WhiskerWatch — Privacy Policy
Last updated: May 11, 2026
This Privacy Policy explains how Whisker Watch ("we," "us," or "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use the WhiskerWatch mobile application (the "App"). By using the App, you agree to the practices described here.
WhiskerWatch is a cat wellness companion. It is not a veterinary service and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
1. Summary
- We collect the cat and wellness information you enter, the photos you take, and basic usage and device data.
- Photos you submit for a wellness scan (and any description you add) are sent to Google's Firebase AI Logic / Gemini service so the App can generate observations. Per Google's terms for that service, this content is not used to train Google's generative models.
- We use Apple (Sign in with Apple, the App Store, and notifications) and Google Firebase (authentication, cloud database, cloud file storage, and analytics) as service providers.
- We do not sell your personal information and we do not use it for cross-app advertising tracking.
- You can use much of the App on-device; creating an account enables cross-device sync.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Information you provide
- Account information. If you sign in with Sign in with Apple, we receive the identifier Apple provides and, if you choose to share it, your name and email address (which may be Apple's private relay address). You may also use the App with an anonymous account that has no name or email.
- Owner profile. A display name, an optional tagline, and an optional profile photo.
- Cat profiles. For each cat: name, photo, approximate age, breed, weight, sex, spay/neuter status, activity level, known conditions, medications, free-text health notes, and — if you choose to enter them — your veterinary clinic's name, your veterinarian's name, and the clinic's phone number, email address, and postal address. Please only enter third-party contact details (such as your vet's) if you are permitted to do so.
- Wellness scans. The photo you capture, the body region you select (e.g., eyes, coat/skin), any description you type, and the resulting AI-generated observations, summary, and wellness status, with timestamps.
- Behavior logs. The behavior you record, whether you flagged it as unusual, optional notes, and timestamps.
- "Should I be worried?" assessments. The symptoms you select, how long they've been present, and the resulting guidance summary.
- Medical documents. Photos or images of veterinary records you upload, plus any metadata the App derives from them (such as document type and dates).
- Reports and share cards. Summaries you generate or export.
2.2 Information collected automatically
- Usage and event data. Through Firebase Analytics, we collect events such as app launches, onboarding steps, scans started/completed/failed, "worry" assessments, behavior logs, document uploads, report generation, notification interactions, paywall views, and subscription events (including the product identifier of a subscription you tap, start, complete, restore, or that fails). We associate analytics with a per-account identifier so we can understand how the App is used.
- Device and app data. Firebase Analytics automatically collects information such as device model, operating system version, app version, language/region settings, time zone, and a coarse, IP-derived location (typically city/region level). We do not collect precise GPS location.
- Diagnostics. Limited technical logs to help us detect and fix errors (including failures of the AI service). These are kept on your device and/or processed through Firebase to keep the App working reliably.
2.3 Information we do not collect
- We do not collect your payment card or bank details. Subscriptions are processed by Apple through the App Store; we only receive confirmation of your entitlement and the relevant product identifier and transaction status.
- We do not use third-party advertising SDKs and do not request App Tracking Transparency permission for cross-app tracking.
3. How We Use Information
We use the information described above to:
- Provide the App's core features — cat profiles, wellness scans, behavior tracking, the timeline and insights, "Should I be worried?" guidance, medical document storage, reminders, and reports.
- Generate AI observations from the photos and descriptions you submit (see Section 4).
- Sync your data across your devices when you have an account.
- Send local reminders and notifications you've enabled (such as scan or behavior reminders), and — if you opt in — other push notifications.
- Operate, maintain, debug, secure, and improve the App, and understand which features are used.
- Manage subscriptions and entitlements.
- Comply with law and enforce our Terms of Service.
Legal bases (EEA/UK users). Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, we process your information to perform our contract with you (providing the App), based on your consent (e.g., notifications, optional analytics where required), to comply with legal obligations, and for our legitimate interests in operating, securing, and improving the App.
4. AI Processing of Your Photos and Descriptions
When you run a wellness scan or use other AI-assisted features, the relevant photo and any text you provide are transmitted to Google's Firebase AI Logic service (Gemini models) for processing, and the generated text is returned to the App.
