Unlocking feline health: Adopting AI-driven activity insights as essential tools for modern feline care

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The veterinary industry is undergoing a significant transformation with the integration of AI technology, opening new possibilities for proactive, data-driven care. One of the most transformative innovations is AI-powered wearables designed specifically for cats. These devices provide real-time health data, offering deeper insights into a cat’s well-being and enabling earlier detection and more informed decision-making in feline care. As the first of its kind, wearables like Moggie, which sends real-time health data updates to users’ phones,¹ help bridge the gap between veterinary professionals and cat caregivers, enhancing health outcomes and strengthening the human-animal bond.

The unique nature of cats: Masters of hiding discomfort

Cats are dual species—predators and prey—and their instincts drive them to hide signs of pain or distress. This evolution helps them survive in the wild, but it makes detecting illness challenging for caregivers. Research shows that up to 80% of feline illnesses manifest as subtle behavioral changes before physical symptoms appear, such as decreased activity, changes in eating habits, or increased vocalization.^2,3 Unfortunately, many caregivers miss these early signs, leading to delayed diagnoses and missed opportunities for early intervention.

Furthermore, 33% of cats don't return to the veterinarian for follow-up care after their first visit,⁴ contributing to a lack of routine health monitoring. These challenges highlight the need for solutions that help increase feline medicalization.

The power of AI-driven wearables for early detection

AI technology is revolutionizing the way we monitor feline health. Wearables, such as Moggie, continuously track key behaviors—activity, sleep, eating habits, grooming, and litter box use—providing valuable real-time insights. With up to 6 million data points collected weekly, these devices empower caregivers to identify potential health issues before they become visible to the naked eye.

For example, reduced activity may signal joint pain or early osteoarthritis, changes in eating or drinking could indicate gastrointestinal problems or dental disease, and litter box behavior can highlight urinary tract infections or kidney issues. By detecting these subtle shifts in behavior, wearables enable caregivers to take early action, improving outcomes through proactive care.

Empowering caregivers with real-time data

Today’s cat caregivers are proactive, research-driven, cautious, and deeply invested in their cats' well-being and health journey. Wearables provide them with actionable data to better understand their cat’s health and empower them to partner effectively with their veterinary team. With the ability to track and respond to key behavioral insights, caregivers can have more informed and collaborative discussions with their veterinarians, enhancing care plans, diagnostics, and interventions.

By offering insights aligning with the veterinarian’s care plan, wearables give caregivers the confidence to take action and follow through on recommendations. The result is a stronger, more informed partnership between the veterinarian and the caregiver, ensuring better care for the cat.

Vet Med opportunities: A data-driven approach to care

AI-driven activity tracking is opening new opportunities for veterinarians to elevate the care they provide. With real-time insights, veterinarians can detect health issues earlier, leading to more efficient interventions that improve health outcomes and increase client compliance. This proactive approach not only improves the medicalization of cats but also helps build stronger relationships between veterinarians and their clients.

Wearables enhance veterinarians' ability to make more informed decisions by providing a comprehensive set of behavioral metrics. This data-driven approach aids in streamlining diagnosis and treatment plans, ensuring that health strategies are aligned with the insights gathered from the cat’s behavior. By focusing on behavioral data, veterinarians can improve the overall quality of care and offer more precise, proactive interventions.

Shaping the future of feline health

As the future of veterinary care becomes more predictive and personalized, AI-driven wearables will continue to be integral to managing feline health. Moggie’s ability to collect and analyze behavioral data provides a level of precision never seen in veterinary medicine. Beyond identifying current health concerns, these technologies also have the potential to predict disease risks, offering a level of precision in feline healthcare that’s never been seen before. As wearables continue to shape the future of feline health, they empower veterinarians and caregivers to manage feline health more effectively, strengthening the partnership and ensuring better, data-driven outcomes for our feline patients.

Wearables like Moggie set a new standard in feline healthcare by providing real-time health data and insights. For a species historically unable to communicate its needs, these devices give cats a voice, allowing us to better understand their behavior and well-being. Powered by AI, they enable a proactive approach to disease management, improving early detection and intervention. This technology is transforming how we care for cats—emotionally and highly aware companions—helping ensure healthier, longer lives while strengthening the bond between veterinarians, caregivers, and their feline patients.

References

1. Your cat can’t tell you how it’s doing. Moggie can. Moggie. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.moggie.me/
2. Sordo L, Breheny C, Halls V, et al. Prevalence of disease and age-related behavioural changes in cats: Past and present. Veterinary Sciences. 2020;7(3):85. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci7030085
3. Camps T, Amat M, Manteca X. A review of medical conditions and behavioral problems in dogs and cats. Animals. 2019;9(12):1133. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9121133
4. CATalyst Report 2024. Catalyst Council. August 8, 2024.https://catalystcouncil.org/catalyst-council-releases-2024-catalyst-report/