As a devoted cat owner, you likely want to keep tabs on your furry friend’s whereabouts and make sure they return home safely each day. With the rise of home automation technology, there are now several effective options to get notifications when your cat comes and goes.
The Importance of Monitoring Your Cat’s Activity in Australia
Cats are naturally inclined to roam, explore, and hunt. For many cat owners, allowing outdoor access provides essential environmental enrichment. However, letting kitty out comes with some risks. Cars, other animals, and even humans can pose threats. Knowing when your cat leaves the yard and returns offers peace of mind.
Monitoring your cat’s outdoor activity enables you to:
- Ensure your cat returns home safely each day
- Know if your cat may be in distress or need medical attention
- Identify patterns in your cat’s outdoor habits over time
- Rescue your cat if they become lost or trapped
While nothing can replace direct supervision, today’s technology offers simple ways to get notifications when your cat is on the move.
Solutions for Tracking Your Aussie Cat’s Location
Several DIY and commercial products can help alert you to kitty’s location and activity. When choosing a cat monitor, key factors include:
- Accuracy: The system should reliably detect your cat’s presence or absence. Location tracking within a few metres is ideal.
- Range: The optimal system will detect your cat’s presence within at least a 15-metre radius. Longer-range systems are even better suited for large properties.
- Battery life: Long battery life reduces the need for frequent collar replacements. Rechargeable batteries are a plus.
- Durability: Cat collars take abuse, so durability is a must. Waterproof designs stand up to wet weather.
- Collar fit: The tracker or collar must be sized appropriately for your cat’s neck and lightweight enough for comfort.
- Notifications: Alerts to your smartphone when your cat leaves or returns are essential. Location tracking maps are a bonus.
- Price: With collars prone to loss, cheaper options are preferable. Subscription fees add ongoing costs.
With the right system, you can get automated notifications when your wandering feline is on the move. Here are top options for monitoring your cat.
Bluetooth Cat Trackers
Bluetooth beacon cat collars have become a popular DIY method for cat monitoring. Small Bluetooth transmitters attach to the collar. Wireless sensors around your home and yard detect the collar’s Bluetooth signal when kitty is nearby.
How they work:
- A lightweight Bluetooth beacon is worn on the cat’s collar
- Bluetooth sensors connect to a hub and detect the collar’s signal
- The hub sends alerts to your phone when your cat leaves or enters the monitored zone
Benefits:
- Simple DIY installation and setup
- Inexpensive hardware costs
- Can provide room-level location accuracy
- Good for alerting to general comings and goings
Limitations:
- Limited range of about 10-15 metres
- Doesn’t provide real-time location tracking away from home
Overall, Bluetooth solutions are affordable and easy to implement for basic activity notifications.
Here are some of the top Bluetooth cat trackers available:
- Cat Tailer Cat Tracker – This small and lightweight waterproof tracker can be attached to your cat’s collar and has a range of up to 328 feet. It has a replaceable battery that lasts up to 6 months and is compatible with Android and Apple iOS devices
- Tile Mate Bluetooth Tracker – This tracker works both indoors and outdoors and can be attached to your cat’s collar. It has a range of up to 200 feet and provides real-time tracking on a smartphone app
- Chipolo Bluetooth Tracker – This tracker uses your phone’s Bluetooth signal to connect and has a range of up to 200 feet. It can be attached to your cat’s collar and is more suitable for indoor use
GPS Cat Trackers
Dedicated cat GPS trackers leverage cellular and satellite networks to provide real-time location data nationwide. GPS cat collars allow monitoring your cat’s location anywhere.
How they work:
- A GPS and cellular enabled tracker attaches to your cat’s collar
- The tracker transmits location data over cell networks
- You access real-time tracking via mobile app or web portal
Benefits:
- Provides real-time location tracking anywhere there is cell service
- Useful for rural properties or frequent roamers
- Can track lost cats beyond your home’s range
Limitations:
- Subscription plans required for cellular data
- Shorter battery life requires frequent charging
- Higher hardware costs than Bluetooth options
For unbounded cats who roam far and wide, the latest GPS cat collars provide owner peace of mind.
