Estrellita looks like a real cat, but is actually a robotic pet created to accompany older adults at a day center. Its presence aims to help people experiencing unwanted loneliness, stress, or a lack of sensory stimulation.
The robot responds to touch, moves, makes sounds, and allows users to interact with it as if it were a calm pet. For many older adults, petting it, talking to it, or holding it can become a moment of calm within a routine that sometimes feels repetitive.
In care centers, this type of technology does not replace human affection or professional care, but it can provide companionship at specific moments. Estrellita does not ask for food, does not run away, and does not scratch furniture. It simply stays there, available for a stroke when someone needs company 🐱
