How to locate a pet?

Posted on August 27, 2011 by Oleg Volk

What would be the best way to put a tracker on my cat? I’d like to be able to find him outside in case he ever gets injured and can’t return on his own.

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11 Responses to How to locate a pet?

  1. Daeglan says:
    August 27, 2011 at 12:10 pm

    they have GPS collars that use cell networks to report their position. You can then look up on the internet where they are.

  2. Daeglan says:
    August 27, 2011 at 12:16 pm

    http://www.catgpscollar.com/

    apparently GPS is too heavy for most cats.

  3. Paladin says:
    August 27, 2011 at 9:38 pm

    Best Practice: Don’t allow your cat to roam outside. I know lots of folks do it, and the cats definitely enjoy it, but odds are something bad will happen eventually. Outside cats have a significantly shorter lifespan than indoor cats.

    Understanding that, if you still decide to let kitty wander off your property : GPS and Sat systems are notoriously unreliable, for reasons previously noted (size considerations and failure to keep signal contact if the cat is in an obstructed area). A unit tough enough and powerful enough to get and send good signals most of the time will be too bulky and heavy for the cat to carry. Most of the weight is battery related. Best overall options for increasing the odds of return should your pet become separated from you is an owner id tag with your name/contact info and a microchip embedded beneath the skin so that Animal Control or Vet can scan for it.

    I’ve been in the Animal Control and Human Law Enforcement field for over 16 years now.

  4. John Hardin says:
    August 27, 2011 at 10:07 pm

    I second Paladin, with the modification: if you want to let Gremlin outside, build him a fenced enclosure that he cannot climb out of.

    I’ve lost too many cats. It is not a pleasant experience and I do not ever want to repeat it.

    I hope Gremlin never gets lost, or run over, or eaten. Take care of him. He’s a beautiful cat.

  5. Caleb says:
    August 28, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    My cat has an RFID chip implanted just under the skin. It’s relatively simple and painless for the cat (after the needle part) and works very well.

  6. Rivrdog says:
    August 28, 2011 at 11:08 pm

    I have two separate clans of coyotes living within 3/4 mile of me, and consequently, no outdoor cat is safe, they are all just lunch for the coyotes. I faced a large coyote down in my yard this spring, and he only altered his course loping toward me when I started to draw my Bulldog 44, but by the time I cleared the holster, he was almost off my property, so I did not fire. He was a large one, and had a rear track footprint of 4.25″ where 2.5″ is normal. I estimated 45-55#. He is from the clan which lives within 200 yards of me, and was headed back to his lair.

    There hasn’t been an outside cat survive in my neighborhood for 4 years now…

  7. Lyle says:
    August 31, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    Dogs are good trackers. Teach your dog to find your cat on demand.

    We have coyotes, great horned owls, hawks and eagles all very near our place, plus a few racoons, skunks and porcupines. The cat spends much of his time outside, and likes to hunt. If he weren’t out catching mice I’d figure he wasn’t carrying his weight. All occupations have their risks. The wost that’s happened so far is he tried to take a squirrel, which in turn took a small chunk out of the cat with its razor sharp incisors. Cat got over it.

  8. mikee says:
    September 5, 2011 at 1:55 am

    Cats kill indiscriminately when allowed outdoors. If you don’t mind your animal killing a large number of baby songbirds in their nests, baby rabbits, small reptiles like lizards, and so on, then by all means let Gremlin out to hunt. Just realize that when Gremlin is unsupervised outside, he is going to hunt, and kill.

  9. John Doh says:
    September 9, 2011 at 2:34 pm

    Do a search on Wildlife RDF (radio direction finding)
    not cheap but some incredible miniaturization.

  10. Ray says:
    September 12, 2011 at 12:16 am

    We installed an invisible fence system to keep our cats in our yard. Most of the time, they don’t wear the collars. Just often enough to refresh their little peabrains that they shouldn’t try to leave the yard. 🙂

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