Orange Tabby Toy Robot Cat (Photo : Hasbro)
Hasbro, a toy maker, has the perfect pet for seniors. It's a robot cat that comes with real fur, with the kitty responding to petting, hugging and other cat-like motions.
The motions, including the meowing, is due to the built-in sensors inside the toy that responds to motion and touch. Thanks to its "Vibapurr" features, it sounds and feels like real purring which many people find soothing, reports Huffington Post.
When the cat's left cheek is touched, it moves its head into the hand of the holder. Petting it long enough would result in the cat rolling on its back, waiting for the owner to rub its tummy. More petting will result in kitty curling and going to slumberland.
Not touching the cat for a few minutes would make kitty go to sleep. To wake up the pet, just touch its back gently or movements nearby would also wake up the robot cat, according to Hasbro.
The toy comes with installed batteries. However, to ensure that the owner or housemates or guests do not step on the toy cat - and possibly cause an accident - the care manual reminds owners not to let the pet sleep on the floor. And like real cats, the robot cat also hates baths.
Called the Companion Pet, kitty's tag price of $99 is deemed affordable and a good way to beat lonely nights for granny or gramps. Available in Orange Tabby, Silver and Creamy White color choices, the cat is a perfect Christmas gift for lonely seniors this holiday season.
It is part of Hasbro's Joy For All product lines that support efforts to reduce the isolation and hunger under the Meals on Wheels project. Best of all, owners who suffer from senior moments need not worry about forgetting to feed the cat or be concerned about having to clean up its poo. It also does not scratch the owner or bed posts.
Guinness World Records has certified the toy cat as the "World's Most Therapeutic Robot." Since a University of California, San Francisco, study says that 43 percent of elderly feel lonely on a regular basis, which could lead to early death, even a robot pet cat could help reduce their stress and ward off depression.
