Pets Buying guide
Pet GPS trackers for dogs and cats: what to check first
What should you know before choosing?
GPS trackers with a built-in SIM, such as Tractive and Weenect, report your pet's location over the mobile network but need a paid subscription and regular charging. Bluetooth tags only update when a nearby phone passes, and Apple says its new AirTag is designed for objects, not pets. No tracker replaces the law: UK dogs must be microchipped by 8 weeks and wear a name-and-address tag in public, and cats in England must be microchipped by 20 weeks.
Options at a glance
Compare the options- For dogs over 4 kg
Tractive DOG 6 GPS tracker
Find model on Amazon* - For cats of 3 to 8 kg
Tractive CAT 6 Mini GPS tracker
Find model on Amazon* - For longer gaps between charges
Weenect XT GPS dog tracker
Find model on Amazon*
Tractive DOG 6 GPS tracker
Amazon UK
A 39 g cellular tracker with a built-in SIM, live location, virtual fences and an IP68 rating. Tractive lists up to 14 days of battery with Power Saving Zones and up to 6 days without. A subscription is required and is priced separately.
Check before buying: Ongoing subscription on top of the tracker price; the tracker relies on the plan for its mobile connection.
Why it's a good thing: Live location helps you find a dog quickly; it does not replace the microchip and ID tag the law requires.
- Live location over the mobile network via a built-in SIM, so range is not limited to your phone's Bluetooth.
- IP68 rating (“100% waterproof”) suits wet walks and dogs that swim.
- At 39 g it is light for a cellular tracker, with virtual fences and escape alerts.
- Ongoing subscription on top of the tracker price; the tracker relies on the plan for its mobile connection.
- The 14-day battery figure assumes Power Saving Zones; Tractive lists up to 6 days without them.
Tractive CAT 6 Mini GPS tracker
Amazon UK
A 32 g tracker built into a collar with a safety release, for cats of 3 to 8 kg and necks of 19 to 23 cm. Tractive lists up to 7 days of battery with Power Saving Zones and up to 4 days without, and an IP68 rating. A subscription is required.
Check before buying: Battery is up to 7 days only with Power Saving Zones (up to 4 days without), so expect to charge it at least weekly.
Why it's a good thing: The built-in safety release follows Cats Protection's advice to use quick-release collars.
- The collar has a built-in safety release, in line with Cats Protection's advice to use quick-release collars.
- 32 g including the collar, for cats of 3-8 kg.
- IP68 water rating, plus LEDs and sound to help find a cat after dark.
- Battery is up to 7 days only with Power Saving Zones (up to 4 days without), so expect to charge it at least weekly.
- The collar is integrated and only fits 19-23 cm necks, so you cannot move the tracker to a collar you already trust; a subscription is also required.
Weenect XT GPS dog tracker
Amazon UK
A 54 g dog tracker with a multi-network SIM, updates as fast as every second and an IP68 rating. Weenect lists up to 3 weeks of battery with power-saving areas, or 1 week of continuous tracking. Each tracker needs its own subscription.
Check before buying: At 54 g and 82 mm long it is heavier and larger than the Tractive DOG 6 (39 g).
Why it's a good thing: Weenect says its guarantee covers manufacturing defects and that it repairs units when possible.
- Up to 3 weeks per charge with power-saving areas (1 week in continuous tracking).
- Weenect states a guarantee covering manufacturing defects, with repair first and refurbished replacement if not.
- IP68 rating plus ring, vibrate and a built-in torch to help find a dog in the dark.
- At 54 g and 82 mm long it is heavier and larger than the Tractive DOG 6 (39 g).
- Needs a subscription for each tracker, and Weenect says it needs a good network connection for best performance.
Weenect XS GPS cat tracker
Amazon UK
A 27 g cat tracker for cats from 3 kg, with an IP68 rating and a silicone attachment that fits other collars. Weenect lists up to 7 days of battery with WiFi power-saving zones, or 2 days of continuous tracking. It ships with an elasticated collar.
Check before buying: The supplied collar is elasticated, and Cats Protection says “We wouldn’t recommend an elasticated collar.”
Why it's a good thing: The attachment lets you use a quick-release collar instead of the supplied elasticated one, as Cats Protection advises.
- At 27 g it is the lightest cellular tracker in this guide.
- The silicone attachment fits other collars, so you can use a quick-release collar of your choice.
- Weenect states a repair-first guarantee covering manufacturing defects, and an IP68 rating.
- The supplied collar is elasticated, and Cats Protection says “We wouldn’t recommend an elasticated collar.”
- Battery is up to 7 days only with WiFi power-saving zones (2 days of continuous tracking), and each tracker needs its own subscription.
A tracker does not replace a microchip
GOV.UK says all dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by the time they are 8 weeks old. In England, cats must be microchipped and registered by 20 weeks old, including cats that usually stay indoors. You can be fined up to £500 if a required microchip is missing.
Dogs must also wear a collar and tag with your name and address in a public place, under the Control of Dogs Order 1992. A tracker can help you find a pet quickly; the microchip and tag are what vets, wardens and rescue centres use to reunite you.
GPS trackers and Bluetooth tags are different
The four trackers below have a built-in SIM. They send your pet’s location over the mobile network, so they work wherever there is signal, and they need a paid subscription.
Bluetooth tags such as Apple’s AirTag have no SIM or GPS. Their location only updates when a compatible phone passes nearby. Apple says its new AirTag is designed exclusively for tracking objects, not people or pets, so we have not included Bluetooth tags as picks.
