If you’ve been following my little blog for some time now, you will know how our cat Boots used to go astray, at one point, she was gone for over a year. We thought we’ve lost her. We went from worry, to actually accepting that maybe it was meant to be, and wished her well. Of course all the while she was living with that crazy cat woman, but then my husband found her, we moved away and as they say, the rest is history.
Does your cat like to stray just like Boots? If you’re a cat owner like us, worry no more – Tab Cat might just be the answer for you.
What is Tab Cat?
It is a pet locator. The pack comes with two Homing Tags and a locator handset. It’s very easy to use. All you need to do is activate the handset battery, register the tags you’re going to use on your pets, stick it in splash proof case and attach it to your pet’s collar. Then it’s ready to use.
The pack comes with the locater, two homing tags, with two splash proof cases. If you have more than two cats, you can order additional homing tags for them.
How far can you track your pet?
The range is impressive too and can reach up to 122m/400 feet (if the cat is on a tree). But of course it will be less if you’re trying to locate them through doors or walls. Just keep walking and searching till it picks up its signal again.
The Test
We tried it on Boots. But the thing with our cat, ever since we moved, we’ve never had a problem with her. She comes and goes as she pleases, and always comes back. As mentioned on some previous posts, she seems to prefer to be indoors too, than the outdoors. Ever since we moved, she’s a changed cat.
But T and I were still curious, so we put the Tab Cat homing tag on her, even though she was just taking a nap on the chair by the window. We went out and pretended we were looking for her in the garden. And of course, T was in her Belle costume, after all, that’s what you do on weekends right? Wear ballgowns and go traipsing in your garden, pretending to be in search of your cat.
It made a few beeps, especially when T pointed it to a direction.
I told T to walk back towards the house.
The beeps became more frequent as we walked towards the house…
And as T stood outside the window, pointing to where Boots was lazily napping on the armchair, the beeps and the green light were out, signalling we were indeed very close.
And then it went crazy, the beeps were louder and the green light was in full blast. Little T said, “There you are Boots! We found you!”.
Boots gave us a “You humans are weird. You knew I was here all the while” look. Yawned, and went back to sleep.
I drafted this post in the afternoon, by evening, when Boots went out for the night, before going to bed, my husband and I decided to try it out. I pressed her assigned tag on the locator, it beeped, and then the green light came on, I called out to Boots, since I knew she was nearby and true enough, I heard her little bell and she came back in the house with us. I’m really pleased it works.
We’ve put the other tag on Doc, since he’s the one who likes to go out and go galavanting through the fields and annoy the cows. Let’s see what happens …
Would you be interested in using a cat-tracker or have you tried this before?
Do share.
*PR sample. All photos and words by Little Steps.
This looks great for cat owners. When I had cats they were housecats so I didn’t have this problem, but I know several people who have had.
Our Boots has turned into a house cat, I’m really pleased about that and at least, we can use the tab cat once she decides to go astray again (like they all do). x
That’s such a fantastic idea! Our cats are generally pretty lazy so don’t go
far 🙂 Still, it would be so good if your cat was inclined to wander. I tend to worry a bit if my cats are gone for any length, it would be pretty good to be able to track them just in case! I love the picture of your sleepy cat 🙂
Cliona recently posted…An Original by Sandra Petit-Frère, Luxury Bag Review
Ever since we’ve moved, Boots seems to have changed and prefers just lazying around the house. I guess she approves of the new house then 🙂
Glad you managed to find her the first time and since moving she likes home too much. At least you have the tags now should she wander again!
I’m just glad she likes our new home enough not to wander away anymore 🙂 x
I think this is a fabulous idea, my cat is forever going walk about. It would be lovely to know where he goes.
Cathy Glynn recently posted…ChapelWood Bumble Bee Bird Feeder
And no more worries 😉
What a great idea! We’ve never had cats and one of the reasons is because I hate the idea of letting our pet out and not knowing where they are. This is such a good idea for cat owners!!
laura dove recently posted…Tick tock, tick tock…
Definitely a product for cat-owners who worry 😉 x
I remember reading about your hubby finding/catnapping boots before you guys moved. Glad you found something to help locate her easily
Anosa recently posted…{Fashion Monday} How to dress your Wellies
Yes, but the thing is, she always comes back now 😉 x
What a great idea. We had a cat when I was younger and he always went missing just when we needed him. This would have been perfect. X
Laura@dearbearandbeany recently posted…Review: The Dinosaur That Pooped Books…The McFly Boys!
Kids never like it when their pets go missing, T used to cry over Boots. x
This sounds like a great idea for cat owners and definitely something I’ll show my in laws.
Great for cats who like to stray. I’m glad ours is the opposite now. x
This is such a great idea! I think I should buy this for my dad for Father’s Day, he always looses everything especially his keys
The Blonde B
I never thought of using it on something else apart from a pet, but now that you’ve mentioned it, why ever not? I might just tag my husband’s wallet and phone. He keeps misplacing them 😉
That sounds like JUST the thing a cat would say, too! “Weird humans” lol. This sounds like a great item.
