Skip to main content

🚀 Getting Started with ZappaPets

Welcome to ZappaPets! This guide will walk you through creating your account, minting your first Pet Passport NFT, customizing your pet's AI profile, and chatting with ZappAI.

📋 Prerequisites​

Before you begin, make sure you have:

1. Solana Wallet Browser Extension​

You'll need a Solana wallet to interact with blockchain features and hold ZAPPA tokens.

Recommended wallets:

  • Phantom - Download (Most popular, beginner-friendly)
  • Solflare - Download (Advanced features)

Installation steps:

  1. Visit your wallet's website (links above)
  2. Click "Download" and select your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave)
  3. Install the browser extension
  4. Follow the wallet's setup wizard to create a new wallet or import an existing one
  5. IMPORTANT: Securely save your recovery phrase (12-24 words) - this is the only way to recover your wallet

2. ZAPPA Tokens​

ZappaPets uses ZAPPA tokens for:

  • Minting Pet Passport NFTs (~$2 USD)
  • Access to ZappAI Pet Assistant (requires minimum 4,000,000 ZAPPA)

How to get ZAPPA:

  • Buy directly on ZappaPets using SOL via Jupiter DEX (see Step 3 below)
  • Purchase from exchanges like Raydium or Jupiter
  • Contract address: A8pH8CmgKfLJf8CHmPMgbofsYPvZeB2X6xYcSMo1pump

3. SOL (Solana's native token)​

You'll need a small amount of SOL (~$5-10 USD) to:

  • Pay blockchain transaction fees (rent + gas fees)
  • Buy ZAPPA tokens on ZappaPets

Where to get SOL:

  • Centralized exchanges: Coinbase, Binance, Kraken
  • Decentralized exchanges: Jupiter, Raydium
  • On/off ramps: Moonpay, Ramp Network

🎯 Step 1: Create Your Account​

Sign Up Process​

  1. Visit the Registration Page

  2. Fill in Your Information

    • First Name - Your first name
    • Last Name - Your last name
    • Email Address - A valid email (used for login and important notifications)
    • Password - Minimum 8 characters (use a strong, unique password)
    • Confirm Password - Re-enter your password

  3. Accept Terms

    • Check the box to agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

  4. Create Account

    • Click "Create Account"
    • You'll be automatically logged in and redirected to your Account Overview page

Email Confirmation​

  • Check your email inbox for a confirmation email from ZappaPets
  • Click the verification link to confirm your email address
  • This step is required for full account access

⚠️ Troubleshooting:

  • Email not received? Check spam/junk folders
  • Password requirements: Must be at least 8 characters
  • Already have an account? Click "Sign in" at the bottom to go to the login page

🔗 Step 2: Connect Your Wallet​

After creating your account, you need to link your Solana wallet to enable blockchain features.

Linking Your Wallet​

  1. Access Wallet Settings

  2. Connect Your Wallet

    • Click the "Select Wallet" dropdown button
    • Choose your wallet (Phantom or Solflare)
    • Approve the connection in your wallet extension popup
    • Your wallet address will appear at the top

  3. Link Wallet to Your Account

    • After connecting, you'll see a "Link Wallet to Account" button
    • Click it to permanently associate this wallet with your ZappaPets account
    • Sign the verification message in your wallet popup
    • Success message will confirm the wallet is linked

Important Notes:

  • ✅ Only one wallet can be linked per account
  • ✅ You can change wallets later in Settings, but it requires unlinking the current one
  • ✅ The linked wallet must match when minting NFTs or accessing token-gated features

Check Your ZAPPA Balance​

Once your wallet is linked, you'll see:

  • Current ZAPPA balance (refreshes automatically)
  • Current SOL balance
  • Quick links to purchase more tokens

💰 Step 3: Get ZAPPA Tokens (Optional but Recommended)​

If you don't have ZAPPA tokens yet, you can purchase them directly on ZappaPets.

