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Petit Qoobo: A furry robot that will make you feel less alone

Gadgets can be a reflection of our times. That includes products to help us counter crippling anxiety.

The Petit Qoobo is like a cat, without a head or legs or fleas or a soul. A round fuzzy ball with a stubby moving tail, it is a portable-sized robotic companion designed to sooth you. It has a bit of weight to it, so it feels like a real pet resting peacefully in your lap while you watch cable news. And its tail swishes automatically in 80 different movements when it hears the sound of your voice or when you pet it.

Previewed as a prototype at last year’s CES, the Petit Qoobo is back as a final product. The company previously released a larger version, which is available in a handful of stores, but says people were interested in something smaller they could carry around with them, like a purse dog. Demand for its larger version has gone up during the pandemic, the company says.

Available in four realistic shades of faux-fur, the Petit Qoobo is designed to be “reminiscent of skittish, young animals,” says its Japanese maker Yukai Engineering. They’ve even given it a faint heartbeat sound you can hear and feel when you snuggle it. The company believes the Qoobo provides its owners with comfort — something everyone could probably use a bit more of going into 2021.

“As many are having to stay inside and some may be more in solitary conditions, we feel that many are looking for items that could function as a companion,” said Yukai’s Saaya Okuda.

$110, available in Japan with plans to expand.