An MRI physicist in Utrecht, Netherlands, created a system that allows his pet hamster to log nightly runs on the fitness app Strava.
The project demonstrates how consumer fitness technology can be adapted for non-human activity tracking, turning a pet's exercise routine into a data-driven digital profile.
Thijs de Buck developed the rig to track the nightly movements of his hamster, Mollie. The system is connected to the hamster's wheel and automatically uploads data including distance, pace, and time to a dedicated Strava account [1, 2].
By integrating the physical rotations of the wheel with the app's API, de Buck can monitor how much distance the animal covers while the household sleeps. Mollie is 10 months old [2].
De Buck, a physicist by profession, designed the project to showcase a fun application of technology while keeping a close eye on his pet's health and activity levels [1, 2]. The setup transforms the wheel into a sensor that calculates the distance traveled based on the wheel's circumference and the number of rotations recorded.
While Strava is primarily used by human athletes to track cycling, running, and swimming, the platform now hosts the nightly metrics of a small rodent in the Netherlands [1, 2]. The project has gained attention for its creative use of fitness tracking software in an unconventional setting.
“A Dutch MRI physicist built a Strava‑linked rig for his hamster’s wheel.”
This project illustrates the growing trend of 'quantified self' movements expanding into 'quantified pets.' By leveraging existing APIs from fitness platforms, hobbyists can now apply biometric and activity tracking to animals, potentially providing owners with more precise data on pet health and behavioral patterns.
