Loc8tor
Loc8tor Ltd. (dba Tabcat) is a UK-based, privately held company that designs and sells patented radio frequency cat tracking devices directly to cat owners worldwide via e-commerce, using a one-time hardware purchase model with no subscription fees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersBorehamwood, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Loc8tor does
Loc8tor Ltd. (doing business as Tabcat) is a UK-incorporated, privately held pet technology company based in Borehamwood that designs and sells radio frequency-based cat tracking devices. Founded in 2006 and operating with a team of 1-10 employees, the company serves cat owners globally through its Tabcat product line, which centers on the Tabcat Tracker V2 handset paired with lightweight 0.21-ounce collar-attached homing tags. The core technology is a patented RF system that provides directional, real-time tracking down to approximately one-inch precision and operates without requiring WiFi, GPS, or cellular GSM coverage, making it functional indoors and in locations where network-based trackers fail.
The product ecosystem extends beyond the core tracker to include a multi-cat Bundle, additional Homing Tags, and Tabcase silicone protective covers, enabling a single handset to track up to four cats. The business model is direct-to-consumer hardware sales via a Shopify-based e-commerce storefront, with explicit "pay once, use for life" positioning and no monthly subscription fees — a deliberate contrast to GPS competitors that require ongoing cellular data plans. Distribution is handled in-house with shipping to the US, UK, and worldwide, and customer acquisition relies on content marketing through a Tabcat blog, customer testimonials, and organic social media presence on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
The company claims a cumulative base of more than 100,000 customers since inception and 19+ years of brand presence. Capitalization has been modest: two disclosed funding rounds totalling roughly $155,000 from EISMEA in 2016 and SBRI Healthcare in 2019, with no evidence of institutional venture or private equity ownership. The company is led by founder and CEO Anthony Richards and appears to operate as a bootstrapped, founder-controlled small business rather than a venture-backed growth company.
Loc8tor firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Loc8tor
- Legal name
- Loc8tor Ltd.
- Website
- https://loc8tor.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Loc8tor Ltd. (dba Tabcat) is a UK-based, privately held company that designs and sells patented radio frequency cat tracking devices directly to cat owners worldwide via e-commerce, using a one-time hardware purchase model with no subscription fees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Loc8tor is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Borehamwood
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Markets served
Loc8tor business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Hardware Device Sales: One-time purchase of Tabcat cat trackers and accessories. Customers pay upfront for the physical device with no ongoing subscription or monthly fees. The company generates revenue from initial hardware sales rather than recurring subscriptions.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | One-time purchase hardware model |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Loc8tor product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Loc8tor develops and sells the Tabcat Tracker V2, a handheld radio-frequency locator used with lightweight tags attached to a cat's collar. It provides real-time directional guidance and close-range location accuracy to 1 inch, while operating without WiFi, GPS, or mobile GSM coverage.
Product overview
Loc8tor operates the Tabcat product line, a family of radio frequency-based cat tracking devices. The core offering is the Tabcat Tracker V2, a hardware device comprising a handheld locator and lightweight collar-attached tags that use patented RF technology for pinpoint tracking accuracy. The product ecosystem includes bundled packages for multi-cat households and complementary accessories (homing tags and protective cases). Unlike GPS-based trackers, Tabcat operates independently of cellular networks and WiFi, making it suitable for indoor environments and areas with no network coverage. The company positions its technology as a more accurate alternative to GPS for cat tracking, with no monthly subscription fees.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Tabcat Tracker V2
Quantifiable outcome
- Accuracy down to 1 inch - significantly more precise than GPS-based alternatives
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Loc8tor
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Loc8tor technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Loc8tor partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Loc8tor competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tractive: Austrian-based GPS pet tracker company offering real-time location and activity monitoring for cats and dogs via subscription cellular devices — the most direct technology-and-market peer to Loc8tor, but using GPS/cellular rather than RF.
- Kippy: Italy-based GPS pet tracker brand serving European cat and dog owners with subscription-based cellular devices — a close geographic and target-market peer competing on the same pet-owner value proposition.
- Jiobit: US-based small cellular GPS tracker marketed for kids, pets, and seniors; competes in the connected-tracker category with a subscription model and overlapping target users (pet parents).
- Pawfit: UK-based GPS pet tracker company offering real-time location and activity monitoring for cats and dogs via cellular subscription; a direct regional peer competing in the same pet-owner market.
Broad incumbents
- Whistle (Mars Petcare): Mars Petcare-owned GPS pet tracker and health monitor with subscription services for dogs and cats; broader pet-tech incumbent with significantly more capital, marketing, and distribution reach than Loc8tor.
- Garmin (Alpha / Astro / TT series): Garmin offers GPS pet tracking systems for sporting/hunting dogs with rugged hardware and ecosystem lock-in; competes in the broader pet tracking space with vastly greater R&D and brand scale.
- Apple AirTag: Apple's Bluetooth item tracker leveraging the Find My network; increasingly used by cat owners as a low-cost alternative and a major competitive threat from a consumer-tech incumbent with enormous ecosystem reach.
- Tile: Bluetooth item tracker brand competing in the broader 'find my things' category that some cat owners adopt; offers a general-purpose alternative to pet-specific trackers at scale.
- Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2: Samsung's Bluetooth/UWB tracker integrated into the Galaxy ecosystem; an adjacent consumer-tech competitor leveraging smartphone platform distribution to encroach on pet-tracker use cases.
Emerging players
- PetPace: Smart collar company focused on pet health monitoring (vitals, activity) rather than pure location; adjacent pet-tech peer that competes for the same 'premium pet parent' discretionary wallet.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Loc8tor social profiles
Digital presenceLoc8tor financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Loc8tor leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Loc8tor funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds2 records
Investors2 records
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Loc8tor M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Loc8tor
What does Loc8tor do?
Loc8tor develops and sells the Tabcat Tracker V2, a handheld radio-frequency locator used with lightweight tags attached to a cat's collar. It provides real-time directional guidance and close-range location accuracy to 1 inch, while operating without WiFi, GPS, or mobile GSM coverage.
Is Loc8tor a public or private company?
Loc8tor is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Loc8tor founded?
Loc8tor was founded in 2006. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Loc8tor based?
Loc8tor is headquartered in Borehamwood, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Loc8tor make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Device Sales.
Who are Loc8tor's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tractive, Kippy, Jiobit and Pawfit. Broad incumbents are Whistle (Mars Petcare), Garmin (Alpha / Astro / TT series), Apple AirTag, Tile and Samsung Galaxy SmartTag2. PetPace is listed as an emerging player.
Does Loc8tor have an API?
No public API is recorded for Loc8tor.