How to choose
- Decide what you need: a GPS tracker with a built-in SIM gives live location over the mobile network. A Bluetooth tag has no SIM and only updates when a compatible phone passes nearby.
- Check the subscription before you buy. Tractive and Weenect both need a plan, priced separately from the tracker, and each tracker needs its own plan. Read the cancellation terms.
- Compare battery life with and without power-saving zones. Headline figures assume power-saving at home; continuous tracking runs the battery down faster.
- Match the tracker to your pet’s weight: Tractive DOG 6 is for dogs above 4 kg, Tractive CAT 6 Mini for cats of 3 to 8 kg and Weenect XS for cats from 3 kg.
- For cats, use a quick-release (snap-open) collar. Cats Protection does not recommend elasticated collars.
- Check mobile coverage where your pet actually roams. Cellular trackers depend on the mobile network, and Weenect says a good connection is needed for best performance.
- Keep your pet’s microchip registered with current details, and keep a name-and-address tag on your dog’s collar in public, whatever tracker you use.
Before you buy anything
If your dog is always on a lead or within sight, or your cat stays indoors, a tracker adds little. The legal basics cost less and are what vets, wardens and rescue centres check: a microchip registered on a government-approved database with up-to-date details (dogs by 8 weeks; cats in England by 20 weeks, including indoor cats), plus a collar and tag with your name and address for dogs in public. If a pet does go missing, Dogs Trust advises contacting your microchip database, the council dog warden, and local vets and rehoming centres.
Trackers at a glance
Figures are quoted from each maker’s page, checked on 23 October 2026. Battery figures are the makers’ maximums.
| Tracker | For | Weight | Battery (with power saving / without) | Water rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tractive DOG 6 | Dogs over 4 kg | 39 g | Up to 14 days / up to 6 days | IP68 |
| Tractive CAT 6 Mini | Cats 3–8 kg | 32 g with collar | Up to 7 days / up to 4 days | IP68 |
| Weenect XT | Dogs | 54 g | Up to 3 weeks / 1 week continuous | IP68 |
| Weenect XS | Cats from 3 kg | 27 g | Up to 7 days / 2 days continuous | IP68 |
All four need a subscription to work.
Sources behind this guide
These sources support the comparison; they are separate from the shopping links. Manufacturer statements have not been independently tested by us.
- GOV.UK: Get your dog or cat microchipped
- GOV.UK (Defra news, 13 March 2023): Treasured pets now safer as microchipping for cats becomes compulsory
- legislation.gov.uk: The Control of Dogs Order 1992, article 2 (Wearing of collars by dogs)
- Cats Protection: Choosing a cat collar
- Dogs Trust: What to do if you've lost your dog
- Apple Newsroom (UK), 26 January 2026: Apple introduces new AirTag with expanded range and improved findability (manufacturer statement)
- Tractive — DOG 6 GPS tracker
- Tractive — CAT 6 Mini GPS tracker
- Weenect — XT GPS dog tracker
- Weenect — XS GPS cat tracker
How we choose
Manufacturer product pages and guidance from GOV.UK, legislation.gov.uk, Cats Protection, Dogs Trust and Apple checked on 23 October 2026. We compare documented specifications and subscription requirements; we have not tested these trackers, compared plan prices or verified current Amazon listings, sellers, stock or prices. This is a research-based review, not a hands-on lab test.
Our values filter: We refuse shock, prong, and spray collars outright. We favour machine-washable covers, buyable spare parts, and brands that fund rescue work.
Prices change — check the retailer for today's price.
Common questions
- Does a GPS tracker replace my pet's microchip?
- No. GOV.UK says all dogs in the UK must be microchipped and registered by 8 weeks old, and cats in England by 20 weeks, including cats that usually only stay indoors. You can be fined up to £500 if a required microchip is missing or not registered, and you must keep the details up to date, for example if you move house. A tracker can run flat, come off or lose signal; a microchip stays with your pet.
- Does my dog still need an ID tag if it wears a tracker?
- Yes. Under the Control of Dogs Order 1992, a dog in a highway or public place must wear a collar with the owner's name and address on it, or on a plate or badge attached to it, with some exemptions such as certain working dogs. GOV.UK also says a microchipped dog must still wear a collar and tag in public.
- Is a tracker collar safe for my cat?
- Cats Protection says the safest collars for cats are quick-release or snap-opening ones, does not recommend elasticated collars, and advises that you can fit two fingers under the collar comfortably. It also says a microchip is the safest way to identify a lost cat. Check the tracker's weight limit too: Tractive's CAT 6 Mini is designed for cats of 3-8 kg and Weenect's XS for cats from 3 kg.
- Can I just use an AirTag or another Bluetooth tag?
- You can attach one, but understand its limits. Apple says the new AirTag is designed exclusively for tracking objects, and not people or pets. Bluetooth tags have no SIM: their location only updates when a nearby phone on the same network (Apple Find My or Google Find Hub) passes, so there is no live tracking or escape alert. AirTag's anti-stalking alerts are also triggered when it is separated from its owner, so a person who finds your pet may be told the tag is travelling with them.
- What should I do if my dog goes missing, even with a tracker?
- Dogs Trust advises contacting your microchip database to report your dog lost, contacting the council dog or animal warden (who is legally responsible for stray dogs) in your area and neighbouring areas, and contacting local vet practices and rehoming centres. It also says to tell the database if your dog is found.
