Mochi GenieDesktop pets for Mac: 8 cute companions compared
Desktop pets are back. A little creature walking along your windows or napping on the Dock makes a long day at the Mac feel less lonely. Some are pure fun. A few also nudge you to drink water or take a break. Here's how the current Mac options differ.
Who wrote this: we make Mochi Genie, one of the pets below, and we've tried to describe every app fairly. Details come from each app's App Store, Steam or official page, checked on 19 October 2026.
The short version
- Most pets to choose from: Toplings (170+ species) or Pets Therapy (75+ pixel pets).
- Never in the way: Dockitty, a cat that lives in your Dock.
- Free and playful, on Steam: Bongo Cat and Desktop Mate.
- A pet that also reminds you to take care of yourself: Mushroom or Mochi Genie.
Fun pet or useful pet?
Most desktop pets are decoration: they wander, nap and react when you poke them. That's the whole point, and it's lovely. A smaller group adds reminders, so the character becomes a reason to drink water, stretch or rest your eyes. If you've ignored every notification-style reminder you've tried, a character holding up a glass of water can work surprisingly well. If you just want company, pick for looks and personality.
Just for fun
1. Toplings
Tiny pixel-art creatures that know they're on a desktop: they walk along the tops of your real windows, tumble off when you move one, climb back up and nap on the Dock. You can pick one up and toss it. There are more than 170 species, and they groom each other and play together.
- Best for
- A busy, lively little ecosystem on your screen.
2. Pets Therapy
A long-running collection of more than 75 pixel pets, from cats and Labradors to llamas, that stroll, nap and snack across your screen, with the odd meme moment.
- Best for
- Choosing a favourite animal from a big catalogue.
3. Dockitty
Your cat is the app icon. It lives in the Dock, hand-drawn frame by frame in pixel art, and you feed it by dropping files on it. Its maker is clear that it's not a productivity tool, just a cozy companion.
- Best for
- People who want a pet that never covers their work.
4. Bongo Cat
The meme cat that slaps its paws every time you press a key. Type, click and play to earn points and unlock hats.
- Best for
- Gamers and anyone who types a lot and likes a little reward.
5. Desktop Mate
Characters sit on your windows, play with your cursor and respond to head pats. It includes a built-in alarm, and extra characters are paid add-ons.
- Best for
- Fans of the characters it offers.
6. DeskPet
Pets that run and play on your desktop, with dozens of animations and adjustable speed. Simple and light on features.
- Best for
- A quick, no-setup pet.
Pets that help you take breaks
7. Mushroom
A pixel-art mushroom that sits on your screen and reminds you about water, breaks, snacks and eye strain, timed by your keyboard activity. You can chat with it using an on-device language model, and it keeps a "stash" of links and notes.
- Best for
- A cheap reminder buddy that also runs on a Windows PC.
- Watch out for
- Apple silicon and macOS 15 or later only.
8. Mochi Genie (ours)
Mochi is a companion first, but it does real work: water, stretch, eye-rest, posture, walk and break reminders, each acted out by Mochi on screen. It waits while your microphone or camera is in use or you're in a fullscreen app, and can check in kindly when you've spent longer than planned in an app you picked. It's a native Mac app that uses 0.12% CPU on average while floating.
- Best for
- People who want one charming character that genuinely helps them look after themselves.
- Watch out for
- There's one Mochi (with seven capes), not a zoo of animals, and it costs $12.99 after the trial. Mac only.
Side by side
| App | Price | Style | Break reminders | Where to get it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toplings | Free | Pixel creatures on your windows | No | Mac App Store |
| Pets Therapy | Free | 75+ pixel pets | No | Mac App Store |
| Dockitty | Free | A cat in your Dock | No | Mac App Store |
| Bongo Cat | Free | Typing cat, hats | No | Steam |
| Desktop Mate | Free, paid characters | Characters on your windows | Alarm only | Steam |
| DeskPet | Free | Animated pets | No | Mac App Store |
| Mushroom | $9.99 once | Pixel mushroom, chat | Water, breaks, snacks, eyes | Its website, App Store |
| Mochi Genie | $12.99 once | Animated genie, seven capes | Water, stretch, eyes, posture, walks, breaks | mochigenie.com |
Questions
Do desktop pets work on a Mac?
Yes. Every pet on this page runs on macOS. Most come from the Mac App Store; Bongo Cat and Desktop Mate come from Steam, and Mushroom and Mochi Genie download from their makers' websites. Check each one's minimum macOS version before installing.
How do I get a free desktop pet on my Mac?
Toplings, Pets Therapy, Dockitty and DeskPet are free on the Mac App Store, and Bongo Cat and Desktop Mate are free on Steam. Install one, open it, and the pet appears on your desktop; most add a menu-bar icon where you can pick a pet or hide it. Mochi Genie has a 7-day free trial, then costs $12.99 once.
Do desktop pets slow down a Mac?
A well-made one shouldn't, but it depends on the app. Animation that runs all day adds up, so check Activity Monitor after a day of use. We measured Mochi Genie at 0.12% CPU on average while it floats (Release build, 60 seconds of Mochi floating on screen, MacBook Air (Apple M4), 12 Oct 2026).
Are desktop pets safe to install?
Stick to the Mac App Store, Steam, or a developer's own site with a signed app. If macOS says it can't check an app for malicious software, think twice.
Will a desktop pet get in the way of my work?
Good ones let your clicks pass through to the apps underneath, and stay out of the way in fullscreen and calls. Dockitty sidesteps the issue by living in the Dock. Mochi Genie floats in a window that never takes focus and goes quiet during calls.
Sources
- Toplings, Pets Therapy, Dockitty and DeskPet on the Mac App Store
- Bongo Cat and Desktop Mate on Steam
- Mushroom