Which robot dog or cat is actually right for the person you're buying it for?
Most "AI pet" guides are written by the companies selling them. This one isn't. Answer five questions and get a recommendation that accounts for dementia, budget, batteries, and whether anyone in the house can set up Wi-Fi.
Robot pets for dementia: what the evidence says
Small effects on agitation, none on cognition or sleep, and the eight problems families run into — with the fixes.
Best robot dogs in 2026
Every walking, rolling, and lap robot dog you can actually buy, from $140 to $3,200.
Best robot cats in 2026
Joy for All vs MetaCat vs the rest — batteries, purr, eyes, and who each is for.
Memory care & assisted living
Funding routes, bulk channels, and an infection-control protocol that works.
Why this site exists
Search for "robot dog for elderly parent" and the top results are buying guides written by the company that makes Loona, a law-firm blog, and a store page. Nobody says plainly that Tombot Jennie is not shipping, that the best-studied option costs $160, or that people with severe agitation respond poorly to robot pets in the largest trial to date. We read the studies, verify the prices monthly, and tell you when we have not tested something hands-on. How we work →
The quick version
Buying for someone with dementia
Start with the Joy for All cat ($159.99) or pup ($179.99). No app, no charging, and more real-world deployment than anything else. Read the caregiver guide first.
Get the caregiver checklist
Two pages on choosing, introducing, and living with a robot pet, plus one short email when prices, stock, or ship dates change.