How Cats Hacked My Dog-Loving Heart

My adventure in tech-driven empathy

Oct 25, 2023

This is my third essay from Write of Passage, an incredible writing community and cohort course that has you digging into the depths of your soul to write the stories only you can tell.

My dog Sadie and I camped our way to Vancouver when we moved there from Calgary. I couldn’t bear the thought of her on a plane.

From birth, I was hardwired to love dogs. Seeing one is like unexpectedly spotting a childhood best friend.

Initially, I wasn’t much of a cat person, often finding them aloof with a distinct ‘look but don’t touch’ vibe about them. However, everything changed when I was tasked with developing and launching technology that used machine learning to predict pain in cats.

This technology worked by analyzing photos of cats, detecting subtle changes in their facial expressions and posture.

While my aim was to decode the mysteries of cats, I hadn't predicted this journey would also chart a path straight to my dog-loving heart. Being unfamiliar with the feline world, I needed to figure out how to infiltrate cat communities and observe cat owners in their natural habitat.

A delightful anthropomorphic exchange between fanatical cat owners about one of our campaigns

Through platforms like Facebook, Reddit, Instagram, and Twitter, the technology became my lens, revealing heartfelt stories and emotions previously hidden from me. As I observed conversations on Twitter, in particular, I learned just how deeply cat owners grapple with end-of-life decisions.

For many, cats aren’t just four-legged occupants; they claim a room in our hearts. You don’t want them to suffer, and letting go is heart-wrenching. Complicating matters further, cats, being both predator and prey in nature, are experts at masking their pain making it incredibly challenging to tell if they are suffering.

Being both predator and prey, cats are experts at masking their pain

With medication and procedures to delay the dying process, there’s no longer a clear definition of quality of life. By regularly analyzing photos with AI, a cat owner can gauge their pet’s well-being. They get peace of mind. Especially when faced with that inevitable heartbreaking decision to let go. Having an 11 year old dog myself, I can imagine how agonizing this decision would be. I often ask her to promise me she’ll live to be 40 in human years. The thought of life without her is unimaginable.

I wouldn’t have learned as much about cats or as deeply about their relationship with humans if it weren’t for interacting with feline devotees from across the pet industry and around the world.

Photo by Miche Priest — Wired UK magazine May/June 2021 | A Reuters piece went viral globally, landing over 70K users in 2 weeks!

We were having a profound impact on the quality of cats’ lives. One story in particular, stands out. Linda Hall, co-host of the 19 Cats And Counting podcast noticed that Kizmet, a cat so small he seemed eternally kitten-sized, received a 'not happy' result from our technology. She shrugged thinking she could try again later. That evening as she was getting ready for bed, Kismet came up to her, purring and nuzzling.

"Purring usually means a cat is content," I mused to myself.

But Linda, having tested our technology on her 11 cats, felt a nagging doubt. Even though Kizmet seemed content, the technology indicated otherwise. And she trusted it. Her husband suggested waiting until the roads cleared from a recent snowstorm before seeking medical help, but Linda's instincts told her to act swiftly. Much to my surprise, she rushed Kizmet to the vet.

There, her concerns were validated. The vet found Kizmet had an abnormal basophils count, low hemoglobin, fluid in his lungs, and was severely dehydrated. "I would never have known," Linda confided to me on a video call. My heart swelled when I heard Kizmet was going to be okay, unearthing a deeper well of empathy within me. Moved by this experience, I became even more committed to my work.

My heart swelled when I heard Kizmet was going to be okay, unearthing a deeper well of empathy within me.

I had the opportunity to immerse myself further when I spent the day at a cats-only animal hospital. These precious kitties would sometimes come in afraid and crying, occasionally growling and hissing. As the compassionate staff spoke soothingly and approached them with gentle care, their initial distress eased, giving way to a palpable sense of trust and calm. While they were under anesthesia for surgery the vet would speak lovingly to them, taking the time to make precise incisions avoiding unnecessary discomfort in recovery. It was touching to witness.

The best cuddles between cat and human came when they aroused from being under. They would wake up confused. The vet or vet tech would come, and the little one would surrender in their arms feeling safe and not alone. After spending time snuggling with cats recovering from surgery and working with warm hearted cat owners and pet industry professionals on this app, I realized even though cats hide their pain, they have deep feelings. It's easy to tell when they're annoyed, for sure. But they also experience fear, happiness, and I truly believe, love.

Bella the Cat showing me some love | Sadie loves cats too

What started as a techy task, turned into a ‘tail’ of discovery to truly understand and connect with these aloof, loveable furballs. I not only discovered the intricacies of cat behaviour but also the profound bond between cats and their owners. Our technology was more than just an app; it gave a voice to the voiceless.

I’m not sure how they ended up getting me, a loyal dog person, wrapped around their tiny little toe beans, but they did. Each feline encounter now brings a new sense of wonder and connection. I still love dogs as much as ever, but cats have definitely pawed their way into my heart.