Are you having a difficult time finding your cat? You keep calling its name, but it does not respond. It has several hiding places inside the house or tends to venture outside. A cat tracker is a solution that can help in these cases.
To be more specific, a Bluetooth tracker is more appropriate for such situations as it may work well indoors compared to their GPS counterparts.
One such device we will review today is the Cat Tailer cat tracker. It is a compact device that you can hang around your cat’s neck, like a nametag. It is compatible with Android and iOS. The Cat Tailer app is free to use.
It has a tracking range of up to 328 feet. So, it is best used to find your cat inside the house or around the yard or neighborhood. The app does not show the tracker’s location on the map but how far you are from it. Then, as you walk closer to the tracker, the distance will keep updating.
The tracker has a good battery life. But it is a comparatively expensive tracker. So is it worth buying? The article will look at Cat Tailer’s features and performance and help with your buying decision.
| Product Overview | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Cat Tailer |
| Model | Cat Tailer Cat Tracker |
| Dimension | 1.06 inches round |
| Weight | 0.24 ounces |
| Battery | 1 Lithium cell CR1632 battery |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth |
| Tracking Range | 328 feet |
| Compatibility | Android and iOS |
| Operating Temperature | -30°C to 60°C |
| Tracker Cost | $67.00 |
| Service Plan | No-monthly fee tracker |
| Warranty | 1-year |
| Customer Support | EmailPhone |
| Amazon Rating | 3.7 out of 5 |
Our Rating
About Cat Tailer
Cat Tailer is a brand by Ambystoma Labs Inc. It was established in 2008. It is headquartered in Vero Beach, Florida.
The company focuses on improving wireless communications in embedded systems. The Cat Tailer is a result of the engineering team drawing on their years of experience in the electronics and communications space.
The tracker uses Bluetooth low-energy technology and is safe for cats. In case of any issues, you can contact the customer support team via email or phone.
Who is the Cat Tailer Cat Tracker For?
The Cat Tailer is designed to track cats inside and around your house, yard, and neighborhood. The tracker is lightweight and compact. Activation takes a couple of minutes. You can hang the tracker on your cat’s collar like a nametag.
The tracker uses Bluetooth technology and is thus suited for short-range tracking. GPS trackers typically do not work well indoors. So, the Cat Tailer can be a good alternative.
Suppose your cat tends to hide in and around the house. It does not come out when you call its name; the tracker can help locate it.
You cannot get real-time location updates on your cat. You have to be in the tracker’s range to know the general vicinity your cat is in. So, be prepared to move around and adjust your searching position with trial and error.
The Cat Tailer app does not require a subscription to work. It is compatible with Android and Apple devices, which is another plus.
5 Important Factors We Tested the Cat Tailer On
We tested the tracker indoors and outdoors to understand the location and notification accuracy. We also looked at several customer reviews to get a comprehensive view of the tracker.
Here is how the Cat Tailer performed.
1. Design
The Cat Tailer tracker is designed to be attached as a name tag to your cat’s collar. The device is 1.06 inches round and weighs a mere 0.24 ounces. So, the tracker can be used on small and big cats alike.
The tracker is waterproof. But I recommend you be careful as the outer covering of the device is plastic. And it looks decent at best.
You must open the tracker to activate the device, as the power button is located on the chip. If you cannot press the button using your fingers, use a non-metallic object like a toothpick or a chopstick.
2. Battery
The Cat Tailer is equipped with a lithium coin cell battery. Its battery can last up to six months. This is one of the reasons I like using Bluetooth trackers for tracking over a short distance. I do not have to go through the hassle of charging the device multiple times during the week.
A long battery life ensures your pet is well protected. For example, your cat steps out of the house with a tracker on it. However, the tracker cannot report its location because it is out of battery. This defeats the whole purpose of having a tracker in the first place.
You know you are good for a few months with the coin cell battery. So when your cat does hide or wander off, the tracker can be found as long as it is in range.
The one aspect I do not like is replacing the battery on the Cat Tailer. You can check the battery percentage on the app and know when it is time for a replacement.
Hold the front and back of the tracker and rotate it counterclockwise to open the device. Remove the circuit board from the plastic case. Then, you must push the battery from its holder. You may again have to use a non-metallic object to do so.
Then, insert the new battery. The flat side should be facing upwards. The green light should flash if you insert the battery correctly.
Place the circuit board inside the case and rotate the front and back covers clockwise to seal the tracker.
The whole process is straightforward, and you may only have to do it twice a year. But it can be a bit inconvenient considering the small size of the tracker.
3. Usability
As mentioned above, the power button is located on the circuit board. So, you have to open up the device for activation. Rotate the front and back cover counterclockwise. You will see a golden metallic button right next to the chip.
You can use a non-metallic object to press the button. The green light should flash, indicating the device is on and activated. You close the tracker by rotating the covers clockwise and ensuring the two loops for the keyring align at the top.
