General
What is Catty?
What is Catty?
Catty is a platform that runs Claude Code in persistent cloud sessions. It streams the terminal to your local machine, giving you a native experience while the AI runs remotely.Key features:
- Sessions persist even when you disconnect
- Run multiple sessions in parallel
- Automatic workspace upload and sync-back
- Reconnect from anywhere
How is this different from running Claude Code locally?
How is this different from running Claude Code locally?
| Aspect | Catty | Local Claude Code |
|---|---|---|
| Persistence | Sessions keep running when you disconnect | Stops when terminal closes |
| Parallel sessions | Run multiple sessions simultaneously | One session per terminal |
| Location | Reconnect from any machine | Tied to one machine |
| File sync | Automatic bidirectional | N/A (already local) |
Who is Catty for?
Who is Catty for?
Catty is ideal for:
- Developers who want sessions that persist across disconnects
- Anyone who needs to run multiple Claude Code sessions in parallel
- Users who work from different locations
- Teams that want automatic file sync between local and remote
Platform Support
What platforms are supported?
What platforms are supported?
Supported:
- macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
- Linux (x64 and ARM64)
- Windows
What Node.js version do I need?
What Node.js version do I need?
Node.js 18 or later is required to install the CLI via npm.
Can I use Catty without npm?
Can I use Catty without npm?
Not currently. The CLI is distributed via npm. You can use
npx @diggerhq/catty without a global install.Sessions
Can I run multiple sessions?
Can I run multiple sessions?
Yes! You can run multiple sessions in parallel for different projects or tasks. Use
catty list to see all your active sessions.How long do sessions last?
How long do sessions last?
Sessions have a TTL (time-to-live) and will auto-stop after extended inactivity. You can also stop them manually with
catty stop.What happens to my files when a session ends?
What happens to my files when a session ends?
The cloud machine is destroyed when a session stops. Any files not synced back to your local machine are lost.With sync-back enabled (default), all changes Claude makes are automatically synced to your local directory in real-time, so you won’t lose work.
Can I keep a session running in the background?
Can I keep a session running in the background?
Yes! Sessions persist until stopped. Disconnect with
Ctrl+C and reconnect later with catty connect <label>.Security & Privacy
Is my code private?
Is my code private?
Yes. Each session runs in its own isolated cloud machine. Your workspace files exist only on that machine and are deleted when the session ends.
- Sessions are isolated from each other
- Only you can access your sessions (via your auth token)
- No workspace data is persisted after session termination
Where are my credentials stored?
Where are my credentials stored?
Locally at
~/.catty/credentials.json with restricted file permissions (0600). Credentials are only sent to the Catty API for authentication.Does Catty see my code?
Does Catty see my code?
Your workspace is uploaded to the session machine, which Catty operates. However:
- Files are only stored on the ephemeral session machine
- Files are deleted when the session ends
- Catty doesn’t analyze or store your code beyond the session lifetime
Are API calls logged?
Are API calls logged?
Catty doesn’t log the content of your API calls to Claude.
Billing
How does billing work?
How does billing work?
Catty offers two plans:
- Free tier: Limited usage per month
- Pro: $25/month for higher limits
Do I need my own Anthropic API key?
Do I need my own Anthropic API key?
No. Catty provides Claude API access. You don’t need your own API key.
What happens when I hit my quota?
What happens when I hit my quota?
You can’t create new sessions. Existing sessions continue working. Options:
- Wait for monthly reset
- Upgrade to Pro
Do I pay for the cloud machines?
Do I pay for the cloud machines?
No. Cloud compute costs are included in your plan. You only pay for token usage.
Technical
What tools are available in the session?
What tools are available in the session?
Sessions run on Debian (node:22-bookworm) with development tools pre-installed:
- Node.js 22
- Git
- Build tools (gcc, make)
- ripgrep, jq, vim, curl, wget
- Python (with pip)
- And more
Can I install additional packages?
Can I install additional packages?
Yes, within the session. Use
apt-get, npm, pip, etc. However, installations don’t persist across sessions.What's the upload size limit?
What's the upload size limit?
100 MB. Use
.gitignore to exclude large files, or use --no-upload and clone your repo in the session.How does sync-back handle conflicts?
How does sync-back handle conflicts?
Sync-back is one-way (remote to local). If you edit a file locally while Claude edits it remotely, the remote version will overwrite your local changes.Best practice: Don’t edit files locally during an active session. Let Claude do the work, then review when done.
Troubleshooting
Where can I report bugs?
Where can I report bugs?
Open an issue on GitHub: github.com/diggerhq/catty/issuesInclude:
- CLI version (
catty version) - OS and architecture
- Full error message
- Steps to reproduce
Where can I get help?
Where can I get help?
- Check Common Issues for solutions
- Open a GitHub issue for bugs
- Review this FAQ for general questions