Gifts for pet lovers
Gifts for Pet Lovers: Their Pet, Living on Their Mac
Their own cat or dog, rebuilt in 3D from photos, walking the Dock and napping on their windows. A gift about the animal they love, not a picture of one.
Why it beats another mug
Most gifts for pet lovers are about pets in general. A mug with a paw print. A tote that says "dog mom". A cushion with a cat that looks nothing like theirs. They're nice, and they end up in a cupboard.
This one is about their animal. We take photos of their cat or dog and rebuild them in 3D: their coat, their markings, the ear that flops, the white sock on one paw. Then that pet lives on their Mac. It walks along the Dock, jumps up to nap on top of a window, turns to watch the cursor, and comes when called from the menu bar. When they step away for a few minutes, it curls up and sleeps.
For someone who works at a desk all day and misses their dog while they do it, that's a small, daily thing. It's light on their Mac, too: about 2.5% of the CPU while walking, clicks pass straight through it, and it can be hidden for calls. The desktop pet for Mac page has the details.
Sits
Grooms
Naps
How gifting works today
We'll be honest: gift codes aren't ready yet. Here's what you can do now.
- Gather a few photos of their pet. A side view and a clear face are enough to start; more angles help.
- Make the 3D preview in the Mac app. It's free and usually takes five to eight minutes.
- Compare it with the photos, ask for changes if anything is off, then share a link to the 3D preview with them.
A preview link is a nice surprise on its own: they open it and see their own pet in 3D. You'll need a Mac to make the preview, since pets are made in the app, not on the website.
Gift codes are coming. If you'd like to know when, leave your email. We'll send one message, when they're ready, and nothing else.
Before you gift it
A few things worth checking, so the gift lands well:
- They need an Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) on macOS 14 or newer. It's Mac only.
- It's for cats and dogs, made from photos of the real animal.
- Old or imperfect photos are fine to try. Borrow a few from their social media if you need to.
- Their photos are used only to make the pet, deleted 30 days after delivery or sooner on request, and never used for training unless they opt in.
If their pet has passed away, the gift means something different. Please read our page on pet memorial gifts first, and our pet loss gift ideas if you're looking for something gentler.
Occasions
Birthdays. For the friend whose phone is all dog photos, or the sibling who talks to the cat more than to you. It's personal in a way a gift card isn't.
Holidays. A good one for the person who says they don't need anything. They don't need a mug. They'd probably like their cat on their screen.
Gotcha days. The anniversary of the day a pet came home is a big date for a lot of owners. A 3D version of that pet is a fitting way to mark it.
Just because. A new job, a new Mac, a long week. Any of those works.
It works for any breed or mix, because it's built from photos, not templates. See how it handles a golden retriever, a Maine Coon or a dachshund, or read how a custom desktop pet is made.
What it costs
The 3D preview is free. Keeping the pet is $19 once. No subscription, nothing that renews. That covers up to three Macs, two free regenerations, and every behaviour and update added later. If they have a cat and a dog, the second pet is $9.
If it doesn't look like their pet, there's a 14-day money back promise. And if you want a person to check it closely, Pet perfected is $49: an artist hand-checks and refines the model within 48 hours.
How it works
Step 1
Add photos
In the Mac app, add a few photos of your cat or dog. A side view and a face are enough to start.
Step 2
See them in 3D, free
In under ten minutes you can turn them around and compare them with your photos. Nothing to pay yet.
Step 3
They move in
Keep them for a one-time price and they live on your desktop: walking the Dock, napping on your windows.
Pricing
Free
See your own pet in 3D before you pay anything.
$19 once
Keep them. No subscription. Up to 3 of your Macs, 2 free regenerations, every behaviour we add later.
14-day money back
If it doesn't look like your pet, you get your money back. No questions asked.
Another pet is $9. All pricing
Questions
Can I buy staywith.pet as a gift right now?
Gift codes aren't ready yet. Today you can make the free 3D preview from photos of their pet and share the preview link with them. Leave your email and we'll tell you once when gift codes arrive.
What does the person I'm gifting need?
An Apple silicon Mac (M1 or later) on macOS 14 or newer. It's Mac only, so it won't work on Windows, an iPad or a phone.
Which photos of their pet do I need?
A side view and a clear face are enough to start. More angles help. Old or imperfect photos are fine to try, and the preview is free, so you can see how it turns out.
How much does it cost?
The 3D preview is free. Keeping the pet is $19 once, with no subscription. A second pet is $9.
What if the pet doesn't look right?
You can compare the preview with your photos and ask for changes before paying. After buying, two regenerations are included, and there's a 14-day money back promise if it doesn't look like their pet.
Is it a good gift for someone whose pet has died?
It can be, but it needs care. We wrote a separate page about memorial pets that explains how we approach them.
Meet them in 3D
Download the Mac app, add a few photos, and see your pet in 3D before you pay anything.
See your pet in 3D free