Catlog, a research institute based in Tokyo's Shibuya Ward, is using wearable devices to gather and analyze data on feline behavior. The institute aims to improve pet care by utilizing insights gained from continuous monitoring, which includes findings such as an increase in average sleeping time as cats age and their tendency to sleep longer during winter.
Read More
As part of their work, Catlog released a report coinciding with "Cat Day" on February 22, stating, "By studying the ecology and habits of cats, we hope that we can detect abnormalities and symptoms early on, which is essential for the healthy life of felines."
The institute was founded by Yukiko Iyo, a 41-year-old cat enthusiast who studied bio-logging at Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Graduate School. Iyo established operator Rabo Inc. on Cat Day in 2018 and later launched the "Catlog" device in 2019 to record various feline behaviors, including walking, running, eating, and sleeping, data that is shared with pet owners via a smartphone app.
Additionally, the "Catlog Board," designed to monitor cats' excretion patterns, was introduced in August 2021. To date, approximately 3.8 billion data points have been collected and analyzed.
In January, Catlog participated in the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, receiving interest from technology companies. Iyo expressed pride in the uniqueness of their data collection, stating, "Each cat has its own personality, and it is challenging to assess nuances, like their posture when drinking water. We are the only ones in the world to identify and collect this much data, which makes even researchers envious."
The Catlog research institute was established in November 2021 to make use of the extensive data gathered by Rabo Inc. The first report released through the institute, supervised by veterinarian Atsushi Ogawa, highlighted that as cats age, their average sleeping time increases, a trend that inversely correlates with daylight hours in winter. This behavior suggests that domestic cats may have adapted their sleeping patterns in response to human lifestyles.
Ogawa noted the importance of having robust data on animal behavior for veterinary care, allowing for the academic verification of health issues previously considered mere hypotheses. Iyo emphasized the need for cat owners to recognize signs of health changes in their pets, as there are fewer opportunities to compare care practices among different cat owners.
To celebrate the Year of the Tiger in 2022, Iyo released a "Felidae map" on the company's website, showcasing locations connected to felines across Japan, including Gotokuji temple, famous for the "maneki-neko" beckoning cats, and various zoos. Iyo expressed aspirations to extend their research to other members of the Felidae family.
The institute is inviting public suggestions for future research topics and locations for the Felidae map, accessible through Catlog's official website.