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We love our kitties and never want to experience the nightmare scenario of losing track of our favorite ball of fluff. And yet this happens, even with indoor cats—they can vanish during a move or if guests or contractors leave the door open. So we safeguard them with microchips, ID collars, and GPS cat collars.
Devices using satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) technology are everywhere today. GPS is used in everything from navigational software to package tracking. Just like you can use your phone to see where the UPS truck is, you can now see if your kitty is in the neighbors’ back yard—and which way they’re heading.
Jiobit GPS Dog and Cat Location Monitor
The Jiobit is a wildly popular option for tracking dogs, cats, and kids. Its lightweight profile and easy-to-use tech make it a favorite—so much so that it’s sometimes sold out.
How GPS Cat Collars Work
GPS cat collars are simply a tracking device attached to your cat. The company you buy the gear from can follow your cat’s unique tracking apparatus and display the location on a map you can view online or with a smartphone app. Usually, you can set a “safe zone” for your cat (such as your house, or a block in your neighborhood); if the cat’s collar tracking device sends signals from outside that zone, the tracking company will send you a text or email.
Frequently Asked Questions About GPS Cat Trackers
When it comes to cat collars with GPS tracking technology, you may have a lot of questions—we have some answers.
What’s the tracker’s range? Satellite-based GPS is theoretically worldwide. But in practice, GPS cat collar devices work best in areas with good GPS network coverage and cellular coverage. If your cat got on a plane and flew from San Francisco to Chicago, you would likely be able to sit in your apartment in San Francisco and track your kitty across the country and into a building in Chicago. However, if your cat were lost in a remote forest or an area with an incompatible cellular network, the cat’s device might not be able to connect to a network.
What information will I get? With most GPS cat collar trackers, you have to pay for a subscription to the tracking service in order to receive information. Once you’re subscribed, you can follow your cat’s path via the company’s website or app. Most services let you designate a “safe area” where your cat can be. If your cat leaves the safe area, the tracking service notifies you immediately by email or text message. The smartphone app is an important part of the tracking system, enabling you to move around while tracking your cat through the neighborhood. So before you buy, make sure the company’s app is available in the app store your smartphone uses (Apple, Android, etc.).
Do GPS cat collars need to be charged? Absolutely. GPS cat collar devices have lithium batteries that need to be charged frequently. (The device will send you an alert when it’s running low on power.) A charge lasts anywhere from a few days to two weeks, depending on the brand of GPS tracker you choose. So if you forget to charge the collar and your cat races out the door, you may have only a day or two to track them before the collar goes dead.
The good news is that many GPS cat collar devices also let you connect them to your home WiFi network. You should do that. As long as your kitty is being tracked by your WiFi, their GPS device won’t send periodic signals to the GPS or cellular system, and that saves battery life.
Are GPS cat collar trackers heavy? The early generations of GPS trackers were heavy—and more practical for dogs than for your tiny cat. Now there are trackers that weigh less than an ounce. When buying, check the device’s weight. While some devices are integrated into complete collars, most of the newer GPS cat collar trackers are clip-on accessories that attach to your cat’s existing collar. Keep in mind that if your cat wears a breakaway collar for safety (good!) and loses the collar (bad!), the device may be lost as well.
Are GPS cat collar devices reliable? Read the reviews—and be sure to read the ones about cats, not dogs. When GPS trackers fail to work, it is often because they are being used in a remote area, the dog chewed on them, the pet parent can’t figure out the software, or someone forgot to charge the tracker. With cats, the major problem seems to be cats escaping from their collars and losing the tracking device. That leaves you out the cost of the device—and often the cost of the year-long subscription as well.
The Best GPS Cat Collars
While it’s a bit tricky to find the right GPS cat collar, it’s worth the search. Once you have one, it will be much easier to find your cat. Here are three top picks for cat-friendly tracking devices, plus one suggestion for an RF (radio frequency) tracker:
Jiobit GPS Dog and Cat Location Monitor
The Jiobit GPS cat collar tracker is low-profile and lightweight (less than an ounce), making it a good choice for your kitty’s comfort. We were delighted when Mr. Tippy, a true escape artist, adapted quickly to having the Jiobit pendant on his breakaway collar. Jiobit uses cellular, GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth technology to keep tabs on your cat’s whereabouts and alert you if they leave the “trusted area” you set up in the app. Plus there’s a “ringer” feature that allows you to use the tracker to “call” your cat to get their attention. The Jiobit can be used in more than 140 countries. This popular monitor is so in-demand that it’s sometimes marked “Temporarily Out of Stock”—but we think it’s worth the wait.
