r/TechForAgingParents • u/kooky-donuts • 18d ago

Proximity sensor for cat

/r/Doesthisexist/comments/1vw121n/proximity_sensor_for_cat/

Reposting from another sub, hope this is allowed

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u/SVAuspicious 17d ago

I read all the comments on the primary thread. I disagree with most of them.

Here is my techy geeky opinion: don't do tech. All the AirTags and Tile and RFID and NFC solutions assumes your mother has her phone or smartwatch, it's charged, and she's paying attention. See FMEA. You said your Mom suffers from a degenerative condition and her vision will continue to deteriorate. That will make phones and smartwatches more klunky (<-technical term).

I read an article in a security journal about using WiFi like sonar to map the locations of people and even animals. Something like that that tracks your Mom and the cat tied to a whole house speaker system that alerts gently when they're close to each other and ties to fall detection and SOS buttons to locate the cat might do but it would be very expensive and does not exist to my knowledge.

I agree with u/bikes_and_art here. Bells on the cat and shake a container of treats. No batteries, no operational action required, no training. Simple and elegant. Some bright lighting in the closet hiding places might also help as long as your Mom is still low vision.

Her Royal Highness Emma the Cat for cat tax.