MeowMate
AI-powered cat health monitoring. Track behavior, eating, and activity for personalized insights and proactive care.
Role
UI/UX Designer
Industry
Pet Tech
Duration
15 weeks
Brief
MeowMate is an innovative app that uses AI to help you proactively manage your cat's health. By analyzing their behavior, eating habits, and activity, MeowMate provides personalized insights to help you detect potential health problems early, reducing the need for costly treatments and fostering a deeper bond with your cat.Initial Problem Discovery
What problem am I trying to solve?
How can I help cat owners detect potential health issues in their cats?Whose problem i am solving?
Cat health protection not only concerns owners and veterinarians but also directly enhances the cat's quality of life.Why does this matter ?
Effective health management tools can reduce veterinary costs and improve pet health.
Background
The widespread adoption of cat-related electronic products not only reflects modern pet owners' emphasis on the quality of life and health of their cats but also highlights the continuous advancements in technology within the pet care industry. These devices enable owners to better understand and care for their cats, ensuring they lead healthier and happier lives
Pet monitor
Automatic cat feeder
Research & Explanation
UX RESEARCH METHOD 01: SECONDARY RESEARCH
I investigated the existing pet health products and services on the market, conducting an analysis of their features and user reviews.
70%
of U.S. households own at least one pet, and of those, 43% own cats.
$ 147 billion
was spent by U.S. households on pets in 2023, covering a diverse expense
26.19%
of total pet spending was allocated to veterinary care and related product sales.
People are currently addressing pet health concerns through a variety of methods:
Veterinary Visits
Routine check-ups are the most common approach for identifying and addressing health issues
Social consults
This approach taps into community knowledge to provide insights into pet health and other issues
pet wellness tech
Certain pet health apps and wearable trackers are now available, allowing owners to track cat daily life
To conduct this case study, I analyzed how other pet health applications address relevant issues :
PetPace
The Smart Dog Collar tracks health metrics and provides GPS for early disease detection
T1sPro
The T1sPro Dog Training Collar is a waterproof, remote-controlled collar with customizable modes and a 2600ft range.
iHealth
iHealth Neo Wireless Blood Pressure Monitor, Upper Arm Cuff, Bluetooth Blood Pressure Machine
UX RESEARCH METHOD 02: PRIMARY RESEARCH : USER SUVEYS
To better understand the needs and pain points of cat owners, and to help design pet products and services that meet user requirements, I distributed a survey and received 46 valid responses.
74%
of cat owners report their biggest worry is missing signs of illness in their cat
40%
of cat owners struggle to recognize stress, illness, or discomfort in their cats
53%
of pet owners report feeling anxious about emergency veterinary costs
28%
of people skip or delay vet check-ups due to time or cost
What's the public sentiment about utilizing AI for tracking feline health?
76%
of people expressed interest in technology solutions that help monitor their pets' health
42%
of people are willing to pay for a service if it can effectively monitor their cat's health issues.
Q : Do you regularly take your cat for health check-ups?
Q :Are you concerned about your cat's behavioral issues (e.g., anxiety, aggression)?
To gain a more empathetic perspective, I created an empathy map.
What cat owners value most is the ability to ensure their cats' health and provide a rapid response in emergencies.
PERSONA
Using a representative user persona, I analyzed the needs and behaviors of the average MeowMate user in this case study.
User Research Summary
What did I take away from my research?
Pet owners express anxiety about certain health problems in their cats
Pet owners express significant anxiety about certain health problems in their cats, particularly those that are chronic or life-threatening.
Early detection improves treatment outcomes and reduces costs.
For specific diseases, such as cancer, kidney disease, early detection is particularly important, as early intervention can significantly improve survival rates.
AI is a promising tool for future pet health diagnostics
Artificial intelligence has the potential to become a crucial tool for future pet health diagnostics, particularly in the early detection of diseases.
Hypothesis Statement
If cat owners have access to an affordable, AI-driven health monitoring app that alerts them to early signs of illness, then they will be more likely to catch health issues early, reducing emergency vet visits and associated costs.
Design Solution
How might we help cat owners proactively manage their pet's health with early detection and easy monitoring?
Problem/Opportunity Spaces
How am I going to address the problem spaces in my designs?
Problem space #1: Many cats dislike wearing collars, making it difficult to monitor their health status.
I used devices cats are already familiar with, like water dispensers and automatic litter boxes, to collect health data seamlessly without disrupting their routine.
Task Flow 1: Set up automatic feeding for their cats
Usability Testing
BEFORE
AFTER
Feedback
The feeding information provided on the page regarding cats is too limited, the working records of the automatic feeder are unclear, and the operation of the feeder requires opening another page, making it somewhat cumbersome.
My revisions
I improved the system by displaying the feeder’s data intuitively next to the feeding interface, along with a reminder of the remaining food stock. I also repositioned the feeder-related operations to a more prominent location, making it easier for users to adjust the food supply based on their cat’s needs. Additionally, I added clear status labels to the feeder’s work records, allowing pet owners to track its performance more easily.
Final design
Why did I design it this way？
From the feline's perspective
Using familiar devices for health monitoring reduces anxiety and maintains comfort.
From the pet owner's perspective
Integrating health tracking into existing devices makes it easy for owners to track their cat's health.
From a product perspective
The product can expand to other pet care devices, driving market growth and brand visibility.
Problem space #2: Cats' high pain tolerance makes it hard for owners to notice illness, often resulting in missed treatment opportunities.
Use AI to detect early signs of illness in cats by analyzing health data, allowing owners to act before problems become serious.
Task Flow 2: AI-generated pet health report
Usability Testing
BEFORE
AFTER
Feedback
The tester expressed confusion about the surrounding frame of the cat, using descriptive words and values. The provided test results were not intuitive, with excessive text that caused the tester to feel overwhelmed by cognitive load.
My revisions
Attract users' attention through visual design, and present an intuitive health check score to inform users of their pet's health status, along with a summarized test result.
Final design
Problem space #3: Users often struggle to interpret their cat’s daily behavioral data and understand its significance
Task Flow 3: Assign shared tasks related to the child
Usability Testing
BEFORE
AFTER
Feedback
The cat's health analysis is very detailed, but the pure text format causes most testers to lose patience quickly.
My revisions
To improve user experience, I've redesigned the cat health data presentation. Each cat's daily health metrics are now visualized using a combination of unique graphics and color schemes. This intuitive design allows users to quickly and efficiently review individual cat health indices.
Final design
Style guide
UI components
Prototype
Reflections
This was my first ever long-term UX design endeavor, and I found so much fulfillment in being able to do my own primary research, as well as conduct secondary research to further develop my application.
Other projects
Copyright 2024 by Giselle Zhang