Triple-tap the screen with three fingers at once: tap-tap-tap, all three fingers touching each time. This opens the owner menu, where you can switch games or leave.

Games have no visible exit on purpose, so a mid-pounce paw cannot quit the game. The 3-finger triple-tap is a gesture only a human hand can make.

While a game is on screen, iOS edge gestures are deferred so a paw sliding off the edge cannot leave the app or open Control Center. The first edge swipe shows an indicator instead; swipe again straight after and it works as normal. This is standard iOS behavior for full-screen apps.

Match the energy tag to your cat's mood. Chill games (Koi Pond, Window Birds, Firefly Jar) move slowly and suit first sessions, older cats, and lazy afternoons. Wild games (Laser Chase, Whack-a-Mouse, Feather Frenzy) are for when the zoomies hit. Mixed (Bug Buffet, Yarn Ball) sits in between.

The home screen also features a daily pick, which is an easy way to keep variety in the rotation.

Lay the device flat on the floor - cats hunt things on the ground, not things propped up. Start with a chill game so the prey moves slowly enough to track, dim the room a little so the screen stands out, and let your cat discover it rather than holding it in front of them. Some cats take a few sessions to decide the prey is real.

Glass is much harder than claws, so scratches from normal play are unlikely. If your cat is a heavy-pawed hunter, a cheap tempered-glass screen protector removes any worry. A case also helps the device survive being batted across the floor.

Yes, on its own. The game watches how your cat hunts and tunes the prey to match: slower and more forgiving for kittens and beginners, quicker and craftier for experienced hunters. There is nothing to configure.

That is the session winding down. Real play ends gradually, so toward the end of a session the pace eases off instead of stopping cold. It leaves cats settled rather than wired, the same way a good play session with a real toy ends with the "kill" and a rest.

Yes, always. Unlike a real laser pointer, every chase can end in a real catch, and catches are paced so your cat wins often enough to stay interested. Chasing something that can never be caught is frustrating for cats, so Whisker Arcade never does that.

iPhone and iPad running iOS 17 or later. An iPad on the floor makes the best hunting ground, but iPhone works fine too.

No. The app makes no network requests at all. Stats, streaks, and the daily featured pick are all worked out on your device, so everything works offline.

Every touch is treated as a paw, so two cats on one screen will not break anything. Stats and streaks are kept per device, though, so the arcade sees your cats as one very productive hunter.

Delete and reinstall the app. Everything Whisker Arcade saves lives on your device, so removing the app clears stats, streaks, and unlocks. There is no backup anywhere else, so this can't be undone.

On your device only, in standard iOS app storage. Whisker Arcade collects nothing and sends nothing anywhere. See the privacy policy for full details.