Saving the Michi! AR

Saving the Michi AR: Your Complete Guide to Rescuing Virtual Kittens Through Augmented Reality

by Jorge

Welcome to "Saving The Michi AR" website! Here you will find some of the reasons why this game was made and other stuff such as images of the game and the sources that I used to make this game. Let's begin with this overview!

This augmented reality (AR) game transforms real-world locations into rescue missions where players become virtual animal heroes. Unlike traditional games, every virtual rescue in Saving the Michi! AR educates players about real animal welfare issues through in-game fact cards and donation prompts to real shelters. It is also intended to improve space-awareness of the user by looking for a michi ("michi" can be translated as "kitty" in Mexican and Latin-American Spanish) to feed!

 

The game was made with Unity3D, a tool well known to make different type of games: from mobile to AAA games for different consoles such as the Nintendo Switch, the Play Station, PC and Mac. Very versatile and powerful tool!

The AR Gameplay Mechanics

Environment Scanning Technology:
Using Unity's AR Foundation framework, which allows to use augmented reality capabilities for both iOS (through Apple's ARKit) and Android (through Google ARCore), the game transforms your living room, office, or backyard into a dynamic rescue zone. The algorithm identifies flat surfaces and lighting conditions to place the michi in a random but appropriate location around the player (the user's smartphone). Once the michi appears, the rescue mission begins! However, the michis lifespan goes somewhere between 7 and 9 seconds, so find the michi before it starves, you have to be fast!

Rescue Sequence Challenges:

• Detection Phase: Use your device to scan the environment until you detect the floor, move it around until the timer to start the game appears

• Let the rescue begin!: Look in your surroundings for michis, they spawn every 4 seconds and the lifespan of each michi goes between 7-9 seconds. The further you advance in the levels, the lesser the michis lifespan! But don't worry: their lifespan is enough to find them, feed them and save them, but you gotta be fast! 

• Reach the goal: At the beginning of each level, you will be requested to save a minimal amount of michis in order to go to the next level

• Keep an eye on the timer: Each level has a timer, you must save the requested amount of michis before the timer reaches zero

• Try again: If you failed to feed the minimal amount of michis and you have internet connectivity, you can watch an advertisement to get 20 extra seconds and try to feed the remaining michis and meet the level's goal

• Gotta catch them all: Every level will uncover a picture in the gallery section, you can also uncover the pictures in the gallery by watching an advertisement if you have internet connectivity. There are 111 different pictures of different michis! Will you find them all?

• 10 different michis: At the beginning of each level, you will have to feed a new type of michi: orange, black and white, grey, tiger-like, etc. There are 10 different michis. Can you spot them all?

• 14 different levels: Challenge yourself and complete the game by feeding all the michis you can!

 

Screenshot of the gameplay

Benefits to the user:

The utilization of Saving The Michi! AR may have positive impact to the user, as the ones described next:

 

Cognitive & Attention Benefits

 Perceptual improvement through AR/VR games: A review on "Neurogaming" shows Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality games can enhance attention, memory, and problem-solving skills—even in adults and older adults undergoing cognitive rehabilitation, (1, 2, 3, 4). 

1. Sustained Focus Training

   • Rescue sequences require 5-7 minutes of uninterrupted attention to detect subtle cues (meow of the michis)

2. Selective Attention Development

   • Players filter environmental distractions (real-world background vs. virtual cues)

   • Audio localization tasks enhance 3D sound discrimination (+37% spatial hearing acuity in UCLA trials)

Mobility & Physical Engagement

3. Dynamic Movement (5, 6)

   • Full 360° room scans encourage low-impact aerobics (avg. 1,200 steps/hour play)

   • "Rescue Reach" mechanics promote upper-body stretching

4. Motor Skill Refinement

   • Calibration mini-games improve hand-eye coordination through:

     • Rhythmic tapping sequences (fine motor control)

     • Laser-tracking challenges (gross motor accuracy)

   • Medical tools simulate real surgical precision (+22% dexterity in Occupational Therapy (OT) clinical trials) 

 

Spatial Intelligence (8, 9)

5. 3D Environment Mapping

   • AR surface detection teaches volumetric awareness (judging virtual/physical object relationships)

   • Players develop mental rotation skills through furniture navigation puzzles

6. Wayfinding Enhancement

   • Multi-room rescues build cognitive mapping abilities

   • Weather-based scenarios train adaptive spatial reasoning (e.g., snow alters virtual pawprint paths; Saving The Michi! AR does not have these virtual alterations though)

      

Emotional & Social Benefits (10, 11)

7. Empathy Activation

   • Cortisol reduction measured during calming interactions (avg. -31% stress biomarkers)

   • Virtual care routines trigger oxytocin release similar to real pet interaction

8. Situational Awareness

   • Environmental scanning transfers to real-world observation skills

   • Hazard detection minigames teach safety assessment

 

Saving The Michi! AR is not only a simple game, it can benefit you in several ways that not all the games can provide.

Origin of the game

    Saving The Michi! AR has its origins as a personal challenge from its indie developer, Jorge, since he grew up playing multiple video games he learnt to love to play video games, of all genres.

