 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / July 2006Pet tracking collars
After hearing Smudge's story, and its wonderful conclusion, I was wondering if people had any opinions about pet tracking collars. I've noted at least two: http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/products_detail.asp?productID=1160 http://www.thecatlocator.com The LoCATer sounds like the better system, having a longer battery life, less bulky collar, and a litle less expensive, but a little less range. About $50 for a collar and $200 for a receiver, and $20 for a pack of 12 (a year's worth) collar batteries. I wonder if they could make a product like this using transponders (similar to pet ID chips). I remember hearing years ago about how they tagged butterflies with transponders to track them. Light, rugged, and doesn't need batteries for the tag, but limited in range, I think. > After hearing Smudge's story, and its wonderful conclusion, I was > wondering if people had any opinions about pet tracking collars. I've [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > rugged, and doesn't need batteries for the tag, but limited in range, > I think. I almost think for a cat you would have to have something implanted. Seems like that should be possible. I think it would not even have to be a big range. MOST cats are within 3 blocks when missing (my vet told me anyway). Look at Smudge, she wasn't far at all. >I almost think for a cat you would have to have something implanted. >Seems like that should be possible. I think it would not even have to >be a big range. MOST cats are within 3 blocks when missing (my vet told >me anyway). Look at Smudge, she wasn't far at all. I'd guess that the range that you could get with a transponder would be a block or half a block. Maybe good enough to find a cat. The radio collars apparently have a maximum range of over half a mile, although that extreme range I assume would need almost a clean line of sight. I don't know if it would be practical today to have implantable transponders with that range, because they need antennas to get their increased range. Even with the butterflies, they needed an antenna on the transponder that was an inch or so long, but it didn't bother the butterflies because the wire was light and thin. I use one of those transponder ID badges at work, and I once had one stop working, except at extremely short range. It turned out the wire inside the badge (a loop of thin copper laid flat inside the card) came loose from the chip. > After hearing Smudge's story, and its wonderful conclusion, I was > wondering if people had any opinions about pet tracking collars. I've [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > rugged, and doesn't need batteries for the tag, but limited in range, > I think. It is really a tough call to decide how much range you need. I'd guess most cats never go more the a quarter mile from where they start out. Distance dogs however, like my brother's Husky are likely to be many miles away within an hour. Jo >It is really a tough call to decide how much range you need. I'd guess most >cats never go more the a quarter mile from where they start out. > >Distance dogs however, like my brother's Husky are likely to be many miles >away within an hour. I think the first one is more for dogs, being larger and more powerful. I can just imagine how far a husky can run off, considering how long they can pull a sled. >>It is really a tough call to decide how much range you need. I'd guess >>most [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > powerful. I can just imagine how far a husky can run off, considering > how long they can pull a sled. And add to that that they tend to run in a straight line. Any other dog will circle and stop to investigate things, etc. Jo > http://www.scottcountry.co.uk/products_detail.asp?productID=1160 > http://www.thecatlocator.com > The LoCATer sounds like the better system, having a longer battery > life, less bulky collar, and a litle less expensive, but a little less > range. About $50 for a collar and $200 for a receiver, and $20 for a > pack of 12 (a year's worth) collar batteries. I was really wishing I had something like this when Smudge was missing. I watch plenty of nature shows, where scientists put these collars on mountain lions and so forth, so I know that felines can live with them. I agree the the LoCATer looks a little better - the collar on the other one looks much to bulky. It's a bit pricey for me right now, but it's worth considering. Smudge already wants to go out again, the crazy cat! (I'm keeping her in for a while, though, until she's feeling a little stronger, and I would like to get her microchipped, too.) Joyce >I was really wishing I had something like this when Smudge was missing. >I watch plenty of nature shows, where scientists put these collars on [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >(I'm keeping her in for a while, though, until she's feeling a little >stronger, and I would like to get her microchipped, too.) Don't you really wish, when they're gone? You must have felt so helpless. We all did too! I couldn't let a cat out here, because there's a little through street less than a quarter mile away where cars go about 35 mph. Well, people let out their cats here anyway, but I've almost hit them a couple of times. Can you imagine how bad I'd feel if I actually did? And that even something as simple as a garage can be such a hazard... It would just be too hard. It's really a good idea to get Smudge chipped. You've already had a couple of these close calls. If a samaritan happens to drop her off at a vet because she's hurt, the chip could save her life if it helps them get in touch with you quickly. > Don't you really wish, when they're gone? You must have felt so > helpless. We all did too! I couldn't let a cat out here, because [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I'd feel if I actually did? And that even something as simple as a > garage can be such a hazard... It would just be too hard. I was driving along in my neighborhood at the posted 25 mph, watching carefully as there are children who like to dart out into the road etc ... a cat, presumably spooked by a gaggle of children nearby, darted out into the road right in front of my car. I managed to miss the little guy, but I really wish he weren't outside. At twilight, being so small, these cats are almost invisible.  Signaturemonique, who spoils Oscar unmercifully pictures: http://www.bounceswoosh.org/rpca > It's really a good idea to get Smudge chipped. You've already had a > couple of these close calls. If a samaritan happens to drop her off > at a vet because she's hurt, the chip could save her life if it helps > them get in touch with you quickly. I swear, that cat gets herself into more trouble. She doesn't even have to go outside to do it. One time she was sleeping in the window, which was open maybe 12 inches, and leaning against the screen. Suddenly, the screen popped out (it's the kind that's screwed onto the window from outside), and she fell out and onto the ground. OK, that could have happened to any cat - Roxy also likes to sleep in that window when it's open - but Smudge is just the kind of curious, exploring type of cat who gets herself into scrapes. There are these two cats who live on my street. They're outside all the time, and nothing ever happens to them. I've concluded that it's because they're not very adventurous, and they just hang out in front of their house and don't do much. But when Smudge was missing, I remember thinking how unfair it was that I've seen these cats outdoors for 7 years (since I moved here), but in 6 months of being indoor/ outdoor, mine goes missing! She's just not content to hang out and watch the world go by - she always has to be *doing* something, checking stuff out. Too smart for her own good. Joyce > > It's really a good idea to get Smudge chipped. You've already had a > > couple of these close calls. If a samaritan happens to drop her off [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > watch the world go by - she always has to be *doing* something, checking > stuff out. Too smart for her own good. Those nice cats that hang out around home and stay out of trouble may very well have learned to do that the hard way. Jo > After hearing Smudge's story, and its wonderful conclusion, I was > wondering if people had any opinions about pet tracking collars. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > rugged, and doesn't need batteries for the tag, but limited in range, > I think. I used to translate the webpages of a project that tracked Ospreys via satellite. They had solar-powered transmitters to strap on the ospreys' backs. That would only work outside, but most cats that get lost get lost outside, I would think. Maybe the battery would retain enough power even if the cat was inside, like Smudge was. (If you want to read more about them, it starts here: http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/english/zoology/satelliteospreys/index.htm) SignatureMarina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki. Stories and pics at http://koti.welho.com/mkurten/ Pics at http://uk.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/frankiennikki/ and http://community.webshots.com/user/frankiennikki >I used to translate the webpages of a project that tracked Ospreys via >satellite. They had solar-powered transmitters to strap on the ospreys' [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] >(If you want to read more about them, it starts here: >http://www.fmnh.helsinki.fi/english/zoology/satelliteospreys/index.htm) Thanks, that's interesting, and those are about the most beautiful birds I've seen. They don't seem to talk all that much about it, but it must be some interesting technology they're using, if they can make a lightweight transmitter that's both energy efficient and allows satellite tracking. |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.