review from this article because the company didn’t approve of us mentioning the Whistle Go’s health monitoring features in a cat-specific review. While I stand by all of the observations made in the video review, I no longer think that it’s necessarily the best on the market. In the next update of the video review, I’ll mirror this article’s placement of the Pawtrack in the number one spot, not because of the issues with the Whistle company, but because this tracker is cat-oriented with multiple tracking technologies that make it a flexible, highly functional choice for felines. I know it’s a bit of a complex answer, but I hope it gives you some clarity. Best, Mallory

       Reply ↓
25. Bernardo May 8, 2021 at 10:45 pm

    Hi! I am searching for a tracker to my cats that needs no cellphone coverage, since my interest is to use it while on my familys farm. The cats love to go around there and i would love to see what they are up to.
    I understand the best one for that is the findster? I loved the pawtrack though…
    My concern is that they are always going out, so i wouldnt be able to turn it on always. How long the battery lasts if i just leave it on? Im happy if its only 12h, for example

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMay 13, 2021 at 5:38 am

       Hi Bernardo, the Findster’s battery is supposed to last for about 12 hours while tracking continuously.

       Reply ↓
26. Rosie May 17, 2021 at 12:39 pm

    Hi,
    I just wanted to let you know that it is by now impossible to get a Findster. They are discontinuing the product and all orders that are still open are being cancelled and refunded. Maybe you should add a note to your article about this so that other people don’t have to go through the process of ordering and waiting 4-6 weeks for a refund…

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMay 18, 2021 at 5:49 pm

       Thank you, Rosie. I’ll update the article right away.

       Reply ↓
27. Lorie Perry Jun 4, 2021 at 2:11 pm

    Pawtrack works great when it works. Worked great all last summer, but then it couldn’t connect to GPS. Their customer service has gone way downhill in past 6 months, not just my experience but I’ve seen many unhappy customers on their Facebook page. I wish it wasn’t so, but maybe check that out before you recommend them.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJun 7, 2021 at 8:56 pm

       Thank you for sharing this, Lorie. That’s very concerning; we’ll look into it and consider updating the article based on this information.

       Reply ↓
28. Elaine Y Jun 10, 2021 at 11:35 pm

    Thank you for all this research. We have Lucy, a small (6.3 lb) 10-month old kitten who we’d like have to stay within our fenced yard when not indoors. Unfortunately, she loves to wander the fence tops and is a true “houdini” cat in our urban/residential neighborhood. We’re 3/4’s done cat-proofing our yard and Lucy just recovered from some ear surgery, so we gave her some yard time today for the first time in 3 weeks. Of course, she disappeared for over an hour (I suspect through a small spot under the fence, most likely to our neighbor’s yard, that will be fixed tomorrow). Although it would be nice to be alerted if she gets out, I’m leaning towards RF tracking. My reasons: she has never gone farther than adjacent backyards so far and there are lots of buildings/ fences, etc, around here to obscure GPS. Plus I’d like to avoid monthly fees. I hope that once our cat-proofing is finished and she realizes the limits, things will settle down with her. I’m heavily leaning towards the Girafus Cat Tracker. My question is: Lucy doesn’t normally wear a collar (she’s microchipped). She’s very petite, playful, & adventuresome, always wrestling with her feline step-brother so I don’t know how long a collar will stay on. For that reason, I was thinking of only putting the collar/tracker on during the day when she’s outside. Is that a feasible strategy? And would that save the battery at all? I’d welcome any feedback you have. Thank you.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJun 24, 2021 at 11:51 pm

       Hi Elaine, sorry about the late reply. You know, cat trackers are tricky because they stick to your cat’s collar, they can get lost, and they’re often not the best solution for cats who may slip outside. In your case, I think that the Girafus is about as close to ideal as you’re going to get. It’s small, lightweight, and as you said, it will work in areas where the GPS signal might be blocked. Since it sounds like she only goes outside when you want her to, I think that it would be a feasible strategy to only put it on while she’s outside. And yes, that would save battery, too. As for the concern of the collar falling off, that’s a legitimate issue and not one that I see a good solution to. You don’t want to use anything but a breakaway collar, and while the tracker will help you out with recovery, a tracker abandoned in a neighbor’s yard may not exactly be easy to retrieve. In summary, I don’t think you’ll ever find something perfect—you just have to weigh the pros and cons and decide what amount of imperfect protection is worth it for you.

