Watermark: Robotic Cats

Adore cats, but can't have one? Roommate allergic? Mother doesn't allow pets in the house? You are the proud owner of a house-full of expensive upholstered furniture? Significant Other detests cats?

Perhaps a robotic cat is the answer. Robotic cats don't shed (some don't even have fur), don't claw the furniture, and don't need litter-boxes. They come in a wide range of prices: $14.95-$1700, not including batteries.

Moving clockwise:

Kitty #1 [will] meow and purr, play and run around, nag you for food, and respond to your loving touch . . . now only $14.95!

Kitty #2($19.95) [is] so amazingly close to a real cat, you won't even know the difference!

Kitty #3 is no longer available, sorry.

Kitty #4. . . loves to dance!

Kitty #5 (the orange one, remember, we're going clockwise) [is] designed to be a conversation partner for elderly people [and] can be connected via cell phone or ISDN line to a network system center, allowing health or social workers to send local news, medical information, and encouraging messages to elderly people ($500).

Kitty #6 [may be] "Awesome!" That is, until you see the little bastard move in the videos at the bottom of the page. . . (click the kitty to go to the Japanese product page -- I couldn't find the video, but maybe you can.)

Kitty #7 was . . . a research tool to explore the evolutionary approach to generating robot locomotion and other behaviors within a physical reality simulation environment . . .

Kitty #8 . . . has tactile sensors on its ears and back, and an audio visual sensor array which lets it recognizes its master’s noises, movements and the calling of its name [and] a whopping $1700 [price tag].

Kitty #9, an addition from Ivy: Breathing Cat, [an] awesomely lifelike cat being sold as the ultimate seatsaver, is the perfect pet for lazy people.

Those of us who value our cats' snarky independence would probably not be satisfied with one of these substitutes, no matter how "true-to-life". Then again, if you name your computer, talk to it, yell at it, and invest a sizable amount of money in it . . . maybe a robotic cat is not such a leap . . .

This cat has just heard about robotic cats.

This week's Carnival of the Cats is still up and still entertaining; next week's Carnival will be at Sharp as a Marble; entries to be in by Saturday night (tomorrow.)