Singles who don't want to feel lonely this winter will have the chance to replace "the need for physical presence" with a human-sized emotional support bear.
The Loving Bear Puffy costs £135 and is the shape and size of a male human body, but with the head of a half-asleep bear. The man-bear pillow was created by a firm which calls it "a very personal product invented by an ordinary woman who is afraid of being alone."
Puffy weighs just 3.2 kg, so can be easily moved around a home and offers some benefits over human company, according to co-creators Ina Marholeva and Tonia Berdankova. They say: "he doesn't snore, he doesn't grumble or get angry."
The company explains: "We women are often left alone for various reasons. Sometimes it's a personal choice, bad luck or fate, but we all need someone's presence or a hug, especially at night before falling asleep or on the couch in front of the TV. That's why Puffy is made with a human shape and size to replace as much as possible the lack of physical presence when we need to hug or lean."
And they add that the rest of the family can enjoy the bear's company: "Kids love cuddling him, even pets seek him out to snuggle up to him while you're at work and no one's home."
One review from a happy punter says: "The first few days I felt a bit strange until I got used to his presence because he seems like a real person, but now I can't imagine walking in and him not being home."
And a second chimes in with: "Since Puffy has been with me, I fall asleep much easier and faster. I love its softness and the sense of security it gives me."
The company adds: "He is the perfect gift both for you and for any loved one who is going through lonely moments, emotional trials, and feelings of emptiness."
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