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News / Life / Pets & Wildlife

Robot cat has lifelike tail but no head

Designer says comfort is goal of fuzzy gadget

By Scott Berson, Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
Published: October 20, 2017, 6:05am

Have you ever wanted a cat, but without a head?

The Qoobo is a new invention from Yukai Engineering that aims to give you all you need in a small furry companion without any of the mess, fuss or general responsibility of caring for a living and breathing animal.

It’s essentially a pillow with a tail. There’s no head or feet. It comes in Husky Gray and French Brown. It wags and curls its tail when you pet it. It vibrates to simulate purring.

The Japanese invention was unveiled at the CEATEC trade show in October and should cost around $100 when it debuts in Japan in summer 2018, Engadget reported.

The idea behind the robot came about when its designer had to leave her cat behind when her new apartment wouldn’t allow pets, reported Edgadget. She wanted a substitute to make her feel better.

The tail is a big selling point for the robot, and will change speeds depending on how much you pet it.

“We have studied the actual tail and developed mechanisms and programs to reproduce the movement,” the company said in a statement translated by Mashable.

Feeling comforted is the goal of Qoobo, according to the company’s website. The three-step process to using the robot is “Stroke, React, Get Healed.”

So it’s not a real cat. It can’t stare at you, catch mice, meow at the wall or harass you when you’re trying to sleep. On the flip side, you’ll save a ton on kitty litter.

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