A Fur Real Kitty was donated to For the Love of Paws Thrift Store in mid-2021, and Operations Director Ted S. Pankiewicz, Jr. thought it would be a great donation for a local senior facility. So, they brought the Fur Real robotic kitty to Solaris Senior Living on Indian River Blvd in Vero Beach.
A week later, they were told that it went over so well with their memory care patients that they had to change the batteries several times in just the first week.
Fur Real Kitty
If you’re not familiar with the Fur Real Kitty, they are robotic plush kitties with several sensors on them that, when touched, will purr, meow, pick up their paw, rollover, blink their eyes, or open their mouth. The robotic kitties come with batteries and a brush.
Fur-Real Pet Companions Program
Since memory care patients enjoy these kitties so much, especially ones who have had cats in the past, For the Love of Paws has added the Fur-Real Pet Companions program to the list of programs they provide to seniors.
They have delivered these kitties to many memory care facilities in a short time. But, there are still facilities waiting to receive them.
Donate a Fur-Real Friend
For the Love of Paws receives the robotic kitties through Amazon when people purchase them for the non-profit. As they receive these robotic kitties, phone calls are made to memory care facilities to set up days and times to deliver.
Below is a list of memory care facilities that have received pets and the ones that are still waiting.
Facilities that have received Fur Real Robotic Kitties
In 2021:
- Solaris Senior Living of Vero Beach (mentioned above)
- Harbor Chase of Vero Beach
- Certus Premier Memory Care Living, Vero Beach
- The Promenade, Sebastian
- Sonata Senior Living, Vero Beach
In 2022:
- Solaris Senior Living, Vero Beach (received their 2nd kitty)
- Family Extended Care of Vero Beach
- Watercrest Senior Living St Lucie West, Port St. Lucie
- A Place like Home, Palm Bay
- A&J Assisted Living, Palm Bay
- Renaissance Senior Living of Vero Beach
- Brookdale Senior Living, Vero Beach
- Mangrove Memory Care at The Brennity, Vero Beach
- Rosewood Manor of Vero Beach
Memory Care Facilities Waiting
- Pelican Landing, Sebastian
- Palm Bay Memory Care, Palm Bay
- Riverview Senior Resort, Palm Bay
