Cat Bringing You Dead Animals as Gifts? Artificial Intelligence Will B

Published A Few Days Ago
ADVERTISEMENT

The use of artificial intelligence in the pet industry is slowly but surely gaining more ground: this AI-powered cat flap just proves it.

If you have a cat that’s free to go outdoors as he or she pleases, you’ve probably got a few gifts in return. And by gifts, I mean dead (or almost dead) critters your kitty has hunted down for you and oh so helpfully put right on your bed so you could find them once you wake up. It’s disturbing and disgusting, but hey- studies show that that means your cat considers you their family member, albeit an incompetent one. While the gory gift is a kind gesture in your cat’s eyes, it doesn’t mean you have to like it though.

Ben Hamm certainly didn’t like his cat, Metric, bringing his prey inside the house. That’s why he developed an AI-powered cat flap that blocked the thoughtful kitty whenever he tried to enter the house with a critter stuck between his jaws. He installed an Amazon Deeplink camera above the cat door and trained the artificial intelligence with pictures of his cats with and without dead animals in tow. The algorithm is based on 3 steps: checking if the cat is going in or out, checking to see if the cat is in the frame, and lastly, checking to see if there are any critters in his mouth. Hamm had to feed over 23,000 images to the AI for it to start detecting his pet trying to sneak in dead animals.

Once the artificial intelligence was able to discern his kitty ‘coming in for a snack vs coming in with a snack’, the rest was easy. He programmed the kitty flap to stay locked for 15 minutes once the gory gift was detected, send him a picture of the deed (just in case) and automatically donate a small sum to Audubon Society, a bird organization. (Metric seems to prefer bird prey.) In the case Metric was coming empty-mouthed, he could enter normally.

Needless to say, many cat pawrents would be thrilled about having this type of AI-powered pet door at their disposal, but this is still far from being a publicly available product. Until it hits the pet store shelves, though, my advice is just to have an indoors-only cat. The nastiest thing my indoors-only cats have gifted me with is hairball vomit- and I’d take vomit over a dead animal every time.

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

You May Like

Here’s To Your Health Dog Treat Recipe

We wanted to give you a recipe thats both nutritious and delicious. And we think our Heres To Your Health Dog Treat Recipe fits the bill on both accounts.
I Ruff You – Why Exercise Is A Gift Of Love To Your Dog

Show your dog that you love him by getting off the couch and giving him a great workout! Can you smell it? Love is in the air, especially so close to the mos…
Drever

The Drever is a talented hunting dog known for his keen nose and strong work ethic. Even though this dog is known for hunting, he''s amenable to family life.
Golden Akita

The loyal, protective Golden Akita brings the easy-going nature of the Golden Retriever together with the territorial traits of the Akita.
Amazing Therapy Dogs Help Diabetics Live Healthier, Happier Lives

Is there anything dogs can’t do? Non-profit organization Dogs4Diabetics is training therapy dogs to detect low blood sugar. More and more, we’re…
Hyacinth Macaw

Affectionately called the ""gentle giant,"" Hyacinth Macaw can live for 60 or more years and can become a lifelong friend for his owner.
Irish Setter

The Irish Setter is a noble, friendly dog that can make not only versatile athletes, but comfortable companions on a daily basis.
Double Doodle

The Double Doodle is a hybrid of three great breeds; the ever-popular Labrador retriever, Goldendoodle and the Labradoodle.
German Angora Rabbit

The German Angora Rabbit is a friendly, long-haired rabbit that makes a great family pet. Known for its long, very fine and woolen fur.
What Are the Dangers of Foxtails to Dogs?

This grass is picturesque, but running through a field of it could pose serious problems for your pooch. Here''s why foxtails can be a pain to your dog.
Cardigan Welsh Corgi

The Cardigan Welsh Corgi is a prime example of a dog that can be a good challenge for those who want to develop dog leadership skills.
Triggerfish

Triggerfish are a fish comprised of roughly 40 distinct species. They are characterized by their laterally compressed bodies and comparatively large heads.
California Spangled

California Spangled bred in order to produce a domestic pet that would resemble the appearance of wild cats, such as the leopard and the ocelot.
Moorish Idol

The Moorish idol is closely related to surgeonfish. These fish are characterized by their vertically compressed, disk-like bodies and bold colorations.
Jackshund

The Jackshund (Jackweenie) is a designer dog created by crossing the Jack Russell Terrier with a Dachshund. This is an energetic dog with a sweet nature.