SOS Cat : Quit Smoking

Inspiration

SOS Cat was born in Taiwan from a personal experience and a simple belief.

After 14 years of nicotine addiction, I know firsthand that quitting is much harder than simply deciding to stop. The hardest moments aren't necessarily about knowing what to do, but about getting through those few minutes when cravings suddenly take over. Stress, emotions, and familiar habits can make reaching for nicotine feel almost automatic.

My own experience made me realize that people often need more than reminders to quit. They need something that can help them through those difficult moments.

That's why I created SOS Cat: not just another app telling people to quit smoking, but a companion that stays by their side when cravings strike.

It's a little tabby cat with personality. Sometimes playful, a little sassy, and occasionally unable to resist teasing you, but always there when you need support.

Whether you're quitting cigarettes, vaping, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, or nicotine pouches, SOS Cat is designed to help you get through cravings and celebrate every small victory.

Because quitting nicotine shouldn't be a battle fought with willpower alone. Sometimes, you just need a companion to help you get through the hardest few minutes.

How I Built It

I built SOS Cat using Flutter and Supabase, with Cursor as my primary AI-assisted development tool and RevenueCat powering its subscription system. I took responsibility for bringing the idea to life, from designing the interface and developing the app to creating its content.

Beyond using AI as a coding assistant, I experimented with a multi-AI workflow, having different AI models independently analyze, challenge, and debate each other's suggestions. This cross-examination process helped me identify potential flaws, explore alternative solutions, and make more informed decisions throughout development. Rather than blindly accepting AI-generated answers, I used AI as a collaborative tool while retaining control over the final decisions.

I developed the concepts and scenarios for 40 original songs in Chinese and English, collaborated with AI to write and refine the lyrics, and used AI music generation tools with commercial-use licenses to bring them to life. I reviewed and revised each song to reflect the emotions and experiences I wanted to convey. I also used audio fingerprinting tools to screen the tracks for similarities to existing commercial recordings and retained the screening reports.

SOS Cat combines an SOS Button, 40 original songs in Chinese and English, Quiet Mode, guided breathing, interactive cat conversations, craving tracking, and journaling to help users navigate cravings and celebrate every small victory.

My goal was to make quitting nicotine feel less isolating by combining practical tools with personality, original content, and emotional support.

Monetization

SOS Cat uses a subscription-based business model powered by RevenueCat. It offers monthly and annual plans, with a 3-day free trial for the annual subscription. Premium subscriptions help support the ongoing development and maintenance of the app.

Challenges & What I Learned

I started building SOS Cat without knowing how to code. What initially seemed like an impossible challenge quickly became a journey of learning through trial and error.

I had to learn how to build an app, integrate APIs, configure DNS, connect different services, and conduct my own penetration testing to identify potential security vulnerabilities. Every step came with new problems, and some were incredibly difficult to solve.

There were many moments when I wasn't sure if I could make everything work. But instead of giving up, I tackled each challenge one step at a time, learning as I went and gradually turning my idea into a functioning product.

Getting through Apple's App Store review was another major challenge. I had to revise metadata, improve the consent experience, and address technical requirements before finally receiving approval.

This journey taught me that I don't need to know everything before I start. With curiosity, persistence, and a willingness to learn, I can overcome challenges that once seemed beyond my abilities. Most importantly, I learned how to turn an idea into a real product, even when I had to figure out almost everything along the way.

What's Next

Built in Taiwan, SOS Cat hopes to reach people around the world who are ready to quit smoking, vaping, or using nicotine in any form.

I believe every craving overcome is a small step toward a freer life. SOS Cat is my way of helping people take those steps, one moment at a time.

Built With

• chatgpt
• claude
• cloudflare
• codex
• cursor
• firebase
• flutter
• revenuecat
• supabase