Purrfect Paws
Purrfect Paws is a mobile app designed to support cat owners in caring for their feline companions with love, ease, and a deep understanding of what makes cats so unique. From health records and appointment reminders to playtime alerts and helpful tips, the app brings together everything a cat parent needs, all in one beautifully crafted space.
Because cats aren’t just pets, they’re royalty. And they deserve the purrfect assistant.
Client
Purrfect Paws
Role
UI Design, Brand, Naming
Year
2024
Challenge
Cats are majestic, mysterious, and often misunderstood. While there are countless apps dedicated to dogs, very few tools truly focus on the unique needs of cats and their humans. Existing solutions tend to be limited, generic, or overlook important aspects of feline care.
This observation, combined with insights from Jackson Galaxy and my own experience with cat rescue and care, became the foundation for Purrfect Paws. A dedicated app created to understand, support, and celebrate the bond between cats and their owners, with tailored features like health records, feline-focused vet listings, and even playtime alerts.
“Dogs are high-maintenance (they need more care, vet care included), and cats are more independent”
-Dr. Patty Khuly, Vet Street
“Cat owners are often unaware of the medical needs of their cat.”
-Ilona Rodan, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
“Cats tend to be acquired accidentally, whereas dogs are usually acquired purposefully.”
-Dr. Patty Khuly, Vet Street
“Cats are not low-maintenance pets. They are misunderstood pets.”
-Jackson Galaxy, Feline behavior expert
“The idea that cats don’t need play or stimulation is one of the biggest myths out there.”
-Jackson Galaxy, Feline behavior expert
Research
Before designing Purrfect Paws, I explored the existing landscape of pet care tools to understand better how cat owners manage their pets’ needs.
This research informed both the visual direction and the scope of the app's features. Visually, the goal was to create something warm and emotionally engaging. From a functionality standpoint, the focus was placed on a set of thoughtful core features.
Feature comparison between existing apps and the Purrfect Paws proposal
References from existing pet care applications
App features
Purrfect Paws was designed around the everyday realities of cat ownership, combining practical care tools with emotionally driven features. The app allows users to manage multiple cat profiles, track health and behavioral changes, schedule vet appointments, access specialized feline care resources, and even connect to smart feeding devices and GPS tracking.
Homepage
The homepage was designed around the most common user needs and actions. Key features include:
- Quick guidance on strengthening the bond between cats and their owners, including reminders for scheduled playtime. Cat behavior expert Jackson Galaxy frequently emphasizes the importance of play in building trust and providing the stimulation cats naturally need as predators.
- Tools to track and document behavioral changes throughout a cat’s life. Since cats often hide signs of pain or illness, recording shifts in behavior can provide valuable information during veterinary visits.
- Helpful tips for stressful or difficult situations, such as bathing a cat or preparing for a vet appointment.
- Access to specialized feline veterinarians nearby. Because many veterinary clinics are primarily dog-oriented, the app highlights cat-focused professionals who understand how to minimize stress and provide more accurate feline-specific care.
- Reliable information about common household risks, including toxic plants and other substances that may be harmful to cats.
- Educational content addressing common misconceptions about cats, such as the idea that they are emotionally distant or low-maintenance pets, beliefs that can often lead to inadequate care.
Cat profile section
- Add a new cat profile. Users can create unlimited profiles, each personalized with the cat’s name and photo.
- Keep a record of the cat’s health history to share with veterinarians. This allows owners to keep all medical information in one place, even when changing vets.
- Add a paw print as a sentimental keepsake. This feature was inspired by the emotional connection between pets and their owners, as well as the ways many people preserve memories of their pets throughout their lives.
- Control an automatic feeder directly from the app. This is especially useful for tech-oriented cat owners who may be away at work during feeding times.
- GPS/AirTag support to help locate cats if they hide or escape. Since cats are known for disappearing into unexpected places, this feature provides owners with reassurance and an easier way to track their pets.
- Schedule and remember vet appointments through a synchronized calendar. The system also provides recommendations and reminders tailored to the cat’s age and health stage.
Visual direction
The Purrfect Paws logo was designed to reflect both the playful nature of cats and the emotional connection shared with their owners, balancing softness with a bold, slightly irreverent character.
The same principles guided the typography selection, which sought to balance warmth and personality with clarity and usability. The color palette was developed around details drawn from feline features, including Nose Pink, Paw Pink, and Cat Eye Yellow, giving the identity a playful yet recognizable visual language.
The photography direction intentionally highlights the quirky and spontaneous behavior that makes cats so endearing. Photography became an essential design decision because it was the most effective way to capture that sense of personality and emotional connection. However, relying heavily on imagery introduced the challenge of maintaining a cohesive and intentional visual system without creating visual clutter. To solve this, I developed a soft graphic frame that contains each photograph, helping unify the compositions while preserving a clean and structured aesthetic.
Purrfect Paws logo
Selected typography
Color combinations were selected to ensure accessibility and meet WCAG AA standards
Frames and photography style
UI design
The UI was designed to feel seamless and intuitive, ensuring a smooth user experience. From the homepage, users can easily add a new pet or access support for common tasks, such as finding a veterinarian specialized in cats.
Onboarding process
Creating an account
Home
Profile section
Settings
Billing options
App icon
Prototypes
The prototypes focus on creating a seamless and intuitive user experience, prioritizing clarity, ease of use, and efficient task completion throughout the app.
Onboarding process
The homepage was designed to prioritize the information and actions users access most often
The settings were placed in a standardized location to reduce cognitive load and follow familiar interface conventions
A floating bottom navigation bar allows users to quickly switch between their cats’ profiles while maximizing screen space
A plus icon at the top of the interface gives users quick access to creating a new cat profile
Users can access live support chat directly from the settings panel