There was an interesting article in the May 31 issue of The New Yorker (page 24) about Virginia Kellner, who got her cat, which she named Jennie, for her ninety-second birthday. The catch—it’s not real. The Department of the Aging started offering robotic dogs and cats to seniors as part of a New York state loneliness intervention project. A Meals on Wheels driver delivered the pet to her, and was as curious as Virginia to open the box. Virginia pulled the cat’s tail, and it let out a tinny meow: one of more than thirty sounds and gestures like eye closing, mouth opening and head turning which the Joy for All cats are designed to make. What a wonderful idea!
