It had to happen. First there was iDog, then there was iPup and then along swam iFish. So guess what the boffins behind these pet-tastic interactive speakers have now come up with? No, not iDuck-billed platypus - i-cat!
Plug in your MP3 player
Yes, Tiddles-lovers, this charming little hi-tech pet is an ingenious motion-sensitive moggy that reacts to the music it hears - whether it's booming out of a nearby stereo or belting out of i-cat's nifty built-in speaker. Simply plug in your MP3 player (or any other music generating device) and watch as i-cat moves and grooves to the rhythm of the song.
Kitty listening to a ditty
Unike a real cat this incredibly cute battery-operated feline actually does something other than sleep and act all aloof. In fact the second i-cat hears a ditty, its funky face lights up and its ears and head wiggle and sway to the beat. Try getting a real cat to do that! (Actually don't, the RSPCA wouldn't approve).
But here's the really good bit: thanks to clever sensors, you can mix things up and play meows and purrs along to the music. Simply stroke i-cat in the appropriate area and he'll respond accordingly. You can even add scratch effects to your tunes by stroking i-cat at the r-r-r-relevant moment. Cat scratch fever? Just a bit.
Press nose to start
Touch face sensors
Scratch ear sensors
In order to illustrate how i-cat enjoys all kinds of music we were planning to insert a few pussycat related music puns at this point, but that would be a bit silly. Indeed in tests, 8 out of 10 owners said that Freddie Purr-cury, Kitty Politti and Meow-colm McLaren were spectacularly paw examples of feline wordplay.
With that in mind we'll wind things up by saying that i-cat is one of the most enchanting ikkle interactive speaker-pets in the history of the genre. We defy you not to fall in love the second you see his face light up. In terms of desktop companions, this really is the cat's meow!
When you put the idog, icat and ifish together, what would happen? would idog chase icat when icat grabs ifish??!!! HELP! Michael, Rayleigh - 27th May 2007
I just got the I-Cat and it is the cutest thing ever! Only problem is, I can't seem to find the ear sensors (the picture in the manual is pretty vague) and so I can't play the copy-cat game! Sara, Nebraska - 20th April 2007
Firebox says: Good question Sara. The sensors are on the cats 'face' in line with the bottom corners of the ears. Happy copying!
Oh my goodness. . Could something electronic be any cuter???
After spending about 15mins just trying to get into the blasted thing, far too much sticky! I played the Pussycat Dolls album (don't judge me :P) to my new pussy cat (called Bob!) and as some of you know, there are some slow songs and some fast ones and the i-cat reacted purrrrrfectly (sorry had to take the opportunity) to all of the songs, lighting up my room like fireworks day!
I love the in-built drum game too...although I'm yet to master it! All in all a great little gadget for music lovers and cat lovers! The only problem I have with is when you use it as a speaker the volume isn't great. I know that you are to use the volume control on your mp3 player or what ever, I plugged into my laptop and at full volume, it just wasn't enough. I recommend using your own speakers and watch your kitty boogie! Thank you Firebox! Nyckie, Norfolk! - 10th February 2007
I got my i-cat last Christmas named Madcatz. It is a very very VERY cool toy! Thank you Firebox! Devon, Hillside, Illinois - 31st January 2007
This is so COOL! I love it! Devon, Hillside, Illinois - 20th January 2007
OH MY GOD! This Gadget is soo fun! When I got it, I sat it down and spent half an hour watching it dance to my music! WOW! Best Gadget ive seen! I recommend this! Dean Majiet, Welwyn Garden City - 16th January 2007
EST. 1998
i-cat is now only £14.95 - was £29.95