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Join our community of cat lovers on the Mumsnet Cat forum for kitten advice and help with cat behaviour.

Original poster

Put a GPS tracker on my cat and now wish I hadn’t

27 replies

GorgeousLadyofWrestling · 12/12/2023 20:11

We live in a large private estate with huge communal gardens. There’s a large main road over one side of a fence and I always assumed my cats never crossed that road because it’s so busy.

We got a tracker for them and 3 of them just roam the estate, which was expected. But the last one is now wearing it and he goes all the way over that very busy road every night and spends a decent portion of the night hunting over there, I guess. The time looked to be about 11pm - 4.30am. He’s been out all day today too, on and off and hasn’t strayed from the estate so it’ll be interesting to see if he goes again tonight.

The road is a real worry. It’s very busy in the day but obviously much quieter at night. My boy is about 18 months old and neutered. I don’t really know what to do. He wears a reflective collar but he’s all black. I’ve tried keeping them all in over night but they’re not all siblings and letting them out gives them the space they need. It’s now just going to worry me every night but the alternative is having him go crazy with frustration if I keep him in.

OP posts:
Deargodletitgo · 12/12/2023 20:15

I have a tracker on mine and what I find is he doesn't have consistent patterns for his travels, some times he goes across the road to another estate or even into fields, but most days he doesn't. My two are also in at night till about 5 am, for my nerves

WhatNoUsername · 12/12/2023 20:26

There's probably not a lot you can do. It's not fair to keep them inside now they know the outside exists. This is the risk all of us take when letting cats roam. There are loads of hazards. But cats are only part domesticated so I believe is fairer to let them out. Quality of life (possibly) over quantity.

HerMammy · 12/12/2023 20:33

Traffic is lighter at night, whereas if he was roaming all day the traffic would be heavier. Can you keep him in alternate nights maybe?

RestingCatsArseFace · 12/12/2023 20:59

I kept mine in at night after my neighbour told me one of hers had been run over on the road at the end of the lane which was a long way from any traffic. I never let them out at night, couldn't live with myself if they were hit. Have seen so many lying by the side of the road, even in rural areas and often black ones, one once in the middle of the road.

Could you get a catio for night time (and day time if they like it)?

Deargodletitgo · 12/12/2023 21:01

I honestly don't see the point of catios, and outdoor cats would not find them a replacement for roaming

anx12345 · 12/12/2023 21:03

Interesting were do you buy these?

YireosDodeAver · 12/12/2023 21:09

Your lovely cat is having a good life with you. That life includes the freedom to roam and the freedom to take risks. This is a good thing. Male cats do roam over a large area, this is natural. Cats do not live forever, this is known when we bring them into our homes and hearts. We will lose them one day.

I cannot promise you that your cat will never have a terrible accident crossing the road one day. But equally he may live to a ripe old age and develop painful arthritic hips and numerous other health conditions that mean you one day have to make the decision that it's time to pts. Both scenarios will be heartbreaking. There isn't a scenario that doesn't have some kind of heartbreak. Whichever happens your cat is having a full, happy, enriched and enjoyable life thanks to you. Short or long, that lifetime is worthwhile and full of love.

But most cats don't have a terrible traffic accident because they are the product of evolution to make them generally sharp witted, agile and good at assessing and avoiding dangers. So probably he will be fine, and you won't increase that probability one jot by worrying.

NightmareGirl · 12/12/2023 21:12

I always just assumed my cat would have the same vehicle speed judgment as a human

NutcrackerSweety · 12/12/2023 21:19

@GorgeousLadyofWrestling what tracker do you use, I’d live to know where one of mine goes ( the other one is usually less than 5m from his bowl)

AuntieJoyce · 12/12/2023 21:20

Could you just keep him in on his own and let the other ones out at night?

I do sympathise, though, it’s hard work when you’ve got one that wants to be out all the time they slip through the door anyway.

TeaGinandFags · 12/12/2023 21:21

Why worry?

Before he wore the tracker he was doing the same thing and you know he doesn't go near the road when it's busy. Your kitty is savvy and knows when to pull back.

He's obviously living his best life and is purrfectly happy with you. If nothing else, cats have nine lives so kitty will be fine.

Deargodletitgo · 12/12/2023 21:23

I have a Tractive tracker, mainly because one of mine has a habit of getting locked in people's sheds and houses 🙄

TeaGinandFags · 12/12/2023 21:24

anx12345 · 12/12/2023 21:03

Interesting were do you buy these?

Type pet tracker into Google and you will be spoilt for choice.

Alternatively, pop into your local pet shop and ask one of the nice assistants.

