Knowing how to track your cat when she’s gone on a walkabout can give you peace of mind. There’s nothing worse that feeling of panic when you can’t find your beloved fur baby. Concentration becomes hard, and you feel like an anxious parent waiting for her teenager to come home.
Most times your cat will stroll through the cat flap, or window as if nothing’s happened. All that worry and anxiety for nothing!! However, wouldn’t it be good if you knew exactly were your cat was? In this post you’ll learn how to track your cat using the power of modern technology.
You’ll discover just how far cats really go. This will surprise you, as most cat parents are completely unaware! Plus, how to train your cat to come when called. This one trick itself can save you hours of worry! Should the worst happen and your cat goes missing we’ll look at the best course of action.
How pet trackers work
There are two different types of pet tracker to suit your needs. Very basic radio trackers or more sophisticated cellular trackers. Both can help find your pet, but vary greatly in price. Radio trackers work by sending out a bleeping signal. The closer you get to your cat or whatever you’re tracking the louder the bleep. Though very basic it can be a highly effective way of keeping track of your cat.
Cellular trackers are brilliant if you want real time tracking. GPS is used to track your pet’s location which is then sent to your smartphone. These are highly accurate and you can see on a map exactly where your kitty is!! Monthly fees are often required, but you can get a few cellular trackers that don’t require this.
Key Pets Finder
If you just want a very basic radio tracker you may find Key Pets Finder Tracker suits your needs. The great thing about this little device is you can track up to 4 items. This means you can also track keys, phones, tv remotes, wallets, etc. You can track up to 3 pets, so great if you have multiple cats!
You don’t need a smartphone or wifi. This is ideal if you don’t always want to carry your phone with you. It’s also waterproof, which is good news if your cat gets wet in the rain. Most cats hate water, but it’s still a useful feature.
If you want to find your kitty simply press a colour coded button on the handset and follow the bleeping sound. This can be extremely useful if you have lots of shrubs or bushes. My cat will often go exploring in the bushes outside.
You can buy Pet Key Finder here
TabCat Pet Tracking Cat Collar Tracker System
Tabcat pet tracking system claims to locate your cat within one inch. There are no monthly fees. You get a handiest and tag for your kitty’s collar. It works by sending a signal from the tag to the handset.
There are a row of colour coded lights grading from red to green. When you get very close the beep becomes louder and the green button lights up! Tabcat’s range is up to 400ft
Tabcat claims you can teach your cat to return home on demand using a locate button on the handset. This activates a bleeping sound on the tag. A good idea would be to reward your kitty with treats every time she responds. Knowing there’s a treat if she returns home when called is a good incentive!!
You can buy TabCat pet tracking collar here
How far do cats roam?
When your cat goes outside, unless you follow her there’s no way of knowing how far she goes.I’m sure most of us cat parents draw the line at climbing over fences, or up trees just to follow our fur babies!! Most cats rarely wander far. My cat can usually be found just out of sight. He tends to explore the bushes in the garden, and usually appears if I call him.
Unneutered males tend to wander further especially if there are females in heat. Most neutered cats rarely go further than about 200 metres from home, with many less adventurous kitties staying within 40 metres. If you get anxious every time your cat goes out a pet tracker may be the best solution.
However, as we’ve seen, GPS trackers can be very bulky for a cat. Though some provide collars, I strongly advise you to get a quick release collar. Anything other is highly dangerous for your kitty. Regular exercise is vital for your cat’s wellbeing and keeps her in shape. Allowing your kitty outside access is the easiest and most natural way for your cat to exercise
How to find your lost cat
Should the worst happen and your cat goes missing don’t panic. I’ve heard stories of cats that go missing for days and casually return home wondering what all the fuss was about! If you can’t find your cat the first thing you should do is check everywhere in the house. It never ceases to amaze me how a cat can squeeze itself into tiny spaces. A few weeks ago I started getting feelings of mild panic when I couldn’t find my cat.
