How Tilda Graduated To An Outdoor Cat – With Tractive
Here's the story of Tilda, a former indoor cat who's now an adventurous outdoor explorer - with a little help from the Tractive GPS.
At Tractive, we love hearing stories from our team members about how they use our product in their daily lives. After all, we’re not just making pet trackers — we’re making sure our own pets stay safe and happy, too! Today, we’re spotlighting Carola M, a Tractive team member who uses the Tractive GPS tracker to keep an eye on her cat, Tilda.
Find out where your cat spends their time.
Read moreTilda’s journey: From indoor cat to outdoor explorer
When we first got Tilda, we weren’t sure if she’d be an indoor or outdoor cat yet – since our flat is on the first floor and we also don’t have a garden. We just didn’t think she’d have much opportunity to go outside. But it quickly became clear that she had other plans.
Even as a kitten, she’d spend hours on the balcony, balancing on the railing, peering out, watching birds, and curiously trying to jump down. One day, she succeeded — she made it downstairs! Thankfully, it wasn’t too high, and we were able to get her back easily. But that’s when we realized: Tilda was meant to be an outdoor cat, at least in some capacity.
To give her safe access to the outdoors, we set up a cat ladder leading from our balcony to the ground. Since the area around our flat is really calm and green, it was a safe way of giving her access to nearby parks and fields that she loves to explore. And, of course, we attached a Tractive GPS tracker to her collar to ensure we could always find her.
Starting with supervised outdoor time
We didn’t let her out unsupervised right away. First, we got her used to the idea of being outside by taking her for leash walks with a harness. She was too small for the tracker at that point, so this was the best way to introduce her to the outdoors.
It was clear from the beginning that she loved the experience — the trees, the bushes, the leaves, everything fascinated her! After these outings, she would sit by the door, meowing to go back outside. We knew we had to find a way to safely give her more freedom.
At around six months old, after she was fully vaccinated, spayed, and microchipped, we started letting her out with the Tractive GPS tracker. We first got her used to wearing a collar, which took a little time (as it does with most cats), but by the time we attached the tracker, she didn’t mind wearing it.
How we use the Tractive GPS every day
Having the tracker gives me such peace of mind. Even though Tilda comes back regularly, I don’t always know how long she’s been out or where she’s gone. With Tractive, I can check her location anytime to see if she’s still exploring or if she’s in any potentially unsafe areas.
- LIVE Tracking
If I ever feel concerned, I check the LIVE mode to see her movements in real-time. - Territory feature
This has been fascinating! Cats are mysterious creatures, and knowing how far she roams has been eye-opening.
- Light & Sound
At night, when it’s time for her to come back, I trigger the sound or LED light. Since she has dark fur, this helps a lot. If she’s in the mood to stay out, she does — but if she’s hungry, the sound is a great recall tool. - Virtual Fence & Safe Zones
We’ve set a safe zone around our apartment, so we get notified when she returns. When she climbs back up the cat ladder to our balcony, we know she’s home and can let her in — super practical, especially in winter! - Radar Mode
One time, I had to use Radar Mode to find her tracker indoors. Luckily, she’s never lost it outdoors!
The day Tilda got stuck in a garage
One evening, I came home knowing Tilda was outside. As usual, I checked the app — but I noticed something strange. Her position hadn’t updated for two hours. That was unusual.
I checked her last location, which was near a house in our neighborhood. We decided to go there to see what was happening. When we arrived, we saw nothing but a closed garage. That’s when I heard it — Tilda meowing and crying from inside! Somehow, she had gotten stuck. Maybe someone had closed the door while she was exploring the inside.
There was no one home, and no one answered when we knocked. Thankfully, we found a side door that was unlocked. The moment we opened it, Tilda came running out! Without the tracker, I don’t know how long it would have taken us to find her or how long she would have been stuck. That day really reinforced how valuable the tracker is — it’s not just about monitoring; it’s about safety.
Since our apartment faces a green space, she mostly roams in that direction. We’re lucky she doesn’t venture behind the building where there’s a road, but the tracker helps ensure she stays in familiar areas.
“An incredible tool for peace of mind”
For anyone with an adventurous cat like Tilda, I highly recommend getting a GPS tracker. Whether you’re giving your cat limited outdoor access or letting them roam more freely, it’s an incredible tool for peace of mind.
It’s also important to keep indoor cats entertained, too! If you’re not comfortable letting your cat outside, here are some ways you can keep them occupied:
- Wall-mounted shelves and climbing furniture
- Daily play sessions (at least two hours in all)
- Training your cat to walk on a leash
But if your cat is like Tilda — determined to explore — then a Tractive GPS tracker is a must-have. It’s made all the difference in keeping her safe while allowing her the freedom she craves.
Track your cat wherever they go
Get real-time location information, wherever they go. Find out when they go somewhere they shouldn’t, with Virtual Fences. And discover their favorite spots with Territory.
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