Automatic feeders have long promised to keep multi-cat households peaceful, but most still rely on crude timers and guesswork. A new device built around facial recognition is trying to change that, using on-board AI to match each bowl of kibble to the right whiskered face with near-perfect precision. Instead of hoping the shy cat gets a turn, owners can now assign portions, schedules, and even health alerts to individual pets, all from a single machine.
At CES 2026 in LAS VEGAS, pet tech brand Cheerble introduced the Pet Feeder Match G1, a compact dispenser that uses Edge AI to recognize each animal that approaches and open only for that specific cat. The company is pitching it as a 99.9 percent accurate way to stop food stealing, protect prescription diets, and cut down on stress at mealtimes, especially in homes where one cat is on a strict plan while another is always hunting for seconds.
How a feeder learned to recognize faces
The core idea behind the Pet Feeder Match G1 is simple: instead of treating every pet the same, the device learns what each one looks like and responds only when it sees a match. Cheerble has built Edge AI visual recognition directly into the feeder, so the camera and processor inside the unit can identify an individual cat in real time without sending video to the cloud. That local processing is what allows the company to claim a 99.9 percent recognition rate while keeping response times fast enough that a hungry cat is not left waiting in front of a closed lid.
According to Cheerble, the system is designed to handle multiple pets by storing separate profiles and linking each one to a customized feeding plan. When a cat walks up, the feeder checks the live image against its on-board database and then either dispenses the correct portion or stays locked if that animal has already eaten. The company describes this as the first Edge-AI visual recognition pet feeder, a claim it is backing up with a launch in LAS VEGAS that highlights how the device can automate multi-pet feeding and reduce whisker fatigue through a carefully shaped bowl and controlled serving depth, details it outlines in its Edge AI announcement.
What “99.9%” accuracy really means for your cats
For a human owner, the difference between 95 percent and 99.9 percent accuracy might sound academic, but for a cat on a prescription diet, that gap can be the difference between stable health and a flare-up. When Cheerble talks about 99.9 percent recognition, it is effectively promising that out of 1,000 feeding attempts, only one will be misassigned. In a household where one cat is overweight and another is underweight, that level of precision can prevent the classic scenario where the dominant cat bullies its way into extra meals while the timid one loses out.
In practical terms, near-perfect recognition means the feeder can enforce strict rules without constant human supervision. If a cat with kidney disease is limited to a specific renal formula, the Pet Feeder Match G1 can be set to open only when that cat appears, blocking others from accessing the same bowl even if they try to sneak in from the side. Cheerble positions this as a way to accommodate customized meal plans for each pet, with the Edge AI system acting as a gatekeeper that checks identity before every serving, a capability it highlights when describing how the Pet Feeder Match G1 is designed to accommodate individualized feeding schedules and portion sizes for multiple animals in the same home.
Inside the Pet Feeder Match G1’s Edge AI brain
Unlike many smart home gadgets that lean heavily on remote servers, the Pet Feeder Match G1 runs its recognition models directly on the device. Edge AI in this context means the camera, processor, and software are all contained within the feeder, so the system can analyze each frame locally and respond in a fraction of a second. This approach reduces latency, keeps the feeder working even if the home Wi-Fi drops, and limits the amount of pet imagery that ever leaves the kitchen or laundry room where the unit is installed.
Cheerble describes the Pet Feeder Match G1 as a compact device that blends easy-to-use technology with advanced recognition features, including what it calls Multi Pe support for several animals at once. The Edge AI engine is tuned specifically for pet faces, which tend to be lower to the ground and more variable in fur pattern than human faces, and it is trained to distinguish between similar-looking cats that might share a coat color but differ in subtle markings. The company emphasizes that this processing happens on the feeder itself, a design choice that underpins the Multi Pe capability and the promise of fast, reliable identification in the product description for The Pet Feeder Match.
Multi-cat households and the end of food stealing
Anyone who has lived with more than one cat knows how quickly mealtimes can turn into a competition. The bold cat often elbows its way into every bowl, while the anxious one hangs back until the food is gone. By tying each serving to a specific face, the Pet Feeder Match G1 is designed to break that pattern, assigning a virtual lock to each pet’s ration. When the wrong cat approaches, the feeder simply does not respond, which over time can retrain the group dynamic so that each animal learns which station is truly theirs.
Cheerble’s Multi Pe feature is central to this promise, since it allows the feeder to maintain separate profiles and feeding rules for multiple animals without mixing them up. The company presents the Pet Feeder Match G1 as a solution for customized meal plans that can vary by pet, from calorie-controlled diets to age-specific formulas, all enforced by the same Edge AI recognition system. In its product materials, Cheerble notes that the device is designed to accommodate these individualized plans while still keeping the overall footprint compact, a combination it highlights when describing how The Pet Feeder Match G1 offers a compact design, easy-to-use technology, and innovative features including Multi Pe support for multi-pet homes.
