Roadmap — Cats Lock

Shipped

Available now on the Mac App Store

v1.2.1 (June 11, 2026) — Cmd+Tab lock hardening, guaranteed Stealth Lock escape, smoother audio.
v1.2.0 (June 8, 2026) — lock function keys (F1-F12), menu bar icon picker.
v1.1.2 (June 2, 2026) — Siri voice command compatibility, refreshed app icon with proper Dark and Tinted appearance variants.
v1.1.1 (May 20, 2026) — shortcut label fix for non-US keyboard layouts.
v1.1.0 (May 19, 2026) — global lock shortcut, customizable shortcut, hide from Dock, prevent sleep while locked, first-time Stealth Lock confirmation.
v1.0.0 (May 15, 2026) — initial release on the Mac App Store.

In progress — lock for real setups, and a calmer cat

Lock built-in keyboard only. Keep an external keyboard working while the built-in one is locked, so you can keep typing while the cat takes over the laptop. Requested by Steffen, and echoed by a caller on Elliot In The Morning.
Spa mode. Calming ambient sounds for when the cat wins and you would rather soothe than shoo.

Add-on features: sharper locking and more delight

Maximum Lockdown. An optional extra-strict mode that also blocks system and third-party app shortcuts (Spotlight, app switching, launcher hotkeys), not just typing. Uses the same Accessibility permission as function-key locking, and stays off until you turn it on.
Unlock with mouse only. Option to disable the keyboard shortcut entirely and require the on-screen unlock button. For when even a complicated combo isn't safe from a determined paw. Requested by NM (and Socrates).
Desktop widget. One-click keyboard lock right from your desktop. No menu bar dropdown, no shortcut needed.
Share your cat's masterpiece. Turn whatever your cat typed while the keyboard was locked into a shareable post, laid out on a fun template like a letter or an email. On-device only, and only when you choose to share it.
Stats counter. See how many keystrokes Cats Lock has blocked for you.
Custom overlay text. Change the message that appears on the lock screen.
Voice recording. Record your own short clip to use as a sound. Requested by Agnes.

SmartLock, in beta

SmartLock (beta). Cats Lock starts detecting when a cat is on the keyboard and locks on its own, so you never have to reach for a shortcut. Opt-in, and an early beta to begin with, because getting detection right is hard. This is the purest version of the mission: lock the keys so you can love the cat.

The big one

A full redesign. A fresh look for the whole app, plus a new app icon.
SmartLock, for real. Automatic cat detection graduates from beta to a polished, dependable feature.
Localization. Cats Lock translated into more languages, done once the app and its wording have settled so nothing needs re-translating.