{"id":1070,"date":"2019-02-01T22:57:18","date_gmt":"2019-02-01T22:57:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1070"},"modified":"2023-07-27T19:13:14","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T19:13:14","slug":"best-cat-dog-gps-trackers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petmoneysaver.co.uk\/blog\/best-cat-dog-gps-trackers\/","title":{"rendered":"15 of the Best Cat & Dog Trackers – Buying Guide & Reviews"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated:<\/strong> July 27th, 2023<\/p>

Do you ever wonder where your cat goes when they\u00a0head out for the night, or worry about your dog being scared and running off when on a walk? If so, then a pet\u00a0tracker could be the answer! But with so many devices to choose from, how do you know what is the best pet tracker to buy? To help you decide, we\u2019ve reviewed 15 of the best trackers for cats and dogs available in the UK.<\/p>\n

What is a Pet Tracker?<\/h2>\n

A pet tracker is a device you attach to your pet (usually via their collar) that uses technology such as GPS or RF signals to keep track of your pet\u2019s location. You can view their location using an app on your smartphone, or a dedicated handheld detector. Some trackers also work as an activity monitor, a bit like a Fitbit for your pet, and measure your pet\u2019s activity and sleeping patterns. You can find out more details here about how pet trackers work<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Pet Tracker Buying Guide<\/h2>\n

There are several things to look at when buying a tracker for your cat or dog. You\u2019ll need to decide what tracking technology to use, and choose a device that is light and small enough for your pet, yet has sufficient battery life. Some of the GPS trackers are quite large and heavy, so not really suitable for cats and smaller dogs.<\/p>\n

Cost is also a factor, with quite a big difference in price between the basic and more advanced models. In addition, some GPS trackers also require you to sign up to a subscription plan – these typically cost you around \u00a34-5 per month which can add up over time. Alternatively, some trackers allow you to fit your own PAYG SIM card instead, which may\u00a0work out cheaper as there is no monthly fee.<\/p>\n

There are also various features available, such as the ability to create a virtual fence (Geofence) to alert you if your pet goes in or out of that pre-defined area. You\u2019ll also find that the quality and functionally of the smartphone apps can vary between trackers. Some apps just give you the basic tracking options, while others include detailed activity monitoring and lots of options to customise your device. There is also a range of different levels of support. Some trackers have excellent instruction manuals and\u00a0good customer support, while others are less user-friendly.<\/p>\n

Battery life is another factor to consider, as this can range from hours to weeks or even months depending on the type of tracker, size, and how you use it. Some devices have removable batteries, so you can quickly swap with a fully charged spare.<\/p>\n

Pet Tracker Comparison Table<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Tracker<\/th>Technology<\/th>Activity<\/th>Subscription<\/th>Size (mm)<\/th>Weight (g)<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Eureka Marco Polo<\/a><\/td>RF<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>127x25.4x12.7<\/td>22.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Findster Duo+<\/a><\/td>GPS + RF<\/td>Yes<\/td>No<\/td>50x50x13<\/td>21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Futureway Mini<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>No<\/td>SIM<\/td>43x36x16<\/td>20.6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Girafus Pro-track-tor<\/a><\/td>RF<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>38x25x11<\/td>8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Kippy Vita<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>60x35x20<\/td>50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Loc8tor Tabcat<\/a><\/td>RF<\/td>No<\/td>No<\/td>32x32x6<\/td>6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mishiko PET<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>52x49x20<\/td>40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pawfit<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>Yes<\/td>SIM<\/td>50x34.9x12.7<\/td>30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PawTrax Halo V4<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>No<\/td>SIM<\/td>85x22x8<\/td>22.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pod 3<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>52x25x25<\/td>31<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
TKStar TK911<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>No<\/td>SIM<\/td>62x30x18<\/td>33<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tractive Cat<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>n\/a<\/td>50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tractive Dog<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td>51x41x15<\/td>35<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trax G+<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>No<\/td>Yes<\/td>55x38x10.7<\/td>26<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weenect<\/a><\/td>GPS + Cellular<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>58x23x10<\/td>25<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Pet Tracker Reviews<\/h2>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

1. Eureka Technology Marco Polo Pet\u00a0Tracking System Review<\/h3>\n

\"Eureka<\/a>The Marco Polo pet tracking system<\/a> from Eureka Technology uses Radio Frequency rather than GPS, which means it doesn\u2019t require a cellular data connection. You get a tag to attach to your pet\u2019s collar, and a handheld monitor.<\/p>\n

The handheld monitor is very basic compared to the trackers with smartphone apps, but is functional rather than pretty. It\u2019s a bit more advanced and also larger than the monitors that you get with other RF trackers. This has a range of up to 2 miles away, and will work anywhere, as it doesn\u2019t rely on a mobile phone or Internet connection. When tracking your pet, it shows you the direction and signal strength which helps guide you to your pet\u2019s location. You can track up to 3 pets on one handset if you purchase additional tags.<\/p>\n

Unlike any of the other RF pet trackers in this review, you can configure a safe zone. This is similar to a Geofence, and the locator will check your pet\u2019s location every 40 seconds, and alert you if your pet goes outside this area. The alert will only sound on the handheld locator though, so you won\u2019t be notified the same way as with the GPS trackers, which send an alert to your smartphone.<\/p>\n

If you need to then find your pet, simply press the button and the handheld locator will send a signal to the tag on your pet\u2019s collar every 5 seconds. Each time the tag receives the signal, it sends back a reply and the locator measures the strength of this signal and works out the location. Then you simply follow the arrow to where your pet is!<\/p>\n

The tag attaches to your pet\u2019s collar via a nylon holder, which fastens to the collar with Velcro straps. It only weighs 22g, but requires a collar with a minimum length of 7 inches so may not be suitable for very small cats or dogs. The tag is also waterproof and rated to IP67 – more than enough to cope with your pet swimming or being out in the rain.<\/p>\n

Battery life is excellent, with the collar tag lasting up to 6 weeks on one charge. This can then be recharged via a USB port, so although the set comes with an American plug, you can use any USB charger.<\/p>\n

The price of over \u00a3200 may seem high, but when you take into account that you won\u2019t need to pay any mobile data or monthly subscription fees it isn\u2019t actually that bad.<\/p>\n

One downside though is that it is only available from the US, so will take longer to be delivered and you may be charged import taxes.<\/p>\n

Specifications<\/h4>\n