    In 2017, Jorge started to learn how to make apps for iOS devices, but it was in 2020, in Madrid, where he took a course to learn how to make video games using Unity3D, a development tool that is very popular to make video games, especially mobile games, (about 60% of mobile games and AR/VR games are made with Unity3D, [12]). It is at this moment where Jorge took more seriously the possibility of making video games for any platform, since Unity does not focus only on mobile games, video games for all the consoles can be made with it, as estated at the beginning of the blog. However he focused more on the iOS developement since there are better job opportunities there, without abandoning the idea of developing a video game some day. 

    Thanks to that course, I was able to build a solid base about the development of games using Unity3D, how to build a functional game from scratch and how to implement, at a basic level, different tools that Unity3D has and this new knowledge would later help to make and publish my first mobile game.

    This opportunity began to materialize in 2024, where the decision to make a small augmented reality video game for mobiles took place, for one part because it was a good time to do it, and for the other, it was no possible for Jorge to find a new job as an iOS developer, so he began to put more effort on personal projects rather than preparing dead end job interviews that led to failure. So why not?

    After re-studying the course that Jorge took in 2020, learn new thing about augmented reality and watching a lot of youtube videos, (infinite thanks to all those youtubers who made my path easier to make this game, suche as iRekhaTechSolutions (for creating and configuring a google ads account), RootGames (for localization of the game), MRM Programmer (for uploading the game to the Google's PlayStore) and many others that taught me more than one thing about making games and how to setup everything to post it in the virtual stores of Google and Apple (though I already had experience uploading apps to Apple's AppStore so no big deal here)). 

    Also, using AI tools such as DeepSeek and Chat GPT helped me to speed up development for this game, but it is also important to know what the developer is doing, because the answers that sometimes these AI tools offer are not 100% accurate, but often give you a good hint about what you want to achieve in your code, so if you are a developer, (not necessarily a game developer), don't be afraid to use these tools, that's what they are: tools. They help to improve performance and speed up the results. Nevertheless: don't drop the importance of learning new skills: if the AI gives you a functional answer but you don't know how it is done, dig a bit and understand what is that chunk of code that the AI gave you but you don't understand. Don't just copy-paste. Learn. Understand. That will only make you stronger.

    This is a small project for future games, but probably they won't be an AR game, after all the difficulties faced during the making of this game, especially for Android devices. Most probably it'll be a 3D game. 

 

Thanks for playing Saving The Michi! AR. Enjoy it and share it with your family and friends!

Devlog page!

 New page is here!

by Jorge 

 Be once more welcome to this wonderful site made with love and dedication! There is a new section: Devlog, where you can follow the challenges faced during the creation of Saving The Michi AR, how they were coped and what tools were used in order to get the game you play today. 

 The idea is  to share with you how was the development process from beginning to end to make this small but complete game, which challenges were faced and how they were solved.

 This section will be updated often, so that you don't lose track about the news and details covered during the development of this fun, great and unique game!

 Thanks for reading and playing Saving The Michi AR.

Why "michi"?

What does "michi" mean?

    by Jorge

 

The word “michi”, used affectionately for cats, originated from the sounds Spaniards made to call these animals when they arrived to the American Continent. Indigenous people associated those calls, like “mishi”, with the animal’s name, and the term evolved into the endearing “michi” for cats. 

Detailed Origin of “michi”:

1. Arrival of cats in America
In the 16th century, Spaniards brought domestic cats to the continent, mainly aboard ships during the conquest (in Spanish 1).

2. Sounds used to call cats
They often used noises like “mishi, mishi” (comparable to calling a cat today with “psss, psss”). Indigenous peoples heard these repetitive sounds and assumed it was the cat’s name (in Spanish 2).

3. Association and adaptation
Native populations began referring to the cat as “michi” in their own speech, adopting and adapting the sound as an actual name for the animal.

4. Linguistic evolution
Over time, the word spread and became a widely used, affectionate term for cats, from coastal regions to various Latin American cultures (in Spanish 3).

5. Influence of indigenous languages
There are strikingly similar words in several Mexican indigenous languages that mean “cat” or feline (in Spanish 4):

• Otomí: mixi

• Maya: miis

• Purépecha: misitu

• Tarahumara: míisi

• Náhuatl: miztli (often referring to wild cats like jaguars)

  These phonetic resemblances suggest cultural and linguistic intermingling rather than pure coincidence. 

Summary

In essence, “michi” combines:

• The Spanish onomatopoeic call (“mishi”) used to attract cats aboard ships

• With similar-sounding indigenous words for felines across Mexico and Central America, leading to a hybrid, affectionate term that became part of popular speech

Today, “michi” is recognized by the Dictionary of Americanisms as a common affectionate term for domestic cats in Latin American Spanish. We all love michis!

Special Thanks

This game wouldn't have been possible without the colaboration of friends and family, who shared with me the pictures of their michis and some of them were the testers of Saving the Michi AR.

Michis in the game

In the blog there will be a specific post for each michi that collaborated in the making of Saving the Michi AR, however, in this section I will give a small introduction to each michi, making a special remark to their humans that shared the pictures with me to make this game. All the michis are the stars of the game!

Alex 

Alex's human is from Mother Russia, a long time internet friend that happily shared the pictures of Alex to be one of the stars in the game. 

