Tracking Devices for Cats?

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Chris F. - 13 Mar 2004 15:28 GMT

Is there a such thing, and just how expensive are they? The reason I ask
is because I have a problem with my two cats running off for days or even
weeks, at a time. I adopted them as strays, and since they're used to living
outside, that is where they spend most of their time (coming in only to eat
or sleep for a few hours, especially on cold winter days). I've had them for
almost two years and they've stayed pretty close to home, most of the time.
But right now they've both disappeared. One has been gone for three days,
and other for almost three weeks. No neighbors have seen any sign of them. I
fear the worst, as we live next to the woods and there are wild animals in
the area. Except for keeping these cats in a pen, I see no way to keep them
from roaming. They are toms, after all. But at least a tracking device would
allow me to locate them when they went missing.
Any advice?

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philo - 13 Mar 2004 21:21 GMT

> Is there a such thing, and just how expensive are they? The reason I ask
> is because I have a problem with my two cats running off for days or even
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> allow me to locate them when they went missing.
> Any advice?

here's one:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2003-04-21-animal-chip_x.htm

for more...just do a google search for

animal tracking device

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Cheryl - 14 Mar 2004 01:04 GMT

"Chris F." <zappyman@hotmail.com> dumped this in news:oMF4c.116022
$IF6.3775373@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca on 13 Mar 2004:

> Is there a such thing, and just how expensive are they?

I was curious about this because there certainly is the technology for it.
I found this link <http://cats.about.com/cs/lostandfound/a/electronics.htm>
but they don't link to specific vendors.

FTR, my cats all came from an outdoor situation before my house and they
are fine indoors. They have plenty to do, the company of each other (3 of
them, two males and one female) and they do get to go out in an outdoor
enclosure when the weather is nice. The conditions here aren't conducive to
outdoor living for cats. I've seen too many dead ones on this busy road.

Signature

Cheryl

I am a very happy person. It's just that I have no patients for stupidity.
- IBen Getiner

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Larry - 14 Mar 2004 02:10 GMT

I have a Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS that straps to my wrist. It is a little
big for a kitty and the battery lasts 14 hours. I can download info from
the unit and go online to download a map that shows my route.

Signature

Larry - Owned by six cats

> "Chris F." <zappyman@hotmail.com> dumped this in news:oMF4c.116022
> $IF6.3775373@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca on 13 Mar 2004:
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
> enclosure when the weather is nice. The conditions here aren't conducive to
> outdoor living for cats. I've seen too many dead ones on this busy road.

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Chris F. - 14 Mar 2004 15:41 GMT

Well one of the cats (the one that was missing for three days) came back
safe and sound. No sign of his brother though, so I'm afraid he's probably
gone for good. Hard to say where this one runs off to, but he must have a
food source & shelther or it wouldn't be worth his while......

> "Chris F." <zappyman@hotmail.com> dumped this in news:oMF4c.116022
> $IF6.3775373@ursa-nb00s0.nbnet.nb.ca on 13 Mar 2004:
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
> I am a very happy person. It's just that I have no patients for stupidity.
> - IBen Getiner

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Cheryl - 14 Mar 2004 21:42 GMT

> Well one of the cats (the one that was missing for three days) came
> back safe and sound. No sign of his brother though, so I'm afraid he's
> probably gone for good. Hard to say where this one runs off to, but he
> must have a food source & shelther or it wouldn't be worth his
> while......

I'm sorry to hear that. :( 3 weeks isn't unheard of though so please don't
give up hope. Have you hung posters around your neighborhood? You could
also hang signs at the local vets offices, pet food chain stores, etc. Did
he have a collar on? I'm glad his brother is home safe and sound.

Signature

Cheryl

I am a very happy person. It's just that I have no patients for stupidity.
- IBen Getiner

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Gee - 15 Mar 2004 01:13 GMT

"Chris F." <zappyman@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:oMF4c.116022

> Except for keeping these cats in a pen, I see no way to keep them
> from roaming. They are toms, after all.
> Any advice?

Chris I am so glad one of them came back. I do hope sincerely the other one
comes back as well.

Cats are brilliant at surviving in the nature, so hopefully if the other one
has gone wild again, dont worry he'll be fine.

Also your boy might be just looking for a girlfriend so is patiently waiting
for her somewhere. My friends cat went away and came back 6 weeks later
slightly skinnier and dirtier but nevertheless the same old boy. She had him
castrated the next day!

The only way to stop them roaming too far is to get them castrated. Toms
will always be searching for ladiez and will hung around her
(apartment/barn/window etc) as long as they think they may hava a chance
with her. I remember feeding two boys for a week when my Tiara went into
first heat and teased them off the window. Poor things never moved and you
could see their hormones took over their brains!

Castrating will not only stop them from roaming but also fighting. Both can
spread deseases easily and loosing a beloved pet to FIV or FELV is not a
joke. Please get them castrated and give them a peacefull life. It will not
make them less of a man, no matter what anyone says!

Gee

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Celina - 15 Mar 2004 05:48 GMT

You can try a radio telemetry collar. You can check out these two companies:
http://www.wildlifematerials.com
and
http://www.lotek.com

I'm pretty sure there are more companies out there, so shop around.

I hope your cat returns home soon.

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'cedes - 15 Mar 2004 08:35 GMT

Chris, would you consider constructing some sort of safe outdoor enclosure
for your cat/s? http://www.just4cats.com/page7.html

http://www.lisaviolet.com/cathouse/backyard.html

> You can try a radio telemetry collar. You can check out these two companies:
> http://www.wildlifematerials.com
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> I hope your cat returns home soon.

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Chris F. - 16 Mar 2004 01:09 GMT

Some nice stuff on those sites, though rather expensive. I also don't
think my cats would take to fondly to wearing a collar, as they've never had
one before.
It would be nice to build my own tracking device, if possible. I'm an
electronic technician and I have access to everything I need to design such
a device.
I have a little FM transmitter board that measures about 1 x 4 cm (not
including power supply) and it will broadcast sound for about 200 - 300 feet
or so. The circuit is quite basic, so I figure it wouldn't be too hard to
scale it down and built it from surface-mount components. Then the trick
would be to convert it from transmitting sound, to pulses instead. And to
reduce its power consumption to something reasonable. I figure such a device
could probably be fit into a printed circuit measuring less than 1 square
centimeter, and the circuit then embedded into the animals collar. It could
be powered by miniature button cells, and the antenna wire could also be
sewn into the collar.
It would make a great project for my spare time. Or if I come into some
money somehow, I may simply invest in one of the devices sold on those
sites.
In the meantime, I'll just have to trust my one remaining cat to stay safe
and not wander too far. I think he enjoys it so much here, he wouldn't run
off for too long anyway. Three days is his current record.

> You can try a radio telemetry collar. You can check out these two companies:
> http://www.wildlifematerials.com
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> I hope your cat returns home soon.

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