London (AP) – “Have you ever spotted a cat?”
In my household, it’s a common sight since our two cats, Maple and Juniper, can freely venture outside through the backdoor flaps. Like many cats in London, they roam the backyard and beyond at will, equipped with microchips to help identify them if they get lost.
If your cat enjoys long outdoor excursions or if your dog tends to escape, it can be distressing when they don’t return as expected.
For those worried about the whereabouts of their furry friends, technology can provide a way to keep an eye on them.
How Pet Technology Functions
A specialized pet tracker is a collar-mounted device that typically utilizes GPS signals to locate the animal wearing it, relaying the location to a smartphone app via a 4G mobile signal or home Wi-Fi connection.
Many products are available on the market today. Brands like Tractive, Jiobit, and Pawfit offer trackers suitable for both dogs and cats. These devices are usually small and lightweight.
Integrated collar trackers for dogs are available from brands like FI and Whistle. Pettracer offers a collar for cats that uses both GPS and radio signals from a home base station. Additionally, Fitbark for dogs includes an Apple Watch app for tracking locations and other activities.
Garmin also sells a range of GPS dog collars that work with handheld devices similar to transceivers, though they are pricey and targeted at outdoor enthusiasts like hunters.
Mobile Signal
Most trackers establish a safe zone on a map, usually around the home and its vicinity, and alert you if your pet leaves it.
This generally operates on the 4G LTE spectrum, the most commonly used by wireless carriers. According to Andrew Bleiman, executive vice president of Tractive in North America, this provides strong connectivity across most of Europe and North America.
Costs Involved
The price varies by brand and model, with most devices retailing for under $100. However, keep in mind that a subscription fee is required for the cellular service to function.
This could exceed $100 annually, but many pet owners find it worthwhile for the peace of mind it brings, according to Blyman.
Battery Life
The collar usually features a rechargeable battery, but battery life differs across models. Most last at least 2-3 days before needing a recharge, and longer under optimal conditions.
Signal strength is a significant factor; if the device has to work harder to pick up GPS or connect to Wi-Fi, the battery depletes faster. Some users conserve battery life by limiting coordinate transmission to the safe zone.
Additional Features
Similar to fitness trackers for humans, pet tracking apps often offer health and activity monitoring capabilities. You can view how much time your cat or dog spends resting and exercising each day.
However, it’s important to remember that trackers won’t physically contain your pet within the yard; they only send alerts when your pet leaves the virtual fence area you’ve set.
Using the Tracker
This Tech Tip was inspired by Maple, who went AWOL for a few days. It turned out he was hanging out at the neighboring yard across the street. We discovered his whereabouts when residents used their pet microchip scanners to contact us.
Tractive provided a rental device for testing. I used the included breakaway collar and placed it on Maple, which he initially disliked. He jumped from the back door and over the hole in the fence.
The following day, I used the Tractive app to track his movements. It revealed his back-and-forth trips to various nearby properties. He returned around midnight for a few hours, then ventured out again at 3 AM before coming back an hour later for another nap.
It was intriguing to see where he spent his time. The app’s “Heat Map” indicated that one of Maple’s favorite spots was the same yard where we had previously retrieved him.
Tracking Issues
Approximately 24 hours after attaching the collar to Maple, I realized he was no longer wearing it. It somehow fell off.
If you lose the exact location of your pet or if your device is misplaced, Tractive offers a “radar” feature that helps locate it via Bluetooth on your phone. Other brands have similar options.
The app displayed that it was in a nearby yard, but since the circle grew larger, I couldn’t pinpoint its location and didn’t want to disturb my neighbors, so I gave up.
Blyman suggests using a harness for cats that resist collars, but I’m not entirely convinced.
Microchipping
Cats and dogs can be microchipped, with details entered into a database, making it easier to recover lost pets. They can be reunited with their owners even if they travel hundreds of miles away or have been missing for years.
In certain European countries, it’s a legal requirement for pets to be microchipped; the microchip is about the size of a grain of rice and is embedded just under the skin. While there are no federal laws in the United States, places like Hawaii do require it; it’s best to check with your local government.
However, there is common confusion about what the microchip can do. It cannot track pets in real-time because it has no power source. Anyone who finds your pet will need to take it to a vet or shelter to have it scanned.
Bluetooth Trackers – An Alternative
Many pet owners have turned to Bluetooth trackers such as Apple Air Tags, Samsung SmartTags, or similar devices from Tile, Cube, and Chipolo.
These Bluetooth trackers have a range of 100-500 feet (30-150 meters) depending on the model. The battery can last for months, sometimes even longer, without needing a subscription.
However, they are not designed specifically for pets. Many recommendations found in online forums indicate they can still be effective for pet owners.
Chipolo clarifies that its round plastic trackers are only suitable for “indoor pets, like house-trained cats and small dogs,” and warns against using them for “large breeds and outdoor cats.”
Nevertheless, they can still be a viable option for some pet owners.
“Bluetooth solutions are reasonable in densely populated urban areas,” says Bleiman. “However, in more rural or wilderness settings, where pets tend to roam faster, GPS options might be necessary.”
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Source: apnews.com