- We send only what is needed for the feature (for example, the scan photo, the selected body region, your description, and limited context such as the cat's basic profile).
- Under Google's terms for Firebase AI Logic / Vertex AI in Firebase, content you submit through this service is not used to train Google's generative models.
- AI output is automatically passed through safety filtering in the App before it is shown to you, and it is not a veterinary diagnosis.
- If the AI service is unavailable, the App may fall back to limited on-device behavior and will indicate that it couldn't reach the service.
If you do not want your photos processed by this service, do not use the scan or other AI-assisted features.
5. How Information Is Stored
- On your device. The App keeps a local copy of your data (in app storage and the device keychain/user defaults) so it works offline and launches quickly. Photos are cached in the App's private storage.
- In the cloud (with an account). When you are signed in, your cat profiles, wellness data, behavior logs, assessments, documents, and owner profile are stored in Google Firebase (Cloud Firestore database and Cloud Storage), and your photos and uploaded documents are stored as files in Cloud Storage under your account's space.
Data is transmitted over encrypted connections (HTTPS/TLS), and our cloud provider encrypts data at rest. No method of storage or transmission is 100% secure.
6. How We Share Information
We share information only as described here. We do not sell your personal information.
- Service providers / sub-processors. We use trusted vendors to run the App, who process information on our behalf under their terms:
- Apple Inc. — Sign in with Apple, App Store and subscription processing, and notification delivery.
- Google LLC (Firebase / Google Cloud) — authentication, Cloud Firestore database, Cloud Storage for files, Firebase Analytics, and Firebase AI Logic / Gemini for AI processing.
- At your direction. When you export, share, or send a report, share card, or other content using your device's share features, it goes wherever you send it.
- Legal and safety. We may disclose information if required by law, regulation, legal process, or governmental request, or where we believe disclosure is necessary to protect the rights, property, or safety of our users, us, or others, or to detect or prevent fraud or security issues.
- Business transfers. If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of assets, information may be transferred as part of that transaction; we will require the recipient to honor this Policy or notify you of changes.
7. International Data Transfers
Our service providers may process and store information in the United States and other countries, which may have different data-protection laws than your own. Where required, we rely on appropriate safeguards (such as the European Commission's Standard Contractual Clauses) for such transfers.
8. Data Retention
We keep your information for as long as your account exists or as needed to provide the App, then delete or de-identify it within a reasonable period, except where we must retain it to comply with legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce our agreements. Locally stored data remains on your device until you delete the App or clear its data. Aggregated or de-identified analytics may be retained longer.
9. Your Choices and Rights
- Access, edit, and delete in-app. You can view and edit cat profiles, owner profile, behavior logs, documents, and other content in the App, and delete much of it directly.
- Account deletion. You can request deletion of your account and associated cloud data by contacting us at cmillstein1@me.com (and, where available, using an in-app account-deletion option). Deleting the App from your device does not by itself delete data stored in the cloud.
- Notifications. You can turn notifications on or off in the App and in iOS Settings.
- Analytics. You can limit certain device-level analytics through iOS Settings (e.g., "Allow Apps to Request to Track" is off by default for us; you can also reset your advertising identifier). Some basic analytics are needed to operate the App.
- Privacy rights (e.g., GDPR/UK GDPR, CCPA/CPRA and similar laws). Depending on where you live, you may have the right to access, correct, delete, or receive a copy of your personal information; to object to or restrict certain processing; to withdraw consent; and to not be discriminated against for exercising these rights. We do not sell or "share" personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising. To exercise any right, contact us at cmillstein1@me.com. We will verify your request and respond as required by law. EEA/UK users may also lodge a complaint with their local supervisory authority.
10. Children's Privacy
WhiskerWatch is intended for adults and is not directed to children under 13 (or under 16 where a higher age applies). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us personal information, contact us at cmillstein1@me.com and we will delete it.
11. Third-Party Services
The App relies on Apple and Google services described above. Their handling of information is governed by their own privacy policies:
We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third parties.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Policy from time to time. If we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, provide additional notice in the App. Your continued use of the App after an update means you accept the revised Policy.