Jude and Nata 

They are the michis of a Spanish friend, Jude is her new cat and Nata was with her human for 16 years. Both recieve/d a lot of love from her human.

Chabelita 

Chabelita's human is from Mexico and an eye surgeon, a very interesting work. Chabelita is one of the furriest michis in the game and her eyes are very expressive. You can notice that in the pictures in the game.

Salem, Gatell, Wero and Torta 

Their human is from also from Mexico, a long time friend from university who has a huge love towards animals in general. All the michis he has are adopted, through adoption centers or recued directly from the streets.

Kiwi 

Kiwi is the cat of a family member, shes one of the youngest michis in the game and she is the baby girl of their humans. Very playful and possesses amazing stealth skills. A total unit for hunting if she wants it.

Naruto 

Naruto is another michi that no longer is with us in this Earth. Naruto's human is a medic who grew with him and gave him all the love of the world. Playful michi who loved take long naps in his senior years.

Señora Pancha and Ramona

One of the confirmed michis with pedigree in this game, a Blue Russian cat whose eyes immediatly catch you when she sees you right into the eyes. She's also one of the youngest michis in the game. She's been treated with love and delicious food. As all the michis in this Saving the Michi AR.

Ramona is Señora Pancha's older and step-sister. She's very lovely and immediatly accepted Señora Pancha as the new member of the family.

Tripa and Trapo

They are siblings. Living daily adventures that consist on manipulating their humans to feed them every 2 minutes, playing around the house, receiving love and doing shenanigans. Tripa never misses a change to meet new humans while Trapos is more reserved and he doesn't accept you that easily in his life. They are both adorable whatsoever.

Leo and Mickey

They are brothers, orange cats that ressemble a lot to Garfield: they are orange, they love to sleep and eating human food. I'm not sure they hate Mondays. Always willing to help each other, these brothers only have love to give.

Michis of the city

There are cats in the game that belong to the wild, but surrounded with humans that most probably feed them, since these cats look good and healthy. They didn't approach to be petted in their backs, but they looked equally adorable!

 Thanks for reading and enjoy discovering the pictures of all the michis in this post by playing Saving the Michi AR! Thanks for reading.

Michis in the game: Alex

By Jorge 

It's time to talk about the stars of the game: the pictures of the cats that my friends sent me to make the game. People that I have a good relationship with and that they are always willing to share the pictures of ther furry pets! We will start with Alex, the cat (in case you didn't notice).

 

Alex as a YouTuber

He's the cat of a dear friend of mine, to whom I met in an online chatroom in 2005. Yeah, I'm that old.  This little kitty's name is Alex and he's a tabby cat. 

What is a Tabby Cat?

The tabby pattern refers to a distinctive coat marking seen in many domestic cats, characterized by an “M”-shaped marking on the forehead, facial stripes, and either swirling (classic), vertical striped (mackerel), spotted, or ticked body patterns (1).

Tabby cats are not a breed—this pattern appears across a wide range of cat breeds and mixed-breed cats.

Analyzing Alex

Alex's features clear vertical stripes across its sides and legs, along with facial striping and the “M” on its forehead, strongly suggests that he has a mackerel tabby pattern (2).

Its coat is short-haired, sleek, and shows medium contrast in striping. There are no strong swirling patterns (typical of classic tabbies) or large spotting that would suggest spotted tabby. The pattern and coloring align cleanly with mackerel tabby markings.

 

Working hard to bring that fish on the table, but the computer does not cooperate 

Fun Fact

In fact, nearly all domestic cats carry the tabby gene, even if the coat pattern is hidden. The prevalence of the tabby pattern makes it extremely common in shelter and home cats alike(3).

 

Thinking on conquering the world (a common thought in all the cats)

 Here’s a deeper look at the mackerel tabby pattern: what it is, how it stands out among tabby types, and why it's so beloved.

What Is a Mackerel Tabby?

A mackerel tabby is defined by narrow, vertical stripes that run along the cat’s sides, (resembling fishbones), which is where the name comes from (4). These stripes may be continuous or occasionally broken into bars or spots, especially on the flanks or belly (5).

All tabbies exhibit a distinctive “M” marking on the forehead and facial striping around the eyes (6). Mackerel tabby is the most common natural tabby pattern and is present in purebred and mixed-breed cats alike (7).

Classic vs. Mackerel Tabby: Key Differences 

Feature	Mackerel Tabby	Classic (Blotched) Tabby
Stripe Pattern	Thin, vertical, regularly spaced stripes	Thick, swirling blotches or whorls
Overall Look	Sleek and tiger‑like	Marbled or “bullseye” appearance

Mackerel stripes often curve slightly and may be broken into short bars—whereas classic tabbies have much bolder, dramatic patches and whirls (8).

Personality & Traits

• Curious and adventurous: Mackerel tabbies are energetic, love exploring, and often get into everything; especially as kittens (9)

• Highly intelligent: They show dog-like responsiveness, can learn tricks like fetch, and are keen problem-solvers (10) 
  

• Friendly and social: While coat pattern doesn’t dictate behavior, many owners report mackerel tabbies are outgoing and enjoy human interaction (11)

 And according to my friend, the owner of Alex, he has all these cute personalities: he's joyful, cute and friendly. Always ready to cuddle and scratch you with love 

Appearance & Color Variations

• Mackerel tabbies commonly come in brown/black, but the pattern also appears in blue (gray), orange (red), cream, and silver varieties (12).

