Petit Qoobo - Brown
Petit Qoobo, a little sibling to the larger Qoobo, wags its tail in response to your touch. Now...
Robotic therapy pets – robotic cats, dogs and tactile aids
Robotic therapy pets are robotic animals and tactile aids that offer reassurance, companionship and joy to older people and those who cannot have a living pet. They are interactive, easy to care for and combine technology with research-based benefits in welfare technology.
Wera Welltech offers robotic cats, dogs and birds from Joy For All, tactile aids such as Qoobo and Petit Qoobo from Yukai Engineering, and Amagami Ham Ham in four versions. Many individuals buy for themselves or family members, while municipalities buy for care homes, supported housing under Sweden’s LSS disability support system, schools and libraries.
The entire range
Compare products for home and business. Choose a category to find the right product in our range.
Qoobo - Brown
Qoobo is a therapeutic cushion-shaped robot with a tail. When stroked, it wags gently. When rubbed, it swings...
Qoobo - Gray
Qoobo is a therapeutic cushion-shaped robot with a tail. When stroked, it wags gently. When rubbed, it swings...
Amagami Ham Ham – Marron/Bear
Amagami Ham Ham Marron/Bear. This charming robotic bear recreates the unique feeling of playful nibbling from babies and...
Amagami Ham Ham – Kotaro/Dog
Amagami Ham Ham Kotaro/Dog. This charming robotic dog recreates the unique feeling of playful nibbling from babies and...
Amagami Ham Ham – Yuzu/Cat
Amagami Ham Ham – Cat is a charming robot that recreates the unique feeling of playful nibbling from...
Fufuly
Discover Fufuly – a pioneering robotic cushion that mimics a natural breathing rhythm using Deep Breathing Technology. Created...
Train staff in the use of digital therapy animals
Introduce robotic therapy pets in the best possible way. Work with social service dog expert Jessica to make...
Digital therapy cat - Marmelad
Soft robotic cat that purrs, meows, and reacts to touch – with a palpable heartbeat for cozy moments....
Amagami Ham Ham – Marron/Bear
Amagami Ham Ham Marron/Bear. This charming robotic bear recreates the unique feeling of playful nibbling from babies and...
Benefits of robotic therapy pets
- Reduced feelings of loneliness and increased well-being
- Person-centered approach
- Easy to use, with minimal maintenance
- Enhanced quality of life
- Can reduce the use of calming medication
- Relieves the burden on care staff and relatives
Customer stories
Ingrid and little Hjärtat
Ingrid, 90, lost her husband and lives alone. She now has three robotic cats and describes how much the robotic cat "little Hjärtat" has meant to her.
Gun and the robotic dog
Gun in Katthammarsvik went viral when her daughter shared a video of her cuddling her robotic dog: "This works really well... Many people with dementia experience a lot of confusion, and perhaps it does not matter so much what is real; you live in the here and now."
What does the research say?
More than half a million Joy For All robotic therapy pets have been sold worldwide. The cat model launched in 2016 and the dog model the following year. Robotic birds arrived in 2022 and can, among other things, remind people to take their rollator along. According to Joy For All, the products have a 4.7 rating on Amazon.com from over 1,000 reviews, independent clinical and academic research, and a National Science Foundation Grant Award.
Research compiled by Wera Welltech indicates that robotic therapy pets can reduce feelings of depression, isolation and loneliness, reduce behavioural difficulties associated with dementia, offer a calming experience without medication, improve cognitive activity and reduce the care burden on staff and family members.
Introduce robotic pets in your organisation
We recommend a broad rollout where the organization acquires dogs, cats and birds alike, so each individual can choose the animal that suits them best – studies show that older adults often prefer dogs over cats. Wera Welltech offers staff training together with Hand Hund & Hälsa, for a sustainable, person-centered approach.
Experiences from Gotland
In Region Gotland's project 3S (Stimulate, Spur and Spread), where Wera Welltech founder Fredrik Westergaard was project manager, every dementia ward received a robot dog and a robot cat in 2019. The project won an innovation award. One example: at Pjäsen's nursing home, staff described how Gun slept much better and had less anxiety with her robot dog Roffe.
Photos from Katthammarsvik care home. Photo: Anna Björkegren.
Buying for an organisation?
Tactile aids
Qoobo & Petit Qoobo
Explore Qoobo and Petit Qoobo
Amagami Ham Ham
Explore Amagami Ham Ham
Cleaning
The robot animals can be washed by hand, not in a machine – just like real animals. Wera Welltech has developed cleaning instructions and a cleaning kit that ensures no contamination spreads if the instructions are followed.
Frequently asked questions
How long do the batteries last?
Battery life depends on how often the animal is used and whether it is switched off between uses. With continuous use, the batteries may run out after a few days. With occasional use and the animal switched off in between, they can last for months.
Metakatt has a rechargeable battery and is charged using the included USB-C cable. Follow the instructions for your specific model for charging and operating times.
How do I clean my companion pet?
Robotic pets should be cleaned by hand, not in a washing machine. Correct cleaning is important for safe handling and to avoid damaging the electronics.
Read the cleaning instructions here.
Ideally, each person should have their own pet. If animals are shared, we recommend that each person washes and disinfects their hands before and after use.
Do the robotic pets sleep?
Yes! If you do not touch your cat, dog or bird for a few minutes, it will fall asleep. To wake it up, simply give it a gentle stroke or pick it up.
Can the robotic pet be switched off?
Yes. Under a Velcro flap on the belly of both the robotic cats and dogs, there is a switch with ON, MUTE and OFF settings.
The birds are switched off by pressing and holding the tail feather.
What are robotic therapy and companion pets?
They are lifelike, interactive pets created to offer companionship, joy and enjoyment. Robotic cats, dogs and birds respond to things such as touch and can move and make sounds.
They require little maintenance and can be an alternative for people who cannot have a living animal. The choice of animal and how it is used need to be adapted to the person.
What materials are the animals made from?
The fur on Joy For All animals is made from polyester and acrylic, and the materials are synthetic.
Materials may differ between models. Contact us if you need material details for a specific Metakatt or another animal in the range.
Which robotic pet is best in tests?
We are sometimes asked which robotic dog or interactive robotic pet performs best in tests. We follow the market and work with the animals that best suit our customers.
Start with the person who will use the animal: some prefer dogs, others cats or birds. A person-centred choice matters more than expecting one animal to suit everyone.
What is the difference between robotic pets and tactile aids?
Robotic pets (cats, dogs and birds) imitate a whole pet with movement and sound. Tactile aids such as Qoobo, Petit Qoobo, Amagami Ham Ham and Fufuly focus on touch, for example a wagging tail or a breathing cushion.
Are therapy pets suitable for people with dementia?
Yes, research indicates reduced distress, fewer behavioural difficulties and improved quality of life for people with dementia, but use should be person-centred. Therapy pets do not suit everyone, just as not everyone likes living animals.
Can municipalities pay by invoice?
Yes, through Wera Welltech’s quotation form with e-invoicing.