Purchase ZAPPA with SOL​

  1. Navigate to Purchase Page

  2. Connect Your Wallet (if not already connected)

    • Click "Select Wallet" and choose your wallet
    • Approve the connection

  3. Enter SOL Amount

    • Enter the amount of SOL you want to swap for ZAPPA
    • Quick amount buttons available: 0.01, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5, 1 SOL
    • Live quote will show estimated ZAPPA you'll receive

  4. Review Swap Quote

    • You'll Receive: Amount of ZAPPA tokens
    • Price Impact: How the swap affects market price (lower is better)
    • Minimum Received: Worst-case amount with slippage protection

  5. Execute Swap

    • Click "Swap SOL for $ZAPPA"
    • Approve the transaction in your wallet popup
    • Wait for blockchain confirmation (~10-30 seconds)
    • Success message will confirm the swap

Recommended Starting Amount:

  • Minimum: 4,000,000 ZAPPA (~$30-40 USD) for full ZappAI access until June 2026
  • NFT Mint: 100 ZAPPA ($2 USD) per pet registration

⚠️ Troubleshooting:

  • "Insufficient SOL balance" - Add more SOL to your wallet
  • Transaction failed - Check if you have enough SOL for transaction fees (~0.001-0.005 SOL)
  • Price impact too high - Try a smaller swap amount

🐕 Step 4: Create Your Pet Passport NFT​

Now for the fun part - registering your pet on the blockchain!

Mint Your First NFT​

  1. Navigate to Pet Registration

  2. Verify Requirements (Alpha Phase)

    • ✅ Wallet Connected: Your linked wallet must be connected in browser
    • ✅ ZAPPA Balance: Minimum 4,000,000 ZAPPA (recommended for full alpha experience)
    • 💰 NFT Cost: ~100 ZAPPA (displayed in real-time with USD equivalent)

    💎 Alpha Benefits:

    • 4M ZAPPA holders get full ZappAI access until June 30, 2026
    • Help shape features during rapid development
    • Sell anytime with no penalty - keep your NFT and free account

  3. Basic Pet Information (Step 1)

    Required Fields:

    • Pet Name - Your pet's name (max 50 characters)
    • Species - Select "Dog" or "Cat"
    • Breed - Choose from dropdown (auto-filtered by species)
    • Date of Birth - Enter or use calendar picker
    • Gender - Options:
      • Male (Intact)
      • Male (Neutered)
      • Female (Intact)
      • Female (Spayed)
      • Unknown

    Optional Fields:

    • Weight - In pounds (helps AI give better advice)
    • Microchip ID - If your pet is microchipped
    • Veterinarian Name - Your regular vet
    • Owner Name - Legal owner's name
    • Emergency Contact - Phone number for emergencies

    Click "Next" to continue.

  4. Upload Pet Photo (Step 2)

    Photo Requirements:

    • File types: JPG, PNG, GIF
    • Maximum size: 10MB
    • Recommended: Clear, well-lit photo of your pet

    Upload Process:

    • Click "Choose File" or drag & drop
    • Preview will appear below
    • Photo is stored on IPFS (permanent, decentralized storage)

    ⚠️ Troubleshooting:

    • File too large? Resize or compress your image online
    • Upload failed? Check internet connection and try again
    • Skip for now: You can add a photo later

    Click "Next" to proceed to payment.

  5. Payment & Minting (Step 3)

    Review Your Pet's Details:

    • Name, species, breed, photo preview
    • NFT cost displayed in ZAPPA and USD

    Payment Process:

    • Click "Mint NFT & Pay with ZAPPA"
    • Transaction 1: Approve ZAPPA token spending (one-time wallet popup)
    • Transaction 2: Payment transaction (second wallet popup)
    • Wait for blockchain confirmation (~30 seconds)

    What Happens Next:

    • ✅ ZAPPA tokens deducted from your wallet
    • ✅ Pet data and photo uploaded to IPFS
    • ✅ NFT minted to your wallet address
    • ✅ Pet profile created in your account
    • ✅ You can now access ZappAI for this pet

  6. Success!

    • You'll see a confirmation message with your transaction signature
    • Click "View Pet Profile" to see your new NFT
    • The NFT will appear in your wallet (Phantom/Solflare) and on Solana explorers

⚠️ Troubleshooting:

  • "Insufficient ZAPPA balance" - Purchase more ZAPPA (see Step 3)
  • "Wrong wallet connected" - Make sure the wallet you connected matches your linked wallet
  • Transaction failed - Ensure you have ~0.001-0.005 SOL for transaction fees
  • Pending mint - Blockchain is processing; refresh page after 1-2 minutes

✏️ Step 5: Customize Your Pet Profile​

After minting, enhance your pet's AI experience by customizing their profile.

