Bongo Cat Overlay Not Working? 8 Fixes to Try

Quick answer

How do you fix a Bongo Cat overlay that is not working?

Close and reopen Overlay Cat Desktop, then test input inside Desktop. If the cat reacts there, copy the current Browser Source URL again, keep Desktop running, and update the OBS Browser Source or TikTok LIVE Studio Link source. Check input permissions, remove preview-only query parameters, and use a 612 x 354 viewport. If the source still fails, refresh the page cache or restart the broadcast software.

Diagnosis

Isolate the failure first

Every Bongo Cat overlay has the same two layers: an input layer and a broadcast layer. The input layer is the browser preview or Overlay Cat Desktop. The broadcast layer is the OBS Browser Source or TikTok LIVE Studio Link source that displays the result. Most troubleshooting becomes much faster when you decide which layer is failing.

• If the homepage preview reacts but Desktop does not, the problem is system input or permissions.
• If Desktop reacts but OBS is blank, the problem is the Browser Source URL, viewport, or cache.
• If Desktop reacts but TikTok is blank, the problem is the Link source or the LIVE Studio scene.
• If nothing reacts anywhere, restart Desktop and verify the selected style supports the controls you are testing.

Fix 1

The browser preview does not react

The homepage and the input tester only react while the browser tab has focus. If you press a key while another tab, a game, OBS, or a desktop application is focused, the page cannot receive the event. Click inside the page first, then press a supported key or mouse button.

Also check the selected style. A gamepad style expects controller input rather than keyboard presses, and a compact keyboard intentionally exposes fewer keys than a full keyboard style. Open the browser input overlay tester to see which event names and mouse buttons the browser reports.

Fix 2

Overlay Cat Desktop does not capture input

On macOS, open System Settings, locate Privacy & Security, and check that Overlay Cat is enabled under Input Monitoring. After changing the permission, restart Overlay Cat and the application you want to stream. On Windows, follow the prompt if your game requires the app to run with administrator privileges, then restart the game.

Test Desktop while the target application has focus. If the cat reacts in Desktop, system capture is working and you can move on to the broadcast source.

Fix 3

The OBS Browser Source is blank

Confirm Overlay Cat Desktop is still running, then copy the URL again instead of typing it. In OBS, select the Browser Source, open Properties, make sure Local file is off, and paste the current address. Use Refresh cache of current page and click OK.

If the local port changed because another process occupied the original port, Desktop will display a new URL. Replace the old address. The full OBS Studio setup guide shows the exact source properties and placement steps.

Fix 4

The TikTok LIVE Studio Link source is blank

In TikTok LIVE Studio, remove the existing Link source and add a new one with the exact URL copied from Overlay Cat Desktop. Keep Desktop running and make sure the local page is reachable before the LIVE starts. Some LINK source panels require you to confirm the URL and then apply the source before it appears in the scene.

Follow the TikTok LIVE Studio setup guide for the current Link source workflow and a phone-sized placement check.

Fix 5

The overlay loses transparency

The production Browser Source URL should end at /overlay. Remove ?preview=1 if it was copied from a diagnostic preview; that parameter deliberately adds a checkerboard so transparency is visible inside Desktop. OBS applies transparent Browser Source CSS by default, and Overlay Cat also sets its page background to transparent.

If a solid background still appears, verify that no custom CSS in the OBS Browser Source properties is forcing an opaque color. See the transparent Bongo Cat overlay guide for a step-by-step check.

Fix 6

The overlay is stretched or clipped

Reopen the source properties and use 612 x 354, or another width and height with the same aspect ratio. In OBS, reset the transform and resize from a corner. A different ratio can distort the full-canvas PNG Sprite layers and make the cat, keyboard, or gamepad look stretched.

If you intentionally cropped the source, green handles in OBS indicate the cropped edges. Green handles around the entire source mean the item is cropped; red handles show the unscaled boundary. Preserve the ratio unless you are deliberately creating a custom crop.

Fix 7

The source stops after switching scenes

Turn off Shutdown source when not visible in OBS so the local connection remains active between scene changes. If the source still needs a reconnect when the scene becomes active, turn on Refresh browser source when scene becomes active.

Avoid running multiple copies of the same local URL. Reuse one existing Browser Source across scenes and give each scene item its own position and transform. This keeps the connection stable and makes the overlay easier to update.

Before going live

Pre-stream troubleshooting checklist

• Overlay Cat Desktop is open and shows the expected character and style.
• Input monitoring permission is enabled on macOS or the app is allowed on Windows.
• Desktop reacts to the keyboard, mouse, arrow, or gamepad input you plan to show.
• The source uses the exact current local URL with no preview query parameter.
• OBS uses a Browser Source with Local file off; TikTok uses a Link source.
• The viewport uses 612 x 354 or another matching aspect ratio.
• The source background is transparent in both the preview and the live scene.
• A short test recording confirms the reaction stays smooth with the streamed app focused.