It's 11 o'clock, do you know where you cat is?
April 13, 2013 9:17 AM   Subscribe

Map My Cat: "So we have a cat, well we have three cats actually. One of them is a ‘little’ overweight, so we put her on a diet. She didn’t seem to loose any weight. We assume she is probably finding other food sources, like friendly neighbours. So what did we do next? Well, normal people would do things like keep their cats inside (ours are kept inside at night but allowed out during the day), or maybe they would buy a tag that says do not feed. But we are geeks and needed a more sophisticated solution." Note: This blog contains cat photos. And maps. So that should pretty much get the internet excited.
posted by jacquilynne (41 comments total) 23 users marked this as a favorite
 
Ugh. They should be looking at the number of satellites and dilution of precision.
posted by ryanrs at 9:31 AM on April 13, 2013 [4 favorites]


Yeah GPS accuracy is a real problem in this kind of application; I wonder if someone makes a similarly small tracker that uses cell towers or wifi signals like most phones do? The manual for the device they're using has docs on the data exports, which doesn't seem to include any sort of accuracy measurements off the GPS chip. Too bad; filtering by HDOP is a very helpful step.
posted by Nelson at 9:36 AM on April 13, 2013


It looks like it's getting fed at a neighbor's house, or is extremely effective at hunting and killing small things (that wouldn't necessarily make it fat, would it?).

I think you might also solve this with a more qualitative approach: go over to your neighbor's house and ask 'hey, do you ever feed a black tom cat?'
posted by codacorolla at 9:43 AM on April 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


But that would be no fun at all.
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 9:50 AM on April 13, 2013 [8 favorites]


They could probably map their cats activities better if they kept them within the confines of their house. Just a thought.
posted by Atreides at 9:52 AM on April 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


While some of the data shows Corsair moving at speeds of greater than 10kph, which we are considering unreliable data, we also have what we are considereing reliable data, which shows that she did make those journeys in straight lines out and back again.

GPS data does have all kinds of problems, but I do think they may be excluding some real data too. 1.5km is not too far a distance for a cat to go. We used to regularly see one of our cats hunting in a field that distance from our house when we were kids.

It would not surprise me at all to see a cat hunting in an industrial area. The neighbourhood cats patrol the verges and grassy edges near my work location, in a small industrial park. I notice if one of the cats doesn't make it's daily check of the groundhog hole behind my window.
posted by bonehead at 9:55 AM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I hope those cats are all "belled" in order to give birds and other small creatures warning a predator is on the loose.
posted by Tullyogallaghan at 9:56 AM on April 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


There's a product on the market for this. It is HUGE (seriously I contemplated putting it on my dog and vetoed because it would be Flavor Flav level bling on him) and I think is more for "finding your runaway dog" and less "I Did It For Science".

The box copy says "shows you which way to walk to find your lost pet" and not so much "see exactly everywhere your pet goes".
posted by Sara C. at 9:58 AM on April 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


I had to put my cat out of her misery this week, so reading about these nice nerd folks and their cats makes me happy/sad. Cats can and do travel several miles if they are motivated.
posted by Hobgoblin at 10:03 AM on April 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


1.5km is not too far a distance for a cat to go

I'm reminded of this book, which described pet dogs (back in the era of backyard doghouses and free roaming*) covering shockingly large amounts of ground in the course of a day.

Apparently feral cats can have similarly massive ranges, though the outdoor pet cats in that study ranged over a couple acres at most.

*The Amazon comments there are interesting. Half "Oh man this is a fascinating look at dog behavior" and half "Go die in a fire you irresponsible lunatic."
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 10:05 AM on April 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


It looks like it's getting fed at a neighbor's house, or is extremely effective at hunting and killing small things (that wouldn't necessarily make it fat, would it?).