Access Pet Profile​

  1. Navigate to Your Pets

  2. Select Your Pet

    • Click on your pet's card
    • You'll see the full profile page with chat interface

Editable Profile Fields​

Click "Edit" in the top-right corner to modify:

  1. Basic Information

    • Name - Update your pet's name
    • Gender - Change if spayed/neutered status changes
    • Weight - Keep weight updated for accurate health advice

  2. AI Personality (Up to 2000 characters)

    What is this?

    • Controls ZappAI's tone and communication style
    • Separate from detailed pet info (custom instructions)

    Preset Options:

    • 🐕‍🦺 Zappa (Original) - Sassy, aloof Akita with attitude (mascot personality)
    • 🐕 Akita - Reserved, dignified, professional and calm
    • 🦮 Golden Retriever - Enthusiastic, excited, boundless energy

    Custom Personality:

    • Write your own (e.g., "Friendly and encouraging", "Professional and concise")
    • Character counter shows usage (max 2000)
    • Expand/collapse textarea with toggle button

    How to Set:

    • Click a preset button to load that personality
    • Or type directly into the textarea
    • Click "Save" when done

  3. Save Changes

    • Click "Save Changes" at the bottom
    • Success message confirms profile updated
    • Click "Cancel" to discard changes

Fine-Tune AI Instructions (Advanced)​

For detailed, pet-specific information that ZappAI should know:

  1. Navigate to AI Instructions

    • From pet profile, click "Fine-tune AI Instructions" link
    • Or click the 🤖 icon next to your pet's name

  2. Detailed Profile Information (Up to 2000 characters)

    What to Include:

    • Medical Information: Allergies, ongoing treatments, medications, chronic conditions
    • Behavioral Quirks: Fears, anxieties, unique habits, temperament details
    • Achievements: Training titles, therapy certifications, competition awards
    • Dietary Specifics: Special diets, food sensitivities, feeding schedules
    • Activity Preferences: Exercise limitations, favorite activities, energy levels

    Example:

    Luna has severe grass pollen allergies (tested by Dr. Smith). Gets cytopoint injections 
    every 6 weeks. Loves fetch but limited to 15 minutes. Successfully manages diabetes 
    with 4 units insulin twice daily. Certified therapy dog (TDI). Fearful of thunderstorms - 
    stays in crate with calming music. On Royal Canin Hypoallergenic diet.

    Note: ZappAI already knows breed, age, gender, and weight from your profile.

  3. Save Instructions

    • Click "Save Instructions"
    • Success message confirms saved
    • Automatically redirects back to pet profile after 2 seconds

⚠️ Character Limits:

  • AI Personality: 2000 characters
  • Detailed Instructions: 2000 characters
  • Counter turns yellow when approaching limit

💬 Step 6: Chat with ZappAI​

Now you're ready to get personalized AI pet care assistance!

Access Requirements​

✅ Token Gate: You must hold at least 4,000,000 ZAPPA tokens in your linked wallet

  • This gives you unlimited chat access until June 30, 2026
  • Balance is checked in real-time before each chat session
  • Admin and non-profit accounts are exempt from this requirement

Start Chatting​

  1. From Pet Profile Page

    • Your pet's profile page includes an inline chat widget
    • Scroll down to see the chat interface below profile details

  2. Chat Interface Features

    Layout:

    • Left Sidebar (320px) - Pet details and profile editing
    • Right Chat Area - Full conversation view with ZappAI

    Controls:

    • 📏 Font Size - Small, Medium, Large (accessible button)
    • 🔍 Expand - Fullscreen chat mode (press Escape to exit)
    • Input Box - Type your question at the bottom

  3. Sending Messages

    How to Send:

    • Type your question in the input box
    • Press Enter or click Send (paper airplane icon)
    • Message appears immediately with "AI is thinking..." indicator
    • ZappAI's response streams in after ~5-15 seconds

    Message Format:

    • Your messages appear on the right (purple background)
    • ZappAI's responses appear on the left (gray background)
    • Timestamps show when each message was sent

  4. What ZappAI Knows About Your Pet

    Automatic Context:

    • Breed and species
    • Age (calculated from date of birth)
    • Gender and spay/neuter status
    • Weight
    • AI personality settings
    • Detailed instructions you provided

    Conversation History:

    • Last 50 messages are loaded on page load
    • Full conversation context sent to AI (token-limited to ~3000 tokens)
    • Each pet has separate conversation history

  5. Example Questions to Ask

    "What's the best diet for a Golden Retriever with allergies?"
    "How much exercise should my 3-year-old cat get daily?"
    "My dog is limping after our walk. Should I be worried?"
    "What vaccinations does my puppy need and when?"
    "How can I stop my cat from scratching furniture?"

