# Would you want a robotic pet cat or dog? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 24, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277 "2012-07-24T20:20:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/1 "2012-07-24T20:20:47Z")
My premise is that some time in the future, we have perfected the science of robotics, and we can now make a robotic cat or dog that is virtually indistinguishable from a flesh cat or dog, except it is programmable and it never dies. Some parameters: - The pet animal is programmable - you can program all unwanted behaviours out of your pet (such as scratching furniture or barking), or leave these behaviours in at whatever level you find acceptable. - There would be an on/off switch or stand-by mode - you can just turn your pet off when you go on vacation if you don’t want to take it with you. - The power pack would be a lifetime supply. Would that interest you - to have a cat or dog that wouldn’t do the things you don’t like, but would still seem to be a pet cat or dog? (I’ve focused on cats and dogs as the most common pets, but if you’d prefer a pet robotic bunny or parrot or whatever, please feel free to join in the discussion.) ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/2 "2012-07-24T20:23:37Z")
How does it smell? ---
**Author:** ![LurkerInNJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@LurkerInNJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkerInNJ)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/3 "2012-07-24T20:29:48Z")
I would want that talking bear from AI. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/4 "2012-07-24T20:30:33Z")
WITH HIS NOSE! Sorry. Yes, oh god yes. No more poop or cleaning it up. No more licking my face with his smelly breath. NO JUMPING ON ME. Just a good dog that I can run with, or walk with, that loves me and I love it, don’t have to worry about vacations. I’d actually prefer a robotic parrot, i think. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/5 "2012-07-24T20:39:07Z")
RoboPuppy preparing to lick cheek… …Cheek licking in progress Cheek licking complete… … RoboPuppy beginning two hour yipping session… ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/6 "2012-07-24T20:48:44Z")
I should say, I love robots, and always have had an affinity for them. I hate movies/stories where the robots go wild and rebel against their creators…they’re only what we program in them. I never understood the fear people had (which was one reason I didn’t like A.I.). I always wanted my very own Johnny 5 and now I’d love to have a WALL-E. ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/7 "2012-07-24T20:57:45Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Would that interest you - to have a cat or dog that wouldn’t do the things you don’t like, but would still seem to be a pet cat or dog? > > (I’ve focused on cats and dogs as the most common pets, but if you’d prefer a pet robotic bunny or parrot or whatever, please feel free to join in the discussion.) Having them do crazy shit is half the reason I even _have_ pets. A perfectly behaved one would creep me out. Hell, the only reason I even like the cat is because he’s a good adversary. I’d rather have the option to get a pet robot that wasn’t trying to be a dog or cat. ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/8 "2012-07-24T21:07:33Z")
I think we could probably program a robot dog. However, given the randomness of cats, I believe we will have a complete AI for humans first. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/9 "2012-07-24T21:19:24Z")
A robot goldfish AI would be easy to program; •Can I mate with it? •Can I eat it? •Can it eat me? ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/10 "2012-07-24T21:20:27Z")
Owner of 6 dogs and 4 cats here - no. I have machines. I have pets. Machines aren’t pets. There’s no mutual affection, there’s no dependence. What’s the point? StG ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/11 "2012-07-24T21:20:34Z")
“Home again home again jiggedy jigg, Gooood evening Hampshire!” ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/12 "2012-07-24T21:20:54Z")
There’s no way in heck I’d want a robotic dog. My dog and I have a special bond - no robot could replicate that. There’s a lot of heart and soul involved - I know I’m not saying this right, but no. No robot could ever replace my dog. ETA - StGermain - EXACTLY. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/13 "2012-07-24T21:41:11Z")
Mind you, a mobile robot like the old Doctor’s K-9 would be cool and useful. But not a pet. Of course, if I was 900 years old, like the Doctor, I probably wouldn’t want a dog that would live less than 1% of my potential lifespan. How heartbreaking it would be to get attached and lose pet after pet (it’s hard enough for me!), human companion after human companion. StG ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/14 "2012-07-24T22:09:08Z")
I’ve actually got an old [Hootbot](http://www.theoldrobots.com/hootbot.html), although he’s long since ceased functioning. A working robot dog or cat would be nifty; people in small apartments could have at least some of the pleasures of an animal companion without engaging in the cruelty of keeping a real animal pent up in a small place. I say yeah, and I also say hell yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/15 "2012-07-24T22:57:28Z")
I’ll take 8! This would be the perfect solution to curb backyard breeders. And no veterinary care to pay for? Sounds ideal to me. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2012, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/16 "2012-07-24T23:48:31Z")
> [@Vihaga](#): > > Having them do crazy shit is half the reason I even _have_ pets. A perfectly behaved one would creep me out. Hell, the only reason I even like the cat is because he’s a good adversary. > I’d rather have the option to get a pet robot that wasn’t trying to be a dog or cat. But they wouldn’t be perfectly behaved necessarily - you could program all the cat and dog behaviours into them, and randomize them. ---
**Author:** ![saje](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saje/32/3631_2.png) [@saje](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saje)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/17 "2012-07-25T01:02:55Z")
Nope. Where the fun and challenge in that? ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/18 "2012-07-25T01:22:26Z")
Nope. I think pets are product of your own (or your family’s) personality. With out that investment to cement the pet/owner bond; what’s the point? ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/19 "2012-07-25T01:37:15Z")
The point of a cat or dog is that they are a “furry little bundle of love and joy”. No robot can be that. ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/20 "2012-07-25T01:52:40Z")
Cat? Yes. I am not a cat person. I don’t even need a robot fake cat, just a stuffed one in a sunny window would be enough for me. They are beautiful creatures. Dog? No. You cannot program perfect unconditional love. However, it either case, I would NOT want to turn it off. I want the cat hunting mice and the dog barking at everyone who comes onto the porch all the time. I assume they don’t eat or drink? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277.md?page=2)