Robotic pets provide companionship to Minnesota seniors: 'Kitty is there'
A new breed of electronic cats and dogs exhibit lifelike behaviors.
By Kevyn Burger
Special to the Star Tribune
February 16, 2021 — 5:27am
Text size
Copy shortlink:
"Barn cats, house cats, inside and outside, there were kitties around," said her daughter Diane Nelson.
Now widowed and living in memory care in Shakopee, Schmidt, 86, still has a cat — one that meows, blinks and, when petted, vibrates slightly with a contented purr.
But this orange tabby is battery-operated.
"It looks a lot like a cat she once had," said Nelson. "When I took it out of the box, the look on her face was pure love. She petted and petted her."