He never goes far and is never out for long. I went outside in the garden calling his name, and rattled a box of biscuits. Nothing! I looked under the bed, and everywhere else. Then suddenly, a small furry head popped up in the hallway! He’d hidden himself in a pile of bags I’d left for recycling!! What a relief!!
If your cat has been missing for more than a day, ask your neighbours to check their sheds and garages. Look under parked cars, and take a walk around your local area. Keep calling your cat’s name and rattle biscuits.
I’m sure you’d be a nervous wreck by now, but try and keep calm. Your next course of action is to make a poster with a photo of your cat and contact details. Your mobile number and email address is all you need.
Print a few out and post on trees, and local shop windows. Contact your local vet to report your missing pet. If your cat is microchipped the chances of getting her back are higher. Sadly, some never return home. Road traffic accidents or theft can and do happen.
Can you track your cat with a microchip?
If you get your cat from a rescue centre it should be microchipped. It doesn’t hurt and details are stored on a database. Some pet insurers may offer a lower premium if your cat is microchipped.
You can’t however track your cat with a microchip. It will only be useful if someone finds your missing kitty and takes it to a vet. While microchipping is essential, pet tracking devices give you real peace of mind.
How to train your cat to come when called
Cats, unlike dogs aren’t evolved to obey. As the saying goes, “a dog will come when called, but a cat will get back to you later.”Humerous but so very true! If you want your cat to respond to an instruction you have to provide a reward. You may find already that your kitty responds to her name. However, responding and actually coming to you are very different!!
My cat will look at me if I call his name, but he won’t necessarily come over to me. However, if I was to shake his biscuits he’d come running! If he’s within hearing distance outside, and I rattle his biscuit box he appears like magic.
When I want him to come inside, I stand in front of the open window I shake the biscuits. As long as he’s close by he soon jumps back inside. I give him a few treats as a reward and praise him.
If you’re a new cat parent, start by getting your cat to respond to her name. Once you’ve chosen a name it’s best to stick with it. You don’t want to confuse her! Keep calling her name as you stroke her. Praise her when she comes towards you. It doesn’t usually take long for a cat to learn its name. Cats are highly intelligent and soon pick things up.
Taking your training to the next step
Once your cat responds to her name you can then take the training a step further. Make sure your cat is sitting or standing next to you. Call her name at the same time as giving her a treat. Do this a few times so she associates her name calling with a treat.
Always praise and stroke your kitty as well. Once you feel she’s mastered this association you can move on to the next step. Put a few treats in a small paper bag and crinkle it to make a noise. Stand a few few feet away and call her name. If she walks towards you reward her with a treat.
Remember, your cat is a fast learner and once she knows she’ll get a reward by coming to you, you’ve cracked it!! The next stage in the training is going outside with your cat.
It’s always good advice to keep a new cat indoors for a few weeks. Once your kitty is used to her surroundings you can start letting her out. Anyway, take that small bag of treats with you and repeat the process.
Stand a few feet away from your cat to create some distance. If she’s engrossed in something that’s fine. Shake the biscuits and call her name. Chances are she’ll respond immediately! By now your cat associates coming to you when called with a tasty treat.
You can also train your cat to come when called using the tabcat tracker system I previously reviewed in this post. It’s still based on reward, but gives you another option.
Keeping your kitty safe
Knowing how to track your cat helps ensure her safety. As pet parents we have a duty of care. Providing her with love and security is just as important as feeding her. In this post you’ve learned all about pet trackers, and the different types available.
You’ve also discovered just how far cats roam, and what to do if your kitty goes missing. We’ve also looked at training your cat to come when called, as well as microchipping.
I hope you’ve found this post useful and now you know how to track your cat you can keep her safe. If you’ve enjoyed this post please share.
In addition, I’d love you to share any experiences you’ve had with tracking pets. Please leave your comments below.
Wishing you a purrfect day:)
Kathy