Custom Cat Portraits: Styles, Photo Tips, Breeds & Prices

What is a custom cat portrait?

A custom cat portrait is a picture of one specific cat, made from your photo and finished as a canvas, an art print or a digital file. The goal is recognition: anyone who has met your tabby should know it's her, from the stripes on the forehead to the white tip on one paw.

Ours are made with image tools from your upload, not painted by hand. You pick a style, see a free preview in seconds, try other styles if you like, and only pay when the portrait looks like your cat. Then it's printed and shipped from the USA. If you want the broader picture of painted versus digital portraits, our pet portraits guide covers it.

Why cats are tricky to photograph (and how to get a usable photo)

Cats don't sit on command, they look away the moment a phone appears, and their faces are full of fine detail that blurs easily. The good news: you need one sharp photo, not a photo shoot. Our full guide to taking pet pictures goes deeper; these are the cat-specific fixes.

Which styles suit custom cat portraits best?

Cats have a natural dignity that makes them fun in grand costumes and beautiful in quiet, painterly styles. Here is how each style tends to work on a cat. Each link opens a gallery of that style.

• Watercolor is the Modern pet portrait: your cat on a white, cream, blush, sage, charcoal or rainbow backdrop, with free name lettering.
• The Queen, The King, Renaissance, Astronaut and the memorial angel are all on the character pet portrait, so you can compare them on the same photo.
• Pop art, cartoon and vintage each have their own portrait page, with the same sizes and prices.

Cat portraits by breed and coat

Every cat is an individual, but coat and face shape do push certain styles forward. A few starting points, with examples on each breed page and the full gallery on our cat portraits page:

• [Maine Coon](/pet-portraits/cat/maine-coon): the ruff and ear tufts were made for The King or a Renaissance collar. Use a photo that shows the full mane.
• [Ragdoll](/pet-portraits/cat/ragdoll): those blue eyes and soft points shine in watercolor on a sage or blush backdrop.
• [Siamese](/pet-portraits/cat/siamese): dark points on a pale coat are graphic, so pop art and The Queen both work. Catch the eyes in soft light to keep the blue.
• [British Shorthair](/pet-portraits/cat/british-shorthair): the round face and serious look are funny in admiral or general uniforms and sweet as a cartoon.
• [Black cat](/pet-portraits/cat/black-cat): watercolor on white or cream makes the silhouette pop; avoid the charcoal backdrop, which hides the outline.
• [Orange tabby](/pet-portraits/cat/orange-tabby): warm fur glows next to the golds of The King and against a cream backdrop.
• [Persian](/pet-portraits/cat/persian): flat face, long coat, royal attitude. The Queen is the natural fit, with a photo taken straight on.
• [Bengal](/pet-portraits/cat/bengal): rosettes and a wild look suit pop art or the astronaut; make sure the pattern is sharp in the photo.

Can I get a portrait of two or more cats?

Yes. Choose the number of pets on the first step and upload one photo of each cat; every extra cat is $15. Separate photos work far better than one group shot, because two cats rarely sit still, face the camera and stay in focus at the same moment.

Try to use photos with similar light and a similar angle, so the cats look like they belong in the same scene. Mixed households are fine too: a cat and a dog can share one portrait, which is a favorite choice for families who don't want anyone left out.

What size cat portrait should I get, and how much does it cost?

Custom cat portraits come in every portrait family (watercolor, character, Christmas, vintage, pop art, cartoon), all with the same sizes and prices. A canvas is hand-stretched on 1.25-inch pine bars and hangs without a frame; an art print is 189 gsm enhanced matte paper and the most affordable way to go big.

• Frames: prints get a solid wood frame in black, natural oak or white ($35–$100); canvases get a floating frame in black, walnut or white ($29.99–$89.99). Either arrives ready to hang.
• Extra cats: $15 each in the same portrait.
• Shipping: flat $6.99 in the US, free over $75. Digital files are emailed within one business day.
• Common mistake: going too small. Cats are small, but a portrait above a sofa still needs 18×24 or larger to look intentional.

Cat portraits on mugs, pillows, blankets and ornaments

Once your cat's artwork is made, the same face can go on everyday things. These work especially well as small gifts or as a second item to unlock bundle savings (15% off 2 items, 20% off 3, 25% off 5 or more).

• [Custom pet mug](/products/custom-pet-mug) ($29.99, 11 or 15 oz): the portrait on both sides, dishwasher and microwave safe.
• [Custom pet pillow](/products/custom-pet-pillow) (from $44.99, 14×14 to 22×22): a soft spot with your cat's face, for the couch they already claim.
• [Custom pet blanket](/products/custom-pet-blanket) (from $99.99, 37×57 to 60×80): the largest canvas for a cat's face, and very likely to be napped on by the cat.
• [Custom pet ornament](/products/custom-pet-ornament) ($29.99, round 3 inches): a yearly tradition that hangs on the tree every December.

Cat portraits as gifts for cat lovers

Custom cat portraits are one of the few gifts a cat person can't already have, because nobody else owns that cat. For a cat mom, The Queen is a classic; for a quieter friend, watercolor with the cat's name on top. You'll need a good photo, so a quick look through their social media or a word with a partner often solves it.

Packing slips never show prices, so you can enter the recipient's address at checkout and have it ship straight to them. For Christmas, order by December 10 for delivery in the continental US. More ideas at every budget are in our gifts for cat lovers guide.

Cat memorial portraits

Losing a cat leaves a particular kind of quiet: no one on the windowsill, no weight at the end of the bed. Many people find it helps to have their cat back on the wall, looking the way they want to remember them. Choose a photo from a good day, even an older one, as long as the face is clear.

For a cat memorial portrait, soft watercolor on cream or sage keeps the mood gentle, and the Forever in My Heart style adds soft wings and a halo. If you're choosing something for a grieving friend, our pet memorial gifts guide covers what tends to help.

How to order a custom cat portrait from a photo

Pick a portrait family, choose how many cats, and upload your photo; optional cropping lets you frame the face. In seconds you see a free preview. Try another style or backdrop, add your cat's name, then choose digital, print or canvas, a size and a frame.

After you pay, the final art is prepared at full quality, printed in 2–4 business days and delivered in about 3–5 in the US. Every order has a 30-day money-back guarantee, and 10% of every order goes, in full, to animal rescue.

Frequently asked questions