TabCat-Review

TabCat Review – A Simple, Effective Cat Tracker

This post contains affiliate links. That means that, at no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you buy a product using one of the links on this page. Read our full disclosure here.

If you’re concerned about your cat getting lost or going missing, TabCat by Loc8tor is one of many cat tracking devices available that can help track your cat. This is a full and detailed review of TabCat, to help you decide whether it’s right for you.

If you’re considering buying a cat tracker, TabCat is a very popular choice for cat owners. But, how do you know if it’s right for You? Hopefully, this review will answer your questions about TabCat!

I bought this product after our cat went missing, which was one of the most traumatic and stressful moments of my life. There was no way I was willing to take that risk again, so I started researching Cat Trackers and TabCat was the first device I bought.

TabCat Review: A Radio Frequency Cat Tracker the doesn’t need a Smart Phone

TabCat Review
Pin this image to save this TabCat Review for later!

Tab cat is a cat tracker that contains award-winning technology. It uses radio frequencies to detect the location of your cat, by means of a credit card sized plastic handheld device and dime-sized trackers that attach to your cat’s collar. It has a long battery life and each Tab cat device can have up-to 4 tracker chips registered to it. The handheld device uses lights to point you in the right direction of your cat; they glow red when far away and green when you’re close. It’s very easy to use and a cost-effective, discreet way to locate your cats if they go missing.

Very Easy to Set up and Use

Upon receiving Tab Cat (which I paid for myself), I was eager to get it set up. At the time, I had 2 cats and the device came with 2 tracking tags – perfect!

To register each tag was simple, long press a button (numbered 1-4) on the handheld device until it beeps at you positively. If it beeps negatively, try again. It took me 2 or 3 attempts and works best if the tag and handheld device are right next to each other.

You can test that it works by leaving the tag and walking away from it, this will show you the tracker’s ability.

TabCat Review - Labelled
Picture of the TabCat when it arrived and before being activated (the little white tabs get removed)

Lightweight and Small

The tags themselves weigh about 0.2oz (6 grams) each. They’re very light and unobtrusive for the cat to wear.

It comes with a flexible plastic casing for each tag, which adds a little bit of extra bulk, but not much. This can be easily threaded through any existing cat collar and will sit flat against your cat’s fur. It doesn’t hang down or get in the way, my cats didn’t seem to notice anything was different when we re-fitted their collars.

Our cats have thick fur and you don’t even notice that the tags are there unless you really get in there for rough petting and play!

The plastic casing is also water resistant to protect the tag and its battery.

Medium-Long-Range Tracking

As this relies on radio frequency signals instead of GPS, it still works even if there’s no GPS signal in your area. TabCat can reliably track your cat within a range of about 400ft.

If you live in an area with lots of dense trees, you’ll find the signal is affected. Otherwise, it works well indoors and outdoors to locate your cat.

We tested this, and it works (for us) if the cars go 3 gardens each side of our house. Our garden is about 25 feet wide and all the gardens are the same, with just a fence separating them all. If they’re further away than that, then the signal seems to get a bit patchy. It still works, but you have to hold the device up higher… like you’re trying to point an old remote control at an old TV that needs a direct line with no barriers for it to work properly. But, it’s only like that beyond say, 80 feet or so.

It works inside the house. And, it also works from inside the house if the cats are out, and outside the house when the cats are indoors or in the garage/shed, etc. It’s a fairly reliable way of finding your cat that I myself rely on when my cats are out roaming.

I definitely feel safer knowing that my cats are wearing TabCat when I let them out to roam.

TabCat's Handheld Device

Battery Life

I’ve been using TabCat for 2 months with no signs of the battery depleting, but this section will be updated when it’s time for a battery change.

TabCat does come with a handy little plastic tool that can be used to undo the battery slots on the tags themselves.

Also note that each tag requires a battery, as does the handheld tracking device. So there are potentially 3 batteries to replace (if you’re using both the tags for 2 cats or more…)

TabCat uses a widely available CR2032 battery, which can be bought easily from most stores or on Amazon. Batteries are included with TabCat, they’re preinstalled.

Click here to see the price for TabCat on Amazon

Pros of TabCat

  • 2-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee
  • Up to 4 cats can be tracked with one device
  • 2 tracking tags come in each pack
  • Doesn’t rely on mobile or GPS signal
  • Easy to set up and use
  • Lightweight and unobtrusive – weighs just 0.2oz (6g)
  • Decent battery life, replacement batteries are easily available
  • Comes with splash-proof cases
  • Turns off by itself after 45 seconds to prolong battery life
  • Very good value compared with other trackers

Cons of TabCat

  • Limited range if there’s a lot of dense trees or foliage in the way
  • Lacks features such as location history and automated alerts, but that isn’t its purpose!

Overall Rating of TabCat

4.3/5 – A very reliable cat tracker and a simple, effective, unobtrusive way to track your cats, giving you peace of mind!

Where to Buy TabCat

Click here to see the price for TabCat on Amazon

TabCat comes with a complete 2-year warranty and a 30-day money back guarantee.

Do you use TabCat? What are your thoughts? Leave a comment below to let us know what you think!

This post contains affiliate links. That means that, at no extra cost to you, we may receive a small commission if you buy a product using one of the links on this page. Read our full disclosure here.

TabCat Cat Tracker

7.4

Range

8.0/10

Battery Life

9.5/10

Reliability

7.9/10

Other Features

4.0/10

Pros

  • Very easy to setup and use straightaway
  • Can use one TabCat loc8tor with up to 4 cats
  • Simple operation means very long battery life
  • Extremely reliable proximity detection (bluetooth) technology to find your cat quickly and without fuss

Cons

  • Limited range if there's a lot of dense trees or foliage in the way
  • Lacks additional features such as voice calls or runaway alerts
  • No GPS or location history

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *