Not everyone has reliable internet or cell service, but we all want to keep our cats safe! Marco Polo solves this problem for cat parents who live in rural areas, and those who want to go on vacation or board their cat.
While most cat trackers rely on GPS or bluetooth, the Marco Polo cat tracker uses a standalone system, requiring no GPS, WiFi, or cell service. It works well and can spot a cat two miles away.
Let’s explore the pros and cons of the Marco Polo tracking system to see if it’s the right choice for you and your cat.
Why You Trust Us
Here, we buy and test products ourselves and provide honest, thorough reviews. This allows us to recommend products that really work for cat parents.
We’ve tested more than 15 cat trackers over the past two years, looking at things like performance, battery life, and cat comfort. We’ve found that the Eureka cat tracker is best for those in rural areas, especially in areas without reliable cell service or WiFi.
Marco Polo Brand Overview
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Marco Polo is a company that makes pet tracking systems and drones. Their goal is to make robust trackers with long battery life, so you have more time to find your lost cat. Since their tracking systems are independent, you don’t need access to GPS, WiFi, or cell phone networks.
Features of Marco Polo Cat Tracker
The Marco Polo cat tracker comes in two pieces: the location, which you’ll need to stay on to find your cat, and the tracking tag, which you attach to your cat’s collar. Both will need to be charged before use.
Once everything is charged, simply place the tracking tag in the sleeve and attach it to the clipped cat collar using velcro strips (which can be cut to size). The tracker works without GPS, WiFi, or cell service, and uses an on-screen arrow to point you in the direction your pet is facing. You’ll also see a bullseye with a percentage distance to show how close you are to your cat, with higher percentages meaning you’re getting closer. In tracking mode, the detector beeps once or three times every five seconds. One beep means you’re far away, while three beeps mean you’re close.
The Marco Polo system tracks pets up to two miles in open areas, but you may need to get closer in rough terrain or if there are obstacles in the way. If your pet is more than two miles away, Marco Polo recommends driving around until its tracker appears in the area.
You can also set a safety distance and be alerted if your cat wanders outside that distance, so you can quickly track it down. If your cat keeps running away when found, the battery life on the tracking tag lasts up to six weeks, giving you plenty of time to track it down. You can also track up to three pets in one location, with additional tracking tags sold separately.
Although the Marco Polo is more expensive than many devices that use new technology, such as GPS tracking, it is also a one-time purchase with no registration fee. Once you count a one-year subscription, the price ends. After several years, the Marco Polo is much less expensive than most GPS tracking devices.
What we like
- Track your cat anywhere, even in rural areas without WiFi or cell service
- Setup is easy, and the tracking system is easy to use
- The tracking tag has a battery life of up to six weeks, with indicators on the spot so you know when charging is needed.
- Track up to three pets using one location (with additional tracking tags sold separately)
- Pay only for the tracker itself, with no additional registration fees
What we don’t like
- Finding a cat may be more difficult in rough terrain or with obstacles in your path, and the trail may need to get very close to your cat before finding it.
What Do Our Test Cats Think?
Although I was intimidated by the Marco Polo tracker at first, it ended up being very easy to set up and use. Since I don’t let my cats go outside unsupervised, I had to test it in other ways. So, after taking a few minutes to figure out how the tracking system works, I had a family member lurking around the house and outside holding a collar so I could track them down as if they were a lost cat.
The tracker pointed me in the right direction every time, although it couldn’t point me in hallways or direct me to neighboring houses. This meant I had to use my judgment to get where I wanted to go, but it wasn’t difficult. However, if your cat has wandered into an unfamiliar area and there are large obstacles in your way, I can see that finding them can be quite a challenge. Still, it would give you a place to start so you don’t search blindly.
As part of the experiment, I also tried the collar on my cats, and even the smallest ones didn’t seem to mind the weight or size of the tracker. However, my cats associate collars and harnesses with going outside or getting treats. Those who are not used to wearing collars in general may have a more difficult time adjusting, as with any wearable item.
Overall, I think the Marco Polo cat tracker does a good job at tracking down stray cats. As with any cat tracker, it does not replace responsible cat ownership and supervising your cat outside. It’s best used as a backup system in case your cat wanders out of the house or accidentally escapes its harness.
It is also worth noting that only broken collars should be used on cats, as they tend to climb up and hide under the brush. Collars without breakable clasps can get caught in objects, causing a strangulation hazard. Although a detachable collar can save your cat’s life in these events, it can also lead to only getting the collar and not the cat. Again, this is not a problem with the Marco Polo tracker but with cat trackers in general.
What Do Customers Think of the Scout Smart Pet Camera?
Good Review
“I live in a mountainous village where there is no cell phone service, GPS is sketchy and my cat roams freely every day. I have been able to track my cat a kilometer away in dense forest.” Mike reviews on Amazon.com
“I highly recommend this system. Although it uses old technology, it works very well. My husband, who is a techie, was skeptical at first because he wanted to use GPS technology. However, we have used the Marco Polo system every single day for the past few months to locate our cat and it works 100%. Jen reviews on Amazon
Reviewers highlight the tracker’s long battery life and its ability to work in rural areas, even in thick brush or uneven terrain. Some say there is a learning curve, especially on uneven terrain or when there are large objects in the way. Many reviewers note that the tracker is expensive, but it’s worth the cost, especially since it doesn’t require a subscription service.
Negative Reviews
“We are archaeologists who use GPS all the time in the field. Despite many attempts, we could not find this to track or find our dog. He was lost for two days. We had to hire a helicopter and get friends and colleagues to go out into the fields to find him.” Susan Osako reviews on Amazon
“My cat is a 13.5 lb male – small, stocky and well built. Not huge, but definitely bigger than a normal cat. Despite this, I couldn’t find a way to make this work for him – it’s just a big brick under his chin.” Thomas Salvato reviews on Amazon
Most of the negative reviews are due to technical problems, such as charging problems or the tracker not being able to find its lost pet. A few reviewers note that by the time the tracker was able to point in the right direction, their wild animal was already in sight. Some even believe that the collar is too big for cats.
Similar types of Cat Tracker
Looking for other cat trackers like the Marco Polo cat tracker? Check out our other reviews.