Do you think we need robotic cats and dogs as pets?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

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Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
Do we really need robot cats and dogs? There are people trying to bring robotic pets to the market, which supposedly could be a huge market. You have to wonder what's wrong with the furry tenants we already have? Well in my case I had cats all through my life, but when my last cat, Fuzzybuddy, passed, I didn't want to go through the grief of another cat's passing. Turns out a few months later, I found myself on the floor and I had to be taken to the hospital. I didn't get back to my home for about a year. What would have happened if I had a pet? With a robot one-only the batteries would run down. What's your take on robotic pets?
 

I would like to see it, touch it, know the cost. At my age, after I lose my Buffy, I will be very sad & lonely indeed, and don't know if I can afford the vet bills and the heartache that go along with loving a real live animal. She may be my last cat. I can't stand the thought of living without a cat. A robot cat might work at this stage of my life.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
Do we really need robot cats and dogs? There are people trying to bring robotic pets to the market, which supposedly could be a huge market. You have to wonder what's wrong with the furry tenants we already have? Well in my case I had cats all through my life, but when my last cat, Fuzzybuddy, passed, I didn't want to go through the grief of another cat's passing. Turns out a few months later, I found myself on the floor and I had to be taken to the hospital. I didn't get back to my home for about a year. What would have happened if I had a pet? With a robot one-only the batteries would run down. What's your take on robotic pets?
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I heard of a case where a dog owner collapsed and died on the floor, and the dog eventually got so hungry, it started eating the owner.
 
About 10 years ago a friend told me that some of his mother's friends had fake dogs. Each was curled up in a basket, and simulated a breathing movement. So you'd feel like you had a sleeping pet nearby. I thought it sounded creepy.

We all have some degree of fakeness in our lives. For example, I might enjoy a cat cartoon even though it's not a "real" cat. But I don't think I'd want a robot cat.

I appreciated my robot vacuum cleaner though!
 
Do we need robotic cats and dogs as pets?
No. But some pets could sure use robotic caretakers.
They could play catch, give them treats, feed and water them, walk them and pick up their poop, clean their kitty litter, tuck them in for a nap, hug them, say "I love you", call the mobile vet and groomer for regular house visits, etc...until the owner gets home from work.
 
Pepper said:
I would like to see it, touch it, know the cost. At my age, after I lose my Buffy, I will be very sad & lonely indeed, and don't know if I can afford the vet bills and the heartache that go along with loving a real live animal. She may be my last cat. I can't stand the thought of living without a cat. A robot cat might work at this stage of my life.
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Chet said:
I heard of a case where a dog owner collapsed and died on the floor, and the dog eventually got so hungry, it started eating the owner.
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That why there's a few apps for those who are almost out the door. One is called "Snug Safe" it's a daily reminder to let them know "Hey, I'm still kicking"

It also can alert them to call a contact to check on you. I'm debating on letting them find me. 6 months after passing. "Hey, his rent was being paid and all, why bother him?"

Now regarding having a pet I would love to have one or two kittens yes I'm in a situation where a large dog would not be a good idea and while a small dog is would be acceptable I would rather not have it in that situation.

Cats can live in smaller areas and don't need as much room to run around in especially if they're inside cats all the time which is safer for them and better for their health.

And I like it when they purr.
 
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Do you think we need robotic cats and dogs as pets?​


Why not?
We we ring up most organisatioons now, and we talk to robots that ask us to press this button or that one, then, after 10 minutes (after getting nowhere) we are connected to a human, who talks a load of jibberish, so we ask to be switched back to the robot. šŸ˜Š
 
My 13 year old real dog has lost all her teeth and needs me to fix her a special three part meal every night. She also, like many small, female, senior dogs, has acquired a tendency to release her bladder when she goes into a deep sleep. this means that from time to time I must get up in the middle of the night, strip the bed through comforter, blanket, sheets and mattress pad, start washing them, and throw away the pillows. This isn't too bad but yesterday she fell into a deep sleep and let go on the good sofa and I think it may be totaled. Would I trade her for a robot? No way.

Pepper you should always have a cat if you want one, there are so many hungry freezing strays out there. Estimated 3000 in my little town. If you collapsed some day it would survive a few days until you were discovered and then go to a shelter -- that's a much better life than the outdoor life.
 
I would definitely rather have a real living pet, no toy could ever replace the love and communication that we have with our beloved dogs or cats.
Poodle is young enough that he will live at least as long as I will; but if something happened and I had to be in a nursing home or somewhere that an actual live pet was not allowed, then I would definitely be looking into the new robotic ones that are so lifelike.

We all did fine when we were little and had our teddy bears to snuggle up to each night; so I think that it could work again , if necessary.

Here is a short video of one that seems quite realistic.

 

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