Key features:
- Attaches to an existing collar via clip or pouch (included)
- It’s extremely thin and light, at 1.45 x 1.96 x 0.47 inches and just 0.64 ounces
- Multiple users can access the tracking software
- Requires a monthly subscription plan
- Durable and water-resistant
- Estimated battery life is seven days
Jiobit GPS Dog and Cat Location Monitor
The Jiobit is a wildly popular option for tracking dogs, cats, and kids. Its lightweight profile and easy-to-use tech make it a favorite—so much so that it’s sometimes sold out.
Whistle Go Explore GPS Pet Tracker and Activity Monitor
This well-regarded cat collar tracker uses GPS, WiFi, and cellular technology to track your four-legged friend in real-time—plus it simply snaps onto their existing collar, making set-up a cinch. It’s also an activity monitor, so you can keep tabs on your cat’s everyday activities (including how much time they spend sleeping and scurrying about). You can receive updates via text, smartphone app, or email when the kitty leaves their authorized area. We like that this GPS cat collar tracker has a long-lasting battery too—a single charge works for seven to ten days.
Key features:
- Comes with clips that attach to your cat’s regular collar
- Device is 1.8 x 1.4 x 0.6 inches; 0.96 ounces (good for pets 8 pounds and up)
- Requires either a monthly or annual subscription plan
- Multiple users can access tracking information
- Durable and waterproof
- Available in a choice of three subtle colors
- Uses Google Maps tracking system and AT&T’s cellular network (U.S. and Canada)
Whistle Go Explore GPS Pet Tracker and Activity Monitor
This tiny tracker provides updates on your cat’s activities and location via text, smartphone, or email.
Tractive GPS Cat and Dog Tracker
The Tractive is marketed primarily for dogs, but it also works well on adult cat collars (the device is a bit on the bulky side, but it weighs a modest 1.28 ounces). In addition to tracking your pet’s location, it monitors activity, so you’ll find out how far your cat is trekking and where and when they’re taking a nap.
Key features:
- Clips on to an existing collar
- For dogs and cats
- Device is 2.83 x 1.14 x 0.63 inches; 1.28 ounces
- It’s both a GPS and activity tracker
- Worldwide location tracking you can use in more than 150 countries
- The subscription plan requires a one-year advance payment
Tractive LTE GPS Cat and Dog Tracker
Affordable and full-featured, the Tractive LTE tells you where your cat is and when they’re on the move.
Girafus Cat Tracker RF Locator (non-GPS)
Need a less expensive way to track your kitty? The Girafus Cat Tracker is not a GPS cat collar tracker, but we’re adding it to the list because it’s highly effective at finding a cat that has wandered beyond the boundaries of your home’s Bluetooth or WiFi network. You don’t need to pay for a subscription service; it uses old-school radio frequency (RF) technology. Your cat wears a tiny (0.28 ounce) collar tag and you carry a battery-powered handset with flashing indicators that tells you if you are getting closer to the tagged cat. (A charger for the batteries is included with your purchase.) The system’s range can go up to 1,600 feet in an area without too many obstructions.
Key features:
- No subscription required
- Purchase one, two, three, or four tags (for multiple cats, or as extras in case your cat loses their collar)
- Tag weighs 0.28 ounces and threads onto your cat’s existing collar
- System uses an RF (radio frequency) tracking system
- System includes a charger for the tag’s CR2302 lithium battery
Girafus Cat Tracker RF Locator
Low-tech but highly effective. Just switch on the locator unit and use it to track down your tagged cat.
Other Ways of Keeping Up With Your Adventurous Cat
If roaming the outdoors is not a viable (or safe) option for your cat, there are some other great ways to get your cat out in the fresh air. Check out these articles on strollers, cat-friendly backpacks, leashes, and catios.
