Can I put Airtag on my cat?

Oh, I totally get why you’d want to put an AirTag on your cat. I mean, it sounds like a no-brainer, right? Cats have this magical way of vanishing into thin air just when you want to snuggle or, worse, when they’ve decided to bolt outside and go rogue. 

I actually did it for mine, so I’ve got some experience with how it works (and a few surprises I wasn’t expecting).

First up, yes, technically you can put an AirTag on your cat’s collar. They’re small, light, and as long as you’ve got a secure, sturdy collar, they’ll fit pretty well. 

I was a little skeptical at first, but I wanted a way to know where my little escape artist was going. So, I put the AirTag in one of those little silicone holders, slipped it onto her collar, and boom – feline tracking engaged.

Now, does it work? Kind of! AirTags rely on other Apple devices nearby, so if your cat wanders off into a remote area, or somewhere with few people and devices, you might not get a solid signal. For me, it works mostly around my neighborhood. If she wanders a bit too far, though, I sometimes lose track of her. I actually tested it by letting her roam a bit and then trying to find her on the app – honestly, it was 50/50. When it worked, it was great! But when she went too far or hid in a bush, the AirTag went “offline.” So it’s better than nothing, but maybe not the super tracker you’d want if your cat’s known for vanishing acts.

So, it’s not perfect, but here’s why I still keep it on her: it gives me some peace of mind. If she sneaks out, I can usually get a good idea of her last known location. Sure, it’s not like one of those fancy pet trackers with GPS, but it’s also way cheaper and doesn’t have a subscription.

Now, here’s why some people might hesitate. AirTags don’t technically work like GPS trackers – they just ping off nearby iPhones. Also, since they weren’t designed for pet tracking, they might not stand up to your cat’s little adventures. There’s the little matter of durability. Cats love to squeeze into tight spots, and while AirTags are pretty sturdy, they’re not invincible. Plus, some cats (okay, most cats) hate anything new or slightly bulky on their necks. Mine gave me the stink-eye for a full week after her AirTag debut.

That said, Some owners just opt for a dedicated pet tracker instead, which has more real-time features and is built for pets, but these are usually more expensive and come with subscription fees.

If you’re thinking about putting an Airtag on your cat, I’d just say – know what you’re getting into. You’ll get a rough sense of your cat’s location, but it won’t be as precise as a real pet tracker. And it might not work as well if you’re in a rural area without lots of devices to help bounce that AirTag signal. 

But for me? It’s kind of comforting. Even if my cat’s half a mystery, at least I’ve got a bit of tech to help solve it.