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

10 Soggy Tips On How To Wash Your Dog

We''ve put together some soggy tips you can use to wash your dog the right way. Read on to find out our 10 soggy tips on how to wash your dog.
Best Dog Crate Furniture for Stylish Pawrents

Dog crate furniture gives your pet a safe space of their own while doubling as part of the decor in your living room- the best of both worlds.
Best Plush Dog Toys

Plush dog toys are a favorite of many pooches- they can be fetched, cuddled with, or used to engage your pet''s innate hunting drive.
10 Essential Tips For Camping With Your Dog

Camping is a budget-friendly activity that lets you get back to nature. And you know who really loves nature? Your dog! Camping aficionado Vanessa Chiasson,…
Well Balanced Pet Mineral Analysis Test Kit Review

I find out if Oscar is getting the vitamins and minerals he needs to live a long, healthy life As a concerned pet parent, I want the best for Oscar, especial…
Crate Alternatives for Dogs Who Hate the Crate

If you have a dog, you probably have a crate. But what do you do when your dog hates the crate? Here are a few alternatives.
Puppy Bumpers Stop Dogs From Slipping Through Fences and Gates

Got a small dog and a fence? No more great escapes - Puppy Bumpers are perfect for small dogs that can squeeze through fence posts
Thai Cat

The Thai Cat is intelligent, clever, and talkative, often telling their owners how they feel. This cat breed can be quite demanding for your attention.
Yellow Faced Parrotlet

With a great variety of affectionate, kind traits and equally quirky and goofy behavior, the Yellow Faced parrotlet can be a really great pet.
Dog Brushes: Which One is Best for Your Dog’s Coat?

Whether it''s every day or once a week, grooming is an important part of your dog''s well-being. And you''ll need a brush that''s made especially with your dog''s coat in mind.
Upside Down Dog Of The Week – Eddie

Say hello to Eddie, our Upside Down Dog of the Week from Upsidedowndogs.com. Eddie is a 10-month old male Beagle from Yorkshire. Here’s what his owner…
Bernese Mountain Dog

When you think of a dog with a classic, tri-colored coat appearance, there''s a good chance you''ve met a the Bernese Mountain Dog.
DIY Octopus Tug Toy for Dogs

You don''t need any fancy supplies or special skills to make it, and it will cost you literally nothing if you decide to use materials you already have!
Weimapeake

The Weimapeake is a cross between a purebred Chesapeake Bay Retriever and Weimaraner. They make fantastic family pets and prefer being around people.
How to Properly Fit Your Dog for a Harness

There are many reasons why pet parents choose a harness over a collar. If you''re going with a harness, here''s how to make sure it fits your dog perfectly.