Uchinoko LiveDesktop Pets for Mac: How to Get Started and Pick the Right One
Published October 8, 2026
A tiny cat strolling along the bottom of your screen while you work, a dog curled up next to the Dock. That's a desktop pet. This guide covers the kinds of desktop pets you can run on a Mac, how the popular apps compare, and how to install, auto-launch and remove them without fuss.
What is a desktop pet?
A desktop pet is a small app that puts an animated character on top of your desktop. The idea goes back decades: Neko, the cat that chases your cursor; Shimeji, the little figures that multiply across your screen; and more recently Desktop Goose, which wanders around and steals your cursor. Today there are Mac apps with pixel-art animals, cats that live inside the Dock, and apps that can use photos of your own pet.
Three main types
1. A ready-made character
You pick a cat, fox, bird or other animal that comes with the app. Quick to set up; some are free and some are paid.
2. A pet that lives in the Dock or menu bar
It stays inside the Dock or the menu bar at the top of the screen. It takes up almost no room, which is nice on a small MacBook screen.
3. A pet made from your own photos or videos
You import photos, videos or GIFs and the app puts them on your desktop. You get your own pet on screen, but preparing and cleaning up the footage is up to you (more in How to turn your own pet into a desktop pet).
Popular Mac desktop pet apps compared
Based on each app's own store or download page (linked from the app name) as of October 8, 2026. Prices and features change, so double-check before you install.
| App | Where it lives | Your own photos | Pricing | Get it from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dockitty | The Dock (with an optional walking mode) | No | Free + in-app purchases | Mac App Store |
| Docko Pets | The Dock; follows your cursor | No | Free (extra animals paid) | Mac App Store |
| CozyPet | Walks and naps along the bottom of the screen | No | One-time purchase | Developer's Gumroad page |
| Bongo Cat | A small window at the edge of the screen | No | Free to play (paid extras) | Steam |
| Desktop Goose | Anywhere on screen | No | Pay what you want | itch.io |
| DeskPet | Desktop | Yes (videos, GIFs; you remove the background yourself) | One-time purchase (free trial build) | Mac App Store, official site |
| Peekoo | Desktop; climbs window edges | Yes (from a single photo) | Free to start, paid plans | Official site (Windows too) |
The Mac port of Shimeji (Shijima-Qt) is marked as archived on GitHub (checked October 8, 2026). Several unrelated apps are called "DeskPet," so check the developer before you download.
Five things to check before you install
- Will it get in your way? Can you resize it, and do clicks on the pet pass through to whatever is underneath?
- Where does it hang out? Bottom of the screen, the Dock, window edges, or chasing your cursor. These feel very different day to day (see how desktop pets move).
- Battery and performance. Anything that animates all day uses some power. A pause or sleep option helps.
- Where it comes from. Mac App Store apps have been through Apple's review. For anything else, make sure the developer is clearly identified.
- If you use your own photos, where they go. Do they stay on your Mac, or get uploaded? If uploaded, when are they deleted?
Installing, auto-launching and removing
From the Mac App Store
Install it from the Mac App Store. If automatic updates are turned on, the app stays up to date on its own.
Downloaded from a website
macOS may block apps from unidentified developers, or apps that haven't been notarized by Apple, the first time you open them. On macOS Sequoia and later, the old Control-click → Open trick no longer works. Only do the following for apps you've confirmed come from a developer you trust:
- Try to open the app once (it's fine if it gets blocked).
- Go to Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Under Security, click "Open Anyway" and enter your password.
The button only appears for about an hour after you tried to open the app. If you don't see it, try to open the app, then check back. If you can't tell who made an app, it's safer not to force it open.
Start it when your Mac starts
Go to System Settings → General → Login Items & Extensions, click "+", and choose the app. If the app has its own "Launch at login" setting, that works too.
Removing it
Quit the app (usually from its menu bar icon), then drag it from Applications to the Trash. If you added it to Login Items, remove it there as well.
Want your own pet on your desktop?
If you'd rather see your own cat or dog than a stock character, you can either build it yourself with an app that imports photos, or have it made for you. We compare the two in How to turn your own pet into a desktop pet. Uchinoko Live is a made-to-order option that puts your pet on your Mac desktop or iPhone Home Screen (learn more; iPhone app: US App Store only).
This guide is published by Uchinoko Live, a made-to-order service that uses AI to create pet portraits and short videos from photos.