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GPS trackers for cats, and the weight question
Updated
Most GPS pet trackers are made for dogs. The one cat GPS pick here, the Tractive CAT Mini, weighs 25 g, or 42 g with its included collar, and Tractive says it is for adult cats of 6.6 pounds (3 kg) and up. For a smaller cat, or one that never goes out, a Bluetooth tag is the lighter answer.
The weight as a share of your cat
| Cat weight | CAT Mini alone (25 g) | CAT Mini with collar (42 g) | AirTag (11 g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | 1.1% | 1.9% | 0.5% |
| 6.6 lb | 0.8% | 1.4% | 0.4% |
| 8 lb | 0.7% | 1.2% | 0.3% |
| 10 lb | 0.6% | 0.9% | 0.2% |
| 12 lb | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.2% |
The 5 pound row is under Tractive's minimum. We show it so you can see why. At 6.6 pounds, the tracker alone is 0.8% of body weight. Our checker uses about 1 percent, tracker alone, as a rough line. That is our estimate from the makers' own minimums, not a vet rule. Ask your vet about a small, young or older cat.
Indoor cat or outdoor cat
- Indoor only. You do not need GPS to find a cat under the bed. An AirTag (iPhone) or a Tile Pro (Android) will ring. Both need a collar holder.
- Goes outside or bolts out the door. A tag only reports when a phone passes nearby. For a cat that roams, the CAT Mini is the GPS pick here, if your cat is big enough.
The battery catch
The listing says up to 5 days. Tractive's own table says 5 days is with a Power Saving Zone at home, and 2 days without. A cat that spends long stretches outside is on the 2 day end. Using LIVE mode to follow her uses more. Charge it on a schedule, not when you remember.
Collar sense
Tractive includes a cat collar and two ways to attach the tracker. Many cat owners choose collars that release if caught, but a released collar also means a lost tracker. Weigh that tradeoff with your vet. Check the fit and the skin under the collar often, and take it off if you see rubbing.
All seven trackers are on the roundup page.
A tracker is not a microchip
The AVMA says a microchip gives permanent ID that cannot fall off like a collar can, and that microchipped pets should still wear a collar with current ID tags. A chip has no battery and no GPS. It only helps once someone scans your pet, and only if the registry has your current phone number. Keep all three: a registered chip, an ID tag, and the tracker. See microchip vs GPS tracker.