If it were extremely effective at killing small things, it would probably have multiple tapeworms and not be fat.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:06 AM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


The Amazon comments there are interesting. Half "Oh man this is a fascinating look at dog behavior" and half "Go die in a fire you irresponsible lunatic."

I knew exactly which book you were referring to before clicking, and it's been a decade since I laid eyes on a copy.
posted by FelliniBlank at 10:10 AM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


We assume she is probably finding other food sources, like friendly neighbours.

Yikes. How big are these cats ... or how small are their neighbours?
posted by ZenMasterThis at 10:26 AM on April 13, 2013 [34 favorites]


How can you be clever enough to do this, yet still be unable to spell 'lose' ...
posted by GallonOfAlan at 10:35 AM on April 13, 2013 [2 favorites]


GallonOfAlan: "How can you be clever enough to do this, yet still be unable to spell 'lose' .."

Don't be a dick.
posted by barnacles at 11:09 AM on April 13, 2013 [20 favorites]


I felt so sure there was going to be a Feynman reference here
posted by iotic at 11:33 AM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


I always know where my cats are.

Sure, but how did you get them wedged there? And why?
posted by Now there are two. There are two _______. at 11:38 AM on April 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


It looks like one of the straight line roots that Corsair, the cat on a diet, takes could be real. Due south is parallel to two streets, so I'd hazard a guess that she's going between houses/apartments though backyards.
posted by maryr at 11:56 AM on April 13, 2013


I think Magellan is probably eating junk for lunch or maybe stopping at a drive-thru one the way to or from work. They should try packing him lunch, much healthier and cheaper too. Also check his account statements to see if he is stopping for a McFlurrt or a Big Mac on the way home. We all know how much cats love burgers.
posted by Ad hominem at 11:58 AM on April 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


I hope those cats are all "belled" in order to give birds and other small creatures warning a predator is on the loose.

I think part of the business plan of this blog is to get the local birds to drive up traffic on their site.

Also: Does this look like a cat with super powers to you?

Oh my, yes. Yes it does.
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:06 PM on April 13, 2013


McFlurrt

You mean a McPurry?
posted by codacorolla at 12:13 PM on April 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


Sara C : " There's a product on the market for this. It is HUGE (seriously I contemplated putting it on my dog and vetoed because it would be Flavor Flav level bling on him) and I think is more for "finding your runaway dog" and less "I Did It For Science"."

I don't know if you linked to the wrong thing, but those loc8tor senders are tiny - smaller than my (admittedly large) thumb nail. We used them to track my dementia suffering grandmother and to try and find our clueless kitty. worked averagely well, as long as you remembered it could lead you in exactly the wrong direction. But it was exact... ;-)

The receiver is palm sized, if that's what you're thinking of...
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 12:22 PM on April 13, 2013


I'd like to see a large dog with Flavor Flav levels of bling on.
posted by SpaceWarp13 at 12:25 PM on April 13, 2013 [2 favorites]




The internet is here for you

Why does it always have to be the black dogs that the media portrays wearing bling?

THANKS, OBAMA
posted by zombieflanders at 1:30 PM on April 13, 2013 [3 favorites]


They could probably map their cats activities better if they kept them within the confines of their house. Just a thought.

Or, since you're recommending they keep an animal inside and bored all its life, why not suggest they just don't get one. Even easier.
posted by howfar at 2:12 PM on April 13, 2013


Gabba never quite gave up his stray ways and it was usual for him to stay out for days, even weeks. You'd meet him out in the neighbourhood and he'd pass by all businesslike, "I can't be seen here with you man."
posted by yoHighness at 3:23 PM on April 13, 2013


1.5km is not too far a distance for a cat to go. We used to regularly see one of our cats hunting in a field that distance from our house when we were kids.
posted by bonehead


I've mentioned my wandering cat Bozo here before. In those days we lived in the residences abutting the very northwest edge of the forest in the UBC Endowment Lands. I saw her more than once at the elementary school at the very southeast edge of that forest when out riding my bike. And yes, the kids there were feeding and petting her.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 3:26 PM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Yes, my cat would be on my lap while I am prolly playing a game, trying his damnedest to convince me petting him is FAR more interesting than the moving lights thing I am paying attention to. Barring that, he's on the arm of my chair trying to crawl under my arm to get on my lap.
posted by Samizdata at 3:38 PM on April 13, 2013


Or, since you're recommending they keep an animal inside and bored all its life, why not suggest they just don't get one.

