A new app uses AI to detect signs of pain in cats by analyzing subtle facial cues that cats usually conceal.
CatsMe!, developed by Carelogy and researchers from Nihon University in Japan, uses an AI trained on a vast dataset of expert-labeled cat facial images to recognize telltale signs of feline discomfort.
The app has an accuracy rating of more than 95% and has been downloaded by more than 200,000 users in 50 countries.
Cats often conceal signs of pain. According to the Drake Center for Veterinary Care, cats mask their discomfort as part of their instincts to avoid attracting attention from predators.
For example, the cat on the right is showing signs of pain in its facial expression. However, according to Carelogy, only an expert would be able to tell.
Credit: Carelogy
“It is difficult to tell the signs of pain in cats and in many cases people do not realize that their cats are in pain,” said Kazuya Edamura, chair of the Animal Pain Research Group. “This tool is a very unique app that uses AI to detect these subtle changes. Cats are not good at complaining about pain on their own.”
CatsMe! is designed to help pet owners understand how their cat is feeling, in case they need to take it to the vet. Users can upload a photo of their pet’s face and the app will determine the level of pain expression, categorizing it as “none, mild, or severe” in just 10 seconds.
Credit: Carelogy
Carelogy recently opened up access to the app, providing free users access to features previously reserved for premium members, such as the ability to keep records for multiple cats or analyze multiple photos at once.
The app’s calendar feature keeps track of when facial scans occur and provides insights into trends showing how their cats are feeling over two weeks.
Users can then share the app’s results with a vet or loved one. They can also interact with the app’s AI chatbot to gain insights into their pet’s emotional state.
The company behind the app says it wants to democratize health care for all living things.
“This cat pain detection AI is the world’s first AI that can detect signs of pain from photos of a cat’s face,” said Kenji Teshima, the Animal Pain Research Society’s acute pain working group lead. “We hope that it will help to recognize pain in cats and even to treat their pain.”