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.

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.

Yes. Miau is free to download and use, with no account required.

Miau · Comparison

Petfinder vs Miau — Finding Cats vs Identifying Them

Guide · 3 min read

Petfinder and Miau both serve cat lovers, but they solve completely different problems. Here's how to know which one you actually need.

What Petfinder is for

Petfinder is an adoption platform. It lists cats and other animals available at shelters and rescue organisations across North America. It's the right tool when you're looking for a cat to bring home.

What Miau is for

Miau is a breed identifier. Once you have a cat — or spot one you're curious about — Miau tells you the breed from a photo in seconds. It works for purebreds and moggies, and adds quick facts on temperament, size and coat.

Where they overlap

Some Petfinder listings include breed information, but it's often estimated by shelter staff. If you've already adopted a mystery moggy and want to know what's in the mix, Petfinder can't help — but Miau can.

Use them together

Use Petfinder to find a cat available near you.
Use Miau to identify the breed of a cat you already have or spotted.
After adoption, scan your new cat with Miau to get a sense of its ancestry.
Use Miau's breed facts to understand what care your cat may need.

Already have a cat?

Download Miau and identify your cat's breed from a photo — free, instant, no account needed.

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.

Get the app

Miau — Cat Breed Identifier

Get the app →

Curious about a cat right now? Open the app page: Cat breed identifier app.