LONDON (AP) - The desire to know the whereabouts of beloved pets is a common refrain in many households, particularly when pets like cats can roam freely. The experience of tracking two London cats, Maple and Juniper, highlights the challenges pet owners face when their animals venture outdoors. Many cats in London have the freedom to explore their surroundings, often equipped with microchips to facilitate identification if they get lost.

For pet owners concerned about the safety and location of their cats and dogs, pet technology can provide significant peace of mind. Dedicated pet trackers, typically designed to be worn on collars, utilize GPS signals to ascertain the location of pets. These devices communicate their location to a smartphone app using either a 4G cellular signal or a home Wi-Fi connection.

There are numerous brands available on the market, such as Tractive, Jiobit, and Pawfit, which offer trackers suitable for both cats and dogs. Trackers specifically designed for cats are generally smaller and lighter. Additionally, integrated collar trackers for dogs are provided by companies like Fi and Whistle, while PetTracer and FitBark offer collar models tailored for cats and dogs respectively. Garmin also features a range of GPS dog collars that operate with handheld devices reminiscent of walkie-talkies, although they are considered more costly and meant for outdoor enthusiasts.

Most tracking devices allow pet owners to set a designated safe zone on a digital map, triggering alerts if their pet strays outside this zone. Operating primarily on the 4G LTE spectrum, these trackers maintain strong connectivity in most urban areas throughout Europe and North America, except in remote locations like national parks.

Pricing for pet trackers varies by brand and model, with most devices retailing for under $100. However, pet owners should be aware of additional subscription fees for cellular services, which can amount to over $100 annually. For many pet owners, this cost is justified by the peace of mind that comes from knowing their pet's whereabouts.

Battery life for these collars typically spans two to three days on a single charge, though factors such as signal strength can impact longevity. Devices equipped with features to conserve power may not transmit location data while within a defined safe zone.

Beyond tracking location, pet tracking apps also offer health and activity monitoring, allowing owners to view the duration of their pet's activity levels. However, it is important to note that these devices will not physically prevent a pet from wandering; they simply notify owners when the pet exits their predefined area.

In an experience shared by the author, the installation of a Tractive tracking device on Maple revealed interesting patterns of behavior as the cat regularly visited various neighboring backyards. Unfortunately, the device eventually came off, leading the owner to investigate its last location using a radar feature within the app. This feature allows users to locate the device when it is lost, showing its general vicinity on a map.

Pet microchips, which many owners opt for, provide another layer of safety by containing the pet owner's contact information in a database. While microchips have been made mandatory for pets in some European regions, there are no federal laws in the United States requiring microchip implantation, though certain states like Hawaii have introduced regulations.

However, there is a common misconception about the effectiveness of microchips for real-time tracking; since microchips require scanning to retrieve contact information, they cannot actively locate a pet. In addition to trackers, some pet owners have turned to Bluetooth devices such as Apple’s AirTags and Samsung’s SmartTags that utilize signals relayed by nearby smartphones. Although these devices do not cater specifically to pets, many owners have found them useful.

Bluetooth trackers are limited in range, typically between 100 to 500 feet, and do not involve subscription fees. While they can be sufficient in urban settings, they lack the reliability of GPS trackers in more rural or woodland areas where longer distances may obstruct signal use.