Official Desktop App
Set a work timer
The cat takes over your screen when it is time for a break
30,000+ total downloads 🎉
Focused so hard you forget to take breaks?
Worried about you staring at the screen nonstop, the cat steps in, like it or not.
The browser alone wasn't enough.
In the desktop app, the cat lounges wherever it likes across your whole computer.
Deadline or not, crunch time or not, we humans are just servants to our cats!
When the cat settles in as if to say, “Give me some attention,” close your eyes and take your break.
WHAT'S NEW
* Automatic updates may take some time.
To update right away, please check the App Store or Microsoft Store.
• Two new cats have joined the star cats in the monthly plan
• Check past updates from the bell next to the gear
• The menu bar icons no longer shift as the time left changes (Mac)
• You can now call a cat right away from the tray menu (Win)
• The cat now shows at the right size on external monitors with different scaling (Win)
• Added an exit animation for the free star cat
• Added "Meow on the way out," which has the cat meow once when a break ends
• You can now hide the time left in the menu bar
• Added "Take a full break," which keeps you from shooing the cat during breaks
• Added "Meow on the way out," which has the cat meow once when a break ends
• Added an exit animation for the free star cat
• The timer no longer runs while your computer is asleep
• Your chosen display for the cat is now kept even when that monitor is disconnected
• Fixed several other bugs
• Added "Take a full break," which keeps you from shooing the cat during breaks
• The timer no longer runs while your computer is asleep
• Your chosen display for the cat is now kept even when that monitor is disconnected
• You can now use the menu bar during breaks
• Fixed an issue where the app could not start on macOS 12
• Fixed several other bugs
• Stroke a sleeping cat to hear it purr
• Click a sleeping cat to see it wiggle
• Start a break right away with the "Call a cat now" button
• Set your break time freely from 1 to 15 minutes
• The timer is easier to read while paused
• Improved protection against accidental typing during breaks
• Improved stability at startup
• Check the time left and start, pause or reset the timer right from the menu bar
• "World" is now a slideshow that switches cats every 15 seconds
• You can now add HEIC photos to "Mine"
• "World" now shows each cat's country flag, with a new photo backdrop
• Fixed several bugs and made the app easier to use
• Four new star cats have joined the monthly plan.
• Fixed an issue where the break screen appeared shifted when using Stage Manager on macOS.
• You can now copy the support email address from within the app.
• Added a monthly plan that gives access to all star cats. The first month is free.
• Added a new star cat, the Tuxedo Cat.
• Added three new star cats.
• Added a "UFO" effect.
• Added a third star cat.
• Added a "Rainbow" motion for "Mine" cats.
• Improved star cat previews.
• "World" cats you haven't met yet now appear first.
• Fixed display and data-saving issues and improved stability.
• Added support for Intel-based Macs.
• Added a new motion, "Space Cat."
• Added a button to play and preview motions.
• Newly added "World" cats now show up sooner.
• Added a new star cat.
• "World" cats have arrived! Cats from users around the world now come tell you it's break time.
• Added menu bar tray mode. You can close the window and keep using the app from the menu bar.
• You can now add your favorite photos.
• You can now remove the background from added photos.
• Motion features have been added.
• The menu screen display and behavior have been improved.
• Fixed an issue where the Dock icon could become unstable during breaks on Mac.
• Fixed an issue where the menu might not appear after ending a paused countdown on Mac.
Cat Gatekeeper Desktop is now available for both Windows and Mac.
The official Cat Gatekeeper website is now available.
New Cats
Currently featuring 13 star cats, with more friends on the way!
Meet them all with the monthly plan! You can still enjoy the app for free 🐾
FEATURES
At break time, a cat comes to interrupt your work. Let’s take a little rest together.
Add your favorite photo as a “Mine” cat and show it at break time.
Remove the background from your “Mine” photo so it blends naturally into the screen.
Add your favorite effect to a photo and show it during breaks.
WORLD
On your break, a new cat from around the world visits every 15 seconds.
New cats are joining all the time!
Which one?
HOW TO
Choose your work time and break time freely (25 and 5 minutes by default).
Keep the timer on screen, or tuck it away in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows).
When time is up, the cat appears on your screen and stays until the break is over.
To end early, use the dismiss button at the bottom right, or dismiss the cat from the menu.
PRIVACY
Here is what Cat Gatekeeper does and does not do with your data.
Q&A
No. The browser extension helps prevent overuse of selected websites, while the desktop app is a timer that encourages breaks from computer work as a whole. When break time comes, a cat settles in across your whole screen and makes you stop for a breather.
It works on macOS and Windows. The macOS version supports both Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs.
Yes. The app is free to download and enjoy. Along with the basic star cat, you can add effects to your own photos, and cats loved by people around the world drop by in a slideshow. With the monthly plan, you can meet every star cat. You can also try it free for one month. You can cancel anytime.
Set your work time and break time, then start the countdown. When the countdown reaches 0 and break time begins, the cat will appear on your screen.
If you keep the app in the menu bar (the system tray on Windows), it never quits, so store auto-updates may not get installed. Choose "Quit Cat Gatekeeper" from the cat icon's menu to quit the app once. If it still doesn't update, open Cat Gatekeeper's page in each store and check whether you can update to the latest version.
Yes. You can change both the time before the cat appears and the break time from the app menu.
Yes. Turn on "Show in menu bar" (on Windows, "Show in system tray") in Settings to keep using the app after closing the window.
You can easily dismiss the cat from the app menu or with the dismiss button in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
The timer, the free Star cat, and your “Mine” cats work offline. “World” cats and cats included with the monthly plan may require an internet connection because the app automatically downloads and rotates image and video files as needed while you use it. An internet connection is also required to buy or verify the monthly plan, view update information, or open the official website.
The star cats were carefully refined one by one with the help of AI to become the ultimate lovable distractions. Some are inspired by real cats, lovingly capturing their personalities and charm. Please treat them kindly as the gatekeepers of your desk.
Photos added as “Mine” cats are processed and stored on your device and are not sent anywhere.
No. It does not track your browsing history, app usage, keystrokes, or screen contents. It only follows the work and break times you set.
You are very welcome to include screenshots or screen recordings in posts introducing Cat Gatekeeper or sharing your impressions. However, please do not extract, reuse, or redistribute image or video assets included in the app.
Support