Indoor cats are not bored if you play with them and give them toys and attention. They are pretty capable of entertaining themselves with all sorts of things (often things you would prefer they left alone, but thats the price of having a cat!).

Given the massive overpopulation of cats, the alternative for a indoor cat is not a happy life outdoors, its either live in a shelter its whole life (more restricted than a house) or be euthanized. Adopting a cat and giving them a loving indoor life is a pretty awesome thing to do.
posted by wildcrdj at 3:59 PM on April 13, 2013 [1 favorite]


Oh lord... isn't the indoor/outdoor cat debate on the same list of forbidden metafilter topics as declawing and FGM?

Can it be?
posted by sodium lights the horizon at 4:35 PM on April 13, 2013 [7 favorites]


sodium lights the horizon: "Oh lord... isn't the indoor/outdoor cat debate on the same list of forbidden metafilter topics as declawing and FGM?

Can it be?
"

Please!!?
posted by jgaiser at 5:27 PM on April 13, 2013


sodium lights the horizon: no kidding! Jeez.
posted by small_ruminant at 5:28 PM on April 13, 2013


Oh, hey. I know these people, and these cats. Adorable critters all. And the cats aren't bad either Ba-Dum Tish.
posted by gadge emeritus at 5:37 PM on April 13, 2013


those loc8tor senders are tiny - smaller than my (admittedly large) thumb nail.

It's possible. I ran "pet tracker gps" through amazon, picked the box that looked the most like the packaging of the thing my boss offered to let me use, and figured that was probably the one. It's possible that she has this same product that is several generations old, or a different product branded/marketed similarly.

The object I was potentially putting on my dog looked sort of like the registration and name/phone number tags people put on their pets, but was 2 or 3 inches across and at least an inch thick. I declined my boss' offer since my dog is almost never out of my presence and there is no way I'm keeping an item that large on a collar around my dog's neck at all times, on the off chance that someday he runs off.

All of that digression aside, I am now thinking of dressing my (brownish/brindled) dog as Flavor Flav for Halloween.
posted by Sara C. at 5:39 PM on April 13, 2013


The cats are belled. It's in the pictures.
My cats are belled, and they're happy indoor cats. So there, doubters.

I would love to do a similar experience, with cameras as well, around the house, but I lack motivation.
posted by Mezentian at 11:48 PM on April 13, 2013


Read "My cats are bellends", thought, "Yeah, mine too."
posted by ominous_paws at 6:37 AM on April 14, 2013 [2 favorites]


Oh lord... isn't the indoor/outdoor cat debate on the same list of forbidden metafilter topics as declawing and FGM?

Can it be?


As soon as I saw the title I knew the grar would be inside.

Ffs, people can't even post an only tangentially related AskMe without that brigade showing up. It's really, really tiresome and stuff like misinformed statements about bells(which cats can easily walk silently with) gets thrown in every time. It's incredibly ugh-inducing.

I really wish people could park it unless it was something along the lines of a study about indoor vs outdoor cats, and even then id have trouble believing the person making the FPP didn't have an agenda or wasn't trolling for grar.
posted by emptythought at 1:11 PM on April 14, 2013




misinformed statements about bells(which cats can easily walk silently with

It's part of their ninja training.
posted by maryr at 8:34 PM on April 16, 2013


...In related news, apparently the entirety of TMNT II is on YouTube.
posted by maryr at 8:35 PM on April 16, 2013


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