3 Problems You’ll Run Into Using Apple AirTag For Cats

Estimated reading time: 15 minutes

Whether you’re a new cat parent or a veteran, keeping them safe is priority #1. So if your cat has a habit of straying outdoors, you might’ve considered attaching a tracking device to their collar. Like, for example, an Apple AirTag.

But is this Bluetooth-powered device the best option for tracking your feline friend? We’ve found 3 key problems you’ll run into using an AirTag for cats. And also how a dedicated cat GPS tracker is a solution for each of them. Let’s dive right in.

Why your cats need a pet tracker in the first place

Turns out, even the most indoorsy of cats are natural hunters and explorers. Meaning, they need their outdoor time to stay healthy, get some exercise, and enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of nature. In fact, most outdoor cats have a sizeable territory to patrol and defend – including your home, backyard, and even the local park down the street.

⚠️ Which, unfortunately, also exposes your wandering cat to dangers including:

• Passing cars
• Pesticide-riddled areas, including poisonous plants
• Pet thieves
• Pests, including ticks, mites, fleas
• Pollen, dander, and other infectious allergens
• Other pets or predators that aren’t as friendly

And most importantly: the risk of wandering off too far, getting lost, and being unable to find their way back home.

💡Which is why cat parents around the world are strapping GPS trackers to their buddies’ collars.

So you can keep an eye on their wanderings, all from the comfort of your couch.

With a dedicated cat GPS tracker, for example, you can:

• Track your cat’s wanderings in real-time – over an unlimited range
• Set up a “safe zone” around your home or backyard – and get an escape alert if your cat tries sneaking past it
• Get a 24-hour Location History which tracks your cat’s favorite hangout spots – so you know where to look first if they go missing.

All this and more – on one device, built with love for cats and your peace of mind as a cat parent.

Know everywhere your cat goes

See where they are in real-time, no matter how far they go. Get alerts if they roam too far home. Find out where they’ve been and discover their favorite spots. Let others track with you.

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Now you might’ve been using an Apple AirTag to keep track of your keys or a backpack or wallet. So you might think it makes sense to attach one to your cat’s collar, right?

Well, here’s a picture of how it might look using an AirTag collar for your cat – pros, cons, and where a GPS tracker might work better.

How an AirTag cat collar might work

Apple AirTags are small, Bluetooth-powered devices designed to help you keep track of personal items, like your wallet or keys.

⚠️ Importantly: they’re not powered by GPS. Meaning they can’t track your cat in real-time – nor over an unlimited range.

Once you’ve set up your AirTag, it sends out a Bluetooth signal that connects with nearby Apple devices.

• When you attach one to your cat’s collar, these devices pick up on your AirTag’s signal as your cat wanders around outdoors.
• If you can’t find your cat, you can use Find My App on your iPhone or iPad. This gives you an approximate location of where they might be.
• Your app then shows you your cat’s last known location and can guide you to them via map.

What’s the Apple AirTag range? Is it unlimited like a GPS tracker?

Apple hasn’t provided a clear picture of AirTags’ tracking range. But typically, Bluetooth trackers tend to work best at a range of 30-33 feet (9-10 meters). So nope, they don’t work over an unlimited range like a GPS tracker.

Meaning, if you’ve lost, say, a pair of keys outside the range of your AirTag, you can switch on Lost Mode. Now, when your lost keys end up within range of another Apple user’s device, its AirTag sends you an alert on your Apple device which shows its location on a map.

⚠️ Most cats tend to wander around 2-4 miles (3-6 km) away before someone notices they’re missing. In case you were wondering whether range matters on a pet tracker.

General perks of using an AirTag

Now a suitcase or a pair of keys isn’t likely to run away from home because they’ve sniffed out a female in heat nearby, want to hunt, or are just plain bored. Which is where an AirTag might be a great option, especially for non-moving physical objects.