You can download the Cat Tailer app to track your cat. The tracker broadcasts a signal every second. If your smartphone is within range, it will pick up on the signal and tell you how far you are from your cat.
The stronger the signal, the closer you are to the tracker. Walk slowly and wait a few seconds for the distance to be updated. Then, continue walking until you reach your cat.
The app tells you how far you are from the tracker and not the actual location on a map interface. This will take some time to get used to, and it is not the most user-friendly approach. And it is one of the reasons the tracker should be limited to short-range tracking.
The Cat Tailer app is easy to use. You can add multiple trackers on the same account.
4. Features
The Cat Tailer does what it says: locate your cats over a short distance. Its tracking range is up to 328 feet. But you need to be mindful of obstacles like walls and trees, which could affect signal quality.
You cannot play sounds on the tracker, but it does emit a green light once a minute. If your cat is hiding or you are searching for your pet at nighttime, the light can help it locate it quicker.
Your family members and friends can download the app and pair it with the tracker beforehand. So, if your cat goes missing, you can seek help from multiple people to find your cat.
There are no other noteworthy features I can write about. It does not support geofencing. It cannot provide the live location of your pet. If you need these features, it would be best to opt for GPS trackers.
5. Performance
The Cat Tailer is a promising device on paper, but it is decent when it comes to performance. It is worth trying as the tracker is compatible with Android and Apple devices. The activation step is pretty simple. All it takes is to open the tracker and press a button. That takes only a few minutes.
In terms of location accuracy, the app can tell you how far you are from your cat. You must adjust your position and wait patiently until the app updates the distance. The brand says the tracker sends out a home beacon signal once every second. But, it can take a couple of minutes for the location to update on the app.
So, you must have a general idea of the places where your cat has been. If it is out of range, there is no way to find your cat unless you or the cat come into each other’s range.
I found myself walking around the house multiple times, trying to get a hold of the tracker’s location. But, once I understood how to navigate using the Bluetooth signal, locating the cat became a bit easier.
What Sets the Cat Tailer Cat Tracker Apart from its Competitors?
The Cat Tailer can track over a short distance, and it takes time to locate the tracker. It would be good to know if the tracker is within the range of your smartphone so you can adjust your position accordingly.
Cat Tailer offers two notifications that can help in such situations. You can enable alerts that tell you when the tracker goes out of range and when it re-enters the range.
For example, if you have an indoor cat that wanders outside, you will be notified about the same. You can quickly search for your pet before it wanders off from your home.
Similarly, if the cat comes back into the range of your smartphone, you know you are searching in the right area.
Should You Purchase the Cat Tailer Cat Tracker?
If you want to look for your cat indoors or around your house or neighborhood, the Cat Tailer can be a decent option. The app is free to use; you do not have to buy a subscription.
Activating the tracker is easy and takes a few minutes. The app is also easy to use but has a learning curve. You must adjust your position with trial and error and walk around slowly to detect the tracker’s signal and locate your cat.
You should consider the pros and cons below before buying the Cat Tailer.
Pros
- The tracker is compact and fits most cat collars.
- Its battery can last for up to six months.
- The flashing light can help locate the cat quickly.
- It is compatible with Android and Apple devices.
- The tracker is waterproof.
Cons
- Locating the tracker can take time.
- The tracker is comparatively expensive.
Price
The Cat Tailer tracker is priced at $67.00.
You can track your cat using the Cat Tailer app. The cost of the Bluetooth tracker is on the higher end than similar models in the market. But as you do not have to pay a subscription fee to use the app, the tracker can provide value in the long run.
FAQ’s
No, the tracker is not equipped with GPS technology. It uses Bluetooth for tracking over a distance of 328 feet.
The lithium cell battery of the Cat Tailer can last for up to six months, depending on usage. You can check the remaining battery percentage on the app. Also, the tracker will start to flash red once every minute when it is time to replace the battery.
No, the tracker does not make any sound. The brand found during testing that any sound loud enough to be heard could scare the cat and force it into hiding. So, the Cat Tailer flashes light to be more easily located than a sound alert.
Summary
The Cat Tailer cat tracker can be used to find the location of your cat over a short distance. The tracker is equipped with Bluetooth technology. It has a tracking range of 328 feet. It can be useful to locate your cat around the house or neighborhood.
The tracker can be comparatively expensive. But the app is free to use. The app and the tracker need to be in range to work. The app shows you how far you are from the tracker. Its location accuracy is decent at best.
It has a good battery life lasting up to six months. It is compatible with Android and Apple devices and is a no-monthly fee tracker. So you can give it a try for short-range tracking.
Carson Harris is a highly qualified author and expert in GPS tracking technology. With a background in electrical engineering and machine learning, he has established himself as a trusted source of information. Carson’s work experience at Garmin and Panasonic has further enhanced his expertise. He possesses creative skills in website design and AI applications. Known for his clear and concise communication, Carson’s articles on Trax Family’s website provide valuable insights on GPS trackers.