Keep an Eye on Your PC with a Running Cat: A Look at RunCat 365
If you’re tired of boring graphs and hidden menus just to see how your computer is performing, there’s a fun, lightweight, and open-source solution you need to check out: RunCat 365.
Inspired by the name "Microsoft 365," this app doesn’t give you spreadsheets—it gives you a cute, animated runner right on your Windows taskbar that tells you exactly how hard your CPU is working.
What is RunCat 365?
RunCat 365 is a system monitoring tool that lives in your system tray. The concept is simple: the more your CPU is being used, the faster the animation runs. If your PC is idling, the animation slows down. It’s a perfect, glanceable way to see if a background process is hogging your resources.
Key Features
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Customizable Runners: While the default is a cat, you can switch it up! Currently, you can choose between a Cat, a Parrot, or a Horse.
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Lightweight Performance: The app is designed to be "super lightweight," using nearly 0% of your CPU and only about 30-40 MB of RAM.
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Detailed System Info: By right-clicking the icon, you get a well-organized breakdown of your system's health, including:
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CPU: Usage by user, kernel, and available capacity.
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Memory: Total size and current usage.
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Storage: Drive space availability.
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Network: Real-time download and upload speeds.
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Safety First: The app is available on the Microsoft Store, meaning it is signed and safe to install.
A Secret Bonus: The Endless Game
One of the coolest "extra" features of RunCat 365 is a built-in mini-game. Much like the famous dinosaur game in Google Chrome, it features an Endless Game where you have to time your jumps perfectly. It’s surprisingly difficult, so it’s a great way to kill a few minutes while waiting for a large file to download!
How to Get Started
RunCat 365 is free and open-source. You can even set it to launch at startup so your little animated friend is always there to greet you.
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Download from Microsoft Store: Get RunCat 365 here
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Check out the Source Code: RunCat 365 on GitHub
If you're looking for a simple, charming way to monitor your Windows taskbar without the clutter of heavy software, give RunCat 365 a try!
I’ve also made a video on this topic — you can watch it below.
Check out my other posts, I post useful tutorials and tech tips, maybe you will find something useful 😉.