Because in general, these trackers tend to be:

• Lightweight, weighing around 0.39 ounces (or 11 grams). So easy to strap to a backpack or a keychain.
• Affordable, being priced from $29 onward for a single AirTag, or $99 for a 4-pack.
• Water-resistant, especially if you lose an item while on a swim or out in the rain. Your AirTag can last around 30 minutes at a depth of 3.3 feet (or around 1 meter.)
• Compatible with all Apple devices, including your smartphone, iPad, and Mac.
• Equipped with long-lasting battery life, up to a year.

All of which make AirTags an excellent choice for your luggage, bicycle, or wallet. Not your cat. And here’s why.

Problem 1: AirTags pose a credible health risk for your cat

What do Apple and vets have in common? Well, they’ve both warned against using AirTags as a pet tracking device due to the safety risk they pose.¹ So if you’re wondering – are AirTags safe for cats? – here’s what you might run into:

Choking hazards

With a well-documented history in the case of dogs, AirTags are notorious for their swallow hazard.

• Because of their small size and tendency to dangle from their collar, your cat might try to chew or scratch on it to get it off.
• Other animals they encounter (including your other pets) could also chew it off and swallow your AirTag instead.

Battery leaks

Since AirTags come equipped with batteries, there’s always a possibility they might leak and severely damage your cat’s organs. The risk of battery leak increases if your cat (or another animal) has chewed on the AirTag, or if it remains in their stomach for a long time.

“A battery pack is built from very poisonous chemicals. A little puncture can lead to a leakage, fire or explosion. That’s why implanting a battery pack under the skin of your dog or cat can be very dangerous. So we wouldn’t recommend it.”

– Ivelin Nenkov, Embedded Systems Engineer at Tractive since 2016

Read more: GPS Implant For Dogs: Myth Or Fact?

A bad case of feline stress

Besides these problems, AirTags don’t come along with a ready-made collar. Which means they can be uncomfortable to wear for smaller cats.² (Majorly stressing them out.) They also need a special holder you’ll need to attach to your cat’s collar.

Besides:

• With its small size, there’s always the risk your AirTag can slip and fall out of a collar or harness – making it likely you’ll either lose it or have to make an emergency vet visit if your cat accidentally swallows it.
• It might also cause your cat to get stuck somewhere in case they’re off playing hide and seek.

The solution: Use a tracker built for cat safety

A dedicated cat tracker should be both lightweight and compact – but also designed to be safely out of reach of your cat’s teeth and claws. Which is why all Tractive CAT Mini trackers include a weight-adjustable Rogz Safety collar to keep your cat free of any tight spots.

In fact, Oregon-based professional cat breeder, Clair Chesterman, considers them a better alternative to AirTag cat collars:

“Tractive is my #1 recommendation when it comes to cat trackers. It’s specifically designed for tracking cats so you are sure that it is safe for your cats to use.”

– Clair Chesterman, Owner of CFA and CCA-registered cattery and fostering company, FluffyMeowPaws

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Problem 2: AirTags don’t work everywhere your cat goes

Curiosity might drive your cat to explore – but with an AirTag, it’s stuck (quite literally) to your backyard. Apple AirTags are limited to a typical Bluetooth range of 30 feet (9 meters). So it might only help you keep track of your cat if they tend not to wander outdoors too often.

⚠️ So if they wander outside of Bluetooth range, you’ll only be notified by your device’s Lost Mode if your cat passes by another Apple device user in that area.

In a nutshell: this means an AirTag cat collar only works in areas where you’ll run into iPhone or Mac users. (So not a great option for when you’re in an area without too many Apple devices nearby.)

The solution: Use a dedicated cat tracker with unlimited range

Your trusty Tractive GPS, on the other hand, comes equipped with both Bluetooth and GPS tracking – so you’re covered no matter how far or wide your cat likes to wander. (Or even if they’re a homebody instead!)

• With GPS, your Tractive device has a whole sky full of satellites following your cat’s movements in real-time – no matter where they are (or you are) in the world.
• Plus, with its built-in SIM card, your tracker connects to mobile networks across 175 countries. Meaning you can track your cat with just a glance at your phone – even while on vacation.

