PARO or a companion robot pet
PARO against Joy for All style companion cats and pups for dementia units: price, evidence from 415 Queensland residents and which suits which setting.
Budget holders reviewing a PARO request usually ask why the unit should not buy a handful of cheaper robotic cats instead. Each suits a different use, and many providers buy both.
What does each cost?
| PARO seal | Companion cat | Companion pup | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australian price | Listed from $6,500, distributor quote | $259 to $300 | $269 to $315 |
| How it is bought | Quote from a distributor | Specialist retail listing | Specialist retail listing |
| Sensors and response | Five sensor types, moves and makes seal sounds | Purrs and responds to touch | Barks back, responds to touch |
| Research | Australian randomised trial and later reviews | Smaller studies | Smaller studies |
| Typical use | Planned sessions in a dementia unit or ward | Personal pet or shared set | Personal pet or shared set |
Prices are Australian listings checked in September 2026. The companion pets on this page are covered only for comparison. This site takes enquiries for PARO and therapy robots.
What did the Queensland cost study find?
In the Griffith University trial across 28 facilities, PARO reduced agitation compared with usual care on video observation and drew more engagement than a plush toy. The nested cost study found both PARO and the plush toy were cost-effective, and the plush toy was slightly better value for money. The plush was a switched-off PARO, which a cheap companion pet does not replicate exactly, so read the finding with that in mind.
When is PARO worth the extra?
- A specialist dementia care unit where staff run planned one-to-one sessions.
- Residents with advanced dementia who have stopped responding to simpler items.
- A funding proposal that needs the strongest available research base.
- A ward or hospice that wants one unit shared between many patients over years.
When is a companion pet the better buy?
- A general wing where several residents would each like their own pet.
- A resident who becomes attached and needs a pet that stays with them.
- A small budget that would otherwise buy nothing.
For a dementia unit, a common mix is one PARO for planned sessions plus a few companion pets for residents who want one of their own. The dementia unit page covers session planning, and the therapy robot comparison covers humanoid options.