Pet Pause vs Cat Lock
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pet Pause
This app helps you focus with a Pomodoro timer that features cute animal companions during your breaks. It offers customizable session lengths and displays a countdown on your Dynamic Island and lock screen.
- Customizable focus and break durations
- Live Activity on Dynamic Island and lock screen
- End-of-session notifications
- Cute pet companions
- Light and dark themes
- Bilingual support (English, Chinese)
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Pet Pause is a quiet Pomodoro timer for people who like working in focused blocks — and who could use a little company on their breaks. Start a focus session. While the timer counts down on your Dynamic Island and lock screen, the app stays out of your way. When the session ends, a small animal companion slides into view and stays with you through your break. That's the whole app. — FROM THE PET GATEKEEPER FAMILY — Pet Pause is the mobile companion to Pet Gatekeeper, the browser extension that lets cats and dogs wander across your screen between tabs. Same cozy cast — now on your iPhone, paired with a focus timer. If you came here from Cat Gatekeeper or Dog Gatekeeper, hi. — FEATURES — • Customizable focus (1–90 min) and break (1–60 min) durations • Live Activity on the Dynamic Island + lock screen — countdown ring + MM:SS, the same way Apple's Timer works • End-of-session notifications — tap to jump straight into the next phase • A small cast of cute pet companions, more on the way • Light and dark themes, follows system automatically • Bilingual: English and 简体中文 — PRIVACY — Pet Pause does not collect anything. No analytics, no accounts, no ads, no third-party SDKs that phone home. Everything you set — your durations, your pet, your theme — stays on your iPhone. Read our full policy at: https://petgatekeeper.com/pet-pause/privacy — REQUIREMENTS — • iOS 16.1+ (Live Activities) • Dynamic Island countdown looks best on iPhone 14 Pro and later, but the lock-screen widget works on all supported devices — FEEDBACK — Found a bug or have an idea? Email support@petgatekeeper.com — every message gets read.
Cat Lock
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Cat Lock blocks your most distracting apps after you've used them too long. When time's up, your cat takes over the screen — and won't leave until you take a real break. HOW IT WORKS • Choose which apps to block — Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, Reddit, Discord, even games and shopping apps • Set your usage limit — 5 minutes to 2 hours • Use your apps normally until your time is up • When time's up, your cat takes over the screen • Watch a real cat video for 5 minutes • Apps unlock. Clock resets. Repeat. NOT ANOTHER BORING BLOCKER Most screen time apps either lock your apps all day or add an annoying delay to every single open. Cat Lock lets you actually use your apps — with real breaks built in. Instead of guilt, you get a cat. Usage-based, not punishment-based. WHAT MAKES CAT LOCK DIFFERENT • Usage-based blocking — time only counts while you're actually in the app • Real cat videos during every break — a different cat every time • New cats added all the time — the break never gets old • See your progress at a glance — track distractions blocked, streaks, and time reclaimed. • Per-app or combined limits — track each app separately or share one pool • Blocks apps AND websites — no Safari bypass • Works silently in the background — no willpower required THE CAT LOCK EXPERIENCE Your cat notices patterns. It counts every attempt your most tempting app makes. It shows you what you got back — not minutes, but movies, walks, and books. No screen time app has done it like this. And when you win the day, it tells you: "The apps tried. You won." PERFECT FOR • Doomscrollers who can't stop once they start • Anyone who opens an app for five minutes and looks up an hour later • Anyone whose willpower needs a gatekeeper • Cat people. Obviously. "Less doomscrolling. More life." Cat Lock requires a subscription to access all features. Terms of Service: https://www.catlock.io/terms Privacy Policy: https://www.catlock.io/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pet Pause at none against Cat Lock's 2. Pet Pause also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.4). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Cat Lock sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Pet Pause asks for nothing beyond the download.
| Parameter | Pet Pause | Cat Lock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 1 — better | — |
| Update frequency | — | Every 2 days |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 — better | 17.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 88 MB | 168 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 诗琦 龙 | ChelsKat LLC |
In-app purchases
Pet Pause
No in-app purchases
Cat Lock
- Weekly$2.997 Days
- Cat Lock Pro Yearly$29.991 Year









