Tractive, an Austria- and Seattle-based company, has introduced two new smart collars for dogs and cats featuring GPS tracking and AI-driven health monitoring. The Cat 6 Mini and Dog 6 XL collars detect stress, unusual breathing, and excessive scratching to alert owners. CEO Michael Hurnaus said the devices turn pet data into actionable insights for better care.
The collars mimic smartwatch features by monitoring pets' respiratory rates, resting heart rates, and scratching behaviors. Tractive's Cat 6 Mini, priced at $79, targets cats and is set to ship on May 31. The Dog 6 XL, at $89, suits dogs over 55 pounds with enhanced durability, up to four weeks of battery life, and a scratch-monitoring system for issues like allergies or irritants, according to the company announcement. Both connect via an app that tracks movements, sets safe zones, and displays health stats through an AI-powered hub, doubling as a GPS locator if pets stray. A Tractive representative explained to CNET that veterinarians value baseline heart and respiratory data to spot changes indicating new conditions. The devices use SIM cards and require cellular connectivity for full functionality, though they capture activity, sleep, and health data offline. Owners must subscribe separately: $120 for one year, $168 for two years, or $300 for five years.