Renting? You should be, because apparently more of us are renting as falling house prices and slack demand drags down Western civilisation.So if you are in your studio-based bedsit hovel, or a luxury five-bed pad, do you regret that stipulation of no children (not really), no DSS (probably not) and no pets (sob)? How many times have you thought that life would be more complete with a furry friend from another species, only to be thwarted by the evil landlord/managing agent combination?

Gifts for renters pining for companionship don’t get any better than an animatronic Guinea Pig.To some, he may be little more than a battery compartment with a wig, but to you he could be a friend and companion at least until the landlord calls for an inspection. Some of these cyborg rodents are really advanced with all sorts of electronic wizardry to make them truly interactive virtual pets and not just great gifts for women, who as we all know have a soft spot for small furry things.

Some have sensors in the eyes (the rodents, not women of course!) so they can shuffle about without bumping into things, which is probably more than you could do after a few Stellas! Some are scarily real for what are essentially toys.They have different moods and if you don’t play with them they get lonely and hide in a dark place.

Some react to voices and sounds and come running when you call and there’s even you even have to feed some with their own special carrot.Aside from those slightly freaky, “Rise of the Machines” attributes, animatronic animals are the perfect rental pet – no litter, no pee or poop behind the sofa, no scattered sawdust and easily put in a cupboard when the landlord comes to call.Oh yea, and when you go away on holiday they won’t die on you either!