Your cat won't let you
skip breaks.
Pixel gets hungry, moody, and dramatically desperate when you forget to rest. Take a break or face the stare.
Pixel has shamed 2,481 breaks taken globally. Allegedly.
How Purrbreak works
Three things happen. Two are passive. One requires snacks.
Pixel watches you work
Her hunger bar fills the longer you type. Ignore it long enough and she gets desperate.
Pixel chooses your break
Based on her mood, she picks: stretch, water, eyes rest, walk, or feed her. You don't choose.
Take the break or face the stare
Skip it and she goes judgy. Keep skipping and she turns her back entirely.
Meet Pixel's 5 moods
Hover or tap to change her mood. The judgement adjusts automatically.
Pixel decides what break you need
Five break types. Her mood and your work time pick which one fires next.
Pixel grows with your good habits
Every break earns XP and paw coins. Levels unlock accessories and fur. The crown is real. So is the tiny hat.
The break timer that actually works - because a cat is judging you
Most break timers fail for the same reason: they're easy to ignore. A notification pops up, you click dismiss, and four hours later your back hates you. Purrbreak fixes this by making breaks feel like a responsibility to something that actually cares.
Pixel is a virtual cat who lives in your Chrome toolbar. She has a hunger meter, a mood system, and a very expressive face. Every minute you work without a break, her hunger bar fills a little more. Skip your break and she goes judgy. Skip enough breaks and she enters Emergency Flop Mode - dramatically sprawled, paws up, waiting for you to acknowledge what you've done.
The break types aren't random. Pixel decides based on her current mood and how long you've been working. Been at it for 90 minutes? She'll insist on a walk. Hunger bar critical? She'll push her bowl at you. This removes the friction of choosing what break to take - you're just responding to a living thing with opinions.
Why gamification makes break habits stick
Purrbreak borrows mechanics from games that are designed to build daily habits: a streak counter, XP and levels, collectible items unlocked through consistent breaks. Each completed break earns paw coins. Reach level 3 and Pixel gets a tiny hat. It sounds silly until you notice you haven't skipped a break in two weeks because you don't want Pixel to go judgy again.
Everything is stored locally in your browser via Chrome's storage API. No account. No server. No data ever leaves your machine. Purrbreak is a free Chrome extension with a buy-me-a-coffee link for anyone who wants to support it.
Built for people who forget they have a body
Developers, writers, designers - anyone who enters flow state and resurfaces three hours later with a stiff neck and no memory of drinking water. The 20-20-20 rule for eye health (look 20 feet away every 20 minutes), the Pomodoro technique, regular movement breaks - all the advice is good, none of it sticks without something to make you actually do it. Pixel makes you actually do it.
Frequently asked questions
Is Purrbreak free?
Yes, always. There's a buy-me-a-coffee link if you want to support it, but Pixel will love you either way. Probably.
Does it track my browsing?
No. The extension detects tab activity (so Pixel knows you're working) but never reads page content. All data stays in chrome.storage.local on your machine.
Can I change the break interval?
Yes. Open the settings in the popup to set 5-60 minute intervals and choose your preferred break duration.
What happens if I skip too many breaks?
Pixel gets progressively judgy. After enough skips she'll turn her back to you. After that it's Emergency Flop Mode. There is no fourth warning.
Does it work offline?
Fully offline. No internet connection needed.
Can I rename Pixel?
Yes. Open settings and give her whatever name you want. She won't respond differently but it feels right.
What are paw coins for?
They're in-app currency earned by completing breaks. Spend them in the tiny in-popup shop to buy Pixel accessories. No real money involved.