GPS collars: Big Brother is watching your pets

A tracker collar can become deadly for cats if they get it caught on something. — dpa

Felix usually sticks around the garden, but the tomcat hasn’t shown up for dinner. A tech-savvy owner can track him down with new location tools.

GPS trackers are tiny receivers that use satellites to determine their location and transmit that data via mobile network. A new generation of pet accessories are connected to let you locate your cat or dog at any time.

Since the animal must wear the GPS tracker all the time to be useful, normally they’re attached to the collar or harness or even come as part of a collar, says Lea Schmitz, spokeswoman of the German Animal Welfare Federation.

"The stability and flexibility of the fastenings vary," says Lisa Brack of the tech magazine Chip. In any case, the device should be robust and waterproof.

And that’s a big issue for Schmitz. "For outdoor cats, we generally advise against putting collars or harnesses on them," she says. The danger of the animal getting caught and strangled is too great, she says. The safety breakaway features of the trackers don’t always work properly.

Most trackers are quite heavy, especially for cats and small dogs, because of the battery inside. These have to be recharged or swapped out every two to five days, says tech tester Michael Link.

The positioning sometimes leaves a lot to be desired, he found during tests. When animals are on the move, the receiver is close to the ground and there is not always a clear line of sight to the sky, which makes GPS reception difficult. And, to save battery power, the tracker isn’t always transmitting, Link says. Depending on the model, the devices might report location data once an hour.

If it’s unable to determine the GPS position, the tracker might report an inaccurate position or no position at all. The device might triangulate its approximate position using mobile phone towers rather than satellites.

"In rural areas, the accuracy of the location can sometimes deviate from the actual position by several kilometres," Link says. And considering that a cat or dog is often on the move, Big Brother is at a major disadvantage. The quality of the equipment tested was rather sobering. "You shouldn't put too much hope on it," he says.

GPS trackers for pets start at about US$30 (RM130), plus ongoing mobile network costs for the SIM card in the tracker. "Depending on the model, you pay either individually for each SMS sent or a fixed monthly fee for real-time tracking in an app," Brack says. The operating costs of a tracker can range from US$3 to US$10 (RM13 to RM43) per month.

If you want to buy a tracker, Link recommends first looking at the app to quickly determine whether the functions meet your expectations.

And if you decide to use a GPS tracker for your pet, Brack suggests an indoor adjustment period, especially for cats. "Especially at the beginning you should make sure that your pet accepts the device, ” she says. – dpa