       Reply ↓
    2. Walter Wollis Feb 19, 2023 at 3:40 pm

       For my cat I had ordered a tracker Girafus Made in Germany, the device is scrap,
       I can only advise against it.

       Reply ↓
29. bac Aug 19, 2021 at 1:16 am

    I have used the pawtracker, whistle and tiles for past 3.5yr. The Pawtracker NEVER worked. Just would not sync with GPS signal. My home is on the edge of Verizon limit (we have bad cell calls too). The Whistle is great and had no problem with GPS (although a bit bulky). I have gone through THREE whistle units! Cat has lost her collar (as a safety thing- that’s good) But expensive to lose-yikes! So now I only put it on her when I travel. For daily use I rely on the tile “button” types. The original tile kept hanging in her food & water bowl-yuck! The button one is perfect as far as size. I’m looking forward to when the GPS technology shrinks to the size of a button Tile.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 30, 2021 at 12:31 am

       Thank you for sharing your experience!

       Reply ↓
30. dev Oct 29, 2021 at 1:06 am

    I would not recommend the Tabcat pet tracker. The units are poorly designed and short out when replacing the battery. The battery floats above its seat and is locked in place by closing the case. But because the battery is floating above the seat, you must press the cover in place flawlessly or risk shorting out the unit. As a rule of thumb, you can expect to replace the entire system on a yearly basis.

    Additionally, the receiver is unreliable and will randomly stop working or produce a rapid, continuous beep that cannot be turned off.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorOct 31, 2021 at 8:35 pm

       Hi there! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Tabcat. It’s always good to hear from people who have more long-term experience using it.

       Reply ↓
31. pc Dec 11, 2021 at 8:24 pm

    have you seen the petfon2? its a replacement for findster duo aka maven

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorDec 13, 2021 at 8:47 pm

       Haven’t tried it yet, but we will be working on it!

       Reply ↓
32. Benjamin Cowles Mar 24, 2022 at 10:10 am

    Which one had an extra battery to always have charged for when the other dies?

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorMar 27, 2022 at 2:58 am

       Hi Benjamin, none of these come with extra batteries. The Tabcat and Girafus come in sets, so you can switch out to an alternative one, but there is no additional battery option.

       Reply ↓
33. Kay Apr 12, 2022 at 12:20 pm

    Seeing Tractive on here makes me think this is paid ad space. I just sent mine back because they have really bad GPS software/hardware… not sure which one is the problem. Their app is really slow to connect and update. Probably not going to want to check out the others on here now, after seeing Tractive is supposedly the best.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 12, 2022 at 6:44 pm

       Hi Kay, we are in a partnership with Tractive, but we wouldn’t be had we not tested the tracker and concluded that it performed well. Coming from a company run by ex-Motorola employees and originally created with kids in mind, the Jiobit tracker ranked as runner-up is known for outstanding hardware, and I think you’ll likely be much happier with its GPS performance and app consistency. I know you feel burned by your experience with the Tractive tracker and will likely be skeptical knowing that we did receive compensation from Tractive for this and several other placements, but you don’t have to take my word on it. Here’s a great in-depth review of the Jiobit from PCMag. Wishing you all the best!

       Reply ↓
34. cliff60 Apr 14, 2022 at 4:37 pm

    i bought the petonaught F9 tracker. £29.99 on ebay that uses a nano sim to track the cat or dog. no subs to pay u put a pay as u go sim card in it.

    dont know how good it is yet as im still trying to work out how to use it and set it up.

    It comes with a dog collar which is too big for the tracker to fit on lol.

    tried the phone app but it wont let me login to it to find the tracker. but did get an app to put on my PC which seems to work but for some reason its putting me in China instead of the UK and has the tracker in the UK but cant zoom in enough to see exacty where it is. As far as i can tel if its within range of ur home wifi network it will use that to track the pet rather than using the pay as u go sim card. so will work using ur home wifi but cant zoom the map in enough as it will only show the street it in. not the house or garden.

    It only arrived today so still trying to work it out as the manual isnt very clear. bad translations from Chinese to English.
    doesnt help. took about 3 hrs to charge it up with a magnetic charger. if u get the polarity wrong it will push the charger away if its right it will pull onto it.