DannyUK.com recently posted…Easing joint pain – The science behind supplements
Oh dear, I’m actually beginning to speak “cat”! 😉
What a great idea! We’ve never had a cat – my nan was terrified of them so it was never an option! lol x
Jess Powell (Babi a Fi) recently posted…Four Reasons to Vote REMAIN on June 23rd
Before having Boots, I never liked cats. Was always more of a dog-person, but now I think cats aren’t that bad 😉 I’m very fond of our little Bootsy 🙂
Wow your garden is amazing and it is great that the tab cat helps track your kitty within an impressive range xxx
Ana De- Jesus recently posted…Apricot S/S 16 Lookbook
Thanks. Not that Boots goes anywhere far these days 😉 She’s a changed cat!
Haha, I think that’s so funny – such a great idea. I know my in laws would love to track their 3 cats!
Alina from The Fairytale Pretty Picture
It would make a lovely present for all cat owners who are worriers 😉
Wow that is so handy and smart. Good to have one for pets.
Especially if you are a worrier 😉
What a clever little gadget, my cat is an indoor cat but if he went outdoors I would so buy a one of these for peace of mind x
Lindsay At Newcastle Family Life recently posted…Father’s Day Gift Ideas From House Of Fraser
Yes, this is perfect for cat owners who worry about their cats. Thank goodness, Boots has been turned into an indoor cat, although she does go out every day but comes home too.
I would love this for my three, along with Cat GPS and a camera to follow them around so I can see where they go x
Rachel recently posted…Boutique Spa Classic Pedicure
A camera? Wow, that would be something!
I need one of these – my cat disappears for days on end!
Kara Guppy recently posted…Breakfast with the Seals at Weymouth Sea Life Centre
They surprisingly really work! x
Awesome like a key finder for pets! I need some of these for all of Es toys which randomly go missing.
RachelSwirl recently posted…#TuesdayTreasures – The Official Launch 14/06/16
I’m actually thinking of planting the tags on my husband’s wallet instead ; He keeps missing them!
this is a fab idea and i’d certainly consider one next time we move, it’s also very hot here in dubai so the cat is indoors most of the summer but does still disappear and hides in the house in the strangest of places, taking an age to find her to make sure she is in before we go out so she doesn’t get heat stroke
chickenruby recently posted…Animal Tales – Managing the heat in Dubai and the cats diet
I can imagine how warm it is in Dubai… Oh for the warmth, it’s currently feeling like autumn again here in the UK.
Wow never knew this existed but will be perfect for my mum. Her cat goes missing all the time
Michelle Murray recently posted…We Are Part Of The Netflix Stream Team
Tab Cat will indeed be perfect for your mum 🙂
Our Foggy is a total cat wanderer and goes off for weeks on end, coming home when it is particularly wet (cold doesn’t seem to bother him) or he has ticks because he has missed his tick treatment whilst gallivanting. We know roughly where he goes and in fact T and I saw him on Saturday as we drove past (7 weeks after he was last here!). He was mousing and looked really well. He is too far away for the tracker to work from home but it would pick him up were we nearer to his barn home … but I have to be honest and say I would not put a collar on him for fear of him getting caught on something. Were it chip-based though, that would be better for Foggy the Wanderer. #AnimalTales
Rosie @greenrosielife recently posted…Influence, Indoctrination and Murder
I wasn’t too keen on a collar either. But the one we put on Boots is supposed to have safety features. Plus the fact, that ever since we’ve moved, she doesn’t seem to be bothered much about the outdoors. Goes out for a while and then comes back in 🙂 Oh and she is of course, chipped.
Tabcat is a piece of electronic junk. Works erratically and consumer support is non-existant
Fair enough. Haven’t had to contact support so I can’t really comment on that.
Nice review 🙂 I think they’re a good concept, there are ones that they market more towards dogs such as podtracker and tracktive but are great for cats. I think because you can track the cat on your mobile and see where they are going they might have a one IP on TabCat, but it sounds good nonetheless.
That sounds like a fab product too!
I have used and purchase this since it was the small size and called loc8tor, when I had to change batteries on the original the tags broke when opening, I wasn’t to upset, I had had it a year and we all know the quality of stuff now, purchased new set since they had changed the look name and size, not as happy the tags much larger than before and on my 9 lb cat really are huge on his collar. but he likes to sneak out a door and I want to find him so he can deal, we were doing renovation on our house and misplaced the handset, and I was scared with workmen in and out he would slip out and I didn’t have handset, so kit 3 purchase, get it and contact cust service to deregister old tags and add them to new handset since we have old mostly senile dogs also, better to be safe, NOPE no handset no way to deregister, a little annoyed but oh well. a few weeks later the original handset shows up, so we try to deregister so all four can be on one handset (and I will give old handset to friend and she can just get some tags) we follow directions vol and button held down 3 seconds wait for beep and then reregister on other handset, well no beep, try again, and again, and again (for almost half hour) never get a beep at 3 seconds, never deregisters, ok maybe my seconds are so short, make decision to hold down until we hear a beep, yay first one deregisters, same thing with second, go to put on other handset but get a weird tone and it doesn’t hook up, contact customer service again, nope you didn’t deregister you deleted, the tags are now useless have a great day. nothing else, so while they work if you dont have any issues, their customer service is HORRID if something does. I was out 2 tags in about 10 minutes because their directions were faulty and they decided it was my fault.
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with them. It’s awful when customer services are a nightmare. To be honest, we didn’t bother to use the Tab Cat when the batteries ran out. Ever since we moved houses, our cat has turned into a house cat and only goes out to the garden, never really goes far. Unlike our old house, where she used to disappear for days. I definitely understand your frustration. Hopefully their customer service will improve.