This $100 Lifelike Robotic Companion Cat Is a Toy Made for Seniors

It's the first in Hasbro's line of 'companion' pets for the elderly.

learn more about Laura Entis

By Laura Entis

Companion Pet Cats | Official Site

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Hasbro may be best known for toys that appeal to kids, but it wants to appeal to their grandparents as well.

The Pawtucket, R.I.-based company just launched Joy for All, a new toy line of realistic companion stuffed animals aimed specifically for seniors.

Joy for All debuts with Companion Pet Cats, which according to the company "look, feel and sound like real cats. But they're so much more than soft fur, soothing purrs and pleasant meows."

The fluffy robotic felines – which come in creamy white, silver with white paws or orange tabby – are equipped with multiple built-in motion detecting sensors. They respond to petting and hugging "much like the cats you know and love." Presumably unlike the cats you know and love, they don't require food or litter-box maintenance.

Related: Lego Is the Latest Toymaker Vying for a Piece of This $4 Billion Market

At $100, a Companion Pet Cat doesn't exactly come cheap. With the proper context, however, the price doesn't seem that bad. Remember Sony's robotic Aibo dogs? Launched in 1999 and available until 2006, the clunky electronic canines could move around, bark and (ostensibly) respond to user commands. The cost? A casual $2,000.

More recently, there is a Paro – a robotic seal that responds to tough, light, sound and temperature, built to soothe seniors suffering from dementia. Paro hails from Japan, but recently gained mainstream stateside exposure thanks to its recent star-making turn in Aziz Ansari's Netflix show, Master of None.

Don't fall in love too quickly, though. Paro apparently costs more than $7,500, which makes Hasbro's line of similar, but far more affordable, feline friends a welcome alternative.

Related: Why This $9 Billion Publicly Traded Toy Company Is Crowdfunding to Find the Next Big Game

Laura Entis
Laura Entis is a reporter for Fortune.com's Venture section.

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

Everyone Wants to Get Close to Their Favorite Artist. Here's the Technology Making It a Reality — But Better.
The Highest-Paid, Highest-Profile People in Every Field Know This Communication Strategy
After Early Rejection From Publishers, This Author Self-Published Her Book and Sold More Than 500,000 Copies. Here's How She Did It.
Having Trouble Speaking Up in Meetings? Try This Strategy.
He Names Brands for Amazon, Meta and Forever 21, and Says This Is the Big Blank Space in the Naming Game
Travel

6 Secret Tools for Flying First Class (Without Paying Full Price)

It's time to reimagine upgrading. Here's how to fly first class on every flight, business or personal.

Business News

These Are the Most and Least Affordable Places to Retire in The U.S.

The Northeast and West Coast are the least affordable, while areas in the Mountain State region tend to be ideal for retirees on a budget.

Growing a Business

5 Tips That Can Help You Seize Every Opportunity Your Next Industry Conference Has to Offer

Discover five ways to make the most out of the marketing, networking and personal and professional development opportunities a professional conference affords you.

Business News

I Live on a Cruise Ship for Half of the Year. Look Inside My 336-Square-Foot Cabin with Wraparound Balcony.

I live on a cruise ship with my husband, who works on it, for six months out of the year. Life at "home" can be tight. Here's what it's really like living on a cruise ship.

Thought Leaders

The Collapse of Credit Suisse: A Cautionary Tale of Resistance to Hybrid Work

This cautionary tale serves as a reminder for business leaders to adapt to the changing world of work and prioritize their workforce's needs and preferences.