AI Technology Helps Pet Owners Monitor Feline Health

Pet Owner Turns to AI for Cat’s Wellbeing

Mayumi Kitakata, 57, is concerned about the health of her aging cat, Chi. To ensure Chi’s well-being and longevity, she has turned to artificial intelligence. Kitakata is one of the early users of CatsMe!, an AI-driven smartphone application that helps detect when a cat is in pain, reducing unnecessary trips to the veterinarian.

Importance of AI in Pet Care

“Chi is at an age where more diseases are likely to appear,” Kitakata explained. The app allows her to consult with the vet while minimizing stressful hospital visits for Chi, who is around 14 years old.

In Japan, where the population is aging and the birth rate is declining, pets play a significant role in families. According to the Japan Pet Food Association, there were nearly 16 million pet cats and dogs last year, surpassing the number of children under 15.

Development and Accuracy of CatsMe!

CatsMe! was developed by the tech startup Carelogy and researchers at Nihon University. The app was trained on 6,000 images of cats and has been used by over 230,000 customers since its launch. The developers claim it is more than 95% accurate and expect its accuracy to improve as more feline faces are analyzed.

Expert Insights on AI for Pet Health

Nihon University professor Kazuya Edamura highlighted that while veterinarians can often detect if an animal is in pain, it’s more challenging for pet owners. “Our statistics show that more than 70% of elderly cats have arthritis or pain, but only 2% of them actually go to a hospital,” Edamura said. The app serves as a tool to help owners determine if their pet’s condition is normal.

Kitakata’s Experience with CatsMe!

Living in a Tokyo apartment with a perfect napping spot for Chi, Kitakata monitors his daily activities and uses the app to check his well-being. Her experience with previous pets, like Soran, who died of cancer at eight years old, underscores the importance of early detection. “If I had noticed it, maybe we could have done cancer treatment earlier,” she said, reflecting on Soran’s passing with tears in her eyes.