From penguins to housecats: How this founder created Japan's leading cat-tracking startup

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Welcome back, readers!

If you’re a cat parent as well, do you wonder what your feline does all day? (Aside from planning world domination.)

This week we talk to RABO, the Tokyo-based cat-tech startup that’s turned invisible feline habits into visible health insights. So far, the startup raised approximately JPY3 billion (about US$20 million) from investors.

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• Founded in 2018 by Yukiko Iyo, RABO has built what’s likely the world’s largest behavioural dataset for cats, now informing features like its proprietary “stress score” and customised health suggestions.

• RABO’s signature smart collar, the Catlog, and its companion litter-monitoring mat quietly track behaviour, sleep, eating, grooming, weight, and even stress patterns using AI, and translate the data into meaningful alerts for caregivers.

We spoke to RABO to learn how a biologging-inspired vision became a cat care platform, and what’s next for them.

What inspired you to create Catlog?

In graduate school, I conducted research called “biologging,” attaching small sensors to penguins and seabirds to visualise the “invisible time” of living organisms. After graduating, I shifted my research focus to humans and began working in the field of product/service development.

Later, while living with two cats, I realised that despite their importance as family members, it was difficult to notice changes in their health, and I rarely took them to the vet. I want to visualise the “invisible time” of cats. Drawing on my previous experience, I believed this could be a solution to the problem and launched the Catlog business.

Why focus specifically on cat health, rather than dogs or broader pet tech?

While both cats and dogs have lived with humans for a long time, they differ significantly in both biology and behaviour. We also believed that owners' insights differ, so we decided to approach each species separately rather than treating them as a broad “pet” category.

We thought this would allow us to better capture the essential needs of users as a product. We believe that specialising in cats first, even if it seems like a detour, is actually the most effective approach.

What have been the biggest challenges in building Catlog?

The biggest challenge was creating the market while also developing the product. Catlog is a complex product that integrates hardware, software, and AI. Developing all of these simultaneously was challenging, but very rewarding.

Do you use external validation, such as vet diagnoses, to improve the algorithm’s accuracy?

Yes. We work to improve the accuracy of our algorithms not only through user feedback, but also through collaboration with veterinarians and research institutions.

How are you planning to evolve the Catlog ecosystem? Do you plan to roll out additional features?

We are actively working on enhancing the app's features. Recently, we released a “stress score” feature. As the company with probably the world's largest database of cat behavior, we will continue to accelerate our efforts to provide Meow-sonalised services tailored to each cat.

How much investor funding has RABO raised to date to develop Catlog? Is there strong investor interest in cat-specific tech?

RABO has raised approximately JPY3 billion (US$20 million), the largest amount among domestic (Japan) pet tech startups. Investor interest is also very high, with the product's quality, strong customer engagement, multiple monetisation points, and global expansion potential being highly evaluated.

What is your growth strategy? Which markets are you targeting, and what kind of partnerships are you pursuing to expand?

We will continue to expand overseas. In addition, we have started developing products for dogs by leveraging our existing knowledge. We are also advancing new business initiatives by leveraging Catlog's vast cat data and high customer engagement to create a unique UI/UX that only we can provide.

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