If you like cats but have always taken issue with the fact that they also have a head and paws, here’s a good substitute. Not only will Qoobo allow you to pet it as much as you want, but it also comes cheap on maintenance.
Qoobo is a tailed cushion or, as makers Yukai Engineering describe it, a headless robotic cushion cat, ideal for something they call “tail therapy.” Qoobo is also slowly but surely taking over the world, regardless of the fact that its first introduction to mass media, back in 2017, resulted in more sneers than cheers.
Qoobo hails from Japan (of course) and is guaranteed to help you fight depression, alleviate stress and boost your mood by simply laying in your lap, while you mindlessly pet it. It reacts to your petting, too, with Yukai Engineering promising that you will never grow tired of it because it had 4 modes of wagging its tail, in addition to offering haptic feedback.
Qooboo is a robot but, as far as robots go, it’s perhaps one of the strangest. It’s meant for lonely people who love animals but can’t afford to take one in for whatever reason, be it allergies, an awful landlord or sharing living spaces, and who might find comfort in a companion that doubles as a cushion.
It was first introduced to Japan audiences in 2017 and went to cause a stir on Kickstarter. After securing funding and shipping to customers locally, it moved on to the U.S. Currently, it’s crowdfunding for South Korea and, according to AV Club, may even come to Europe, having made its debut at IFA 2019 in Berlin, Germany earlier this year.
If our future is one where robots take over everything, expect to see a lot of headless robotic cats / cushions.
Qoobo costs about $120 and comes in 3 color options, husky gray and French brown, with silky black to become available in November. It comes with a rechargeable battery system that promises 8 hours of non-stop petting on a single charge, where its simple (read: ridiculously headless) design meant to encourage owners’ imagination.
Oppositely, a regular cat lasts for 10 to 15 years without a battery, but also comes with a head and paws, and costs a whole bunch in maintenance.
Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends. Full profile
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