# Cat Tailer vs Petkey

The clearest difference is monetization model: Petkey at free against Cat Tailer's paid. Petkey also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 3 months). Cat Tailer's advantage is review sentiment (57% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 16.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Petkey holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 358 and 823 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 57% of Cat Tailer's written reviews are positive against 44% of Petkey's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Cat Tailer ships an update every 3 months, Petkey every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cat Tailer | Petkey |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (358 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cat-tailer/id1300314600/reviews) | **[4.8 (823 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petkey/id1536342236/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 358 | **823** |
| Positive reviews | **57.1% of reviews** | 44.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 5 MB | 38 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ambystoma Labs Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1300314599) | [Petkey LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536342238) |

## What reviewers say

### Cat Tailer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cat-tailer/id1300314600)

This device attaches to your cat's collar and uses Bluetooth to help you locate them within a 328-foot range. Receive alerts when your cat returns home. It's waterproof, lightweight, and has a long-lasting, replaceable battery.

**Highlights:** Bluetooth tracking, Long range (328 ft), Waterproof design, Smartphone/tablet compatible, Return home alerts, Lightweight for kittens, Long-lasting replaceable battery

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Helps find cats
- 👍 Good for peace of mind
- 👍 Customer service is good
- 👍 Works well for cats that don't wander far
- 👍 Light can be turned off for stealth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inaccurate distance readings
- 🐛 Limited range
- 🐛 Sound feature doesn't always work
- 🐛 Collar can be bulky/uncomfortable
- 🐛 App can be laggy

**Reported bugs**

- Distance readings are inaccurate
- Sound feature stops working
- App requires constant GPS access
- Tracker shows incorrect distances when cat is close

**Requested features**

- Improve accuracy of distance readings
- Increase range
- Fix sound feature
- Make collar less bulky/more comfortable
- Improve app responsiveness


### Petkey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/petkey/id1536342236)

This app connects pet owners with their lost animals through a nationwide network. Users can list missing pets or found pets on a live map to facilitate quick reunions. Create a pet profile for emergency access to vital information and receive notifications when your pet is found.

**Highlights:** Nationwide missing pet network, Live map of found pets, Create pet profiles, Virtual pet ID, Immediate notifications, Custom Petmoji creation

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Excellent customer service and support
- 📱 Easy account management through app
- 🐕 Effective microchip registration and pet recovery
- 🏷️ Quality pet ID tags
- ✅ Functional website platform

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 App login functionality broken or non-existent
- 🗺️ Missing or inaccurate tracking/map features
- ❌ Poor app design and user interface
- 🔄 App crashes frequently
- ♿ Not accessible for visually impaired users (no VoiceOver support)

**Reported bugs**

- App login not working despite correct credentials
- Password reset feature fails
- App crashes during lifetime registration discount selection
- Sign-up process crashes when scanning code
- Email validation loop - keeps requesting email even when filled

**Requested features**

- Real-time pet location tracking with map display
- Upload and store vaccination records and certificates
- Multiple photo uploads for lost/found pet reports
- Improved sighting report workflow (ask possession status before photos)
- Better accessibility features for screen readers


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cat Tailer free?

Cat Tailer is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Petkey free?

Petkey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cat Tailer or Petkey?

Petkey is rated higher. Cat Tailer averages 4.6 out of 5 from 358 ratings, while Petkey averages 4.8 from 823 ratings.

### Do Cat Tailer or Petkey have ads?

Neither Cat Tailer nor Petkey shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cat Tailer or Petkey?

Cat Tailer ships an update every 3 months, and Petkey every 5 weeks. Most recently, Cat Tailer was updated on October 14, 2026 and Petkey on October 16, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*