Privacy Policy
Cat Breed Identifier ("we", "our", or "the app") helps you identify cat breeds by scanning a photo, and provides a breed library, AI chat, and photo quiz. This policy explains what information is processed when you use the app and how we protect it.
1. Information we process
Cat photos. When you take a photo with your camera or select one from your library, and after you grant in-app permission, the image is sent over HTTPS to our secure backend (a Cloudflare Worker) for breed analysis. The photo is processed to identify breed characteristics and is not stored server-side. Only the breed identification result is returned to your device. Scan history (including a thumbnail) stays on your device.
Ask AI questions. If you use Ask AI, your question text is sent the same way so a third-party AI can reply. We do not use this content for advertising.
Anonymous device identifier. A random UUID stored on your device (UserDefaults/Keychain) is sent to our backend to enforce free-scan and hourly usage limits. It is not your name, email, or Apple ID.
Purchase information. Subscriptions are processed by Apple. We send your anonymous RevenueCat app user ID to our backend, which asks RevenueCat to verify whether the Pro entitlement is active. Verification results may be cached briefly to limit repeated requests. We do not receive your payment card details.
Local data on your device. Your scan history, quiz scores, theme preference, language preference, AI-analysis permission, and onboarding answers are stored locally on your iPhone using SwiftData and UserDefaults. This data does not leave your device unless you back up your phone through Apple.
Breed library & quiz. The breed library, breed photos, and quiz content are bundled with the app and work offline. Using these features sends no data to us or to any third party — everything runs locally on your device.
2. What we do not collect
- No account registration or email required to use the app
- No advertising trackers or third-party ad SDKs
- We do not sell your personal information
- We do not store your cat photos on our servers
- No analytics SDK in v1 — only a local free-scan counter
3. How breed scanning and Ask AI work
After you allow AI analysis in the app, your cat photo or Ask AI question is sent over HTTPS to our backend API. The backend forwards a processing request to a third-party AI service (currently OpenRouter, which routes the request to models such as Google Gemini for breed identification and DeepSeek for chat). The request includes the photo and/or question needed for analysis and your anonymous device ID for rate limiting. It is not linked to your name, email, or Apple ID.
Photos are not stored on our servers after the request completes. The third-party AI provider processes the content solely to return a breed result or a chat reply. A photo you choose could include people, homes, or other personal details in the background — that is why we ask for permission before the first scan or Ask AI use.
4. Your permission
Before the first camera scan, gallery upload, or Ask AI message, the app shows a permission sheet that explains third-party AI analysis. You must tap Allow AI analysis before we send a photo or question. Tapping Not now dismisses the sheet; the photo is not sent.
You can withdraw this permission at any time in the app: open Settings → AI analysis and tap to turn it off. After you withdraw, the app will not send new photos or Ask AI questions until you allow it again. Withdrawing does not delete scan history already saved on your device.
5. Camera & photo library access
Scan mode uses your camera (AVFoundation) and Apple's photo picker. You choose a specific image; we do not scan your entire photo library in the background. Camera access is requested only when you tap Scan, and can be denied or revoked at any time in iOS Settings. Camera permission is separate from AI-analysis permission.
- Camera: "We use your camera to identify cat breeds instantly."
- Photo library: "Select photos of cats from your library to identify their breed."
6. Data retention
Server-side rate-limit counters are stored temporarily in Cloudflare KV and linked only to your anonymous device ID. RevenueCat entitlement checks may also be cached briefly using your anonymous RevenueCat app user ID. We do not maintain a long-term archive of your cat photos or scan content on our servers after a request completes. Scan history on your device remains until you delete it or uninstall the app. Your AI-analysis permission is stored locally on the device.
7. Children's privacy
Cat Breed Identifier is intended for users aged 13 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child has provided us data, contact us and we will delete it.
8. Your rights
Depending on your region, you may have rights to access, correct, or delete personal data, and to withdraw consent for sharing with third-party AI. Because we use minimal identifiers, deleting the app and clearing local data removes most information associated with your use. Withdraw AI analysis in Settings, or uninstall the app, to stop further sharing. For subscription data, manage your account through Apple.
9. International users
Our backend infrastructure and third-party AI providers may process data in the United States and other countries where those services operate. By allowing AI analysis in the app, you consent to this processing for the purpose of delivering breed identification and Ask AI.
10. Changes to this policy
We may update this policy as the app evolves. We will revise the "Last updated" date above. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.
11. Contact
Questions about privacy? Email TQTechOfficial@gmail.com or visit our Contact page.