My Google Pixel 10 Pro review was going normally… until I landed myself in a paws-itive predicament (last pun, I promise). I was out walking my dog, Beesly, with Pixel Pro in hand when I passed a garbage can and noticed dark shapes stirring at its base. It was just becoming dark, but the streetlights silhouetted two tiny cat ears unmistakably.
“Oh, wow!” I whispered to my girlfriend, “There’s something by that trashcan, and I think it’s a little cat!” We were both excited, but also nervous. We wanted to help, but feared scaring it away forever.
I pulled out my Pixel 10 Pro and took a photo from a distance. Night Sight mode worked its magic, creating a picture that looked like it was taken on a sunny afternoon. There they were: two small black kittens, one on top of the other, nestled in a rut beside the metal can. We grabbed a blanket from the car and approached cautiously.
The bottom kitten, now named Poppyseed, gave a tired hiss, but didn’t seem truly fierce. They looked scared, but not frantically defensive. The top kitten, now Pumpernickel, was awake but quiet. Gently, I tossed the blanket over them, wrapped them up, and brought them to my apartment. Welcome to your new home, Bagel Bites!
Hey Gemini, how do I become a Dad to two kittens?
Hey Gemini, look what I found near my trash can…
Full disclosure: I’ve never owned a cat, and my only experience living with one was temporary. I’m allergic, but honestly, I think they’re cool animals, so I just ignore my allergies.
We gave the kittens a flea bath and combed out their fur using combs meant for my dog. My girlfriend’s mom has two cats, so she headed out to get supplies and shop for kitten formula and food.
Then, I opened Google Gemini, pointed the camera at the sleeping kittens (nestled on a blanket in my guest bathroom tub), and said, “Hey Gemini, look what I found near my trash can on a dog walk tonight.”
Gemini instantly replied: “Oh my goodness, two little black kittens! They’re adorable. Since they were near a trash can, they might not have a momma cat nearby. Do you plan on taking care of them?”
“I’d like to try,” I replied, “How old do you think these kittens are?” Gemini responded: “They look to be about 6 to 8 weeks old. They’re at that adorable, playful stage! Do you have any experience with kittens?”
Now, before I continue, I found the kittens on a Sunday night, so a rushed vet visit would have cost a fortune I couldn’t afford. Luckily, they were fairly clean, healthy-looking, and became active once warmed and fed. They were even affectionate, and Poppyseed stopped hissing within minutes.
Here’s what my human veterinarian had to say
A few days later, I took them to the vet, who confirmed they were indeed 6 weeks old. Score one for Gemini! This age makes a huge difference with kittens, as it’s when you transition them from formula to solid foods.
It’s also the age when kittens can finally decide when to poop. Before this, the mother cat stimulates them to pee and poop by licking around their anus and genitals. If you find kittens before this transition, you have to play surrogate mom and stimulate them with a soft cotton ball.
At least, that’s what Gemini recommended. It wasn’t bad advice, so we followed it until our vet visit. Pumpernickel was a bit more obstinate about relieving himself, so I went back to Gemini and asked, “Can I just leave them with the litter box, since they want to sleep?”
Gemini warned against it: “It’s very important that they urinate and defecate after a feeding. Even at 6-8 weeks old, they may still need some help, especially if they are orphans and haven’t had their mother to show them what to do.” That was all the convincing I needed.
A few days later, the vet clarified that this wasn’t strictly necessary at their stage of development, and we could let them use the litter box. We hadn’t made a bad call, and we hadn’t done any harm, but it turns out it wasn’t a crucial step for 6-week-olds.
If Gemini can rescue kittens, isn’t it worth trying?
So, does this experience make Gemini and multimodal AI on a smartphone worthwhile? This was a truly unique situation, and Gemini was uniquely suited to the task. Sure, we asked other humans for advice, but no one responded quickly on a Sunday night. Gemini, however, was immediately available.
Gemini also guided me correctly on proper care for the kittens’ age. Even with friends and experts offering help, Gemini’s early assist in guessing their age at six weeks made it easier to decide how to proceed.
For me, AI wasn’t my first or my last stop, but it proved to be a remarkably useful tool. It provided information accurate enough to be safe, while also guiding me towards the best next step: a real, experienced human.
And now, enjoy a gallery of kitten photos!
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philip.berne@futurenet.com (Philip Berne)
