Cats in Charge — Privacy Policy

Effective date: October 7, 2026

This policy explains what information Cats in Charge (the “Game”) collects, why, and the choices you have. The Game is made by AshStart Inc. (“we”, “us”).

Three things up front:

Who the Game is for: players aged 13 and older. It is not directed to children under 13.
Personalized ads: only if you allow them (see “Ads and your choices”).
Selling data: we do not sell your personal information.

1. Contact

AshStart Inc., 10 Bleinham Ct, Markham, ON L3T 5T4, Canada Email: daegil@ashstart.com In the Game: Settings → Support → Contact us

2. What we collect

Your game account and cloud save

When you first open the Game, it creates an anonymous account for you — no name, email, or password. Your game progress (stages, stars, cats, research, settings) and your in-game wallet (Catnip earned and spent) are saved on your device and backed up to our servers under a random player ID, so you can keep playing after reinstalling and so we can keep balances fair.

Game Center and Google Play Games (optional)

If you sign in with Game Center (Apple) or Google Play Games, we link that account to your game account so your progress follows you. We receive your platform player ID and display name.

Transfer code (optional)

If you create a transfer code to move to another device, we store the code and a protected version of the PIN you choose until the code is used or expires (24 hours).

App integrity

We use Firebase App Check (Apple App Attest / Google Play Integrity) to confirm requests come from a genuine copy of the Game. This sends a device integrity result to our servers, not your personal details.

Analytics and crash reports

We use Google Firebase Analytics and Crashlytics to see how the Game is played and why it crashes: device and app information, a random app instance ID, gameplay events (for example, which stage you started or finished and how it went), and crash logs. We use this to improve the Game, not to identify you, and we do not use it for advertising.

The Game shows ads through Google AdMob. AdMob may collect your device’s advertising identifier (IDFA on iOS, Advertising ID on Android), IP address, and information about the ads you see, to show and measure ads. See “Ads and your choices”.

Purchases

Purchases are handled by the Apple App Store or Google Play. We never see your card details. We receive the purchase receipt or token, transaction ID, and the item purchased to check the purchase with Apple or Google, give you the item, and restore it later.

When you contact us

If you use Contact us, your email app sends us your email address, your message, and a short block the Game adds automatically: game version, device model, OS version, and your player ID. We use it only to answer you and fix problems.

3. Why we use it

To run the Game, keep your progress, and move it between devices
To keep in-game balances fair and prevent cheating and fraud
To answer your questions and fix bugs
To understand and improve the Game (analytics, crash reports)
To show ads that keep the Game free, and to measure them
To deliver and restore purchases
To meet legal obligations

Where the law requires a legal basis (for example, in the EU/UK), we rely on performing our contract with you (running the Game), our legitimate interests (improving the Game, keeping it fair, preventing fraud), and your consent (personalized ads, where required).

We share information only with service providers that help us run the Game, under their own privacy terms:

Provider	Purpose
Google Firebase (Authentication, Cloud Firestore, Cloud Functions, App Check, Analytics, Crashlytics)	Account, cloud save, app integrity, analytics, crash reports
Google AdMob	Ads
Apple (App Store, Game Center), Google (Google Play, Play Games)	Distribution, sign-in, purchases

We may also disclose information if the law requires it, to protect players or the Game, or as part of a merger or sale of our business. We do not sell personal information and do not share it for others’ own marketing.

5. Ads and your choices

iOS: the Game asks for permission to track (App Tracking Transparency). If you say no, ads are not personalized. You can change this in iOS Settings → Privacy & Security → Tracking.
EU/EEA, UK, Switzerland: you’ll see a consent message before personalized ads. You can change your choice anytime in Settings → Account → Ad privacy.
Android: you can reset or delete your Advertising ID in your device settings.
Players under the age required for personalized ads in their country are shown non-personalized ads only.
Remove Ads turns off interstitial ads. Rewarded ads only play when you choose to watch them.

6. Children

The Game is intended for players 13 and older and is not directed to children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe a child under 13 has sent us information, contact us and we will delete it.

7. How long we keep it

Game account, cloud save, and wallet: while your account is in use. If you delete your account, we delete it right away, except purchase records we must keep for tax and accounting law, which we keep only as long as that law requires.
Transfer codes: until used, or 24 hours.
Analytics: up to 14 months. Crash reports: up to 90 days.
Support emails: up to 2 years after the conversation ends.
On your device: until you delete the Game or its data.

8. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you can ask to access, correct, delete, or export your information, object to or restrict some uses, and withdraw consent.

In the Game: Settings → Account → Delete account and data
By email: daegil@ashstart.com — we may ask you to confirm the request comes from you (for example, with your player ID)

California: we do not sell personal information. We share it for cross-context behavioral advertising (as defined by the CCPA) only through personalized ads you have allowed; you can opt out as described in section 5. We won’t treat you differently for using your rights. EU/EEA/UK: you can complain to your local data protection authority.

9. Where your information is processed

We are based in Canada. Our servers (Google Firebase) are in the United States, and our providers may process information in other countries. Where required, we use safeguards such as the EU Standard Contractual Clauses.

10. Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encrypted connections and server-side checks. No system is perfectly secure.

11. Changes

If we change this policy, we’ll update the effective date and, for important changes, tell you in the Game.