Table of contents

What are cat trackers?
Features to look for
Our favorites
– Tabcat
– Whistle 3
– Tagg
– Pawscout 2
– Tractive
– Track R
– Weenect 2
– PawTrack
– Girafus
– Findster Duo

What are cat trackers?

A pet tracking device is either attached to your pet’s existing collar or it comes with a special adjustable collar of its own. Such devices are fairly easy to use and give you piece of mind.

The American Pet Products Association estimates that we spend over $60bn on cats and dogs every year. And big companies are taking note. They are coming out with an increasing number of high tech solutions designed specifically with pets in mind.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

There are a few gadgets that even double-up as activity/health trackers. Though a few extra pounds seem like they can’t hurt, obesity can be a life-threatening condition for your pet. Up to 60% of cats in the US are overweight, making it the most common nutritional disorder identified in veterinary practice. Your pet may be overweight, but you may not realize it.

Features to look for

Size matters. A good tracker for your kitty should be comfortable and lightweight, so your furry friend doesn’t even realize it’s there. Other things to keep in mind include:

• Cost: many (but not all) GPS pet monitors require a one-off activation fee and a monthly or yearly subscription in addition to the purchase price.
• Virtual fence: This feature allows you to set boundaries for your cat. If the animal crosses out of the preset boundary the device will alert you. Some also use a tracking beacon to pinpoint the exact spot where the kitty is hiding.
• Countries where it can be used: This is an important one. Most devices will work in the US but for other countries you will need to make sure to read the small print. This is particularly important for those that come with a SIM card.
• Battery life: Let’s face it, we already spend too much time charging devices on a daily basis. You certainly don’t want to add a cat tracker to this list. Aim for a battery life of a minimum 2 weeks.
• Smartphone app or stand-alone device: The bulk of cat trackers work with an accompanying smartphone app. Make sure your phone is compatible. A select few, such as Girafus, come with a proprietary device of their own.
• Live tracking: Does the device offer real-time info on your pet’s movements? If not, you may want to look elsewhere. Also some trackers update more often than others, ranging from every few seconds to a few times per hour.
• Technology used: This could be anything from GPS, to WiFi and radio frequency signals. The best offer a combination of technologies. A mix is good as it allows you to track the animal both indoors and out.
• SIM card: Some cat trackers (such as Weenect and Tractive) require a SIM Card to work. These are the ones that come with a subscription plan. A few are sold with integrated SIM cards, others allow you to add a card of your own. The latter option offers more flexibility.

Our favorites

Tabcat

Tabcat is a popular tracking device that lets you keep on top of the whereabouts of your pet. Attaching easily to your cat’s collar, the gizmo is lightweight (6 grams versus GPS tags which are normally 30+ grams), but robust enough to stay on whatever they get up to.

The directional handset picks up the signal from your kitty and then tells you which way to walk to find them. A single red light tells you’re in range and then as you walk in the right direction and get closer lights go to amber and then green guiding you right to your kitty.

Tabcat can track your cat up to 122 meters in clear line of sight and guide you right to their location, within 2.5cm. The company says, about 70% of customers they have spoken to said their cat learned to come back on its own when they pressed the locate button. Doing this activates a small beep on the tag. It seems you can train them to associate the beep with a treat.

Amazon | Tabcat*

Whistle 3 GPS Pet Tracker

Whistle claims to be the first device and app system that combines location-tracking and smart activity monitoring into one simple experience. The popular device attaches to your pet’s existing collar allowing you to keep track of them in real-time.

The latest version sports WiFi in addition to Bluetooth, GPS and 3G cellular data. With battery life of up to 7 days, you get live GPS tracking, location alerts and the ability to create a designated safe area. This enables you to receive alerts (email, app or text notification), when something is up. You can also access your pet’s location over the previous 24 hours to see what they were up to.

This is a wearable that also keeps tabs on your pet’s long-term health trends (such as the last vet appointment, dates of shots, and so on). You can set custom goals and receive notifications if there are significant changes to their activity or sleep patterns.

Whistle the tracker itself is priced affordably, there is a monthly fee of around $7-$10. Coverage is only in the US for now.

Amazon | Whistle*

Tagg GPS Pet Tracker

Tagg GPS Pet Tracker is a location tracking device that attaches to your pet’s collar so you can keep track of them wherever they go. If they ever wonder outside of the designated zone, the device sends text and email messages to let you know. You can then locate your pet on a map using the free mobile and web app.

The company has upgraded Tagg recently with several new features, including a temperature sensor which notifies you if your pet is in danger of overheating on a hot day or freezing in chilly conditions. Tagg also monitors their activity and fitness levels during the day ensuring they stay active and healthy.

