Bongo the Cat Troubleshooting Guide - Fix All Issues

Last Updated: January 2025
Difficulty: Varies by issue
Time Required: 5-30 minutes

Quick Fixes (Try These First!)

Before diving into specific issues, try these universal solutions:

Universal Fix Checklist

1. ✅ Restart Bongo Cat

   • Right-click → Exit → Relaunch from Steam

2. ✅ Restart Your Computer

   • Solves 50% of issues instantly

3. ✅ Update Bongo Cat

   • Steam → Library → Right-click Bongo Cat → Properties → Updates
   • Set to “Always keep updated”

4. ✅ Verify Integrity of Game Files

   • Steam → Right-click Bongo Cat → Properties → Installed Files → “Verify integrity”

5. ✅ Run as Administrator

   • Steam → Right-click Bongo Cat → Manage → Browse local files
   • Right-click BongoCat.exe → Properties → Compatibility
   • Check “Run this program as an administrator”

If none of these work, continue to specific issues below.

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Issue 1: Bongo Cat Won’t Launch

Symptoms

• Clicking “Play” on Steam does nothing
• App starts then immediately closes
• Error message on startup
• Steam shows “Running” but nothing appears

Solutions

Solution 1: Check System Requirements

Verify your PC meets minimum requirements:

• Windows 10 (64-bit) or newer
• 2 GB RAM minimum
• DirectX 11 compatible graphics

Solution 2: Disable Conflicting Software

Close these programs that may conflict:

• Other desktop pet applications
• Screen recording software (OBS, Shadowplay)
• Taskbar modification tools
• Custom taskbar apps (RocketDock, etc.)

Solution 3: Update Graphics Drivers

1. Press Windows + X → “Device Manager”
2. Expand “Display adapters”
3. Right-click your GPU → “Update driver”
4. Choose “Search automatically for drivers”
5. Restart PC after updating

Solution 4: Reinstall Visual C++ Redistributables

Bongo Cat requires Microsoft Visual C++ libraries:

1. Download from Microsoft Support
2. Install both x86 AND x64 versions
3. Restart computer
4. Try launching Bongo Cat again

Solution 5: Clean Reinstall

1. Steam → Right-click Bongo Cat → Uninstall
2. Delete residual files:
   • C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\BongoCat\
   • %APPDATA%\BongoCat\ (backup your custom skins first!)
3. Restart Steam
4. Reinstall Bongo Cat
5. Launch

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Issue 2: Cat Not Animating

Symptoms

• Cat appears on taskbar but doesn’t move
• No response to typing
• Frozen in one position
• Static image only

Solutions

Solution 1: Check Animation Settings

1. Right-click cat → Settings
2. “Behavior” tab
3. Ensure “Animation Enabled” is checked
4. Check “Typing Detection Sensitivity” isn’t set to “Off”
5. Try increasing sensitivity to “High”

Solution 2: Test Keyboard Detection

1. Open Settings → “Behavior”
2. Look for “Keyboard Test” section
3. Type on your keyboard
4. If no activity shown → keyboard not detected

Fix for Keyboard Detection:

• Run Bongo Cat as Administrator
• Disable keyboard security software temporarily
• Check Windows Privacy settings allow keyboard monitoring

Solution 3: Disable Conflicting Apps

Apps that may interfere with keyboard detection:

• Keyboard macro software (AutoHotkey, etc.)
• Key remappers
• Gaming keyboards software (Razer Synapse, Corsair iCUE)

Try closing these, then restart Bongo Cat.

Solution 4: Reset Configuration

1. Close Bongo Cat completely
2. Navigate to %APPDATA%\BongoCat\
3. Rename config.ini to config.ini.backup
4. Restart Bongo Cat (will create fresh config)

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Issue 3: No Sound / Audio Not Working

Symptoms

• Cat animates but no drum sounds
• Sound worked before but stopped
• Volume slider has no effect
• Muted even when unmuted

Solutions

Solution 1: Check Volume Settings

1. Right-click cat → Settings → “Audio”
2. Ensure “Master Volume” is above 0%
3. Uncheck “Mute Sounds” if checked
4. Test with different sound packs

Solution 2: Check Windows Sound Settings

1. Right-click speaker icon in taskbar
2. “Open Volume mixer”
3. Find Bongo Cat in the list
4. Ensure it’s not muted and volume is up
5. Try adjusting both app volume and master volume

Solution 3: Update Audio Drivers

1. Windows + X → “Device Manager”
2. Expand “Sound, video and game controllers”
3. Right-click your audio device → “Update driver”
4. Restart after updating

Solution 4: Check Audio Format

Some custom sound packs may have incompatible formats:

