Virtual pets for Apple Watch

Written by the developer of Maozai, one of the apps below, so read it with that in mind. Prices and ratings are from the US App Store on October 22, 2026.

Watch pets come in two kinds. Most play like a game: you look after a pixel or cartoon pet with taps and steps, and it grows or evolves. A few are companions whose needs follow your own day. Pick by which of the two you want.

Maozai: Virtual Pet Cat

• A photo-real kitten on iPhone and Apple Watch (the kittens are AI-generated). It gets hungry at your mealtimes and thirsty between them, moves when you move and goes to sleep at your bedtime, so looking after it reminds you to eat, drink water and sleep.
• On the watch: hold to pet it, turn the Digital Crown to tease it, and answer its reminders with one tap.
• It answers in chat, 20 AI replies a day for free, and writes one diary line a day about the day you had.
• Free, no ads, no account. Optional: six more breeds in mystery boxes at $1.99 each, and Maozai Plus for unlimited chat. Needs iOS 18 and watchOS 11.
• Best for: a calm companion that nudges your meals, water and sleep. Maozai on the App Store

Belly: Cute Virtual Watch Pet

• A pixel pet made for Apple Watch. Walking earns hearts; there are toys, outfits and scenes to collect.
• Free. 4.9 stars from 23 ratings.
• Best for: a cute pixel pet that lives on the watch. Belly on the App Store

Watch Pet: Widget & Watch Pets

• Adopt several pets and keep an eye on their mood and health on the watch and in widgets, without an internet connection.
• Free. 4.4 stars from 4,208 ratings, the most rated here.
• Best for: collecting and caring for many pets. Watch Pet on the App Store

nomi

• A watch pet you keep alive with movement: steps and exercise fill its heart rings, you feed it before its hearts run out, and it evolves.
• $1.99. 3.7 stars from 364 ratings.
• Best for: a pet that gets you moving. nomi on the App Store

Peggy Cat

• A small life game for a pet on your wrist: your steps become its energy, and it walks, works, decorates, studies and makes friends.
• $1.99. 4.4 stars from 108 ratings.
• Best for: a deeper game with a story to it. Peggy Cat on the App Store

PetPock

• Hatch a pet from an egg and raise it: feed it, give it water and bathe it, with something new at each stage.
• Free. 4.5 stars from 473 ratings.
• Best for: classic egg-to-grown-up care. PetPock on the App Store

How to choose

• For a game to play on your wrist, pick one of the pixel or cartoon pets.
• For a pet that keeps you company and reminds you to eat, drink water and sleep, try Maozai.
• Every app here is free or $1.99, so trying two costs little.