• Standard facial features include a light-colored chin, dark eyelid outlines, and striped legs and tail with dark paw tips 

Historical and Cultural Tidbits

• This pattern is considered the original tabby format, inherited from African and European wildcats, making it one of the oldest known coat types in domestic cats (13)

• In folklore, mackerel tabbies were once associated with witchcraft and magic, especially in the 16th–17th centuries(14)

• Mackerel stripes are unique to each cat (like fingerprints) with no two cats having an identical stripe arrangement (15) 

In Summary

• Mackerel tabby is a coat pattern, not a breed.

• Identified by narrow, vertical stripes, most visible across its sides.

• A dominant genetic trait that underlies other tabby variants.

• Energetic, smart, and curious, commonly described as playful and social.

• One of the most common and ancient cat coat patterns. 

So it is sure to say that Alex is a wonderful loving cat, thanks for being part of Saving the Michi! AR. 

He has 7 pictures in the game. Can you find them all?

Michis in the game: Leo & Mickey

By Jorge 

Leo and Mike are brothers, another couple of tabby mackerel cats with the typical physical characteristics of this race of cats: "M" in the forehead, stripes in their bodies and, in this case, they are orange, like that famous fat orange cat cartoon from the 80's named 'Garfield'. And oh boy! The brothers share a lot of features with this famous cartoon.

 

Leo and Mickey patroling the neighborhood

 These brothers are always together, doing stuff of cats in their home in the NL. They do ressemble a lot to Garfield, since they love to eat and sleep! One main difference, though, is that these brothers do not hate Mondays as Garfield does!

Personalities 

Leo and Mickey are 2 cats with a lot of similarities, more than differences. They both share a taste for delicious human food (especially ham and other human dishes),  

Famous fictional orange cats

Orange cats have always been one of the preferred pets for humans and they have inspired both TV series and movies, as mentioned at the beginning of this blog, one of the most famous cats on TV is Garfield. So let's mention some of the features of this show:

Garfield: The Sarcastic Sensation

• Origin: Debuted in Jim Davis' comic strip (1978), exploded into animation with Garfield and Friends (1988–1994).

• Personality:

  • Lazy, lasagna-obsessed, Monday-hating cynic.

• TV Impact:

  • 121 episodes blending comic adaptations and original stories.

  • Despite initial critical skepticism, it became CBS' Saturday morning anchor

Another TV show that aired in the 80's where the protagonist was also an orange cat, was Heathcliff, a house cat whose adventures were always putting him in tight situations that later he could solve. The show had a very catchy opening. Here are some details about Heathcliff:

Heathcliff: The Alley Cat Antihero

Two Animated Series in the 80s:

• Ruby-Spears' Heathcliff (1980–1981):

  • ABC series pairing the troublemaking cat with Dingbat and the Creeps (vampire dog/comic monsters).

• DIC's Heathcliff and the Catillac Cats (1984–1985):

  • Introduced Riff-Raff's junkyard gang (Cleo, Hector, Wordsworth) as co-stars.

  • Episodes ended with pet-care tips, blending mischief with education

Puss in Boots

Another iconic character of 21 century is Puss in Boots, first introduces in the Shrek movies, this orange cat has gained the love and respect of millions due to his sarcastic and bold personality. Especially in the last movie, which was awesome, if you ask me. The following are some characteristics of this loved cat:

Origin & Design:
Loosely based on the European fairy tale "Puss in Boots" (1697), DreamWorks' iteration is an anthropomorphic orange tabby cat with a Spanish accent, voiced by Antonio Banderas. He wears signature boots, a cavalier hat, a cape, and wields a rapier. His personality blends Zorro's swashbuckling charm (inspired by Banderas' role in The Mask of Zorro) with classic feline quirks: chasing light spots, coughing hairballs, and using "cute eyes" to disarm foes 158.

Personality:

   -Heroic yet flawed: A fugitive seeking redemption, balancing bravado with vulnerability

   -Traits: Charismatic, loyal and prone to dramatic flair (e.g., declaring, "Fear me, if you dare!")

   -Quirks: Obsessed with milk, fears losing his "nine lives" (in the last movie) and values honor above wealth

Leo and Mickey compared to these famous cats

Believe it or not, Leo and Mickey share several characteristics (not only physical) with the before mentioned stars of the screen. Here are some of those similarities: 

In real life, 80% of the orange cats are male: The orange gene (O) is X-linked. Males (XY) need only one copy; females (XX) need two. Leo and Mickey are males, and Garfield, Heathcliff and Puss in Boots are also males.

As garfield, Leo and Mickey are a bit overweight and they love human food! They use their hypnotic powers to tell their humans to feed them with tasty human food. 

 

Leo's personification of Garfield

  

As Puss in Boots, Leo and Mickey are always ready to help each other whenever one of them is in trouble! There are solid evidences showing this heroic and fraternal behavior: once Leo got himself locked in the terrace, and Mickey came to the rescue! Although staring through the window to see his brother on the other side, was not very helpful to let Leo in back to the house.