💡Got an indoor cat instead? Tractive’s Radar Mode uses your phone’s Bluetooth features to track your cat at close range. (Like if they’re hiding under your bed or in a closet.)

Besides, you can also use its Augmented Reality (AR) or Light and Sound features to pinpoint your cat’s hiding spots at close range. Perfect for stress-free cat tracking no matter how far (and how often) your cat likes to wander off.

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Problem 3: AirTags weren’t built with cats in mind

By Apple’s own admission, AirTags weren’t built for pets. According to their VP of Marketing, Kaiann Drance, “…the company designed the AirTag to track items, not people or pets.“

If you do choose to use an AirTag to track your pet, Drance suggests, “If people do that, they just have to make sure that their moving pet gets into range of a device in the Find My network.”

Which, well…if you’ve got a missing cat, how are YOU supposed to make sure they move into a specific area – just so that another Apple user’s device can pick up on their AirTag’s Bluetooth signal?

Besides, AirTags are missing a ton of pet-friendly features you might find built-in with a dedicated pet tracker. For example:

• They’re not 100% waterproof or durable enough to withstand the wear and tear of being attached to your cat’s collar.
• Wherever your cat wanders, they’re more likely to get wet and dirty than, say, a pair of keys – which might damage their AirTag and cause it to malfunction.

⚠️ So while it might be an option for tracking your personal items, Apple AirTags are generally neither safe nor reliable options to keep track of your cat.

The solution: Use a tracker that’s built for cats (and your peace of mind)

On the other hand, many dedicated pet trackers come with durable designs, advanced tracking functions, and even wellness monitoring features for your pets. For example, the Tractive GPS cat tracker includes:

• A Virtual Fence, which you can use to set up a virtual safe zone for your cat. So if your cat strays beyond it, you’ll immediately get notified by your tracker.
  
• A 24-hour Location History and Heatmap (365 days on a Premium subscription), so you can figure out your cat’s most frequent haunts. (And know where to look first in case they go missing.)
  
• Light and Sound location, which can help you track your cat when it’s dark outdoors. (Or in bright areas by sound instead.)
  
• Family & Public Sharing, so you can make tracking your cat a joint effort.
  
• Wellness Monitoring, so you can track your cat’s sleep and activity levels and get a picture of their overall health.

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Never lose your cat again – with a dedicated cat GPS tracker

Cat parents around the world – just like you – are relying on our life-saving technology to ensure their peace of mind…even in emergency situations. Like the case of Nala, an adventurous outdoors cat who went missing one evening and whose parents, Michel and Anja, found her in an empty house still under construction.

In Michel’s words:

“We went into LIVE Mode and crossed our fingers that the battery would last long enough...at that point, we had already given up hope and thought that we were never going to be able to find her. So, out of desperation, I shouted out her name.

And she responded! Nala started screaming as soon as she heard our voices...our little furball managed to pull it together and we finally took her home.

We are both so very thankful that this day – after a few hiccups – had such a happy ending. The fact that Tractive GPS even worked inside that empty house completely saved us and really turned this thing around. I love Tractive for keeping our cats safe.“

Read the full story of Michel, Anja, Nala’s late night escapade – and how she returned home safely with the help of her Tractive GPS.

Because you shouldn’t have to compromise on your cat’s independence or curiosity just to keep them safe.

So if you’re looking for a solution that’s built both for your cat and your needs as a cat parent, go for a dedicated cat tracker like the Tractive Cat GPS.

Wondering what kind of adventures your outdoor cat might be getting into?

Here’s the story of Bernie, a budding explorer whose long-distance wandering landed him an entire new family several miles away. (And, with a little help from his trusty Tractive GPS, was safely reunited with his family soon after.)

And if you’ve liked this post, share it with a friend or a loved one – and let’s help build a safer, kinder world for our furry friends together.