For the cat who never looks at the camera
Custom Cat Portraits from Your Photo
One clear photo of your cat is enough. Pick three looks, see your cat portrait free in about a minute, and keep the one that feels like them.
Your cat
The RoyalNo account or card needed
How to Turn Your Cat into a Portrait
A cat portrait takes about three minutes of your time and no cooperation from your cat. You don't need an account or a card to see the result.
Choose a clear photo
Pick a photo from your camera roll where you can see your cat's whole face. Side angles are fine as long as both eyes show.
Pick three looks
Choose three looks, from regal to soft and simple. Each look becomes its own cat portrait, so you get three different takes on the same cat.
Keep the one you love
In about a minute you'll see all three with a watermark. Keep one for $19 or all three for $33. If none feel right, try a new set once, free. You can close the page while you wait; we'll email you a private link when your previews are ready.
Cat Portrait Styles: Regal, Renaissance and Cozy
Each cat portrait keeps your cat's markings, eye color and the shape of their face. Only the setting changes. We call each style a look, and you pick three.
The Royal
Your cat as Renaissance royalty, robes and all. It borrows the formal pose of an old court portrait. Honestly, most cats already act the part.
Studio Classic
A clean studio portrait that lets their face shine. Simple, timeless and easy to frame. It's the best look for showing off unusual markings, like a split face or odd eyes.
Watercolor Garden
Soft watercolor washes in a garden in bloom. A gentle cat portrait for a bedroom or hallway, and a lovely choice for a white or cream cat.
Cozy looks
Sunday Sofa puts your cat in your lap on a slow afternoon, with you in the picture. From November 1, Fireside Christmas and Twinkle Lights add stockings, firelight and soft lights. See Christmas pet portraits.
The Royal
Studio Classic
Twinkle Lights
Two Cats in One Portrait
Most cat households have more than one cat, and they rarely sit together for a photo. They don't need to. Upload one photo of each cat, and both share the same frame in any look made for pets. The Royal turns a pair into a little court, Watercolor Garden puts them side by side among the flowers, and Studio Classic keeps it simple. Each cat keeps their own coat, eyes and size, so the big one still looks big. A portrait can hold up to two pets, so a cat and a dog work too.
Cat Portraits With You in the Frame
Some cats are a one-person cat. They tolerate everyone else and follow you from room to room. If yours is, put the two of you in it. Upload a photo of you and a photo of your cat, and choose a look like Sunday Sofa or Forehead to Forehead. No photo together needed, which is good news, since most cats leave the moment you try to take one. See all pet and owner portraits.
Picking the Right Photo for Your Cat Portrait
Cats are hard to photograph. A few small things make a big difference, and the upload check will tell you right away if a photo won't work.
- They don't need to look at you. A face turned slightly away still works if both eyes are visible.
- Use daylight. Sit near a window instead of using the flash. Flash turns eyes into glowing dots.
- Get down to their level. Photos taken from above make heads look big and bodies small.
- Try burst mode. Hold the shutter, crinkle a treat bag, and pick the sharpest frame later.
- One cat per photo. Two cats are welcome in one portrait, but upload them separately.
- Fluffy is fine. Long-haired cats work well when the eyes and nose aren't hidden by fur. A photo right after grooming helps.
Black cat portraits
Black cats are the hardest to photograph, because the camera loses their face in the dark fur. Shoot in bright, indirect daylight, keep the flash off, and choose a photo where you can see their eyes and the shape of their nose. A good photo keeps the gloss of their coat and the gold or green of their eyes. If the preview looks flat, try a new set with a brighter photo.
A Custom Cat Portrait Gift for Cat Lovers
Cat people are hard to shop for. They already own the mug and the socks. A custom cat portrait is personal in a way most gifts aren't. Use a photo they've posted of their cat, make sure they'd be happy with it, and send it with a note. The gift page opens with your words first, then the portrait, and they can save the full-size file and the print-ready version right there.
It works for a birthday, for the anniversary of the day they brought their cat home, for Christmas, or as a thank-you for the neighbor who fed your cat all summer. You can send it tonight or schedule it for the morning of the day. If their household has a dog too, see all our custom pet portraits.
Famous Cat Paintings Behind Our Looks
Cats have been sitting for portraits for centuries, usually on their own terms. In ancient Egypt, cats were linked with the goddess Bastet and shown in statues, carvings and wall paintings. In 19th-century Europe, the Dutch-Belgian painter Henriette Ronner-Knip built a career on cats at play. In 1891, Carl Kahler finished "My Wife's Lovers," a huge painting of dozens of long-haired cats, often called one of the most famous cat paintings ever made.
In Japan, woodblock prints by Utagawa Kuniyoshi are full of cats, some curled up, some up to mischief. In England, Louis Wain's bright, wide-eyed cats made him famous.
Our looks borrow from that history: the formal pose and rich colors of royal portraits, the soft edges of watercolor, the plain backdrop of a studio photo. The cat in the middle is all yours.
Cat Portrait FAQ
How can I turn my cat into a portrait?
Upload one clear photo of your cat, choose three looks, and see three free previews in about a minute. Keep the one you like best.
My cat never looks at the camera. Will it still work?
Yes. Your cat can look away as long as their face and both eyes are visible.
Can I put two cats in one portrait?
Yes. A portrait can include up to two pets. Upload one photo for each cat, and they'll share the frame.
How much does a custom cat portrait cost?
The preview is free. Keep one cat portrait for $19 or all three for $33. One-time payment, no subscription.
Can I print it myself?
Yes. You get a print-ready 8×10 file at 300 DPI. Print it at home or at any photo lab, then frame it however you like. We don't print or ship.
What are the most famous cat paintings?
Carl Kahler's "My Wife's Lovers" (1891) is often named first. Henriette Ronner-Knip's playful cats, Louis Wain's wide-eyed cats and Utagawa Kuniyoshi's woodblock prints are also well known.
Is this painted by a real artist?
No. It's made digitally from your photo using image technology, not by hand, and every portrait is new. Here's how it's made.
What if it doesn't look like my cat?
Before you pay, you can try a new set once for free. After you pay, each cat portrait gets 2 free redos, and you can add a note like "she has one white paw." If it's still obviously wrong, you can ask for a full refund within 14 days.
Can I make a portrait of a cat who has passed away?
Yes. Choose a favorite photo and one of our gentle memorial looks. See pet memorial portraits.
They'd never sit for it. They don't have to.
No account or card needed