01
Coat & pattern
Length, color, and pattern. Note: tabby, calico, tortoiseshell are patterns found across many breeds — not breeds themselves.
Practical guide
What breed is my cat?
Here’s the honest truth: most cats aren’t a pedigree breed — they’re domestic shorthairs. But you can spot the signs of specific breeds from coat, body, face, and eyes. Here’s how, plus a way to check from a photo.
Scan my cat
Free on iOS · Breed or pattern from one photo
What to look for
What to look at first
Coat and face reveal breed — but remember tabby and calico are patterns, not breeds.
02
Body & size
Slender and sleek (Siamese), large and shaggy (Maine Coon), or stocky and cobby (British Shorthair)?
03
Face & head
Flat face (Persian), wedge-shaped (Siamese), or round (British Shorthair). Ear shape matters too.
04
Eyes & ears
Blue almond eyes point to Siamese/Ragdoll; folded ears mean Scottish Fold; big ears suggest Sphynx.
Step by step
How to identify your cat’s breed
- 01
Look at the coat
Length, color, and pattern narrow the field — but separate pattern (tabby/calico) from breed.
- 02
Assess body and size
Sleek, stocky, or giant? Body type distinguishes many breeds at a glance.
- 03
Study the face
Flat, wedge, or round face plus muzzle shape point to specific breeds.
- 04
Check eyes and ears
Eye color/shape and ear carriage are breed-defining (blue eyes, folded ears, big ears).
- 05
Confirm with a photo scan
Cat Identifier estimates the breed — or tells you it’s a domestic shorthair — from a photo.
Try the app
Get an honest answer
Cat Identifier estimates your cat’s breed from a photo — and tells you honestly when your cat is a domestic shorthair rather than forcing a pedigree it doesn’t have.
Direct answers
Common questions
How can I tell what breed my cat is?
Look at coat length/pattern, body size and type, face shape, and eye/ear features. But most cats are domestic shorthairs (mixed ancestry) with no specific breed — that’s the honest answer for the majority of house cats. A photo scan or pedigree papers give a definitive answer.
Is a tabby cat a breed?
No. Tabby is a coat pattern (the striped look with an "M" on the forehead), not a breed. Many breeds and most domestic cats can be tabby. The same goes for calico and tortoiseshell — patterns, not breeds.
Can an app tell what breed my cat is?
Yes. Cat Identifier uses AI to estimate the breed from a photo, and will tell you when your cat is most likely a domestic shorthair rather than a specific pedigree.
How do I know if my cat is purebred?
True purebred cats come with pedigree papers from a registered breeder. Without papers, your cat is almost certainly a domestic shorthair or longhair — a wonderful mixed-breed cat, even if it resembles a specific breed.