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Tabcat (also called Loc8tor Pet) is one of the smallest, affordable cat radio-tracking devices. The tracker comes with two transmitter tags and one receiver, and you can buy up to two additional tags. Easy to use; just turn on the small handheld receiver, select the missing cat’s tag, and start searching. Once the radio-tag’s signal is picked up, the receiver will begin to beep and flash, and the closer you get to your cat, the louder and brighter it will get. Once you are close, you can turn off the volume, and listen for the beeping of the radio-tag attached to your cat’s collar.
The biggest drawback of Tabcat is its relatively short range of up to 600 feet in open terrain. If your cat is outside of this range, then you need to search around until you pick up a signal. Realistically it will pick up a signal within 200-300 feet if your cat is in the woods or only 50 feet if your cat is stuck in a basement.
Even with its short range, Tabcat often works well for escaped indoor-only cats since they usually hide nearby. I have had a few cases where it helped locate lost outdoor-access cats. First the general location of the cat was determined with posters, and then they were able to go to that location and quickly track down their cat with the Tabcat.
I have been using Tabcat on own cats Lily and Violet since 2015.
Pros:
- Splash-proof cover protects tags from the elements.
- Easy to use with just a little practice. Simply push the ON button, then select the tag for the missing cat and start searching.
- Batteries usually last several months and up to one year. When the battery is low, the tag will beep periodically. However, to be safe, replace batteries every 4 to 6 months. I recommend doing so in the spring when your indoor cat is most likely to first escape.
Cons:
- Detection range is only 600 feet at most. In suburban areas, the detection range is closer to 200-300 feet. If your cat were stuck in a basement, the range might only be 50 feet.
- If the device does not locate your cat within 45 seconds, it will beep and stop searching. You then need to re-press the search button to continue searching.
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