You've decided to track your cat. Smart move. But which tracker should you actually buy — Apple's AirTag or KittyTag's SmartTag? Both work, both fit our collars, but they're built for different households.
We'll be honest about the trade-offs (we sell both kinds of collars, so we have no reason to lie). Here's everything you need to know to pick the right one in under 5 minutes.
The 30-second answer
iPhone-only household? Get an AirTag. The "Precision Finding" arrow is unbeatable indoors.
Mixed household (iPhone + Android)? Get a SmartTag. It works on both ecosystems.
Want it bundled and ready? Our SmartTag comes with the collar. AirTag has to be bought separately from Apple.
How both trackers actually work
First, an important truth: neither device is GPS. They're both Bluetooth trackers that piggyback on a global network of phones.
When your cat walks past any compatible phone (yours or a stranger's), that phone anonymously updates the tracker's location to a network. You see the latest known location on your phone. The more phones nearby, the more accurate and recent the location.
Side-by-side comparison
Pick AirTag if…
- Everyone in your household uses an iPhone
- Your cat hides inside a lot — Precision Finding's arrow guides you within centimeters
- You already own one
- You're in a dense urban area with lots of iPhones around
Pick SmartTag if…
- Your household has both iPhones and Android phones (or just Android)
- You want one bundled, ready-to-use kit — no separate Apple purchase
- You travel internationally — Google's network has more coverage in some regions
- You're shopping on a budget (it's cheaper bundled with the collar than buying an AirTag separately)
The one honest trade-off
AirTag has one feature SmartTag doesn't: Precision Finding. When you're within ~10 meters of an AirTag, your iPhone shows a directional arrow guiding you exactly to it, like a compass. It's amazing for finding a cat hiding behind the couch.
SmartTag doesn't have this feature because it requires Apple's proprietary Ultra-Wideband (UWB) chip, which third-party trackers can't access. For most outdoor scenarios this doesn't matter — you'll find the cat using the map, not the arrow. But if your cat is famous for hiding inside the house, Precision Finding can save real time.
"What about microchips?"
Microchips and trackers solve different problems. A microchip is a passive ID — it only works after someone catches your cat and brings them to a vet or shelter to be scanned. A tracker is active — it tells you where your cat is right now, so you can go get them yourself. Get both. They complement each other.
Pro tip about battery
Both devices use a CR2032 coin cell that lasts about 1 year of normal use. Set a calendar reminder to swap it. Both apps will warn you when battery is low — but a low-battery tracker is a useless tracker.
Both work great with our collar.
Whichever tracker you pick, the KittyTag collar holds it safely in a hidden silicone pocket — with a breakaway buckle for safety. Choose the bundle to get the SmartTag included, or buy "Collar Only" if you already have an AirTag.
Whichever you choose, the most important thing is choosing something. A cat with a tracker is a cat that always comes home.