Loaflet desktop cat update: wool chases and tiny skids

Cover illustration; the animation below uses the app’s actual cat artwork.

Hi friends! 🐾

We’ve been working on how Loaflet, our little desktop cat for Mac, chases its wool ball. What kept bothering us was the turn: when the ball bounced behind the cat, the chase could look like it was running backward.

A small skid before the turn

Now the cat brakes before turning around. Choose the Active activity style and you’ll also get a brief skid, with its paws planted while it slides a little farther. Then it’s off after the wool again.

Watch the wool chase (open to play, close to hide)

View a still frame of the chase

A rendered development preview using the app’s Kiko artwork.

The ball turns as it rolls and keeps spinning through a throw. When it bounces back, the cat has to change course. That’s the bit we wanted to show in this update.

Making room for a little independence

We’re also working on desktop visits. Your cat can drop by while you work, then wander off to a desktop it has visited before. Do Not Disturb blocks automatic visits when you need some quiet.

Desktop roaming still needs attention. We’re checking a report that switching between desktops can interrupt your work, so that part stays on our list to fix.

Thanks for following along! You can meet Loaflet in the desktop cat demo, or read the earlier build updates.