Meet Nékojita FuFu: The Robot Cat That Cools Your Coffee

At CES 2025, Yukai Engineering, a Japanese robotics company, revealed a quirky yet practical invention: the Nékojita FuFu — a tiny robot cat designed to blow air on your hot coffee, soup, or food to cool it off. This playful and innovative gadget combines a fan with a “special algorithm” or “Fuing System” that mimics the act of blowing on your food like a human would. Let’s explore this unique and adorable solution for anyone tired of waiting for their food to cool down.

What is Nékojita FuFu?

The Nékojita FuFu is not just your ordinary robot. Mounted on the side of your mug or bowl, this tiny robot cat uses gentle, variable air blasts to cool down hot food and drinks at the perfect pace. With its “Fuing System,” the robot mimics human-like behavior, blowing air in random strengths and intervals, just like someone blowing on their food to cool it off.

The Meaning Behind the Name:

The name “Nékojita FuFu” holds a special significance:

Nékojita means “cat tongue” in Japanese, referring to the sensitivity some people experience when eating hot food — a condition that affects nearly half of Japan’s population.
FuFu is the onomatopoeia for the sound we make when blowing on food.

This charming combination captures the essence of the product perfectly, offering a fun and practical way to deal with food that’s too hot to eat immediately.

How Does It Work?

Yukai Engineering’s Nékojita FuFu uses a combination of a fan and sophisticated algorithms to regulate the air-blowing process. It has several modes to match different needs:

The Basic Main Mode: Steady medium-strength/length blows with short intervals.
Look at That!: Gradually ramps up in strength as if it’s captivated by how the food looks.
I’ve Got This!: Strong head-start followed by sustained power.
The Princess Elegant: Slow and steady increases in strength.
Sing My Praise: A nonstop series of strong, short blows.
Ready Yet?: Stop-and-go medium blows, as if checking if it’s cool enough to eat.
‘Til You Drop: Long, strong, nonstop blow in a single breath.
Not Gonna Spill: Steady medium blows with short deep inhalations in between.

Why Nékojita FuFu?

This robot cat was born out of Yukai Engineering’s 2024 internal Make-a-Thon, where the team leader reminisced about how difficult it was to blow on freshly cooked baby food for his son. The task often left him breathless and dizzy, and this moment of inspiration led to the creation of Nékojita FuFu.

The company hopes the robot will be a solution for anyone who struggles with hot food, particularly those who find it challenging to wait for their meals to cool naturally.

Price and Availability

The Nékojita FuFu is set for release in Japan mid-2025, with a price tag of approximately $25. It’s the perfect addition to your kitchen if you’re a fan of both novelty gadgets and convenience.

Conclusion

The Nékojita FuFu may be small, but it brings big joy and practicality to your dining table. Whether you’re looking to cool down your coffee or your meal, this robot cat provides an adorable and effective solution. Are you ready for the future of cooling down your food?