    As far as i can tell u register the phone number for the sim to get it to work but the sim i had lying around i dont know the number for so cant fully register it till i get another sim card. plus i need to find a collar it will fit on as i have seristo flea collars on my cats and the tracker wont fit on them very easy cause of the way the collars fit on the cat. once their on u have to cut them off so cant take the tracker off to charge it up when the battery dies. so need a 2nd collar to fit it on but cause of the bracket the collar goes through the quick release collars wont fit through the bracket. and every shop ive been to only sell the quick release collars. noway can i put a quick release collar on my cats cause it only takes them about 10 mins to pull them off lol. its a quick paw and claw pull and their off.

    The tracker itself seems more suitable for a dog than a cat but its advertised as being cat or dog.

    Cause of not having a collar to fit it on ive yet to see how my wandering cat will get on with it. both my cats r outdoor cats but the older 1 tends to stay out for way too long at times and i get woried about where he is. a few days ago he was mising for 18hrs and he didnt come when i called so decided to get a tracker for him. he spends more time out exploring his terroty than he does at home. he comes home to eat and sleep thats it.

    the younger 1 doesnt usualy leave the garden and doesnt like being out of my sight for too long. so im not getting a tracker for that 1. their about 6 months in age diferent from each other. older 1 i got when he was 9 weeks old from a breeder. the younger 1 was a rescue cat when he was about 12 weeks old as his former slave was going to give him up claiming he was alergic to cats and the 1st lockdown had just started and he wouldnt of found a cat home to take him and was worried he would just dump him somewhere so i took him in.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorApr 21, 2022 at 7:34 pm

       Thanks for sharing your experience!

       Reply ↓
35. Phyl Marrs Jun 14, 2022 at 8:31 pm

    Hi

    Have you reviewed Pettracer.?

    I like it, except it doesn’t have a ‘fence’

    What’s your view?

    Reply ↓
    1. Kate Barrington Jun 15, 2022 at 6:32 pm

       Hi Phyl! We’ve gotten a few questions about Pettracer but we haven’t personally tested it yet. It looks like a decent GPS tracker but it’s not quite as user-friendly as the options on this list given that it doesn’t have an app. You’ll need to log in to your online account to view your cat’s location which can be a bit of a hassle. Pettracer also requires a minimum 1-year subscription which might not be convenient for all cat owners.

       Reply ↓
36. Anne Courcier Jun 20, 2022 at 2:38 pm

    Hi- I have a cat that I take out on a leash and wanted to get ta tracker that could attach to his collar/leash just-in-case he gets away from me like he did this morning!

    Reply ↓
    1. Kate Barrington Jun 20, 2022 at 3:17 pm

       Sounds great, Anne! Hopefully one of the options from this list works out for you.

       Reply ↓
37. Shehla Milliron Aug 1, 2022 at 4:35 pm

    Hi Mallory, I love all your reviews! You are so thorough and do a great job explaining everything. You are my go to source. I am taking my cat out to Wyoming and will be doing some walking/hiking with her on her harness/leash. I also do some of this at home but she’s not some pro adventure cat quite yet. I was wondering if you could give me a couple of recommendations for a tracker in case she were to get out of her harness on the trip or even at home? She also has a Catio around our pool area. it would be great to have a way to track her if she ever some how escaped. I was wondering if any of the GPS options do not have a service fee or allow you to purchase a month or two as needed? My kitty also has a pretty small head and neck so it would be great if it was not huge. If you could let me know your opinion on “best option” and alternative “best budget options?”

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 3, 2022 at 7:24 pm

       Hi Shehla, thank you for the comment, and of course, for being so supportive. Really appreciate it. At this time, all of the GPS trackers do have service fees, but my recommendation would be the Jiobit. It’s pretty light, performs quite well, and you can get a month-to-month subscription, which will make it easy to cancel when you have to. You could also try the Marco Polo tracker—it’s a bit clunkier with a handheld receiver, but it should help you to pinpoint her location just about anywhere. Both of these are pretty expensive, so a cheaper option is the Tractive rated as the overall best here, and you can also get a month-to-month subscription to this service. Hope this helps, and wishing you all the best on your Wyoming trip!