Amazon*

Pawscout Smarter Pet Tag 2.0

Size of a silver dollar, the Pawscout Smart Tag attaches to any collar and locates your cat within a 300-foot radius of any phone or tablet with the Pawscout app. This means that you can put your pet on a virtual leash and receive alerts if it strays. The tracker was developed in partnership with the SFSPCA to introduce a community-supported way to find lost pets and reunite them with their owners.

You can invite friends, family, neighbors, dog walkers and pet sitters to install the free app to help protect your pet. If the worst happens and your pet goes missing, send out a digital “lost cat” flyer to all the animal lovers in your area and have the community searching for your pet at a moment’s notice.

The inexpensive device comes with no on-going monthly fees. It offers a complete pet profile and a lifetime of protection for a one-time purchase. This is more convenient than microchip information which can get out of date, plus reading a microchip requires a trip to the vet.

Amazon*

Tractive GPS Pet Tracker

Tractive GPS tracker for animals will always let you know where your dog or cat is via an internet browser or the free mobile apps for iOS and Android.

The device enables you to set a Safe Zone for your pet. As soon as it leaves this area, you’ll get an alert directly on your smartphone. With the Live Tracking Mode you will see the trace where your pet was and where it is headed right now. The integrated light not only helps to find missing pets in the dark, but also increases the visibility of your pet when going for a walk close to roads.

Tractive uses GPS and communicates through cell phone towers, which enable you to track your pet 24/7. The device works in over 150 countries, but a subscription plan is needed.

Amazon | Tractive*

TrackR

This is not a dedicated pet tracker. Rather, its a universal tag that makes it easy to keep tabs on your valuables. But you can also attach it to your kitty.

TrackR has an app for both Apple and Android devices which allows you to easily track your lost items. The small, coin-sized device can also be attached to your pet’s collar or other valuable items. You can then monitor the location of the tab by ringing TrackR, using TrackR’s Distance Indicator or via Crowd GPS.

Amazon*

Weenect 2 GPS Pet Tracker

Weenect Cats lets you can find your cat at any time, no matter where they are. The GPS tracker is connected to your smartphone through a mobile app so that their location is displayed in real-time on a map wherever they  are.

You can locate and monitor your wandering pet with one of 3 modes: Map (Google Map), Compass and Radar. The tracker sends an updated position every 10 seconds whatever the distance. Furthermore, you can get the GPS chip to ring from your phone or computer.

But that’s not all. Weenect Cats is also a GPS phone for cats! Yes, its not a typo – if you’re not at home, call and reassure your cat from wherever you are.

The device is ultra-light, weighing only 25g. A full recharge only takes 2 hours and lasts up to 4 days in standby mode. The gizmo is equipped with a SIM card (supplied). It therefore requires a subscription to cover the service charge.

Amazon*

PawTrack

PawTrack is not just about finding your cat when it’s lost – it’s about seeing where they go, and what they do. The company originally raised funds via Kickstarter to develop the product, but its now available for pre-order with shipping starting from end-August.

The cat monitoring collar uses GPS & GLONASS for tracking and works in over 170 countries. Pawtrack takes a location fix every 10 minutes (and on request for live tracking). These positions are stored on the collar and are then uploaded automatically or on demand.

In addition, the collar is WiFi enabled and programmed to recognise your home internet network. Once your cat returns Pawtrack recognises the WiFi signal, tells the server he’s home, downloads the latest positions and switches GPS off. When your cat leaves home it starts up again.

A built in accelerometer recognises when your cat is sleeping, resting or lazing around and shuts the collar down to conserve battery (which typically lasts around 6 days).

Amazon*

Girafus

This is one of a select few devices that works equally well both indoors and out. And it is an option with no hidden costs as it requires no monthly subscription fees.

The range-though is only up to 500 Meters /1600 Feet as it uses radio frequencies instead of GPS. Directional tracking by using the stand-alone proprietary unit guides you to your pet. As long as the limited range is acceptable to you, Girafus presents itself as an interesting option.

The lightweight, splash-proof, second generation device offers improved battery life of up to a month. A few hours on the charger and it will be good to go for another 30 days. Those with more than one cat will be happy to know that a total of 4 individual tag-modules can be monitored with the same unit.

Amazon*

FinderDuo

Originally a Kickstarter project, Findster is different from most other non-subscription options in that it offers GPS tracking at no cost (apart from the purchase price). Plus there is no SIM card or cell coverage that is needed.

The gizmo offers a real-time connection between 2 modules through something the company calls MAZE technology. One of the modules is for you, the other is attached to your pet.