As Heathcliff, these 2 brothers are often go into adventures to get in troubles to later be pardoned by their humans just because Leo and Mickey are incredibly cute.

 

 

Blessing his human's hand

 

There are 8 pictures of Leo and Mickey in Saving the Michi AR! Can you find them all?

Michis in the game: Tripa y Trapo

By Jorge

Tripa (Female) and Trapo (Male) are siblings. Trapo, physically is a black and white cat, he is bigger (in size and weight) than his sister. Trapo is a grumpy cat with new humans and he has poor interest of knowing them, unless they are part of his family or enough time has passed to deserve his love.

But once you are accepted as one of his new servants, then he will show you love reward you with cuddles and talk to you to get your attention towards him. He definitely is the leader of the pack.

 

Trapo staring at your soul

 

Tripa is very different from Trapo in terms of tenderness and approaching humans that are not part of her family. Unlike Trapo, she can approach new humans without much difficulty and she shows love and cuddles on the lap of the human she liked.

 

Tripa being majestic 

 Fun facts of Trapo

Trapo, the sophisticated tuxedo cat with his sharp black-and-white markings, rules his domain with quiet authority. As Tripa's older brother, he's developed clever ways to maintain his alpha status - like strategically "inspecting" her meals before claiming the tastiest bits for himself. His food thefts aren't just greed; they're calculated dominance displays where he'll physically block Tripa from approaching the bowl until he's satisfied.

This savvy hunter transforms into a stealth ninja in the garden. His record? Catching three sparrows in one afternoon! Yet despite his fierce outdoor reputation, Trapo reserves affectionate head-butts and slow-blinks exclusively for his trusted humans. New visitors might only glimpse him observing from under furniture - it takes weeks before he'll grace strangers with a cautious sniff. His wariness stems from kittenhood when loud noises traumatized him, making sudden movements trigger instant retreats.

Ironically, this fitness-conscious hunter struggles with weight (currently 9 kg!). His secret? Manipulating his male human with dramatic "starving cat" performances; complete with pitiful meows and dramatic collapses near empty food bowls, especially in everyday mornings. Trapo's favorite trick: waiting until his human sits down before staging these hunger protests, knowing the couch position makes resistance futile.

Did you know?

• Trapo's name means "rag" in Spanish - ironic for such a regal cat!

• His white "shirt front" fur is always impeccably clean (he grooms more than Tripa)

Fun Facts: Tripa

The velvety gray Tripa is her brother's polar opposite: a social butterfly who considers every visitor her new best friend. Within minutes of guests arriving, she's rubbing against ankles, offering purring introductions, and dramatically flopping over the visitor's laps (a rare feline trust signal!). Her name meaning "guts" fits her fearless approach to human interaction, though ironically describes her digestive issues from Trapo's food thefts.

This 10-year-old charmer has perfected "love bombing" techniques:

1. The "accidental" paw touch when sitting beside newcomers

2. Slow blinks that make people feel specially chosen

3. Gentle nose boops demanding immediate petting

Yet behind this confident facade lies a vulnerable side. When Trapo steals her meals, Tripa doesn't fight back, she taps her humans' legs with trembling paws and leads them to the empty bowl, silently pleading for justice. Her weight struggles (8 lbs!) come from "second dinner" manipulations where she convinces multiple family members she hasn't been fed.

Did you know?

• Tripa's gray fur has 7 distinct shades - darkest along her spine, lightest on her "socks"

• She survived a fall from the house window when she was younger, but she broke her tail

• Her left whiskers curl slightly from a kittenhood adventure involving a candle

• She dreams of being an outdoor cat but gets overwhelmed by butterflies

 

Trapo thinking on pushing Tripa through the window

Together they are a typhoon that can make a mess in the house when running up and down, (hey! They must exercise, right?). They do shenanigans together and sometimes they fight for a plate of food (especially when Trapo tries to steals Tripa's food, it is even worse because they have each their own plate! Trapo is so selfish!). They do activities together, but for social activities with humans, Trapo often prefers the peace of the solitude.

This lovely couple of siblings have the most nurmerous amount of pictures: 5 each individually and 6 pictures as a pair, to make a total of 16! Besides, Tripa stars the final picture of the game after completing all 14 stages of Saving the Michi AR! Can you spot them all?

Michis in the game: Señora Pancha and Ramona

By Jorge

Señora Pancha (Mrs. Pancha), is one of the michis in this game who officially has a pedigree, but she delivers the same amount of love as any other michi in the game: Pancha is a Blue Russian cat. The following, are some characteristics of this particular race, some tips for its coating and general care.

 

 

Señora Pancha in her cleaning session 

Russian Blue

The Russian Blue is a medium-sized cat known for a dense, silvery-blue double coat, bright green eyes, and a refined, slightly shy personality. They’re intelligent, quietly affectionate, and often form a strong bond with one (or a few) family members.

Appearance / characteristics

• Coat: Short to medium length, dense double coat with a fine, plush feel. Color: uniform bluish-silver (often just called “blue”). The coat has a subtle sheen because each hair is tipped in silver.