       Reply ↓
38. Cheryl Aug 4, 2022 at 9:42 am

    What a fantastic article — thank you! I’ve read every word. I had a horrible 18 hours when my beloved, petite, 2-year-old cat named Beauty, who has always been indoor-only, got out when a careless house/cat sitter put the cat tree adjacent to an opening that’s too high for Beauty to jump through… something I’d told her not to do!!! Of course she couldn’t then get back in! I’m in France for two months, and my home is in California. I was frantic and felt powerless except in mobilizing my entire neighborhood from afar to search for her, and of course the house/cat sitter and her nearby family helped hugely. They finally found her inside a neighbor’s house after the neighbor had thoughtfully kept her back doors open just for this purpose.

    I couldn’t stop crying, couldn’t eat or sleep, anything… and I knew I adored and was deeply bonded to my two cats (litter-mates) but was astounded by the force of the bond. Now I am DEFINITELY getting a tracker. I like the idea mentioned above of a RF tracker when I’m home, and GPS when I’m away for peace of mind.

    However, this article says many times that it’s being (or was) updated. I see a date of June 2022, but not some of the trackers mentioned favorably in the comments. Is that because these were tested but didn’t make the final cut? Thank you again for a truly excellent article. You’re a kitty godsend!

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 4, 2022 at 6:28 pm

       Cheryl, to answer your question, I learned after tentatively recommending the Pawtrack several times that it was not being sent out to customers; the entire operation was a scam. For that reason, it was not included in the update.

       Reply ↓
39. Cheryl Aug 4, 2022 at 7:36 pm

    Good to know, thanks! Since the Loc8ter was so highly recommended by you and others, I ended up ordering the new version of the TabCat — and v2 is REALLY new, not yet quite in the warehouse but expected to ship out a week from now (so, around Aug. 10). It’s been updated in various ways, including being lighter and having a longer potential range. We’ll see!

    Reply ↓
    1. Roxie Aug 18, 2022 at 11:21 am

       Cheryl,

       How has the v2 unit been working for you? I am considering one too but wanted to see if there was any feedback. I havent found a single thing on the internet. I guess it really only came out this month.

       Would love to see the v2 get reviewed.

       Reply ↓
40. saeb Aug 11, 2022 at 3:26 pm

    have you tried AirTags? I heard they may be good, but not sure

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 17, 2022 at 12:52 am

       Hi Saeb, I’ve heard good things about Air Tags, but I haven’t used this product due to incompatibility with my Samsung smartphone. From what I understand, the Air Tag is comparable to the Tile but has slightly more accurate and user-friendly for Apple users.

       Reply ↓
41. Luca Aug 12, 2022 at 12:24 pm

    Hi!
    I was thinking to buy a gps tracker to use on a collar just in case my cat escape from his harness.
    But maybe if he will escape from the harness he will bring the collar away at the same time? Expecially because of the thickness of the tracker.
    So it will be useless.
    What do you think?
    Thanks

    Reply ↓
    1. Kate Barrington Aug 15, 2022 at 3:12 pm

       Good question, Luca! Depending what kind of harness you use, you might be able to use the collar at the same time. A harness is usually something you want to take off after you’ve come back inside but it’s fine to leave the collar on every day as long as your cat will tolerate it.

       Reply ↓
       1. Luca Aug 15, 2022 at 3:35 pm

          Thanks Kate,
          Yes sure you are right about keeping the collar all the time, good point.
          Which kind of harness do you think it will not bring the gps with it if escaping from it? The vest, jacket or H harness?

          Thanks.

          Reply ↓
42. Mark Aug 22, 2022 at 9:30 am

    Do you know of a GPS tracker that collects position data while the cat is out and about, which you then download once they return home? Our cats always return home so we don’t need live tracking information. We’re just interested to know how far they roam!

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorAug 23, 2022 at 4:12 pm

       Interesting question. So, with the right plan, you will be able to store your cat’s movement data from any of the GPS trackers listed here. However, they will put limits on how much information you can view, and most (or all, to my knowledge) will ask that you only view it on the cloud rather than downloading the location history to your device. For instance, you need to subscribe to a premium membership to get a year of location history from Tractive, and Jiobit only gives you 7 days of location history on a regular plan and 30 on a premium plan.

