Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Hydracat is a mobile application and website designed to help cat owners manage chronic kidney disease (CKD) in cats through structured tracking, reminders, and veterinarian-designed guidance.

Protecting your privacy is extremely important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data when you use:

• The Hydracat mobile application (iOS and Android)
• The Hydracat website and related pages (including the waitlist)

This policy is designed to comply with applicable data protection laws, including the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and relevant U.S. privacy laws.

2. Who We Are (Data Controller)

Hydracat is operated by a sole proprietorship registered in Belgium.

Data Controller:
Hydracat (sole proprietorship — natural person)
Brussels, Belgium

Contact email: support@hydracathealth.com

As the data controller, we determine the purposes and means of processing your personal data.

3. Scope of This Policy

This Privacy Policy applies to:

• Visitors to the Hydracat website
• Users of the Hydracat mobile application
• Individuals who join the Hydracat waitlist or contact support

It does not apply to third-party websites or services that may be linked from Hydracat.

4. Age Restriction

Hydracat is intended for adults only.

We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under the age of 18. If you believe that a child has provided us with personal data, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

5. Personal Data We Collect

5.1 Account & Contact Information

When you create an account or contact us, we may collect:

• Email address (used for authentication and communication)
• Authentication identifiers (via email/password, Google Sign-In, or Apple Sign-In)

We do not collect real names or profile photos of users.

5.2 Device & Technical Information

The following information is collected automatically to ensure app functionality, security, and stability:

• Device type and operating system version
• App version
• Crash and error logs (via Firebase Crashlytics)
• Push notification device tokens (Firebase Cloud Messaging)

This data is used strictly for technical and operational purposes.

5.3 Pet & Animal Health Data

Hydracat allows you to voluntarily enter and store information about your cat. This may include:

• Cat profile information (name, age, date of birth, breed, gender, weight, photo)
• CKD-related information (diagnosis date, IRIS stage)
• Lab results (e.g. creatinine, BUN, SDMA, phosphorus)
• Treatment schedules and reminders (medications, fluid therapy)
• Treatment session logs (dosage, volume, adherence, stress level, notes)
• Symptoms and quality-of-life assessments
• Weight history and general observations

Important: This data relates exclusively to animals. Hydracat does not collect human health data.

5.4 Communications

If you contact us (for example via email), we will process:

• Your email address
• The content of your message

This information is used solely to respond to your request.

5.5 Website & Waitlist Data

When you visit the Hydracat website or join the waitlist, we may collect:

• Email address (waitlist only)
• Time zone (derived from browser information)
• Basic technical data (IP address, browser type) necessary to operate the website

The website uses only essential cookies. Analytics cookies are set only with your explicit consent.

6. Analytics

6.1 App Analytics

Hydracat uses Firebase Analytics to understand how the app is used and to improve reliability and usability.

• Analytics data is pseudonymous
• No advertising profiles are created
• No data is used for marketing or advertising purposes

Legal basis: Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR)

6.2 Website Analytics

The website uses Google Analytics (via Firebase) to measure aggregated website traffic. Website analytics cookies are only set after you provide explicit consent via our cookie banner.

• Analytics data is used only to understand website performance and tool usage patterns
• No advertising profiles are created

6.3 CKD Staging Tool Analytics

When you use the CKD Staging Tool and have accepted analytics cookies, we collect anonymous, aggregate usage statistics including the categorical results produced by the calculator (e.g., "Stage 3", "Proteinuric", "Hypertensive"). This helps us understand how the tool is used and improve it over time.

• We do not collect the medical values you enter (such as creatinine, SDMA, UPC, or blood pressure readings)
• Only categorical labels are recorded (e.g., stage number, substage name)
• This data cannot be linked to any individual user or animal
• All tool calculations are performed locally in your browser — no medical data is transmitted to our servers

7. How We Use Your Data

We process personal data to:

• Provide and operate the Hydracat app and website
• Authenticate users and secure accounts
• Store and sync pet-related data across devices
• Send essential service communications
• Respond to support requests
• Improve app stability, performance, and usability
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not use your data for advertising.

8. Legal Bases for Processing (GDPR)

Depending on the context, we rely on the following legal bases:

• Contract performance (Art. 6(1)(b)) — providing the app and its core features
• Legitimate interest (Art. 6(1)(f)) — security, analytics, and service improvement
• Consent (Art. 6(1)(a)) — where required, such as website analytics cookies or optional communications
• Legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)) — compliance with applicable laws

9. Data Storage & Security

• All primary data is stored in Google Firebase data centers located in the European Union (eur3 region)
• Data is encrypted in transit and at rest
• Access is restricted using industry-standard security measures

We take appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your data against unauthorized access, loss, or misuse.

10. Data Sharing

We share data only with trusted service providers strictly necessary to operate Hydracat, including:

• Google Firebase (authentication, database, analytics, crash reporting)
• Apple App Store and Google Play Store (app distribution and payments)
• RevenueCat (subscription management)

All service providers act as data processors under contractual obligations.

We:

• Do not sell personal data
• Do not use data for advertising
• Do not share data with pet food companies, pharmaceutical companies, or data brokers

11. International Data Transfers

While our primary data storage is within the EU, some service providers may process data outside the EU.

Where applicable, international data transfers are safeguarded using approved mechanisms such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) in accordance with GDPR requirements.

12. Data Retention

• Account and pet data is stored until you delete your account
• Crash logs and analytics data are retained only as long as necessary for operational purposes
• Support communications are retained until no longer needed to resolve the request

13. Your Rights

Under GDPR and other applicable laws, you have the right to:

• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate data
• Delete your data
• Restrict or object to certain processing
• Export your data
• Withdraw consent at any time

Account Deletion

You can delete your account directly in the app. This permanently deletes associated data.

For other requests, contact us at: support@hydracathealth.com

14. Research & Anonymized Data

Hydracat may, in the future, offer optional participation in research or product improvement initiatives using anonymized or aggregated data.

Any such participation will be explicitly opt-in and clearly explained at the time.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The latest version will always be available on our website.

Material changes will be communicated where required by law.

16. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your data, contact:

Email: support@hydracathealth.com