Games for cats on iPad and iPhone
Pounce Pad is a set of eight screen games for cats on iPhone and iPad, built around one idea: prey should move like prey. A mouse peeks out, freezes, flicks its head and dives back into a hole; a laser dot hovers, zips away and draws tight circles. That stop-start rhythm is what gets a cat ready to pounce. Targets are yellow, blue or cream on a dark floor, colors cats see well. While a game runs there are no buttons a paw can hit, and a timer ends each session after 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes. Mouse Hole and Laser Dot are free; one purchase unlocks the other six.
- Price
- Mouse Hole and Laser Dot free. All 8 games $3.99 once
- Games
- Mouse Hole, Laser Dot, Koi Pond, Feather Wand, Butterflies, String, Ladybugs, Fireflies
- Sessions
- 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes, 3 speeds, 1 to 3 targets
- Requires
- iPhone or iPad. No account
Screenshots
How to set up a screen game for your cat
A few minutes of setup makes the difference between a cat that ignores the screen and one that hunts it.
- Lay the screen flatPut the iPhone or iPad flat on the floor and turn the brightness up. A screen protector is a good idea.
- Turn on Guided AccessIn Settings, Accessibility, Guided Access, switch it on, then triple-click the side button once a game is running so a paw cannot swipe home.
- Pick a game, a length and a speedChoose a game, a session of 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes, a speed (Chill, Normal or Zoomy) and one to three targets for homes with more than one cat.
- Step back and stay nearbyLet your cat hunt. When time is up the prey stops and the screen suggests finishing with a real toy your cat can catch and carry off. To pause or leave early, hold the faint ring in the corner for about a second.
What's in the game
🐭Prey that moves like prey
Stop-start movement: peeks, freezes, darts in short curves and hides. Eight games, from Mouse Hole to Fireflies.
🟡Colors for a cat's eyes
Targets are yellow, blue or cream on a dark floor. That is why the laser dot is yellow-green, not red.
🐾Paws can't quit
No buttons while a game runs. To pause, hold the corner ring for about a second; taps and swats do nothing.
⏱️Short sessions on a timer
5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes, then the prey stops and you decide whether to go on. The screen stays awake while a game runs.
📊Hunting log
Catches, pounces and a weekly log that shows which game your cat likes best, kept on your device.
🐈For one cat or several
Three speeds and one to three targets on screen. Works on iPhone and iPad, in either orientation.
Questions this game answers
What are good games for cats on an iPad?
Look for prey that moves the way real prey does, not at a steady speed, in colors a cat can pick out, and with no buttons a paw can hit. Pounce Pad has eight games built that way: Mouse Hole, Laser Dot, Koi Pond, Feather Wand, Butterflies, String, Ladybugs and Fireflies. It runs on iPad and iPhone, in either orientation.
Is there a free laser pointer game for cats?
Yes. Laser Dot is one of the two free games in Pounce Pad. The dot hovers with a tremor, zips away, draws tight circles and clicks off, like a laser in a real hand. It is yellow-green rather than red, because cats see blues and yellows far better than reds.
Why doesn't my cat play with games on the screen?
Lay the device flat on the floor, turn the brightness up and step back. Try Mouse Hole or Koi Pond at Normal speed first; many cats warm up after a few sessions. Short sessions tend to work better than long ones, which is why every session runs on a timer.
Can my cat close the app by accident?
Not from inside a game: there are no buttons while it runs, and pausing needs a one-second hold on the corner ring, which a tapping paw does not do. To stop a swipe out of the app, turn on Guided Access (Settings, Accessibility) and triple-click the side button while a game is running.
Will my cat scratch the iPad screen?
Trimmed claws rarely do, but a screen protector is a good idea, and stay nearby while your cat plays.
Can two cats play at once?
Yes. Set one to three targets on screen for households with more than one cat.
Pounce Pad vs a laser pointer and other cat game apps
A laser pointer needs you to hold it and never gives your cat something to catch. Other screen games for cats vary in how prey moves and how easy it is for a paw to quit or hit an ad.
| Pounce Pad | Handheld laser pointer | Other cat game apps | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hands-free play | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Stop-start prey movement | ✓ | Depends on your hand | Varies |
| Paw-proof controls (hold to pause) | ✓ | Not needed | Varies |
| Session timer | ✓ 5 to 20 minutes | ✗ | Varies |
| Something real to catch | Suggests ending with a real toy | ✗ | Varies |
| Ads during play | ✗ Never; menu banner in the free version only | None | Varies |
| Price | 2 games free; all 8 for $3.99 once | Varies | Varies |
Frequently asked questions
Is Pounce Pad free?
Mouse Hole and Laser Dot are free, with a small banner ad on the menu screens. One purchase ($3.99 in the US) unlocks the other six games for good and removes the ads, on every device signed in to your Apple Account. No subscription, no account.
Does it show ads while my cat plays?
No. Ads never appear while a game is running, so a paw can't reach one. In the free version a non-personalized banner from Google AdMob appears on menu screens only; the unlock removes it.
Is it safe for my cat and my screen?
Stay nearby while your cat plays. A screen protector is a good idea; trimmed claws rarely scratch. Sessions are short and run on a timer, and at the end the screen suggests finishing with a real toy your cat can catch and carry off.
Why is the laser dot yellow instead of red?
Cats see blues and yellows far better than reds, which look to them like a dull olive. Every target in Pounce Pad is yellow, blue or cream on a dark floor.
How do I stop or pause a game?
Press and hold the faint ring in the corner for about a second. A tap does nothing on purpose, so a swatting paw can't quit or open menus. The end-of-session screen asks for a hold too.
Does it work on iPad?
Yes. Pounce Pad works on iPhone and iPad, in either orientation, and the one-time unlock covers every device signed in to your Apple Account.
What data does it collect?
No sign-in and no analytics of our own. Your cat's play stats stay on your device. The free version shows ads from Google AdMob that are never personalized; the unlock removes them.
Which languages does it support?
15: English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Hindi, Arabic, Simplified Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Is there an Android version?
There is no Android version yet. Pounce Pad is for iPhone and iPad only.
More on-device apps for chat exports and voice notes
Pounce Pad is a screen toy, not a replacement for real play. Supervise your cat while it plays, use a screen protector, and end sessions with a toy your cat can catch. Stop if your cat seems frustrated or stressed.