# 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:** 3
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/41 "2012-07-25T12:39:54Z")
> [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](#): > > Having something programmable and robotic and deeming it a pet would be the same as having a vibrator and considering it your life-long partner. Man, it’s a pity my sig’s kind of out of space, cos I totally love that line. ---
**Author:** ![6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/6/e19adc/32.png) [@6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/6ImpossibleThingsB4Breakfast)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/42 "2012-07-25T12:56:14Z")
**Nava** , it’s not real love… ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/43 "2012-07-25T12:57:38Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > But they wouldn’t be perfectly behaved necessarily - you could program all the cat and dog behaviours into them, and randomize them. If the AI is good enough for my robot dog to become concerned when I get pregnant and to be super protective (and tolerant) of my baby, to dislike everyone but one of our friends and my mother, and if it’s good enough to make the dog a food thief, but only for chocolate or when the weather is cold, then I would still rather have my dog. A pet I can forget about whenever I want doesn’t feel like part of the family. AI that good would make a hell of a fun robot, though I don’t see how you could replicate one of my dogs without violating Asimov’s first and second laws, which would probably be a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/44 "2012-07-25T12:57:40Z")
It is just a toy, I am aware of that. Pass the robot doggies this way anyway! If only for protection - and even better - I can actually program it for proper protection. Mythbusters says most regular dogs can be swayed by a big steak anyway, even so-called “guard dogs”. Plus then I could have a REALLY BIG DOG without REALLY BIG POOP. ---
**Author:** ![Ruby\_Slippers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/94ad74/32.png) [@Ruby\_Slippers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruby_Slippers)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/45 "2012-07-25T13:11:49Z")
> [@Mangetout](#): > > Alternatively, a realistic rendition of something fictional, mythical or extinct would be cool - a little dragon, or gryphon, or a some trilobites for the garden pond. Yes! I don’t think I’d have much use for a robotic cat or dog but I’d love to have my very own dragon! ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/46 "2012-07-25T13:14:53Z")
Of course not. That’s just silly. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/47 "2012-07-25T13:29:30Z")
> [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > Yes! I don’t think I’d have much use for a robotic cat or dog but I’d love to have my very own dragon! Oooooo…my very own miniature elephant. COME ON SCIENCE! ---
**Author:** ![Vihaga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Vihaga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vihaga)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/48 "2012-07-25T13:33:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Oooooo…my very own miniature elephant. > > COME ON SCIENCE! OMG. We need to divert some public funds for that shit, stat. ---
**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 25, 2012, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/49 "2012-07-25T15:08:53Z")
> [@j666](#): > > \ I assume they don’t eat or drink? Good question - they eat and drink if you program that into them, I guess. Then you have to deal with the robot-poo. 🙂 > [@Trinopus](#): > > I think, even now, engineers could program a pseudo-pet to emulate animal behaviors well enough to pass a doggie “Turing Test.” I knew people who got seriously emotionally involved with their Tamagotchi pets – and not just stupid people, either. > > So, add the very best of current AI sim programming, to mechanical engineering advances in the next 50 years, and I think we could have robodogs that would comfortably accommodate our suspension of disbelief, if not our actual belief. It wouldn’t be good enough to fool us…but it would be good enough to make us feel good playing around with one.\ That’s part of what makes this an interesting question for me - people anthropomorphize _everything_, and I think it would be extremely easy for most people to become very attached to a robotic pet. > [@Trinopus](#): > > Also, of course, it’s a very short jump from a robotic pet to a robotic sex toy… > > (Apologies if this is threadshitting.)\ No need to question whether people would want a robotic sex toy or not. 🙂 > [@MegaBee](#): > > Hell yes. I wouldn’t want a robotic cat, because cats are assholes, but a robotic dog? No allergens, no dying before me, just running around being awesome. Sign me up! > > ETA: I also want it to look robotic, all chrome and Tron lines. AWESOME. Ooh, I hadn’t thought of that - custom designed robotic pets! > [@Anaamika](#): > > It is just a toy, I am aware of that. \ This makes me wonder about the role that flesh and blood cats and dogs fill in our lives - aren’t they basically toys, too? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/50 "2012-07-25T15:18:53Z")
Would kill the whole companionship thing and the fun of having a dog with his own personality, but what the hell. I really want a dog, but can’t because I don’t have the kind of time or dwelling that I should to be a good dog owner, so a fake dog would be an okay substitute. Wouldn’t be the same, though. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/51 "2012-07-25T15:27:10Z")
> [@Ruby\_Slippers](#): > > Yes! I don’t think I’d have much use for a robotic cat or dog but I’d love to have my very own dragon! Instead of “Rover, Kill!”, it could be “Idris, Incinerate!” ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/52 "2012-07-25T15:44:44Z")
No, but perhaps they could install an on/off switch in my current cat? Or at least an adjustable timer! Ooh, and maybe a volume control… ---
**Author:** ![j666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de0a6/32.png) [@j666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j666)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/54 "2012-07-26T01:26:03Z")
If I had to have a robotic pet, I want to be able to leave it at home when I go on vacation. Still barking at the mail carrier. But no, no food or drink. All I really need is a stuffed pillow and a motion triggered recorder of a barking dog. And a mouse trap that digests its prey. ---
**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 26, 2012, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/55 "2012-07-26T05:05:48Z")
_Terrible!_ ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/56 "2012-07-26T05:57:13Z")
Nah, I would not want a robotic pet. Even putting the ‘false affection’ issue aside, which would be enough for me anyway, part of sharing a life with another living thing is the randomness. Caturday on the Chive would be pretty boring if everyone had robotic pets doing the exact same ‘Look, I’m cute!’ thing. Or maybe not; cute is cute. But…nah. I like seeing my pets interact with each other, I like figuring them out, I like that I _can’t_ figure them out. So…no. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/57 "2012-07-26T06:13:28Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Mind you, a mobile robot like the old Doctor’s K-9 would be cool and useful. But not a pet. Tell me you didn’t get choked up a bit seeing K-9 in [School Reunion](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_Reunion_%28Doctor_Who%29). If not, well, then K-9 isn’t the only robot in question. ---
**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 26, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/58 "2012-07-26T18:47:31Z")
I’m a little surprised that more people aren’t interested in a future robot pet. I’ve had a cat for 12 years, and she’s my little fuzzy buddy, but I don’t think I’ll get another one after she’s gone - too many hassles to go along with her cute, endearing habits. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/59 "2012-07-26T18:54:06Z")
I’m pretty sure it’s been established that humans in general put more importance on those things they have stock in. The more effort, the more the reward is appreciated. So, yeah, part of the pet love is all the crap they’ve gone through with/for them. ---
**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:** [August 4, 2012, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/60 "2012-08-04T13:41:23Z")
I changed my mind, if I could have [Dynomutt, dog wonder](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxxL2YvNkzE), I’d gladly take him. ---
**Author:** ![Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/malleus_incus_stapes/32/3293_2.png) [@Malleus\_Incus\_Stapes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malleus_Incus_Stapes)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2012, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277/61 "2012-08-05T04:16:05Z")
Instead or, in in addition to, a real cat? A robot is not the same thing as, say, the purring furball currently stretched out next to my chair making “pet me” noises. Anything short of actual AI can’t give you love (and for you dog people in the thread, yes cats can give you love, sometimes in a rather dog-like fashion). But it would be cool to have, in the same way any toy would be cool to have. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-a-robotic-pet-cat-or-dog/629277.md?page=4)