Thomas The Robotic Cat Brings Joy And Warm Memories To Ryland View Residents

Ryland View has got a new most popular Resident – a cat called Thomas who just happens to be a robot.

Residents have been having a wonderful time with Thomas, who is designed to mimic the behaviour of real-life felines.

You can stroke Thomas’ silky fur, brush him and feel him purr. He’ll also respond differently each time you pet him, and he’s known to roll on his back too.

The beauty of Thomas is that he’s the perfect companion and doesn’t require the same amount of Dreamies and cleaning up that real-life cats demand.

Activities Co-ordinator Julie Robinson says that Thomas has been a hit with the Residents.

Julie said: “When I saw an advert for Thomas, I knew we had to get him for our Residents.

“It’s common knowledge that animal therapy is very beneficial for older people, and Thomas provides just that.

“Stroking his fur releases endorphins, petting him calms anxiety and being around him helps stimulate conversation.

“It’s lovely to hear Residents talking about the pets they’ve loved over the years – those are very happy memories.”

The only problem that Thomas has created so far is that people get rather too attached to him.

Julie said: “Residents don’t want to give Thomas back – they want to keep him!

“It’s not hard to see why. I’m already making enquiries about getting a dog version too.

“Many of the Residents are dog lovers, and I think they’d love to have one here.”