Ponderingwindow · 12/12/2023 21:25

If you let your cat out to roam, your cat almost certainly crosses streets and has a good chance of being struck by a car. You are going to be upset. The person who hits your cat is going to be upset. You have to be prepared for the consequences of your choices.

you can keep your cat in, get a Catio, or cat proof your garden. Not every culture allows cats to roam.

FormerlyPathologicallyHappy · 12/12/2023 21:26

He shouldn’t be out at that time. My Bengal didn’t go overnight.

Quickredfox · 12/12/2023 21:29

It sounds like he has a high quality of life. I would be happy with that rather than the quantity of life tbh.

Original poster
GorgeousLadyofWrestling · 12/12/2023 21:32

Thanks for everyone’s responses ☺️

Re catio idea - we live in a big estate with huge communal gardens, there’s no part of the garden that is actually mine to install a catio.

The tracker is Tractive and though it looks big, all of them have warn it no problem.

In particular the posts from @TeaGinandFags and @YireosDodeAver really resonate and everyone else who mentioned he’s living his best life. I’ve always had outdoor cats, my whole life, my whole experience of cat ownership is to let them outside so I couldn’t imagine keeping an animal such as a cat confined. But to the people who pointed it out, you have to make your peace with the consequences.

@AuntieJoyce tempted to do that, just keep him in. To be honest I’m tempted to just walk up there one evening to see how busy it is. Is that mad? 😂 I have OCD and I know I will obsess over this until I can assess the risk.

OP posts:
Original poster
GorgeousLadyofWrestling · 12/12/2023 21:34

*worn not warn!

OP posts:
Deargodletitgo · 12/12/2023 21:37

I understand your concern, only one of mine where's a tracker due to getting lost for 5 days once. I also don't sleep until I know they are both safe inside. I also have a camera on the cat flap so I can see their comings and goings when they are out.sounds over the top but I lost a cat to the roads over night a few years ago so it's probably a reaction to that.

Shellingbynight · 12/12/2023 21:38

I always kept my cats in at night - in fact, I tried to get them in as soon as it got dark, so fairly early at this time of year) but I had four cats hit by cars in broad daylight, three fatally. It really makes no difference if it is light or dark IME.

I'm sorry to say your cat is likely to get hit by a car. If he lives to be 8 or 9 years old that may seem a good 'result' in that he had a happy and longish life. Unfortunately though it is young cats who are more likely to be run over as they are more adventurous and interested in whatever is in that field. Three of my cats were aged 2 when hit by a car, the other was 5. So my cats don't roam now, they have enclosed garden so they still experience the outdoors - but obviously it's not the same.

I don't like keeping them enclosed, but I do like them staying alive. I'm not saying you should do the same, just be prepared that your cat may have a short life.

(By the way, the person who hits a cat rarely realises what happens. It tends to be the driver behind them or a pedestrian who sees it - that was my experience anyway, in terms of who came to tell me.)

RandomMess · 12/12/2023 21:39

Honestly keep them in overnight. Special treats at "bedtime" they adjust and learn it's time for the "big sleep". After a few months outs would be clock watching and asking to be put to bed!

Wexone · 12/12/2023 21:43

I have one on my cat. he loves being outside but also likes his inside time too. you will find that he has a routine. mine comes in about 5 in eve and then goes out about 10pm (I say to see his girlfriend 🤣) here him come in about 2 and then goes back out around 5 or 6 when husband gets up. he has a great life touring the estate. we also live near the see so it's very busy during summer but he still gets around. the only time I had to go looking for him and the tracker told me where he eas was when he got stuck in a hedge. other times he has been sitting watching birds etc. I know it's worrying but the tracker does really reassure me. it would be cruel to keep him in all the time. where my female cat is too posh to go outside 🤣

LakeTiticaca · 12/12/2023 21:47

Living close to quite a busy road we have lost cats to rta's in the past. I was advised by the vet that most cat casualties actually happen at night and advised keeping cats indoors at night.
It has actually worked up to now 🤞🤞

FrenchFancie · 12/12/2023 22:11

We get both of our boys in at night because I’m also worried mine will wander onto the main road at the top of the estate.

One of my boys has a weird sheep fetish so if the sheep are in the field at the back of the house, I know where he will be. The other one thinks every house belongs to him, he’s well known on the estate for trying to let himself into other people’s houses!!
i would love a tracker on mine, I think I would be embarrassed by wheee they go!!

you could try keeping your cats in once it gets dark? I know what you mean about them needing space though. It’s a tricky one.

Shadesofscarlett · 12/12/2023 22:19

just put an Apple air tag on the collar to track - you can buy a tag holder to fit