Qoobo
A furry cushion with a robotic tail that wags when you stroke it. Reviewers found it oddly calming, but it does nothing else, and the tail motor is audible.
The short version
Qoobo is a round, lap-sized cushion with a cat-like tail. Stroke it gently and the tail sways lazily; pat it harder and it swishes. Now and then it wags by itself, as if to say hello. That's the whole idea. There's no face, no voice and no app, just fur, a tail and a battery. It comes from Yukai Engineering in Tokyo, which also makes the smaller Petit Qoobo and the Mirumi bag charm.
The trade-off is simplicity. Reviewers liked it as something to stroke while watching TV, and people who can't keep a pet or are allergic to cats got the most from it. But it has a simple personality, the motor makes a whirring sound, and you have to remember to charge it. Buy it expecting a comfort object rather than a pet.
The Petit Qoobo is smaller and adds a faint heartbeat and a tail that reacts to sounds. It's a separate model.
Our take: Buy Qoobo if you'd like something warm and furry to stroke on the sofa and can't have a real cat, perhaps because of allergies or a no-pets rental. It's simple and needs no setup. Skip it if you want a companion that responds to your voice or seems to know you; Casio's Moflin reacts with movements and sounds, and Joy for All's pets purr or bark when stroked.
Where it sits in Yukai Engineering’s range
- QooboThis model · $199.99
- Petit QooboSmaller, with a heartbeat and a tail that hears sounds
- MirumiYukai's furry bag-charm robot that turns to look around
What reviewers found
Three reviewers lived with Qoobo. Digital Trends kept one, alongside a Petit Qoobo, during lockdown, and SoraNews24's reporter rented one for a month. Gizmodo spent a week with a pre-production prototype, and GIGAZINE's staff tried a pre-release unit. All of them found it calming to stroke and agreed it's no substitute for a real animal. They differ on how much the motor noise matters. TechCrunch tested only the Petit Qoobo.
Digital Trends, hands-on, Jan 2021 (Lived with both Qoobo and Petit Qoobo) · SoraNews24, hands-on, 1 month (rented unit), Jul 2021 · Gizmodo, hands-on, 1 week at home, Jan 2018 (Tested a pre-production prototype) · GIGAZINE, hands-on, Nov 2017 (Tested before launch) · TechCrunch, hands-on, Dec 2020 (tested on the Petit Qoobo; Reviews the smaller Petit Qoobo, not this model)
Calming, but not a pet
Everyone who tried it found stroking Qoobo relaxing. Digital Trends said stroking it while watching TV became a habit that never failed to make him smile. GIGAZINE's staff kept petting it while reading or working at a computer. But Gizmodo's reviewer kept coming back to one point: it is not a cat, and it can't give you the relationship a real animal does. Digital Trends called its personality more hamster than dog. Treat it as a comfort object, not a friend.
The tail follows your touch
The tail is the whole show, and reviewers thought it was well done. SoraNews24's reporter found slow strokes brought lazy swishes and faster petting sped it up. GIGAZINE saw the angle, speed and rhythm change with how hard and fast they stroked. Digital Trends found Qoobo lazier than the Petit until patted, and liked that it wags on its own now and then to remind you it's there.
You'll hear the motor
Qoobo makes no sounds of its own, but the motor does. Digital Trends described a distinct motor sound that made him smile when the tail wagged by itself. SoraNews24's reporter barely noticed the gentle whirring during the day but found it could be startling at night. GIGAZINE heard small mechanical noises too. If you're a light sleeper, switch it off before bed rather than keeping it in the bedroom.
Battery and upkeep
Yukai claims about eight hours of use per charge the specifications. Digital Trends got about a week when switching it on each evening only. SoraNews24's reporter sometimes forgot to charge it, leaving it lifeless. The fur covers come off and can be washed, according to Digital Trends, and SoraNews24 reported a design life of about 700,000 wags, roughly two years. The prototype Gizmodo tested ran on replaceable batteries, so its battery findings don't apply.