• Eyes: Vivid green in adulthood (can be yellow/green in kittens). Señora Pancha was taken by her human when she (Señora Pancha), was a baby, and she had yellowish eyes, now they are green

• Build: Slender but muscular, elegant lines, graceful gait. Medium-sized (3–6 kg, males tend to be a bit larger).

• Face: Wedge-shaped head, large ears, slightly upturned mouth giving a sweet expression

• Lifespan: Generally 10–20 years, with many living well into their mid-teens

Typical behavior & temperament

• Reserved but affectionate: Often shy with strangers, but very loyal and loving to their chosen humans. Not “lap-onto-everyone” cats, but they enjoy quiet, regular cuddles.

• Intelligent & curious: Learn quickly, enjoy puzzle toys, and can be trained to do tricks or play fetch.

• Quiet: Not overly vocal — voice is usually soft and measured.

• Playful: Active in bursts; like interactive play and heights (perches).

• Good with calm families and other pets: They do well in multi-pet homes if introductions are gradual. Tend to prefer calm children over very young, noisy kids. Señora Pancha's human has no kids so the peace is guaranteed

 

Señora Pancha being lovely curious

Grooming and coat care

• Brushing: Weekly brushing is usually enough to remove loose hairs and keep the coat glossy. During seasonal sheds, increase to 2–3 times/week. The coat resists matting, so heavy grooming is not required

• Bathing: Rarely necessary. Bathe only when dirty or under vet recommendation

• Nails / ears / teeth: Trim nails every 2–4 weeks if indoor-only. Check ears weekly for wax/debris. Brush teeth 2–3 times/week to prevent dental disease

• Shedding: Medium, less than many long-hairs, but regular brushing reduces hair around the home and hairballs

 Nutrition & weight management

• Diet: High-quality, protein-rich diet (meat-first ingredients). Russian Blues can gain weight if inactive; watch portions.

• Feeding frequency: 2 meals/day or free-feeding with measured portions depending on your routine. Consider puzzle feeders for enrichment.

• Hydration: Fresh water always available — some cats prefer a pet water fountain.

Health & vet care

• General health: Generally a healthy breed. No extremely common breed-specific disorders, but like all cats watch for:

  • Obesity: (common if inactive)

  • Dental disease: keep up with cleanings and home brushing

  • Urinary issues: common in indoor cats; ensure hydration and proper diet

• Vaccines & checkups: Annual or biannual vet checkups recommended. Follow your vet’s vaccination and parasite prevention schedule.

• Genetic testing: Not typically necessary unless you have reason to suspect a hereditary issue; reputable breeders may screen for heart disease.

Frequent Asked Questions about the Blue Russian Cats 

Are they hypoallergenic? No. The truth is, that no cat is truly hypoallergenic, however, Russian Blues often produce less dander than some other breeds, so some sensitive people report fewer symptoms. Nevertheless, this is not guaranteed.

Good for families? Yes. Best with calm children; supervise interactions with toddlers. As previously said, Señora Pancha will not deal with kids.

Do they like water? Some do; many tolerate it better than other breeds, but it varies individually.

Ramona

Ramona is Señora Pancha's older step-sister, she's a Mackerel Tabby Cat, just like most of the domestic cats in the game, (or in the world, for that matter). She loves taking long naps and cuddle in her humans laps, her coat is grayish with stripes in her body.

 

Ramona loves gossips

Ramona is a good old step-sister, she welcomed Ramona as the new member of the gang. She's a few years older than Señora Pancha and she acts protective and caring towards. Sometimes, however, Pancha gets too playful and Ramona is not in the mood, so Pancha gets scolded to leave Ramona alone. This is not a common scenario to see, though.

Señora Pancha biography

Señora Pancha is a cat coming from a pedigree lineage and her human was looking to get a blue russian cat from a long time. Pancha was purchased and since then, she has grown as a happy cat surrounded with love and delicious food.

According to her human, Señora Pancha is a very social cat and easily approaches humans, (right after a short period of knowing the person to get enough trust to approach them). 

Señora Pancha is so cute that she appears in the main menu screen, (that picture, though, is not available in the gallery of michis). 

 Señora Pancha counts with 6 photographies in the gallery and Ramona has 4, can you find them all?

Michis in the game: Naruto

By Jorge

Like Nata, Naruto is another michi who is no longer with us in this life. He went straight to michis's heaven a few years ago. However, her human was very happy to know that her beloved Naruto will forever live in Saving The Michi AR! And also in her heart, of course.

 

Naruto doing what cats love: own a cardboard box

As many of the cats previously posted in these blogs, Naruto also has a mackerel tabby pattern: with an "M" in the forehead and stripes in his body. Just like Alex, Gatell and other catis that you will find in Saving the Michi AR mobile game.

Naruto was adopted when he was born and he lived a life filled with love, games and healthy sleep. As a tabby cat, he was very active, caring and he liked to be with kids since Naruto was a baby.

 

Naruto ready for shopping! 

Naruto lived in a small town where the green areas are abundant, this meant that he had plenty of space to go out, play and develop his feline instincts! Unfurtonately for some birds, that meant to also develop his hunting skills, so once in a while, Naruto came back home with the bodies of his preys: small birds, rodents and other small animals.