The range this works on is a radius of up to a half a mile in urban areas, and 3 miles in open outdoor areas. Tracking is done via a smartphone app and you can define a safe area for immediate notification when your cat strays. The thing even doubles up as an activity tracker.

The waterproof and shock-resistant, Findster works wherever you are in the world, even off-grid. Battery life depends on whether the GPS is switched on or off. The more power-hungry setting (GPS always on) will keep going for up to 12 hours. This can be extended to 3 days with occasional GPS usage.

Amazon*

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The duo is called Whistle Go and Whistle Go Explore. Just like the original device they discreetly attach to a pet’s collar. From this location they beam the whereabouts of the pet via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, along with their activity to an owner’s smartphone.

The device and app system combine location-tracking and smart activity monitoring into one simple experience. You get live GPS tracking, location alerts and the ability to define a Whistle Zone. If your four legged friend strays, you can opt to receive email, app or text notification.

In addition to better location tracking, the main difference between the predecessor devices and the new ones is the addition of health monitoring features. This includes sleep, licking and scratching.

You can keep track of your pet’s long-term health trends (such as the last vet appointment, dates of shots, and so on), and set custom goals and receive notifications if there are significant changes to their behaviour patterns. And if you have multiple pets, you can track them all with only one base station.

Whistle Go Explore comes with longer battery life. It can keep going for up to 20 days between charges, which is twice as much as Whistle Go. It also comes with a built-in light and different colour options.

“Whistle GO and Whistle GO Explore will provide pet owners a new window into their pet’s world by helping answer the top questions owners have regarding their pets, such as location, exercise and health,” said Collette Bunton, CEO of Whistle.

“With the addition of groundbreaking health features, like itching and licking detection and sleep monitoring, Whistle has become an intelligent tool empowering pet owners with new insights that create awareness around our pets’ health and well-being.”

Both devices are now available for order on Amazon. Whistle Go retails for $99.95, Whistle Go Explore $129.95. To enable nationwide tracking through AT&T, a $6.95 monthly subscription is required.

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Just like their owners, our pets need to be active to stay happy and healthy. GOMI is an app-enabled smart ball that can provide hours of entertainment and exercise for your dog or cat.

Our pets feel loneliness. Dogs, in particular, suffer when left on their own. This means whenever you are not at home, your furry friend is under stress. No play can also lead to obesity. In fact, statistics show that nearly half of all house pets are obese.

GOMI is a smart toy that aims to help with this. Featuring AutoStart and AutoStop functions, it comes programmed with 12 different interactions to keep your pets engaged and their minds simulated. The ball moves in irregular patterns and vibrates when bitten and rolls away when dropped.

Plus GOMI comes with an accompanying smartphone app. Log in to see just how your pet is playing while you are gone. You can even control the ball movements through the app.

Made from FDA-Certified Polycarbonate coating and 100% waterproof, the ball is extremely durable. The Sustainable Soy Ink and antibacterial nature ensures that your dog or cat is free from any harmful substances.

Once your pet is done or you are back at home, simply place the ball back on the wireless charger. That way its always ready for more fun.

Price: $79 and up

Funding open:

$42,798 raised out of $3,835 goal
38 days to go

Estimated delivery: May 2019

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Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

The Norwegian outfit known for designing high tech gadgets for kids is expanding its portfolio of products. Its newest wearable can be used by the young and old.

The device emulates other XPLORA products in that it can be used as a children’s watch with features such as calls, messages, a camera, emoji messaging, a step counter and alarms. Parents can use it as a safety device to keep a line of communication directly open with their little ones.

The novelty is in the additional use cases. The gizmo comes with accessories and preloaded interfaces which allow it to be used for other purposes. Each individual case use takes advantage of the core standard features such as GPS and location tracking, geofenceable areas, an SOS button, WiFi and mobile connectivity.

The bike tracker, for example, notifies an owner if their two-wheeler is being tampered with. If someone attempts to steal the bike an alarm will sound via the accompanying smartphone app. At the same time the automatic tracking function will switch itself on letting you know at all times the whereabouts of your vehicle.

The same use applies to other assets. Simply fasten the tracker to an item such as a suitcase or handbag to keep tabs on them. You can even attach it to pets to know how much they move and set geofenced areas.

Finally, the multipurpose device can also be used by the elderly. It allows them to monitor their steps, the alarm function can be used to remind them to take medication, plus there is support for calls, notifications and an SOS button to keep them in touch with loved ones.

XPLORA GO devices start at £69.99 (around $90). The wearable will be available for purchase from April at www.myxplora.com and other retailers. If you’re in Barcelona, you can check it out at the Mobile World Congress next week.