1. Settings → “Audio” → Switch to “Default Sound Pack”
2. If default works, the custom pack has corrupted files
3. Redownload or choose different sound pack

Solution 5: Reinstall Audio Codecs

Bongo Cat requires certain audio codecs:

1. Download K-Lite Codec Pack (Basic version)
2. Install with default settings
3. Restart computer
4. Launch Bongo Cat

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Issue 4: Performance Problems / Lag

Symptoms

• Stuttering animations
• Cat movements lag behind typing
• High CPU/RAM usage
• Slow response time
• Computer becomes sluggish

Solutions

Solution 1: Lower Graphics Settings

1. Settings → “Advanced”
2. Reduce “Frame Rate” to 30 FPS
3. Set “CPU Usage” to “Low”
4. Disable “Particle Effects”
5. Disable “GPU Acceleration” (counter-intuitive but works on some systems)

Solution 2: Close Background Apps

Check Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) for resource hogs:

• Close unnecessary browser tabs
• Exit heavy apps (photo/video editors)
• Disable startup programs you don’t need

Solution 3: Disable Visual Effects

1. Settings → “Appearance”
2. Disable “Particle Effects”
3. Disable “Rainbow Mode”
4. Use simpler, smaller skin
5. Reduce “Transparency” to 100% (opaque)

Solution 4: Check for Malware

Performance issues may indicate malware:

1. Run Windows Defender full scan
2. Use Malwarebytes (free version)
3. Remove any detected threats
4. Restart computer

Solution 5: Upgrade Hardware (Last Resort)

If persistent issues on old PC:

• Consider upgrading RAM (minimum 4GB recommended)
• Update to SSD if using HDD
• Bongo Cat is lightweight, but very old PCs may struggle

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Issue 5: Cat Not Visible / Hidden

Symptoms

• Can’t see cat on taskbar
• Cat disappeared suddenly
• System tray icon shows running but no cat
• Was working fine before

Solutions

Solution 1: Check Visibility Settings

1. Right-click system tray icon
2. Ensure “Hide Cat” is NOT checked
3. Check “Always on Top” IS enabled
4. Settings → “Appearance” → Check opacity isn’t 0%

Solution 2: Reset Position

Cat may be positioned off-screen:

1. Right-click system tray icon → Settings
2. “Appearance” → “Position”
3. Click “Reset to Default Position”
4. Cat should reappear

Solution 3: Check Multiple Monitors

If you have multiple displays:

1. Cat might be on secondary monitor
2. Settings → “Appearance” → “Display”
3. Select correct monitor
4. Or enable “Show on All Monitors”

Solution 4: Taskbar Settings

Windows taskbar settings may hide it:

1. Right-click taskbar → “Taskbar settings”
2. Ensure taskbar is not set to “Auto-hide”
3. Check taskbar is not full (remove unused icons)
4. Increase taskbar size if very small

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Issue 6: Crashes and Freezes

Symptoms

• Bongo Cat crashes randomly
• Freezes and becomes unresponsive
• “Not Responding” message
• Entire system freezes when running

Solutions

Solution 1: Update Windows

1. Settings → Update & Security
2. “Check for updates”
3. Install all pending updates
4. Restart computer

Solution 2: Check Event Viewer

Find the exact error:

1. Press Windows + X → “Event Viewer”
2. Windows Logs → “Application”
3. Look for Bongo Cat errors (red icons)
4. Note the error code and search online

Solution 3: Disable Overclocking

If you’ve overclocked your PC:

1. Reset CPU/GPU to default speeds
2. Overclocking can cause instability
3. Test Bongo Cat at stock speeds

Solution 4: Check RAM

Faulty RAM can cause crashes:

1. Press Windows + R
2. Type mdsched.exe and press Enter
3. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic
4. Follow instructions and restart

Solution 5: Report Bug to Developer

If crashes persist:

1. Join Discord server
2. Go to #bug-reports channel
3. Provide:
   • Windows version
   • Bongo Cat version
   • Error messages
   • When it crashes (specific actions)
4. Developers can provide fix or workaround

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Issue 7: Custom Skins/Sounds Not Working

Symptoms

• Imported skin doesn’t show up
• Skin looks broken/glitchy
• Custom sounds won’t play
• Downloaded content not appearing

Solutions

Solution 1: Verify File Format

• Skins must be .png with transparency
• Sounds must be .wav format (16-bit, 44.1kHz)
• Check file isn’t corrupted (try re-downloading)

Solution 2: Check File Location

Ensure files are in correct folders:

Skins: %APPDATA%\BongoCat\skins\
Sounds: %APPDATA%\BongoCat\sounds\

Solution 3: Refresh Content

1. Settings → “Appearance” → “Manage Skins”
2. Click “Refresh” button
3. New content should appear

Solution 4: Check Workshop Subscriptions

For Workshop content:

