Obsessed with Street Cats? There's an App for That
The Californer/10330171

SAN DIEGO - Californer -- For anyone who's ever paused to snap a photo of a cat lounging on a sidewalk, sunbathing on a porch, or peeking through the bushes, there's finally an app that makes your cat obsession count. Whisker Tracker, a free mobile app for iOS and Android, turns everyday cat sightings into real data that helps outdoor cats and the rescuers who care for them.

Whether it's the tuxedo that strolls your block nightly or a mystery tabby spotted on vacation, Whisker Tracker lets users catalog cats with photos, locations, and notes. Each sighting adds to a growing database of community cats that animal welfare groups can use to monitor populations, plan spay/neuter programs, and identify sick or at-risk cats before it's too late.

"Whisker Tracker takes something joyful like spotting cats, and turns it into a way to help them," said Justin Ruffier, Founder of Whisker Tracker. "It gives cat lovers a fun and easy way to make a difference, simply by taking pictures of cats."

Each cat profile allows users to log friendly or feral behavior, body condition, and unique markings. Over time, those simple snapshots reveal trends that rescue groups can use to guide outreach and medical care, or secure funding for community cat programs. Specific locations remain private for safety, but users can see nearby cats and connect with other spotters.

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"My neighbors and I have tracked over 75 cats in our small neighborhood," Ruffier added. "It's been eye-opening to see how many are out there living all around us."

Built by cat people for cat people, Whisker Tracker was designed to be playful and pressure-free—no trapping or chasing cats required. Just take pictures and add them to your personal "cat-alog."

The app uses cat facial recognition so users can check if someone else has spotted the same cat. "By combining sightings, we can start to get an accurate count of cats in an area," said Ruffier. "Plus, it's a lot of fun when others comment on your kitties."

Gamified features award points for spotting cats and leaving comments, with new updates coming soon, like badges, leaderboards, and enhanced recognition tools to help reunite lost pets with their families.

From cat cafés to viral cat-spotting tours, feline fandom is thriving. Whisker Tracker channels that passion for good, connecting cat lovers with a mission that helps community cats thrive outdoors.

Whisker Tracker is free and available now on iOS and Android. Join the growing community at https://whiskertrackerapp.com/ or follow @whiskertrackerapp on social media.