The short answer
A GPS tracker like Tractive shows live location anywhere with cell coverage but needs a subscription and a cat of 6.5 lb or more. A finder-tag collar costs nothing monthly but relies on nearby phones. A radio homing tag like Tabcat guides you to a cat nearby with no fees.
Compared
| Type | Range | Monthly fee | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| GPS | Anywhere with cell coverage | Yes | Tractive Cat |
| Finder tag | Where phones pass nearby | No | Finder-tag collar |
| RF homing | Short range | No | Tabcat V2 |
Collar safety
SafetyUse a breakaway collar so a snagged collar releases.
- Check the tracker's weight against your cat; Tabcat tags weigh 0.2 oz, Tractive 0.9 oz.
Microchips
A microchip only identifies a cat when scanned; it doesn't locate one. A reader like ISENVO is useful for setting up microchip flaps and feeders.
Products mentioned
Questions readers ask
Does a microchip track my cat?
No. It only identifies a cat when scanned.
Do cat GPS trackers need a subscription?
Tractive does; finder and homing tags don't.