Why robopets are far from barking mad

They don't make a mess, won't stray and are giving dementia sufferers a whole new lease of life... meet the revolutionary robotic cats and dogs receiving a warm welcome in care homes

- By Dominic Bliss

THREE dogs and a cat live in complete harmony at the Royal Court care home, in the Lincolnshire town of Cleethorpes.

Loved by the 16 residents there, they are also very popular with the staff, as they require no exercise or feeding, and no one has the unenviable task of clearing up what they leave behind. But these pets aren’t real at all - they are in fact robots.

Very realistic robots, however. Covered in fake fur, the cat purrs and meows when it sits in the residents’ laps, while the dogs bark, pant and wag their tails. Both the feline and the canine versions respond to petting by moving their eyes, mouth, heads and tails.

“They bring comfort to our residents with dementia,” says Claire Appleton, 51, who owns the care home. “Their faces light up as soon as they see the pets. It raises their mood instantly.”

One resident called Bob recently celebrated his 100th birthday at Royal Court, and was given his robotic dog as a gift from his family. Claire says he loves his new pet, often placing it on his lap and stroking it. The other pets are shared between the residents in the home.

“Residents are taken back to a time when they had pets of their own,” Claire explains. “It gives them the joy of a pet but without the responsibility of owning a real pet which can be overwhelming for someone with dementia.”

She says some of the more advanced dementia patients believe the pets are actually real, and that this has positive benefits. “They might give them names when they talk to them,” she adds. “If they get comfort from them, then there’s nothing wrong with them thinking they are real.”

Deborah Spratley is the distributor of these robotic devices. Through her company Robopets, she sells robotic cats, dogs, birds and panda bears, ranging in price from £64 up to £328.