However, note that all tested models rely on GPS for location tracking. This means that if the satellite signal is spotty—a common issue in rural areas and other settings—you may not know your cat's precise location. Some Reddit and Amazon reviewers complain that Tractive's location tracking is less accurate in areas with dense vegetation.

In setting up each tracker's connected app, you can designate specific mapped areas as safe or danger zones, and the app will notify you when the pet enters or exits these zones. Basil is an indoor cat, but with all three trackers, my apartment was too small to create a virtual fence around the perimeter, so I had to expand it to an area outside my apartment. That means if Basil got out but stayed nearby, I wouldn't get an alert.

In the Tractive app, after you create a profile, you'll get personalized daily activity goals for your cat based on statistics from other cats of similar age and weight. The app assigned Basil 120 to 230 minutes of daily activity and later reported that he was consistently more active than 70 percent of similar cats. I felt at peace knowing I'm keeping him on the move in my small apartment.