Against the backdrop of the rapid development of artificial intelligence technology today, an app called CatsMe! is revolutionizing the way we understand and care for pet cats. The application, jointly developed by Carelogy and Japanese University researchers, uses advanced AI technology to analyze cats' subtle facial expressions to detect whether they are in pain, with an accuracy of more than 95%.
Cats are born with a hidden pain instinct, a characteristic they develop during their evolution to avoid being discovered by predators. Experts at the Drake Veterinary Care Center point out that this behavior makes it often difficult for pet owners to detect cat discomfort. "Many pet owners don't know that their cats are suffering. This AI tool is able to capture these subtle changes, which is very unique," said Kazuya Edamura, chairman of the Animal Pain Research Group.
Users only need to upload a cat's facial photo, and the CatsMe! app can analyze and judge the pain level in just 10 seconds, and divide the results into "painless, mild or severe pain". In addition, the app also provides a calendar feature where users can record the time of face scans and view cats' pain trends over two weeks.
Since its launch, CatsMe! has been downloaded by more than 200,000 users in 50 countries around the world. Recently, Carelogy has also opened up more advanced features, allowing free users to save records of multiple cats or analyze multiple photos at the same time. Users can share the app's results with their veterinarians or family members and interact with built-in AI chatbots to further understand the pet's emotional state.
Kenji Teshima, head of the Acute Pain Working Group of the Animal Pain Research Association, commented: "This cat pain detection AI is the first AI in the world to detect signs of pain through cat facial photos. We hope it will not only help identify cats. Pain can also support treatment.”
Carelogy said they hope to make health care for all biologicals more popular through the CatsMe! application. This innovation not only improves pet owners' awareness of cat health status, but also provides veterinarians with new diagnostic aids, which is expected to significantly improve cats' quality of life.