How robot cats are helping Peterborough dementia patients

Dementia patient Zofia Kowakzk with one of the robotic cats

The Crocus Cafe, which runs at the Salvation Army Citadel in Lincoln Road once a month, helps around a dozen dementia sufferers in Peterborough, offering entertainment, refreshments - and now half-a-dozen life-like fluffy autonomous felines.

The robots act almost like real cats - from using their paws to ‘clean their face’ to purring when they are stroked.

The cafe is run by the Rotary Clubs in Peterborough, and committee member Barry Pennill said the cats were proving very useful to the club members, to help them relax and deal with symptoms of dementia.

Dementia patients and carers at the Crocus Cafe with Aasiyah Joseph, president of Peterborough Rotary Club, and the robotic cats presented by Rotary to the café

He said: “The cats are incredibly realistic. They react to being touched at various pressure points on their bodies, so they will purr, meow, roll over and wash their faces.

“They are very tactile.

“It is like having a real cat, but without all the negative side effects.

“They provide great comfort to people with dementia and their carers, and everyone at the club loves them.”

The club initially had two ‘cats’ but after seeing how successful they were with the members, they ordered four more, as they provide companionship, as well as a sense of purpose and enjoyment, which reduces stress.

Barry said: “We have about 12 to 15 dementia sufferers and their carers come along every month.

“Most live at home with members of their family, and we have been able to ‘loan’ the cats to our members for a month.

“They have been so well received by everyone, that our president Aasiyah Joseph decided to get some more.”

The cats themselves cost about £105 each.

The Crocus Cafe has been running since 2013, and meets on the first Monday of every month.