While many of us would love to have a pet, looking after an animal is a huge task that lots of people just can’t commit to.
But one tech startup believes it has the perfect starter pet, in the form of a robotic cat.
Elephant Robotics claims that the robot, dubbed MarsCat, is the world’s first bionic pet cat that’s fully autonomous.
The robot can respond to touch, hear voices, see faces and even play with toys, according to its designers.
On its Kickstarter page, Elephant Robotics explained: “MarsCat is a good companion, it is fully responsive and interactive. It can play with you or your toys because it can feel, hear and see.
“Touch its head, chin or back to find out what it will react! It can also interact with objects or people nearby, even play with real cats.”
The robot is powered by powerful quad-core Raspberry Pi, meaning it can be programmed for different uses, whether it’s education, research or simply as a pet.
While you might worry that the robot cat would be identical to others, users can choose several personalisations to make the robot their own.
Elephant Robotics explained: “MarsCat is unique from its eyes, body to personality. MarsCat has 6 characters which can be changed.
“She may be enthusiastic or aloof, energetic or lazy, social or shy. Her personality develops through the way you pet her.”
Unfortunately, the robot cat isn’t cheap, with prices starting at $699 (£534).