       Reply ↓
43. Dmitri Andreev Sep 9, 2022 at 2:49 pm

    Hello,
    I would like to warn you and pet owners that Tractive should not be allowed to market its device because of pet safety concerns. I have had two brand new devices in less than 6 months and both have repeatedly dropped gps signal. That happens to other trackers by different manufacturers (I have had 3 brands in 10-12 years) but Tractive will not regain the signal by itself, whereas the other two brands will. To restore Tractive gps signal/tracking one needs to grab the tracker and get out of the wi-fi home base zone (100 yards radius around my house in my case), then reset the connection by pressing a button on the tracker. I was lucky that my cat returned home and I was able to reset the tracking (3 episodes with one tracker and 2 occurrences with the 2nd) . Imagine what happens if the gps signal is lost and the pet’s whereabouts are unknown or if the pet returns without the device. Amazing that consumer/animal protection authorities allow this product to sell on the market. Tractive support response is always delayed and irrelevant, just reading the scripts from their SOPs. No help at all. After 6 month of complaints, uploaded app screens and escalation Tractive told me that their tracker was not suitable for me and that they would refund the costs of two devices and subscription and that they would work hard on improving the tracker. I do not think that my situation is unique. I am gravely concerned for pets’ safety. I think the device should be withdrawn from the market until it has been engineered to recover GPS signal automatically like other pet trackers do. I also grow suspicious of pet gps tracker “independent” reviews. Aren’t they just product ads. The review ratings of products known to have persistent and multiple issues are inflated. The problems are hushed.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorSep 20, 2022 at 4:49 pm

       Hi Dmitri, thanks for bringing this to our attention. Looking into it.

       Reply ↓
44. Dmitri Andreev Sep 20, 2022 at 5:48 pm

    Thanks, Mallory. I am looking for an alternative tracker while still using Tractive on my tom-cat and brushing away fears that another (3rd) episode of GPS signal loss looms ahead.

    Reply ↓
    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorSep 20, 2022 at 5:52 pm

       Of course. I do have a direct line of communication with Tractive (as you likely inferred, we do have an affiliate partnership with the brand) and let them know about your issue, and they’re apparently looking into it now. Hoping you’re able to find a good replacement.

       Reply ↓
45. Lea Oct 15, 2022 at 3:08 am

    Question about the batteries. My cat is indoors and, about once a year, escapes; he doesn’t go far, usually to the neighbor’s tree. I saw you said one tracker was rechargeable, but what about the others? I am thinking of just maybe tile or the loc8tor tabcat. I just worry about batteries being replaced all the time when all I need is a bit of “insurance” on the rare escape day. (5 yrs in this house, and it happened 3 times, once gone for 6 hours)

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorOct 18, 2022 at 8:40 pm

       Yes, the Tabcat, Girafus, and Tile all require batteries that you’ll change out. The Marco Polo has a rechargeable battery pack, and the others charge with an AC adapter.

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46. Mary Dec 30, 2022 at 7:13 am

    Hi, fabulous article. A question – I have 4 large cats approx. 14-15lbs each. We live on a 30 acre property, about half the property heavily treed, with the nearest neighbours half a mile away. The cats are supposed to be indoor and we have built a huge outdoor cat run with a tree incorporated. Unfortunately one of our babies is an escape artist, and we are constantly in battle with him to keep the house secured. He has gouged out wire fly screens, opens doors, has pulled out air-conditioner vents to get into the roof, constantly tests the cat netting looking for weak spots, chewed a hole in the plasterboard where a pipe went through to make it bigger and so on. He is endlessly inventive. On Christmas night he managed to unhook the hook and eye on one of the doors and let them all out in the middle of the night. One didn’t come back for two days when it was 100+ degrees (South Australia), then came sauntering up the front paddock without a care in the world. He had obviously been hiding up from the heat and didn’t bother responding when we walked all over the place looking for him
    It seems to me reading your reviews that an RF type would be the best. I am happy to tramp around the area with a handheld device waiting for it to beep, I need something that has a longer range and can locate them when they are hiding in sheds and under trees. I cannot get the Eureka in Australia but can get the Girafus. What do you think?