LoRa Cat Trackers
LoRa devices use long-range wireless communication perfect for broad area monitoring. A LoRa cat tracker on your cat’s collar transmits data to LoRa gateways placed around your property.
How they work:
- Your cat wears a small LoRa transmitter on their collar
- LoRa antennas pick up the collar’s signal up to 2 km away
- The network tracks location and sends you notifications
Benefits:
- Extremely long-range signal reaches kilometres
- Provides expansive monitoring on large properties
- Lower power requirements than WiFi or cellular
Limitations:
- Requires installing LoRa gateway infrastructure
- Minimal tracking beyond gateway range
- Less mainstream than Bluetooth or GPS
For wide-area monitoring across acres of land, LoRa networks offer cutting-edge tracking.
Some examples of LoRa Cat Trackers include:
- Invoxia, Findster, Tractive: These are portable object locators sold as pet trackers that use LoRa technology
- Katzentracker: This is a LoRa locator that combines GPS and an accelerometer to track the location of a cat
- Squeak: This is a LoRaWAN GPS pet tracker with a long battery life that allows pet owners to track their pets’ location
LoRa Cat Trackers are useful for pet owners who want to keep track of their cats’ whereabouts, especially if they have outdoor cats that roam freely. These trackers can help prevent cats from getting lost or injured, and can also provide peace of mind for pet owners.
Smart Cat Flaps
Smart RFID cat flaps unlock only for your cat while keeping strays out. They can also alert you to your cat’s entries and exits.
How they work:
- Your cat wears a small RFID tag on their collar
- The cat flap reads the RFID tag and unlocks when your cat approaches
- Optional app connectivity provides entry and exit notifications
Benefits:
- Restricts entry to only your cat
- Doubles as a cat door and monitoring system
- Simple entry/exit alerts available
Limitations:
- Requires installing the cat flap in an exterior door
- Only notifications when cat uses the flap; no outdoor tracking
For controlled entry and basic activity alerts, an RFID cat flap provides automation and security.
Multi-Purpose Trackers
Trackers like Apple AirTags can pull double duty for cat collar tracking. Small and lightweight, they attach to collars the same as pet-specific models.
How they work:
- You attach a multi-purpose tracker like an AirTag to your cat’s collar
- The tracker transmits location data over Bluetooth and cell networks
- A mobile app provides proximity alerts and location tracking
Benefits:
- Leverages existing human item tracking technology
- Long battery life up to 1 year
- Wide compatibility with iOS and Android
Limitations:
- Lacks real-time location data beyond Bluetooth range
- Not designed specifically for pet use
- Requires an iPhone or cellular plan for full functionality
For iPhone households, re-purposing an AirTag or Tile makes cat monitoring easy and affordable.
Getting Started with Aussie Cat Monitoring
Ready to implement your own cat monitoring solution? Here are best practices for installing DIY systems:
- Select lightweight, waterproof hardware suited for pet collars. Look for extended battery life.
- Fit collars properly so they can’t slip off but remain comfortable for your cat.
- Mount sensors strategically around entry and exit points to detect your cat’s passages.
- Consider range limitations when placing sensors for Bluetooth trackers. Longer distances require careful placement.
- Link hardware to your smartphone for instant notifications. Sync devices and test connectivity.
- Develop a monitoring routine to check your cat’s status at consistent daily times.
- Review activity reports to identify patterns in your cat’s habits over time.
- Stay observant for any signs of skin irritation or distress from the collar. Remove or replace if issues arise.
With the right gear and placement, you’ll be able to know your cat’s coming and goings at a glance.
Bringing Peace of Mind for Cat Owners
While DIY pet tracking technology offers useful insight into your cat’s activity, nothing can replace professional veterinary advice. Always consult your veterinarian before making major changes to your cat’s routine or outdoor access. Monitoring collars should only be used under veterinary guidance with your specific cat’s health, age, and needs in mind.
Speak to your vet about whether a monitoring collar is appropriate for your feline companion. Make sure to remove collars periodically to check for any skin irritation. And as always, direct supervision is best whenever your cat is outside. Technology is merely meant as an aid for cat owners, not a substitute for proper care and caution. Discuss options with your vet and use common sense for your cat’s wellbeing.
