Feline lucky?
- Florida-based PawsLikeMe already has a dog/owner matchmaking service
- Raising funds on Indiegogo to roll out a version for homeless felines
- Site uses a questionnaire and algorithm to match cats to owners
If
you have always wanted a cat, but can't choose between a plump and lazy
tabby or a playful and slinky Siamese, a new online service could help. Experts have come up with an algorithm to match cats looking for a home with would-be doting owners, based on their personality. PawsLikeMe
has been likened to eHarmony and hopes to make people's choices 'more
than fur deep' so less cats will need re-homing again.
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Experts have come up with an algorithm
to match cats looking for a home (example question shown above), with
would-be doting owners, based on their personality
The
Orlando Florida-based initiative built an algorithm to match dogs with
new owners last year and since then, two million people in the US have
used the 'first ever human-to-pet matching algorithm' to find a furry
friend. It claims to be 90 per cent accurate in predicting people-to-pet compatibility. Now it's raising money on Indiegogo to collect enough funds to roll out a version for cats.
'Like
any successful relationship, compatibility plays a crucial role in
forming long-lasting bonds between pets and people,' the organisation's
website says. PawsLikeMe embraces the importance of recognising the individuality of all species with which we cohabitate.'
The Orlando Florida-based initiative
built an algorithm to match dogs with new owners last year and since
then, two million people in the US have used the 'first ever
human-to-pet matching algorithm' to find a furry friend. Now they are
raising money on Inidegogo to launch a version for cats (promotional
picture shown above)
To find the perfect pet, adopters will
fill out a three-minute personality quiz, enter their zip code after
which their results will be compared with personality profiles of cats
that are available for adoption in the area (shown)
'So
what appears simple on the surface, is actually a carefully designed
system that incorporates 30 years of combined experience,' PawsLikeMe
said.
PawsLikeMe's
personality assessment is based on four core personality traits that
influence the bond between human and animal: energy, focus, confidence
and independence. The matching system also takes into account personality, lifestyle and home environment when generating a score.
The original algorithm was developed
by animal behaviour expert Coleen Johnston and licensed clinical social
worker Marianna Benko. A promotional picture for a feline service is
shown above
Initial
results are based solely on compatibility, but users can then further
narrow down their compatible matches by personal preferences.
Elizabeth Holmes, CEO and co-founder of PawsLikeMe said: '70 per cent of pets are re-homed at least once in their lifetime.'
'Our
genuine hope is that by providing a better way of matching pets with
their new families, we can change that and find them not just a home,
but the right home.'
In
addition to matching, cats will also become eligible a our re-homing
programme that offers pet owners who can no longer keep their pets, a
free pet posting and marketing service as an alternative to shelter
surrender.
PawsLikeMe said the programme empowers owners to responsibly find their pet a new home that will be long-lasting.
PawsLikeMe's personality assessment
(promotiopnal image shown) is based on four core personality traits that
influence the bond between human and animal: energy, focus, confidence
and independence
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