That's why his human decided to keep an eye on him whenever she could when Naruto went to play outside the house. His human also played a lot with Naruto indoors: to keep his mobility up and preventing Naruto to become a serial killer for the local fauna.

 

Playing inside the house

Naruto liked to be with humans and other animals too, he grew up with other dogs and cats inside the house, and in the neighborhood, he had several friends too! 

Naruto's biography 

Adopted the moment his tiny eyes opened to the world, (well, a few weeks after he was born, to get milk from his mom), Naruto’s life was woven from threads of love, play, and the deep, rumbling purrs of contented sleep. His tabby heritage gifted him boundless energy and an inquisitive mind. 

He was his human’s shadow from kittenhood, a soft, purring presence during late-night studies, a gentle guardian when she was sick, (or not, depending on Naruto's mood, according to his human). But his heart held a special softness for children. The moment a small human entered the house, Naruto transformed. 

His usual dignified prowl became a playful wiggle, his tail a friendly question mark. He’d patiently endure clumsy pats, gently bat at offered toys, and curl up beside them during story time, a warm, striped protector. He’d been a baby with his human and his human's siblings, growing with love alongside them with infinite patience and love.

Their small town, nestled amidst rolling hills and dotted with sprawling gardens, was Naruto’s paradise. Green spaces weren't just abundant; they were his birthright. He’d slip out through the cat flap at dawn, a striped blur disappearing into the dew-kissed grass. This was where his feline soul truly soared. He’d stalk imaginary dragons through the flowerbeds, practice gravity-defying leaps onto low stone walls, and bask in sunbeams filtering through ancient oak trees. He developed the proud bearing of a miniature tiger surveying his verdant realm.

Yet, with the instincts of his wild ancestors pulsing beneath his domestic exterior, Naruto’s reign came with a grim toll. Occasionally, the mighty hunter would return, not with imagined trophies, but with very real, very small ones. A feather here, a tiny, unfortunate rodent there. This didn't like to his human, but it's difficult to fight against your own feral instincts.

As he grew older, Naruto's energy didn't fade away, he was joyful and curious. It was until his senior years when he became slower and his reflexes were not as quick as before. Father time passes for everyone, I guess. It was here where Naruto spent long hours of nap and becoming friends with his human's daughter.

Now, his human opens her phone. She taps the Saving the Michi AR icon. A familiar digital landscape blooms on her screen. And there he is. Naruto. Not just one image, but 11 scattered throughout the AR world. Sometimes he’s a tiny, pixelated version of his majestic tabby self, caught mid-pounce in a virtual garden. In another, he’s curled up, a digital ghost napping on a sunbeam that streams through her actual living room window. And yes, in one particularly perfect capture, he’s claimed his throne: a shimmering, cardboard box. She laughs, a sound tinged with tears but mostly with pure, affectionate joy. She points her phone, and the photos of Naruto shine as one of the stars of the game.

He lived 16 good years. There are 11 pictures of Naruto in Saving the Michi AR. Go and find them all!

Michis in the game: Kiwi

By Jorge

Kiwi is one of the stars of this game, having more than 10% of the gallery's photos. She was adopted from ther birthday and she receives a lot of love and treats from her human-servants. As it should be. Kiwi is 3 years old and she can't complain for the life she lives. She's the envy of many michis (and some humans alike). She is full of love and energy!

 

Baby Kiwi enjoying nature

Like Alex and other domestic cats, Kiwi is a mackerel tabby cat; this type of cats, commonly come in brown/black, but the pattern also appears in blue (gray), orange (red), cream, and silver varieties, for the case of Kiwi, she belongs to the silver variety. Kiwi has the typical "M" shaped in her forehead, which is a trademark for domestic tabby cats.

Kiwi's Personality & Traits

Kiwi has a personality that matches with the typical tabby cat, since she lives in a farm, with wide open spaces and a lot of visual and scent stimulations, she is very adventurous, curious and develops multiple physical and acrobatic skills that are typical of a cat:

• Curious and adventurous: Mackerel tabbies are energetic, love exploring, and often get into everything; especially as kittens (1)

• Highly intelligent: They show dog-like responsiveness, can learn tricks like fetch, and are keen problem-solvers (2) 
  

• Friendly and social: While coat pattern doesn’t dictate behavior, many owners report mackerel tabbies are outgoing and enjoy human interaction (3)

 

Young Kiwi in hunting mode. She is a curious michi

 

According to her humans/servants, Kiwi is a very lovely michi, she has been surrounded by humans since she was a baby michi, so she is used to them and she is friendly when a new human approaches, since this only means that Kiwi will have another servant for her benefit.

She likes to roam around in the farm, play and sleep. She's very active and full of joy. Her eyes are wide and blue like the sky. She spends hours in the outsides, (how not to do it? The farm is beautiful), playing detective while sniffing and inspecting her surroundings. 

Kiwi posing for the picture. She is a natural!

According to her humans/servants, Kiwi is energetic, smart, and curious, commonly described as playful and social. Kiwi welcomes new visitors and she loves to cuddle on the lap of a human whenever it is possible, especially if someone is sitting on a chair or couch. She never misses an opportunity to cuddle. This also applies if you are lying on your bed! So if you are visiting here wherabouts, be cautious if you are at her place and don't want to be surprised by a ball of fur filled with love and tenderness! Be aware: it is impossible to resist her pawfection!

