In the US, 37% of domestic cats are allowed to explore the great outdoors while 63% are entirely indoor cats. For those cats who are allowed to venture outside, not knowing their whereabouts can be stressful for cat parents.
Luckily, there are measures you can take to ensure your cat’s safety—such as a Cat GPS tracker.
Dog parents are more familiar with the use of GPS trackers but now they are available for cats too! Pet trackers allow you to track your pet’s location, so if they’re in the habit of going on day-long expeditions, you can see where they are in an instant.
Before putting a GPS cat collar on your cat, however, you need to get them comfortable with wearing a collar.
3 Steps to Train Your Cat to Wear a Cat GPS Tracker
Step 1: Create A Calming Environment
Before even introducing the collar and cat tracker, you should create a calming environment. Make sure you pick a day to begin training when there have been no environmental changes, your cat seems to be at their most relaxed, and you can take your time, as cats are sensitive to their environment.
If you have a cat who’s particularly prone to nerves, studies have shown that pheromone emulators can significantly reduce stress in cats. It might be worth plugging in a diffuser or using the spray version in the room where you’re about to begin training.
Step 2: Build a Positive Association With The Collar
Before you attempt to put the collar on your cat, it’s important to create a positive association with the collar. The idea is for your cat to see the collar and associate it with good things, rather than an uncomfortable accessory they would rather not wear.
To build a positive association, you can follow these steps:
- Attach the GPS tracker to your cat’s collar.
- Lay the collar out in the room and sprinkle some catnip on it to attract your cat.
- When your cat approaches it, toss some of their favorite treats nearby.
- Encourage them to touch the collar with their nose or paw by giving more treats, praise, or pets whenever they interact with the collar.
- If there are any activities or games your cat likes, incorporate them in the process.
The key to success with this step is to take your time and ensure your cat is completely comfortable with the collar as a stationary object before you move on.
Step 3: Try the Collar on for Short Periods of Time
Finally, you can put the collar on your cat to see how they react. If they seem upset or anxious, don’t be discouraged. Take the collar off and try again at a different time. If they seem fine with the collar on, keep it on only for a short period, then take it off.
The key is to build up to having the collar on for longer stretches, and you can do that by getting them used to ten or fifteen-minute intervals before going for gold and having the ability to track their location constantly.
Any time your cat has the collar on, you should continue to ensure you’re creating a positive association by using praise, treats, and pets to reassure them that their new pet tracker brings only good things!
Unfortunately, 15% of cat parents lose their cat at least once every five years. Training your cat to wear a collar may take time, but it will be worth it to have peace of mind.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to training a cat to wear a cat GPS tracker, the real key is patience. Success comes when you take your time to really introduce the collar to your cat as a great new object in their life that heralds good food and attention from you as their parent.
Each cat will vary in terms of how much time they need to get used to the collar, but every cat will get there if you go at their own pace.
Are you ready to prioritize your cat’s safety? Check out FitBark’s GPS pet trackers, for peace of mind and insight into your cat’s outdoor adventures.
