When pet owners allow their cats outdoor access, they know to expect the occasional mouse, bird, or other small animal their hunter companions may leave as an offering on the doorstep. For most, it’s a nuisance they reluctantly accept in exchange for their pets’ enrichment and exercise. Flappie, an AI-powered cat door shown at this year’s CES, aims to stem the tide of “gifts” cats bring inside.

This smart cat door automatically locks if the outside camera detects an animal carrying prey towards the entrance, only unlocking once the cat drops the animal outside. While not completely foolproof, Flappie claims over 90% accuracy in identifying cats with prey in various conditions during testing. The system uses proprietary machine learning algorithms trained on diverse images of cat-catch interactions.

Owners maintain manual control to lock, unlock, and disable the anti-prey feature as desired. Eventually, the company hopes pets will learn they cannot enter while holding items. Co-founder Claude Marti admits clever cats may initially drop prey to get inside, then retrieve it once the door unlocks. But for most owners, even a reduction in unwanted rodents and birds inside will be welcome.

Alongside limiting pets’ “gifts,” Flappie offers standard smart door features like microchip reading to restrict access and smartphone app control. While first launching in Switzerland and Germany this spring, North American availability remains unconfirmed pending manufacturing scale-up. Expected pricing sits around $399 outright or $199 with a $8.90 monthly subscription.

So for owners tired of stumbling upon animal remains brought inside by their beloved hunters, this AI doorman may finally provide some reprieve. Love of pets outweighs frustration from their instincts, but that doesn’t mean owners want surprise mice in their bedrooms. Flappie aims to let pets roam free while keeping homes clean of catches – offering a high-tech filter for cats’ timeless tendencies.