You are the toy. It is the hunter.
Can you outsmart an AI that learns from your movement?
The Cat Knows is a minimalist browser game where your mouse cursor becomes the prey. You play as a small mouse, pursued by an AI Cat that evolves its strategy the longer you survive.
Starting as a clumsy kitten, the AI observes your movement patterns, learns your speed, and unlocks sophisticated hunting techniques—from ambush stalking to predictive interception.
The core of the game is an adaptive AI that shifts through 4 Hunting Phases:
| Phase | Name | Behavior Profile |
|---|---|---|
| I | The Novice | Direct Pursuit. The cat chases you relentlessly but lacks foresight. Easy to outrun, but persistent. |
| II | The Student | Predictive Tracking. The cat begins to "lead" its target, aiming for where you will be, not where you are. |
| III | The Stalker | Stealth & Ambush. The cat learns patience. It will creep slowly when you are far, freeze if you look at it, and pounce with explosive speed when close. |
| IV | The Master | Total Interception. The AI utilizes complex pathfinding adjustments to cut off escape routes and trap you in corners. |
- Start: Click "Start Game" to begin the simulation.
- Survive: Move your cursor (the mouse) to avoid the Cat.
- Observe: Watch the Cat's behavior change as the timer ticks up.
- Score: Every time you are caught, the "Caught" counter goes up. Unlike normal games, you don't "lose"—you just try to survive longer next time.
Tip: The AI struggles with erratic, chaotic movement. Smooth, predictable circles are a death sentence in Phase 4.
Clone the repository and install dependencies to run the simulation locally.
# Clone repo
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/the-cat-knows.git
# Enter directory
cd the-cat-knows
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run development server
npm run devBuilt with a "Toy-First" design philosophy:
- Minimalist Aesthetics: Warm stone colors and clean iconography keep the focus on the behavior.
- Fluid Animation: Powered by Framer Motion to give the cat a lifelike, organic weight.
- Unobtrusive HUD: Critical stats (Phase, Time, Score) are presented clearly without breaking immersion.
Created by Edwin Kim