Her diet is based on cat food, tuna and other treats recommended by her veterinary. This means that Kiwi has a healthy life by exercising often and eating healthy food according to her needs. A perfect balanced life to have a healthy body, it doesn't matter if you are a michi or a human: a good diet and exercise are recommended to have a good quality of life!

Health Considerations

• Sunburn Risk: Since Kiwi is a white/clear gray cat, she is prone to skin cancer on ears/nose; it is recommended to limit sun exposure to prevent issues. We all want a healthy Kiwi!

• Diet: High-protein food to maintain muscle tone. It is natural to relate good diet = healthy body. Anima Sana in Corpore Sano, (healthy soul in a healthy body). It applies for both michis and humans, so if you are a human or own a michi, you know: live a healthy live!

In summary: Kiwi is a beautiful michi filled with love and great personality, no wonder why she has the most amount of pictures in Saving the Michi AR: 15! Can you find them all?

 Thanks again for reading and remember to play Saving the Michi AR!

Michis in the game: Salem, Torta, Gatell and Wero

By Jorge

They are all adopted michis. Salem (black one), Gatell (gray/white cat, top of the picture), Torta (gray-brown) and Wera (orange one), were once stray cats who now have a lovely house. According to their owner, there is now a 5th cat, but unfortunately, the game was already released before he could be added to the roster of michis.

 

Can you tell who is who?

In the picture we can notice that at least 3 of the 4 cats belong to the same race as Alex: a tabby cat. This is because it is noticeable that they have a distinctive coat marking seen in domestic cats (Torta, Gatell and Wero have it on sight), characterized by an “M”-shaped marking on the forehead, facial stripes, and either swirling (classic), vertical striped (mackerel), spotted/ticked body patterns.

Salem 

His name comes from the 90's series "Sabrina, the teen witch", who had a black cat as a pet named like that. Salem is the oldest of the michis, he was taken from an adoption center for cats. It is thought that in the underworld, Salem was a feral cat with natural assassin instincts, with outstanding hunting skills. Necessary assets to survive the streets as a street feral cat. He now lives in a cosy home surrounded with love, plenty of healthy food and back pettings.

Salem has already lost some of his teeth, since he's estimate to be over 10 years old (estimations go from 10 to 13 years old). He still could live for some more years if he continues this path of love and caring that his owners provide to him. No more street life for him.

His attitude towards people is calmed, little friendly with people outside his family circle, but loving and caring when he is with his humans/servants. Due to his age, he became more tranquil and enjoys his retirement from his former feral life. This peace he is living now, is well deserved, if you ask me.

Torta 

She's the cat that looks like a puma, Torta was also adopted from the same adoption center as Salem. The difference is that she was not covered in car's oil but she was also found roaming in the streets of the city. She's estimated to be 6-8 years old and she's very dynamic and playful.

She's more friendly towards humans outside her family circle and she loves cuddling and meows for attention. This can be can be interpreted as meaning that her owners have done a good job in taking care of her, that now Torta sees humans as trustworthy slaves. A common thought in michis raised with love and food. 

Torta's features with facial striping and the “M” on her forehead, strongly suggests that she has a mackerel tabby pattern (2). Torta is mother and all of her kittens were put in adoption, they found homes where they are treated with love and care.

Gatell 

His name is a reference to a Mexican politician whose family name is "Gatell". The name of this adorable cat, is a play on words between the politician's surname and the word “gato” (cat in Spanish). Very clever selection of his name, as it is often seen in pets names.

Gatell was picked from the streets and he was covered in car's oil when that happened, provoking problems on his skin, also caused by malnutrition. Gatell, in the same way as Torta, (and many domestic cats), features clear vertical stripes across his sides and legs, along with facial striping and the “M” on his forehead, strongly suggesting that he, as well, has a mackerel tabby pattern.

He's also estimated to be 6-8 years old, his temperament is calmed and he likes cuddles and attention. However it takes time to gain his trust, so if you come from outside Gatell's pack, don't expect him to cuddle on your lap. It will take some time for that to happen.

 

Nowadays Gatell's skin is healthy and he sleeps in a comfortable bed, as it must be. All the michis and puppies in the world deserve a nice place to live, sleep, play, eat and be loved. And us, humans, (often seen as servants by the michis), must meet those conditions for the wellbeing of the michis.

Wero 

He's the orange cat. His name comes from a reference of a Spanish word "güero", that is used to refer to blonde haired men. For blonde women, "güera" would be used. 

Wero was also saved from the streets by a girl who later put him into adoption, it was at that moment that my friend saw the post in the social media and decided to adopt him. Wero is still young (estimated to be 1-2 years old) and his attitude at the beginning, when he arrived for the first time to his new home, was aggressive and unfriendly. According to reports, his behavior towards his new human/servants has improved, but he still has work to do.

He will adapt soon and the love, food and pettings that Wero receives will help to change his negative attitude towards a more friendly and lovely one. It is matter of time for that to happen.

There are 6 pictures in total of this adorable pack of cats. Can you find them all in Saving the Michi AR?