Health tracking and early warning signs in the food bowl
Beyond preventing food theft, the Pet Feeder Match G1 is pitched as a health tool that can spot subtle changes in a cat’s habits before they become crises. Because the feeder knows exactly which pet is eating and when, it can log patterns over days and weeks, flagging deviations that might indicate illness, stress, or dental pain. A sudden drop in visits from a usually enthusiastic eater, or a spike in late-night snacking from a cat that normally sticks to daytime meals, can both be early clues that something is off.
Cheerble has framed this data as a way for owners to gain early health insights without adding extra gadgets or wearables to their pets. By combining Edge AI recognition with detailed logs of feeding times and quantities, the Pet Feeder Match G1 can build a profile of each cat’s normal behavior and then surface anomalies that warrant a closer look. In its social media materials, the company notes that the Pet Feeder Match G1 uses its recognition system to monitor individual feeding habits for early health insights, a capability it showcases when explaining how Cheerble has introduced the Pet Feeder Match at CES as a tool that can track pet habits and alert owners to changes in routine through its Edge AI powered logs.
Design details: from whisker fatigue to kitchen counters
While the AI brain is the headline feature, the physical design of the Pet Feeder Match G1 is just as important for daily use. Cheerble has opted for a compact form factor that can sit on a kitchen counter, in a hallway, or in a small apartment without dominating the space. The food reservoir, dispensing mechanism, and bowl are arranged to keep the center of gravity low, which helps prevent tipping when an enthusiastic cat leans in. A clear hopper window lets owners see at a glance how much dry food is left, reducing the risk of an empty feeder on a busy morning.
The company has also paid attention to how cats experience the bowl itself. Whisker fatigue, a term used to describe the discomfort some cats feel when their sensitive whiskers repeatedly brush against the sides of a deep or narrow dish, can make mealtimes stressful. Cheerble says the Pet Feeder Match G1 is shaped to reduce this problem by controlling the depth and width of the feeding area so that food is accessible without forcing whiskers to press against hard edges. This ergonomic focus appears alongside the technical claims in Cheerble’s description of its Edge AI visual recognition pet feeder, where the company notes that the device is designed to automate multi-pet feeding and reduce whisker fatigue through a carefully engineered bowl and serving system, details it lays out in its Pet Feeder Match overview.
From CES spotlight to everyday kitchens
Cheerble chose CES 2026 as the stage to introduce the Pet Feeder Match G1, signaling that it sees the product as part of a broader wave of smart home devices that blend AI with everyday routines. The company describes CES as the perfect place to show what it is all about, using the event to demonstrate how Edge AI can solve a very specific household problem rather than just adding another screen or app. By positioning the feeder alongside other connected gadgets, Cheerble is making the case that pet care belongs in the same conversation as smart thermostats and security cameras.
In its CES materials, Cheerble notes that The Pet Feeder Match G1 will be available for pre-orders, inviting early adopters to bring the technology home soon after the show. The company, founded in 2016, already sells pet products in more than 70 countries, and it is leveraging that network to distribute the new feeder globally. By tying the launch to CES and highlighting its existing reach, Cheerble is signaling that the Pet Feeder Match G1 is not a niche prototype but a commercial product meant for everyday kitchens, a point it underscores when explaining that CES 2026 is the perfect place to showcase The Pet Feeder Match and connect with partners across its international network.
Where this leaves the future of pet tech
Facial recognition for cats might sound like a novelty, but the Pet Feeder Match G1 points to a broader shift in how pet tech is evolving. Instead of generic automation, companies are starting to build systems that adapt to each animal as an individual, using AI to understand patterns and preferences at a granular level. In that sense, a feeder that can tell one tabby from another is a preview of a future where litter boxes, toys, and even vet portals all recognize and respond to specific pets rather than treating them as interchangeable.
Cheerble’s decision to put Edge AI at the center of its new feeder suggests that privacy and reliability will be key themes in that future. By keeping recognition on-device, the Pet Feeder Match G1 avoids some of the concerns that come with streaming video to remote servers, while still delivering the kind of personalized automation that owners increasingly expect. As the company continues to expand its presence across more than 70 countries and refine products like The Pet Feeder Match G1, the line between pet care and consumer tech will likely keep blurring, with AI quietly managing more of the daily routines that keep cats healthy, fed, and less inclined to steal from each other’s bowls.
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