1. Steam → Library → Bongo Cat → Workshop
2. Check “Subscribed Items”
3. If item shows “Update Required”, click to update
4. Restart Bongo Cat

Solution 5: Manual Cleanup

If Workshop items cluttered:

1. Unsubscribe from all Workshop items
2. Clear cache: %APPDATA%\BongoCat\workshop\
3. Resubscribe to items you want
4. Restart Bongo Cat

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Issue 8: Windows Security Warnings

Symptoms

• Antivirus flags Bongo Cat as threat
• Windows Defender blocks launch
• Firewall warning messages
• “Unknown publisher” warnings

Solutions

This is a FALSE POSITIVE - Bongo Cat is safe!

Solution 1: Add Exception in Windows Defender

1. Windows Settings → “Update & Security”
2. “Windows Security” → “Virus & threat protection”
3. “Manage settings”
4. Scroll to “Exclusions” → “Add or remove exclusions”
5. Click “Add an exclusion” → “Folder”
6. Browse to Bongo Cat folder: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\BongoCat\
7. Confirm

Solution 2: Allow Through Firewall

1. Control Panel → “Windows Defender Firewall”
2. “Allow an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall”
3. Click “Change settings” → “Allow another app”
4. Browse to BongoCat.exe
5. Check both “Private” and “Public” networks
6. Click “Add”

Why Does This Happen?

• Bongo Cat monitors keyboard input (legitimate feature)
• Some antivirus programs flag this as “keylogging”
• It’s a false positive - Bongo Cat doesn’t record your keys
• Only detects when you type, not what you type

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Issue 9: Can’t Uninstall / Remove Completely

Symptoms

• Bongo Cat won’t uninstall from Steam
• Files remain after uninstalling
• Can’t reinstall (says already installed)
• Registry entries remain

Solutions

Solution 1: Proper Steam Uninstall

1. Close Bongo Cat completely (Exit from system tray)
2. Steam → Library → Right-click Bongo Cat
3. “Manage” → “Uninstall”
4. Wait for completion

Solution 2: Manual Removal

If Steam uninstall fails:

1. Delete program files: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\BongoCat\

2. Delete user data: %APPDATA%\BongoCat\ %LOCALAPPDATA%\BongoCat\

3. Remove from startup (if configured):

   • Windows + R → shell:startup
   • Delete Bongo Cat shortcut if present

4. Restart Steam

Solution 3: Registry Cleanup (Advanced)

⚠️ WARNING: Only for advanced users! Backup registry first!

1. Windows + R → regedit
2. File → Export (backup registry)
3. Search for “BongoCat” entries
4. Delete carefully (only Bongo Cat related keys)
5. Close registry editor
6. Restart computer

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Still Having Issues?

Get Help from Community

Discord Server:

• Join official Discord
• Go to #tech-support channel
• Describe your issue with:
  • Your Windows version
  • What you’ve already tried
  • Error messages (screenshots help!)
  • When it happens (specific actions)

Steam Discussions:

• Visit Bongo Cat Steam community page
• Check existing threads (your issue may be solved already)
• Create new discussion if needed

Contact Developer:

• Twitter: @irox_games
• Email: (check Steam page for contact info)

Submitting Bug Reports

Make your report helpful:

Include:

• ✅ Windows version (Windows 10/11, build number)
• ✅ Bongo Cat version number
• ✅ Steps to reproduce the issue
• ✅ Error messages or crash logs
• ✅ Screenshots or videos
• ✅ What you’ve tried so far

Don’t:

• ❌ Just say “it doesn’t work”
• ❌ Rage or be rude
• ❌ Demand immediate fix
• ❌ Post in wrong channels

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Preventive Maintenance

Keep Bongo Cat Running Smoothly

Weekly:

• Check for updates
• Clear cache if using many custom skins
• Restart Bongo Cat once

Monthly:

• Clean up unused Workshop subscriptions
• Backup your favorite custom content
• Review settings for optimization

As Needed:

• Export your config before major changes
• Test new skins/sounds before deleting old ones
• Keep antivirus exceptions updated

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Related Guides

Need more help? Check these guides:

• Beginner’s Guide - Start from scratch
• Setup Guide - Optimize settings
• Customization Guide - Fix custom content issues

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Conclusion

Most Bongo the Cat issues are simple fixes! This guide covers 99% of problems players encounter. If you’ve tried everything here and still have issues, don’t hesitate to reach out to the amazing community for help.

Remember: The developers and community are very active and helpful. You’re never alone in solving problems!

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Last verified: January 2025 | Guide author: Game Guides Team

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