A University of California study found that 43 percent of old people feel lonely on a regular basis. Such state of mind could lead to early death, which could be addressed by giving them pets as companions to help reduce their stress and ward off depression.

However, caring for an animal could also be stressful for seniors because pets need to be fed, bathed and their droppings cleaned – tasks which could be neglected during a senior moment or also be too taxing. Toy maker Hasbro has the perfect pet for grannies and granpas - the robot cat that comes with real fur and responds to petting, hugging and other cat-like motions.

These motions, to include meowing, is made possible by the built-in sensors inside the toy that makes the toy kitty responds to motion and touch. Its “Vibapurr” features makes the toy cat sound and feel like its really purring which many people find soothing, reports Huffington Post.

By touching the cat’s left cheek, the head moves into the hand of the owner, while if it is petted long enough, toy kitty would roll on its back and wait for the owner to rub its tummy. More petting will have kitty curling and going to sleep.

If the robot cat is not touched for a few minutes, kitty would go to sleep. But it would wake up by a gentle touch on its back or nearby movements, according to Hasbro. Similar to real cats, the robot kitty also hates baths.

The care manual reminds owners not to let the cat sleep on the floor to ensure that the owner or housemates or guests do not step on the toy cat – and possibly cause an accidents. Companion Pet costs $99 and comes in Orange Tabby, Silver and Creamy White colours.

The cat is considered a perfect Christmas gift for lonely seniors this holiday season. Experts point out that pets help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, boost social interaction and physical activity and even learn, reports Agingcare.com. Linda Anderson, founder of Angel Animals Network in Minneapolis, explains, “Older pet owners have often told us how incredibly barren and lonely their lives were without their pet’s companionship, even when there were downsides to owning an active pet.”

But with the toy robot cat, owners who suffer from memory lapses do not need not to 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.

Psychologist Penny Donnefeld adds, “Having a pet helps the senior focus on something other than physical problems and negative preoccupations about loss or aging.” Best of all, this one does not die – it only runs out of battery.

Contact the writer at feedback@ibtimes.com.au or tell us what you think below

RELATED STORIES