Help I need a Tracking Device for Cats

[AllyC]

Hi one of my cats Milo went missing on the 3rd of March, just disappeared. We searched everywhere, put up posters, online everything but nobody had seen him. We were heartbroken.

After six long painful weeks, a very weak, bedraggled Milo walked in through the cat flap last Wednesday morning. We couldn't believe it, we are beyond overjoyed. But how are we ever going to be able to let him go out again. I've decided the only way I will ever let him even sniff the great outdoors again is if I can see his every move. So, I think we need a pretty serious tracking device as Milo is a devil for wandering, loves climbing trees and chasing things.

Its so frustrating not knowing what happened to him as he came very close to not making it. The Vet said Milo lost half his body weight and was very dehydrated, he also seems really nervous which he most definitely wasn't before. He's sleeping a lot but the pawing at the cat flap has begun so I need to find something pretty fast. When we put collars with name tags on, he will come back a few hours later without them so I don't trust the collar/name tag (although he will have that too).

Does anybody know of a really good, lightweight, not massive, long range cat tracker please. All the trackers I've seen online look really big, I know he would spend his life battling with it to get it off.

Cat Tax picture added of Milo on the morning he came home.

Couldn’t send a code as gave mine to DD so glad someone else has - I took out 2 year plan and will renew for longer next time if I can as very happy with it

For the most part, yes we do find it pretty accurate. On a couple of occasions it’s put him somewhere completely random so not sure if we’re getting someone else’s tracker but a refresh normally corrects it. We have a ring fence set so get notifications if he leaves the area but tbh he doesn’t go far, he seems to have a little patrol route set and then comes back to either guard the driveway or relax in the garden!

Haha, yes Lynx tends to slink back home with a look of shame if we’ve pinged a tune to him!

Thanks @JaceLancs love the competitive wandering. The locked cat flap is coming as a terrible shock so we have bought a harness. Yeah it’s not great but at least Milo is getting some fresh air.

I love the ping to come home but I’ve a horrible feeling it would be completely ignored

Thanks for the code @katkintreats

I’ve never tried the pinging him to come home but a friend house and cat sat for us recently when we were away and she used it successfully - I think it was more the noise irritated him and he worked out the noise stopped if he came back!

Another Tractive wearing cat owner here. It can be quite addictive looking at where DCat has been!
I take it off inside to give her a rest from it!

I thought she’d fight me putting it on her but she never has!

Buy a pale colour that you can find easier if they lose it!
We changed from dark to pale blue which helped - Finn doesn’t care - he’s so used to it now

We airtagged our cats. It’s ok in London but doesn’t work in Northumberland - you need a density of phones. But both our cats are wimps and seriously scared themselves getting lost so I am hopeful they’ll stay close now. The collars don’t seem to bother them though.

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It must have been so wonderful to have him come home after so many weeks of heartbreak and worry!

@JaceLancs I'm terrible with the leaderboard too!

Dcat is also at the top (12,606 at the moment) and about a day ahead of his nearest local rival. But if I look at the global boards he's way down - there are some seriously hyperactive cats out there.

Know what you mean about the battery running down. We are currently working at charging every 2 days, and that's with a power saving zone. Trouble with that is the very close to house tracking doesn't work as well as the cat's assumed to be at home base. I wish you could get a second battery to charge up and exchange.

Oh it was the best feeling ever when I saw him in the hallway @Leafy3

I’ve taken the plunge and ordered the Tractive and the Rodgz collar. Thank you everybody for the info. Milo won’t be going out other than in his embarrassing harness for another good while but we’ll be well prepared. I think I’ll actually go out that day 😳

@Heronatemygoldfish glad it’s not just me! Impressive distance
Battery is now lasting 3-4 days which is an improvement

@AllyC great, let us know how you find it!

Will do, thanks again.

yet another vote for Tractive. Inspired by a couple of PPs I’ve had a look at the leader board 🤣 cat is currently number five. Anyone know what the range is for the local board? I want to know where these other cats live!

We have attached our Tractive to our errant cat and she is tolerating it really well so far. What’s fascinating is that she doesn’t actually roam very far at all, much to our surprise. She spends most of her time harassing the neighbour’s cats 😅 it has hugely reduced our anxiety

Wouldn't it be great if some form of GPS tracking could be incorporated into microchips?!

My cat hates collars, he never keeps them more than 48 hours. the elasticated one were the longest lasting, but he ended up with one of them round his middle, so no more collars after that, which in turn means no trackers..

Looking into buying a GPS tag but I notice a lot use 2G which is going to be switched off soon if it hasnt been already. Most of the new 4G are a bit bulky. Has anybody come across a small 4G tracker for a slender cat?

Milo's Tracker arrived he's been a busy boy, I can feel the competitiveness of the Leader Board starting currently at number 10 on Local one.

We are still finding our way around it but it definitely gives me a sense of relief that I can see where he is and its pretty accurate. Thank you for the Rodgz collar suggestion it's a great solid collar.

Wouldn't it be great if some form of GPS tracking could be incorporated into microchips?!
It seems like the obvious solution, doesn't it, but they'd have to find away of providing power to them.

@AllyC that's a great update! Definitely a sense of relief isn't it. Milo must be pleased to be allowed out again 😊

Glad we could help @AllyC - I really enjoy seeing where he is and what he’s been up to

He definitely is @waitingforthehallmarkedman me not so much 🙂

can I jump on? Or Tractive is working brilliantly so far but battery life is pretty short even with all the power saving things switched on - any tips on how to make it last longer?