In January the BBC announced the arrival of Hasbro’s Robotic Cat ($99 US), designed for seniors who aren’t allowed to have real cats, or can’t take care of them. It comes in orange tabby, silver, and white:
The BBC reports:
It’s the first product in the Joy For All range, an initiative that Hasbro says is about going beyond play and into areas that combat bigger problems. In this case, it’s loneliness.
The robocat is designed to mimic a real animal. It miaows, semi-convincingly, and it purrs, very convincingly. It’s fluffy and nice to stroke, although the rigidness of Alan’s electronic innards spoils any illusion that he is real.
It meows, purrs, nuzzles, goes to sleep, and even rolls over for a clawing-free belly rub. However, I think the novelty would wear off, and were I lonely I doubt that this animated teddy-bear-like animal would dispel my emotions.
Here’s a video, but I find it creepy:
AdWeek had several people inspect robocat, and it didn’t go over well (click on screenshot to see their video). Several people also used the word “creepy,” one said, “it doesn’t even have claws,” and one person said, “But if I were 90 and if I had no idea where I was, well, sure. . . .”
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Trendingly has thirty photos of ninja cats; here are my favorites:
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Finally, the February 9 issue of The Smithsonian has A Brief History of Post Office Cats. This is about British post office cats, which were authorized by an official government decree (click screenshot for source):
Ceiling Cat bless the Brits for their customs! I’ll let you read it for yourself, but it does mention “Tibs the Great” who has his own Wikipedia article:
Tibs worked at Post Office Headquarters in London for 14 years, and was officially employed and paid 2s 6d per week. He worked in the basement and his job was to catch rats. He was cared for by Alf Talbut, cleaner at St Martin’s-le-Grand throughout his life. During his 14 years, Tibs kept the Post Office headquarters completely mouse-free.
In 1952 there was “public outrage” that the cats had not had a pay rise since 1873, and the next year there was a question in the House of Commons, asking the Assistant Postmaster-General, David Gammans, “when the allowance payable for the maintenance of cats in his department was last raised?”
Gammans replied,
“There is, I am afraid, a certain amount of industrial chaos in The Post Office cat world. Allowances vary in different places, possibly according to the alleged efficiency of the animals and other factors. It has proved impossible to organise any scheme for payment by results or output bonus … there has been a general wage freeze since July 1918, but there have been no complaints!”
. . . Tibs died in December 1964. He had been suffering from cancer of the mouth. He received obituaries in several newspapers. By the time of his death he had grown to 23lb in weight, probably due to living in one of the staff dining rooms, rather than from eating rats.
The last cat employed at Post Office headquarters was Blackie, who died in 1984, which coincided with cloth sacks being replaced with rodent-resistant plastic sacks.
Here’s Tibs and one obituary. Read it!
h/t: jsp, Mike, Barry, Theo
I’m almost 90, have a pretty good idea of where I am usually and no robo cat would fool me. With all the real cats needing good homes, seems silly to make robo cats but what do I know…I am almost 90…..
I’m with you Alexandra! I do hope that I won’t end up in institutionalised care, but if that comes about, my first question when choosing one will be, ‘Can I keep my cat(s)’! Any that say ‘no’ will be struck from the list.
Agree; I’d find this a bit insulting.
“…designed for seniors who aren’t allowed to have real cats, or can’t take care of them.”
That’s what has to change! Both the senior residence and the assisted living home my parents went through allowed small pets. I suspect the recognition and comfort of human/animal interactions is one of the last things to go, dementia-wise.
Imagine the bolding ended with “them.”
The one climbing up no. 137!!!!
Yes! Their ability to climb sheer concrete walls apparently by claw traction always amazes me. They must have a remarkably strong grip.
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Even a stuffed animal that isn’t robotic could be a comfort in a nursing home. Anywhere else, a robotic cat that can’t knock a coffee cup onto your computer keyboard wouldn’t be convincing.
Right. A $20 teddy bear would be a better bet than a $100 robot. Softer and you could cuddle it in bed.
As a 75 year-old volunteer long-term care ombudsman in Ohio I spend a good deal of time in nursing homes talking with residents. I can easily see where something like the robotic cat would be a comfort in an Alzheimer’s wing. I’ve seen dolls and stuffed toys of various sorts, along with the occasional visit from a therapy dog, brighten the days of residents with dementia. While I understand why someone like Alexandra above doesn’t need such a device, I know of a whole lot of long-term care facilities that could use one or more, since (among other things) they don’t have the staff to care for multiple real cats.
And while I’ve got the floor, I encourage folks to look into volunteering with their state long-term care ombudsman program. It’s a good and helpful way to spend an afternoon or two per week.
Having just sat through an episode of “Waiting for God” with the parents (a sitcom set in an OAPs nursing home, with residents who are officially “waiting for god”, or more euphemistically are “growing old disgracefully”), I fully expect the script writers to have considered an episode with a stuffed crocodile. Based on reality of course.
I love the Tibs story. I’ve never heard it and I worked for the Post Office. This may be a London thing. Take in the last para of this famous London plaque. This time it’s a goose. http://www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk/page3108.htm
I was having flashbacks to “The Castle” just starting to read it. I’m sure that Grigor Samsa – sorry, “Franz Kafka” – had a secret career in the “civil” service.
Hasbrocat would work, to some extent, for some people. Many people have some ‘pet’ gadget or talisman they like to play with (tamagotchi? pet rocks?) or anthropomorphise their car or even their computer. (Admission: I talk to my car. I apologise to it if I hit a pothole or crunch the gears and I always pat it and say ‘Well done’ when I park it for the night).
But Hasbrocat’s eyes are too small.
cr
I thought the method of using (real or) robotic pets were useful, but it seems from a quick google it is an open area.
“Preliminary studies have suggested the potential benefits of animals on the physical and psychological health in humans. Despite over four decades of research, these studies remain preliminary.”
[ http://www.hindawi.com/journals/cggr/2014/623203/ ]
“Robotic “pets” are being marketed as social companions and are used in the emerging field of robot-assisted activities, including robot-assisted therapy (RAA). However, the limits to and potential of robotic analogues of living animals as social and therapeutic partners remain unclear.”
[ http://faculty.washington.edu/pkahn/articles/6.pdf ]
So I see it is suggested for people with an Alzheimers diagnosis. But does it help or is it a means to buy peace of mind?
I wonder if the creepiness some feel about the robo-cat is an uncanny valley response?
I hate to admit it given the reaction here by actually have two of the “robot cats.” My cat died a couple years ago and as I am semu-homebound with disabilities I just couldn’t really take on a cat. So when a couple returned cats went for sale at a reduced price I purchased them. You do have to be the sort of person who hasn’t forgotten how to use your imagination and let your inner child out now and tgen, but they can be really calming and as they respond to lights and sound you get an unexpected meow now and then.To each their own but it works for me; then again I’m about as eccentric as they come! 😁
If it works for you, go for it!
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