    AI Personality Impact:

    • Zappa: "Fascinating question. yawns Fine, let's discuss your dog's needs..."
    • Akita: "I understand your concern. Here's what matters for your pet..."
    • Golden: "OH WOW! I'm SO EXCITED to help!! Your pet sounds AMAZING! 🐕✨"

  6. Chat Features

    Timeout Protection:

    • Frontend: 95 second timeout
    • Backend: 90 second timeout
    • Longer questions may take up to 30-40 seconds to process

    Error Handling:

    • If chat fails, error message explains what went wrong
    • Try sending message again or refresh page
    • Check your ZAPPA balance if access is denied

    Fullscreen Mode:

    • Click expand button (🔍) for immersive chat
    • Press Escape key to exit
    • Useful for long conversations

⚠️ Troubleshooting:

  • "Insufficient ZAPPA balance" - Buy more ZAPPA to reach 4M minimum
  • "Please log in" - Session expired; log in again
  • Chat stuck on "thinking" - Refresh page after 60 seconds
  • Blank response - Try rephrasing your question or check internet connection

🎉 You're All Set!​

Congratulations! You've successfully:

  • ✅ Created a ZappaPets account
  • ✅ Connected and linked your Solana wallet
  • ✅ Purchased ZAPPA tokens
  • ✅ Minted your first Pet Passport NFT
  • ✅ Customized your pet's AI profile and instructions
  • ✅ Started chatting with ZappAI

📚 Additional Resources​

Token Information​

  • ZAPPA Token Contract: A8pH8CmgKfLJf8CHmPMgbofsYPvZeB2X6xYcSMo1pump
  • Decimals: 6 (1 ZAPPA = 1,000,000 smallest units)
  • Current Pricing: Check live prices on Raydium, Jupiter, or ZappaPets
  • Chat Access Minimum: 4,000,000 ZAPPA (~$30-40 USD as of launch)
  • NFT Mint Cost: Dynamic pricing (~100 ZAPPA ≈ $2 USD)

Alpha Phase Details​

  • Duration: Through June 30, 2026
  • Access: 4M+ ZAPPA holders
  • Features: Unlimited AI chat, pet-specific context, personality customization
  • Development: Rapid feature additions with new sub-agents regularly
  • Flexibility: Sell tokens anytime - keep your NFT and free account

Need Help?​

⚠️ Common Issues & Solutions​

Account Issues​

  • Forgot password? Click "Forgot password?" on login page
  • Email not confirmed? Check spam folder or request new confirmation email
  • Can't log in? Verify email is correct and password meets requirements

Wallet Issues​

  • Wrong wallet connected? Disconnect in wallet extension settings, then reconnect
  • Can't link wallet? Ensure wallet is unlocked and connected in browser
  • Balance not updating? Click refresh button or wait 30 seconds for auto-refresh

NFT Minting Issues​

  • Transaction stuck? Check Solana explorer with your wallet address
  • Failed mint? Ensure you have enough SOL (~0.005) for transaction fees
  • NFT not showing? Wait 2-3 minutes and refresh; check wallet's collectibles tab

Chat Issues​

  • Access denied? Verify you have 4M+ ZAPPA in linked wallet
  • Slow responses? Complex questions may take 30-40 seconds
  • Chat not loading? Refresh page and ensure you're logged in
  • Wrong pet context? Make sure you're on the correct pet's profile page

Token Purchase Issues​

  • Jupiter swap failed? Check SOL balance and try smaller amount
  • High price impact? Reduce swap amount to <1 SOL
  • Transaction timeout? Solana network may be congested; try again in a few minutes

Last Updated: November 2025
Version: Alpha Phase (Pre-June 2026)

Happy pet care with ZappaPets! 🐾✨