
Video screenshot via Meow.Camera
For cat lovers across the globe, Meow.Camera may the purr-fect way to connect with strays through the power of technology. This curious project has quickly clawed its way out of China, where it started, into the hearts of internet users by inviting them to watch and interact with feline friends via live webcams strategically placed in specially designed shelters known as ‘Hello Street Cat Intelligent Stray Cat Management Houses’.

Video screenshot via Meow.Camera
Each shelter is equipped with three high-definition cameras that provide a panoramic view of the furry guests. The cameras also integrate facial recognition technology to create unique profiles for each visiting cat, allowing followers to monitor specific feline’s habits and health over time. Regular viewers might recognize fan favorites like Mr Snack, Ms Sleep, and GUCCI, whose names are affectionately bestowed by the online community.

Video screenshot via Meow.Camera
Adding an element of interaction, Meow.Camera is paired with the Hello Street Cat / JieMao app, through which viewers can actually contribute to the care of these strays. The app enables users to donate funds, which then can be used to dispense food directly into the feeding boxes, ensuring the cats are well-fed and viewers are rewarded with their charges’ contented munching.

Video screenshot via Meow.Camera

Video screenshot via Meow.Camera
While Meow.Camera offers a heartwarming glimpse into the lives of street cats, it’s not the only online project using webcams for animal welfare. In the Netherlands, a unique initiative called the Fish Doorbell utilizes an underwater webcam to monitor fish migration through a canal lock system. Viewers can watch the live stream and virtually “ring” a bell to alert officials when a school of fish gathers, prompting them to open the lock and allow finned visitors to continue their journey.
[via PetaPixel and Boing Boing, video screenshots via Meow.Camera]