Who it suits best
Reviewers who couldn't have pets got the most out of it. Digital Trends lived alone during lockdown in a home where pets weren't allowed. SoraNews24's reporter is allergic to cats. Gizmodo notes it's aimed at allergy sufferers and people in flats who can't keep pets. At about a kilogram and the size of a big cushion the specifications, it sits comfortably on a lap and is easy to cuddle.
Covers the full-size Qoobo. The Gizmodo and GIGAZINE tests used units made before retail launch. TechCrunch tested only the Petit Qoobo, a smaller sibling with a heartbeat and sound-reactive tail.
Prices
Where to buy the Qoobo in United States
| Retailer | Price | Delivery | Stock | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yukai EngineeringCheapest Official store | $199.99 | — | In stock | Go to Yukai Engineering |
Prices read from each seller’s own page on 24 September 2026. Some links are affiliate links and are marked where they appear. Commission never changes the order or the recommendation.
Before you buy
The questions people ask about this one
Does it need a subscription to keep working?
No. Qoobo has no app and no internet connection listed in its specifications the specifications. You switch it on, stroke it and charge it with the included adaptor. None of the reviewers, from Digital Trends to SoraNews24, mention any account or setup.
What does it record, and where does that go?
Nothing, as far as the maker's specifications show. There's no camera, microphone or wireless connection listed the specifications. It senses how you stroke it and moves its tail in response, which is all GIGAZINE and SoraNews24 describe it doing.
Is it suitable for young children?
Yukai says it's for all ages except babies, and that children shouldn't be left alone with it the specifications. It's soft and weighs about a kilogram. Don't let anyone sit on it; the maker warns against that. SoraNews24 notes the tail mechanism has a finite life, so rough play may shorten it.
How long does the battery last?
The maker claims about eight hours of use and four to eight hours to recharge the specifications. Digital Trends found a charge lasted about a week when he only switched it on in the evenings. SoraNews24's reporter occasionally forgot to charge it and found it motionless.
Is it noisy?
A little. The tail motor makes a whirring sound. SoraNews24's reporter found it unnoticeable in the daytime but startling at night, and Digital Trends said the sound is distinct. If it will sit by your bed, you may want to switch it off at night.
Compare with
Companion Cat / Pup
A soft robotic cat or puppy that purrs or barks when stroked and needs no app.
It won't fool anyone into thinking it's a real animal.
Moflin
A soft companion that reacts to touch with small movements and sounds, and develops moods you follow in an app.
It doesn't understand your words, and one tester noticed its sounds at night.
PARO
A therapeutic seal robot with far more research behind it than most companion robots.
Studies show stronger evidence for engagement than for a consistent therapeutic effect.
Full specifications
Figures come from the manufacturer’s product page unless a source is named. A blank means nobody we trust has confirmed it.
Owner reviews
Own a Qoobo?
Tell people how it’s held up: cleaning, maintenance, faults and support. Owner reviews are shown separately from expert tests and never mixed into the score.
Sources
Everything cited on this page. Expert scores are shown as the reviewer gave them.
- Digital Trends: Meet Qoobo, the cute, robotic tailed cushion that cured my pandemic bluesHands-on · Lived with both Qoobo and Petit Qoobo
- SoraNews24: We adopted a furry, cuddly, tailed cat cushion to keep us company at homeHands-on, 1 month (rented unit)
- Gizmodo: I Snuggled With This Robot Cat and It Didn't Scratch Me OnceHands-on, 1 week at home · Tested a pre-production prototype
- GIGAZINE: Qoobo reviewHands-on · Tested before launch
- TechCrunch: An earnest review of a robotic cat pillowHands-on · Tested on the Petit Qoobo · Reviews the smaller Petit Qoobo, not this model (not counted towards our two-review minimum)
- Yukai Engineering: Qoobo and Petit Qoobo brand siteManufacturer
- Yukai Engineering Online Store: Qoobo product page and specificationsManufacturer