How to Identify a Cat Breed
You spot a cat and just have to know what it is. Here's how breed identification works — by eye and by app — and how to get a reliable answer.
What actually distinguishes a breed
Breed shows up in a combination of cues: head shape, ear set and size, eye colour and shape, body build, coat length and texture, and colour pattern. Coat colour alone tells you very little — many breeds share the same patterns.
Why moggies make it tricky
Most cats are mixed-breed domestic shorthairs or longhairs. A moggy can have one breed's face and another's coat. The honest answer is 'the breeds it most resembles', not a single label.
Identifying from a photo
- Get the cat clear and filling the frame.
- Shoot in good light, at the cat's level.
- A calm front-facing or side-on angle is best.
- Try a second photo if the first result seems off.
Let an app do the first pass
A breed identifier reads those cues consistently and returns the closest matches with a confidence score — a fast, free starting point that beats squinting at Google Images.
Common questions
- How does Miau identify a breed?
- It reads the cat's features — face shape, ear set, coat type and colour pattern — and matches them against dozens of breeds, returning the closest match with a confidence score.
- How accurate is it?
- Very accurate for distinctive purebreds like Maine Coons or Siamese. For domestic shorthairs and moggies, it shows the closest matches and a confidence score rather than forcing a single answer.
- Does it work for mixed-breed cats?
- Yes. For a moggy it shows the breeds your cat most resembles, so you still get a useful answer.
- Can I identify a cat from a saved photo?
- Yes. Scan live with your camera or upload any photo from your gallery.
- Is Miau free?
- Yes. Miau is free to download and use, with no account required.
Curious about a cat right now? Open the app page: Identify a cat breed from a photo.