Man, it’s a pity my sig’s kind of out of space, cos I totally love that line.
Nava, it’s not real love…
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.
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.
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!
Of course not. That’s just silly.
Oooooo…my very own miniature elephant.
COME ON SCIENCE!
OMG. We need to divert some public funds for that shit, stat.
Good question - they eat and drink if you program that into them, I guess. Then you have to deal with the robot-poo. 
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.
No need to question whether people would want a robotic sex toy or not.
Ooh, I hadn’t thought of that - custom designed robotic pets!
This makes me wonder about the role that flesh and blood cats and dogs fill in our lives - aren’t they basically toys, too?
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.
Instead of “Rover, Kill!”, it could be “Idris, Incinerate!”
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…
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.
Terrible!
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.
Tell me you didn’t get choked up a bit seeing K-9 in School Reunion. If not, well, then K-9 isn’t the only robot in question.
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.
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.
I changed my mind, if I could have Dynomutt, dog wonder, I’d gladly take him.
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.