Uchinoko LiveA Cat or Dog Walking on Your Mac Screen: How Desktop Pets Move, and How to Keep Them Out of the Way
Published October 8, 2026
A cat padding along the bottom of your screen, stopping to sit, then curling up for a nap. Desktop pets have been a small joy for computer lovers for decades. This guide covers the different ways they move around, and how to set one up so it stays out of the way during work and video calls. For app recommendations, see Desktop pets for Mac: how to get started.
Four ways desktop pets move
Two apps can both be called "desktop pets" and behave completely differently. Knowing the types up front saves you from installing something that isn't what you pictured.
1. Walking along the bottom of the screen
The pet strolls back and forth above the Dock, sits, and sleeps. It stays at the edge of your vision, which makes it the calmest type and the easiest to leave on all day.
2. Chasing your cursor
The classic "cat chases the mouse" style. Move the cursor and the pet follows; stop, and it curls up nearby. Adorable, but busy, so look for a way to pause it when you need to focus.
3. Walking along window edges
The pet walks along the top of your open windows or climbs up their sides. Some fall off when you move the window. Lively and fun to watch.
4. Living in the Dock or menu bar
The pet animates inside the Dock or the menu bar. It takes up almost no space, so it's great on a small laptop screen, though the pet looks small too.
| Movement | How distracting | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Along the bottom | Low | Leaving it on during work |
| Chasing the cursor | High | Playing during breaks |
| Along window edges | Medium | People who like a lively screen |
| Dock or menu bar | Low | Small screens, low-key setups |
Tips to keep it out of the way
Start small
A pet that shows up larger than expected quickly becomes distracting. If you can resize it, start small and scale up if you want more.
Check whether clicks pass through
When you click on the pet, does the click reach the file or button underneath? Apps differ. If clicks don't pass through, the spot where the pet sits becomes unclickable. Try clicking on it once right after installing.
Know how to hide it before you share your screen
If you share your entire screen in a video call, your desktop pet may be visible to others. Check that you can hide or quit it quickly from the menu bar, and look at your screen-sharing preview before the call.
Full-screen apps and external displays
On a Mac, a full-screen app opens in its own space. Whether the pet follows you there, and which display it appears on, varies by app. If that matters to you, choose one that lets you pick the display.
Watch the battery
Anything animating all day uses some battery. Open Activity Monitor and check the Energy tab to see how much. You can also pause the pet when you're unplugged.
What makes it feel like a real cat or dog?
Oddly, it's often not the movement but the stillness. Walk, pause, sit, yawn, curl up. A pet that sometimes does nothing at all feels far more present than one that never stops moving. When you compare apps, watch their preview videos for how the pet behaves when it's idle.
Want your own pet walking on your screen?
More people want their own cat or dog on screen rather than a stock character. We cover the options in How to turn your own pet into a desktop pet. Uchinoko Live is a service that brings your pet to your Mac desktop from your photos (learn more).
This guide is published by Uchinoko Live, a made-to-order service that uses AI to create pet portraits and short videos from photos.