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJan 10, 2023 at 6:33 pm

       Hey Mary, apologies for the late reply! It sounds like your cats all have a wonderful life—great work. I agree that the Eureka tracker would be the best option for you, so I contacted them, and they said that they would be able to ship to Australia if you order through their online store. The price is the same as listed on the website, and they charge a flat $40 shipping fee for international orders. Hope this helps!

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47. Nathan K Tripathy Jan 19, 2023 at 9:53 am

    Hi Mallory,
    Your thorough, devoted work is greatly appreciated, as always. I am looking to get locators for my two 10ish year old brothers who are going out for the first time. In looking over your article I noticed that you despite rating the Tractive at the top, the Jiobit sounded as if it surpassed the Tractive in terms of accuracy, features, battery life and maybe more. The biggest point where the Tractive seems superior is price.

    Given that my cats will be free to traverse our large backyard and quiet neighborhood (while hopefully avoiding the busier street outside a fence on the front of our home) is there any reason beyond price to suggest the Tractive over the Jiobit?

    Thank you!

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJan 23, 2023 at 10:13 pm

       Nathan, there’s no reason other than price, really! If the price is not an obstacle, I would absolutely opt for the Jiobit over the Tractive. Hope this helps.

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48. Tiffany Marie Cobb Jan 31, 2023 at 12:28 pm

    I was surprised that Apple AirTags weren’t an option. That’s what I’m currently using, however I need something more “pin point accurate “ for my cats. But the AirTag has helped us many times find them when we hadn’t seen them for a while. Anyway just curious if there was a reason why this wasn’t on the list or if it was tested.

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJan 31, 2023 at 11:09 pm

       Hey Tiffany, thanks for the comment. It was really a personal limitation—I wasn’t able to test any iOS products! We’ll see if we can include it in our next update. Thank you again!

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49. Chris Jun 28, 2023 at 2:18 am

    Hello,
    We tried the #1 pick a few months ago. We were very disappointed with the huge cost of their plans. It’s very exploitive. Their 30-day free offer is deceptive. We were trying figure out if we were willing to do it, and it turns out that the 30 days starts when you buy it. So, there is no 30 days free if you wait. AND, if you choose a plan (e.g., a 5-year plan), you have to pay all the money up front! Why on Earth do they have to charge a monthly fee? It’s all automated technology. It’s not like they have a gigantic room of people operators. It’s pure exploitation. I wouldn’t be surprised if this company is part of the cat-kidnapping industry. The surveillance camera companies are doing the same thing–charging you a monthly fee for an automated technology.
    Aren’t there any trackers that don’t have monthly charges? That would be a real gem. Please show us THOSE products!

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50. Kirsty Jul 8, 2023 at 11:56 am

    Hi
    Please can one of your team remove all references to Pawtrack? I was set to buy based on a number of the comments (including from yourselves) recommending them, and only upon reading much further down the thread only chanced upon your comment saying it was a scam. The website you link to is a clue, but they have another website that looks pretty professional.
    Could you please also highlight which of the companies you are in partnership with too? I initially found your review so helpful, but upon receiving appalling customer service from Tracktive, (and seeing your comments) now I realise it’s not exactly impartial. This is a real shame, as I at first thought the article was so useful.
    Many thanks

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    1. Mallory Crusta Post authorJul 11, 2023 at 7:59 pm

       You’re right; I’ll remove those comments. We receive affiliate commissions on all of the trackers listed here.

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51. Don Masters Sep 19, 2023 at 12:27 am

    What’s missing from your reviews is the distance range of each tracker. For instance, our Tile and Jiobit seem to have the same range response for our cat, but the Tile is more responsive. Jiobit constantly states we cannot ring him even though he is at our feet practically and we have Bluetooth on. A real dilemma if he is hiding. Tile has a good ring and is not tied to a Bluetooth connection. The nice ring will ricochet him home straight to the door.

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52. Robert Oct 7, 2023 at 2:30 pm

    Cheap(er) alternative: we use an Apple Airtag for both our cats. Cheap and like bluetooth tags no recurring costs. Yet their USP is perfect integration with Apple its ‘Find my’ app with free location updates when anywhere by tethering the network and location from anyone with their smartphone recently close to our pets! Brilliantly effective. I just strapped them compactly to the collars with 2 tie-rips within a befitting piece of bicycle inner tube.
    We already retrieved one of them stray-cats many times when it didn’t come home for food.

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