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Designed to keep an eye on and interact with your animals, both devices now have an extended 180-degree full-room view, a 4-microphone array, speaker and improved WiFi (now supporting the 5GHz band). The camera is smaller this time around so should fit into a room more seamlessly. Bites 2 and Play 2 also come with 1080p HD video, 4x digital zoom and night vision.

If the pet sits in front of the camera, you’ll get a push notification asking if you want to accept a call from them. Saying yes will initiate a two-way video call. To add to the fun, once again you have the built-in laser toy.

If that fails to keep them occupied, there’s a flinging mechanism with improved control for portions and greater arc trajectory. Those feeling too lazy to press a button can now tell Alexa to sling a treat. A bit of an unexpected and perhaps unnecessary update for a device that is meant to be used when you’re not at home.

The Petcube Bites 2 is set to go on sale for $249 and the Petcube Play 2 for $199, when they launch later this spring. Both will be available in “matte silver” and “carbon black” options.

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There’s a new gadget to play with for concerned pet-parents. Dubbed Pupple, it allows you to interact, treat and watch what your puppy gets up to while you are away.

We all love our pets. But let’s face it, the hectic modern lifestyle makes it difficult to spend as much time as we would like with them. Pupple is a crowdfunded project that takes a novel approach to pet entertainment. It consists of a station which is home to a TreatHouse and a BirdHouse. Both slip neatly on top of each other.

As its name implies, the TreatHouse allows you to reward your pet remotely. Activated via the app, it will fling out your pooch’s favorite treat at the touch of a button. There is also a scheduled treat function which does this for you.

Arguably, the more interesting part of the system is the BirdHouse. This provides a means of playing with your pet from your office, car or evening out. The app allows you to control Bird, a durable, waterproof, chew proof, stair proof, WiFi connected Ball that has a camera built-in. It was designed to tap into pet’s natural instinct to chase after birds, and comes in a choice between canary, woodpecker, snowy owl and calimero.

Simply whizz it around the room and your pet will be too busy to think about its missing owner. You can even choose to get notified when your pooch nudges the ball and wants to play. Or simply activate auto-play mode and Bird will keep them engaged and happy without your assistance.

If the Bird is tired out and running out juice, simply roll it back into the BirdHouse. You’ll get a notification when the 3,000 mAh battery is getting low. A 90 minute top-up will be good for up to two hours of run time.

The last element of the system is the two-way communication. In addition to the camera in Bird, there is a 1080P HD camera with night vision built into the TreatHouse. It sits right next to the microphone which has the ability to detect if your dog is barking. Speak into the accompanying smartphone app and the speaker in the TreatHouse will broadcast your voice, helping to calm them down. The other options are to play pre-recorded messages when the gizmo detect’s barking noise, roll out a treat, or let Bird do its thing.

Pupple is now on Kickstarter with what seemed like an ambitious goal of $100,000. It was primarily designed for dogs, but you can also use it for cats. A pledge of $165 will put you on the list to be one of the first to receive the product. With 16 days to go, the company already has enough funds to go into production.

Price: $165 and up

Funding open:

$109,250 raised out of $100,000 goal
16 days to go

Estimated delivery: July 2019

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VARRAM Pet Fitness is a friendly, smart pet robot with a mobile application to keep your pet active, happy and healthy while you’re away.

Essential reading: Five cool gadgets to help training your pet

Dogs and cats are social creatures, just like humans. Not only can they feel lonely, but they can also have behavior disorders which impair their normal functions. Dogs and cats thrive on companionship and love the company of people and other animals.

But what if you’re often away from home?

VARRAM Pet Fitness is a robot-like device that plays with your dog or cat by automatically zooming around your home in a fun way, interacting with your pet and dispensing treats. It’s a great way to keep this member of your family active throughout the day, which in turn helps to reduce the risk of lethargy and depression.

The clever little gizmo has a radar like system which allows it to dodge and weave around any obstacles. Its also clever enough to know when your pet is close. VARRAM’s rugged construction means it can go over carpets or down the stairs with ease, and deal with quite a beating.

In addition to moving automatically, you can control the robot via the accompanying smartphone app. This gives you a means to play with your pet remotely. If you’re spending long hours in the office or simply feeling too lazy to get off the couch, you’ll have comfort in knowing your pet is engaged and active. The app allows you to customize when your pet needs to be active, how many treats they can have and how long they need to play.

The Kickstarter campaign to make VARRAM Pet Fitness a reality has received a great reception. Over $130,000 have been raised so far, a number of times over its $30,000 goal. There are still 3 days left in the campaign if you want in. Delivery to backers is expected in January.

Price: $89 and up

Funding open:

$132,780 raised out of $30,000 goal
3 days to go

Estimated delivery: January 2019

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America’s pet-related spending is very high. Sales of these wearables are booming thanks to consumers who want to improve their pets’ lives with devices similar to what they themselves are using. We’ve seen everything from GPS trackers for dogs to technology that keeps tabs on your canine’s fitness activity.

It is a well known fact that dogs don’t tolerate high temperatures as well as humans. Their fur is great protection against the cold but can be a problem in hot weather. A common cause of heat strokes is careless action from the owner, such as leaving a dog in a car on a hot day. It can take as little as 15 minutes for a dog to die of a heat-related illness.

A project has just launched on Kickstarter for Dawg Tag, the world’s first wearable that protects your dog from heat strokes. This is a noninvasive, affordable, rugged and water resistant gizmo that measures your dog’s core temperature on key points in the body. In addition to temperature sensors embedded in the harness, Dawg Tag also sports humidity sensors. Air humidity is another risk factor when it comes to heat-related illness in dogs.

“Thousands of dogs get heat stroke every year,” creator Matthew Edwards, a mechanical engineer who usually works in robotics technologies, told Digital Trends.

“We actually lost a family dog due to heat stroke, which is why we started to develop this in the first place.”

Some three years in the making, Dawg Tag displays the core temperature and air humidity on an easily readable screen mounted on the dog’s back. Both readings are colour coded for at-a-glance viewing.

If you’re looking for an easy way for you to protect your dog from the summer heat, this wearable may be of interest. The company is looking to raise a rather ambitious $130,000, but with two months to go its still early days in the campaign. Usual warnings about crowdfunded projects apply.

Price: $120 and up

Funding open:

$642 raised out of $130,000 goal
56 days to go

Estimated delivery: December 2018

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PetBit is a tracking device that can be attached to a dog’s collar. The gizmo uses GPS and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) technology to locate your pet in real-time. The accompanying smartphone app shows the exact location, kilometres travelled and more. A Blue LED light on the tracker flashes making finding your pooch easier to find in the dark.

A nice spin on the whole pet tracking game is the integration of a QR code feature. If a dog gets lost, anyone can simply scan the QR code on the tracker to find details of its owner.

Just like a Fitbit for humans, PetBit also keeps tabs on a pets fitness data. After all, obesity is not just a problem for pet owners. According to the American Animal Hospital Association, most dogs in the United States don’t get enough exercise, more than 40% are overweight and 25% are obese. PetBit spits out data on walking time, distance and calories burnt.

The device is reinforced against blows and has an IPX7 water-resistance rating so is suitable for splashes, rain and snow. Its small and lightweight measuring 5.04 x 4.6 x 1.83 cm and coming in at just 26 grams.

You’ll be happy to know this is not something you’ll be charging too often. The battery has a life of 30 days on a single charge thanks to its intelligent power saving mode.

PetBit comes in Silver/White and Graphite/Black color options and is priced at around $30. Its expected to go on sale in China in the coming days. No word yet on international availability.

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If you were on the lookout for a smartphone for your four-legged friend, the wait is finally over. With Moxie, your furry companion is only a phone call away.

Measuring just 2.5 inches in diameter, the gizmo attaches to a pet’s collar. It offers an on-board image stabilized camera capable of live streaming what your pet sees straight to your phone. Seeing life from your dog’s perspective might make those long hours spent in the office just a tad less boring. The accompanying smartphone app lets you sort and upload videos from your phone, and share with friends and family.

Inside there is a two-way microphone, an HD 30FPS camera, 1220 mAh battery and a set of communicative LEDs. The built-in speaker allows for two-way communication. Not only can you call Fido, but Moxie’s patented Call to Bark Technology allows your dog to call your cellphone based on your parameters (time, length, frequency). On receiving the call, the owner is able to see what his dog is doing in real time.

Moxie is the brainchild of two Irvine-based pet-loving tech enthusiasts.

““We are excited to bring to you our revolutionary smartphone for dogs. The first of its kind, Moxie was developed to ensure peace of mind for all dog owners when they are unable to be physically present before their pet,” said Dr. Tony Beizaee, who founded Moxie with Evan Jafa.

“Most importantly, our device will allow you to stay closer to your furry friend whenever you wish to be through multiple live video calls throughout the day.”

A smartphone for dogs? Now is this really necessary? Well, 172 backers think it is. If you want to join them, it will cost you $150 to back the project. Delivery is expected in August.

Price: $150 and up

Funding open:

$17,064 raised out of $15,613 goal
25 days to go

Estimated delivery: August 2018

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