Cat Paint by Numbers Kits

The wonderful thing about cat paint by numbers kits is the sheer variety of artistic styles available. Cats are endlessly expressive creatures, and artists have captured them in every imaginable way. Here are the most popular styles you will find.

Realistic Cat Portraits

These kits aim to capture your feline subject with photographic accuracy. They typically feature detailed fur patterns, lifelike eyes, and natural colouring. Realistic portraits tend to have more numbered sections and a larger colour palette, making them a rewarding challenge for intermediate and advanced painters. The result is a painting that genuinely looks like a photograph from across the room.

Whimsical and Artistic Cats

Not every cat painting needs to look like a photograph. Whimsical designs play with colour, pattern, and style to create something more interpretive. Think rainbow-hued cats, cats composed of geometric shapes, or felines adorned with flowers and butterflies. These kits are brilliant fun because there is no "wrong", the more playful, the better.

Kitten Designs

There is something irresistible about painting a kitten. Those oversized eyes, tiny pink noses, and fluffy little bodies translate beautifully to paint by numbers. Kitten designs tend to be slightly simpler than adult cat portraits, with softer colour palettes and fewer intricate details, making them a lovely choice for beginners.

Pop Art and Modern Cats

Inspired by artists like Andy Warhol, pop art cat kits use bold, unexpected colours, electric blues, hot pinks, vivid greens , to create striking, contemporary pieces. These make fantastic wall art for modern interiors and are incredibly satisfying to paint because the bold colour blocks are forgiving and visually impactful. Explore our full range in the paint by numbers collection.

Fur is what separates a good cat painting from a great one. Even within a paint by numbers kit where the colours and sections are predetermined, your brushwork makes an enormous difference in how realistic the fur appears.

Follow the Direction of Growth

Cat fur does not grow in random directions, it follows specific patterns across the body. On the face, fur radiates outward from the nose. On the body, it flows from front to back. On the legs, it grows downward. When you fill in each numbered section, angle your brushstrokes to follow these natural growth patterns. This single technique alone adds remarkable realism.

Use Short, Feathered Strokes

Instead of smooth, even strokes, use short, slightly overlapping strokes that taper at the ends. This mimics individual clumps of fur and creates a soft, textured surface. For long-haired cats, make your strokes longer and more flowing. For short-haired breeds, keep them tight and close together.

Layer for Depth

Real cat fur has depth, darker layers underneath and lighter tips catching the light. Once your base colour in a section is dry, you can add a very thin layer of the adjacent lighter colour using the tips of your brush. This creates the impression of individual hairs catching the light, which takes your painting from flat to three-dimensional.

Blending Fur Colours at Boundaries

Where two fur colours meet, the transition should feel soft and natural rather than abrupt. At the boundary between numbered sections, use a dry brush technique, load very little paint on your brush and lightly drag it across the edge where two colours meet. This creates a subtle blending effect that mimics the way fur colours naturally intermingle.

Tabby cats are particularly rewarding to paint because their striped patterns provide clear, defined colour changes that still benefit from soft blending at the edges. The contrast between light and dark stripes, when handled well, creates a gorgeous sense of dimension.

Cat eyes are the soul of any feline portrait. Those mesmerising, jewel-toned irises with their distinctive slit pupils can make or break your painting. Here is how to get them right.

Save the Eyes for Last

Many experienced painters recommend completing the eyes as one of the final steps. By this point, you have built up your confidence with the rest of the painting and your brush control is warmed up. The eyes also need to relate to the surrounding fur, so it helps to have that context already painted.

Work From the Outside In

Start with the darkest outer ring of the iris, then move to the lighter centre colour, and finish with the pupil and any highlights. This layered approach gives the eyes genuine depth. Your kit will have the sections mapped out, but taking care with the order of application makes a noticeable difference.

The All-Important Highlight

That tiny white dot, the light reflection in the eye , is what makes a painted cat look alive. It is usually the very last thing you add, and it needs to be precise. Use the tip of your finest brush loaded with pure white, and place a single small dot in the same position on both eyes (usually the upper right or upper left). This creates the illusion of light and makes the eyes sparkle.

Colour Accuracy Matters

Cat eyes come in extraordinary colours, emerald green, amber gold, sapphire blue, copper, and even odd-eyed combinations. Your kit will include the correct eye colours, but make sure you mix and apply them with care. Even slight variations in the iris colour can change the entire feel of the portrait. Take your time with these small but critical sections.

As much as we love the pre-designed cat kits, there is nothing quite like painting a portrait of your own cat. Custom pet paint by numbers kits let you upload a photograph of your feline companion and receive a professionally designed, numbered canvas ready to paint.

Choosing the Best Photo

The quality of your finished painting depends heavily on the photo you start with. For the best results, choose a photo that is:

• Well-lit: Natural light is ideal. Avoid flash photography, which flattens features and creates harsh shadows.
• In focus: A sharp, clear image translates to crisp, well-defined numbered sections on your canvas.
• Close-up: The more of the frame your cat fills, the more detail the design will capture. Head and shoulder portraits work especially well.
• Simple background: A plain or uncluttered background keeps the focus on your cat and produces a cleaner design.

Memorial Cat Paintings

One of the most meaningful uses for custom cat paint by numbers kits is creating a memorial portrait of a beloved cat who has passed away. The process of painting their portrait can be deeply therapeutic, each brushstroke is a moment to remember and celebrate the joy they brought to your life. Many customers tell us that their memorial pet painting is their most treasured piece of art. Learn more about the custom process in our custom pet paint by numbers guide.

Multi-Cat Compositions

Have more than one cat? You can create a custom design that features all of your feline family members together. This works best with a composite photo where all cats are visible, but some services can combine separate photos into a single design. The result is a gorgeous group portrait that captures the dynamic between your furry companions.

With so many cat designs available, picking the right one can feel overwhelming. Here are some factors to consider that will help you find your perfect match.

Also think about colour palette. A cat painting needs to complement your existing decor. Warm-toned ginger and tabby cats suit spaces with earthy, warm colour schemes. Sleek black cats or grey-toned Russian Blues work beautifully in modern, monochromatic interiors. White or cream cats with soft pastel backgrounds are perfect for light, airy rooms.

A cat paint by numbers kit makes one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give a cat lover. It combines their passion for felines with a relaxing creative activity, and they end up with a beautiful piece of art to keep. Here are some gifting ideas to consider.

Custom Portrait of Their Cat

The ultimate personal gift, a custom paint by numbers kit featuring their actual cat. You will need to get a good photo of their pet (perhaps by offering to cat-sit or subtly asking for a "cute pic"). The look on their face when they open a kit featuring their own beloved feline is priceless.

Breed-Specific Designs

If you know their favourite breed, look for a design that features it specifically. Siamese, Persian, Maine Coon, Bengal, British Shorthair, most popular breeds are well-represented in paint by numbers catalogues. Matching the design to their preferred breed shows you have put real thought into the gift.

Cat and Owner Experiences

Give the kit as part of an experience. Pair it with a cosy night in, the paint by numbers kit, a nice bottle of wine, and some quality cat treats for their feline supervisor. Painting alongside their purring companion is one of life's simple pleasures.

Pairs and Series

For the truly dedicated cat lover, consider gifting a series of cat kits over time, birthdays, holidays, or just because. Over the course of a year, they will build a stunning gallery wall of feline art that celebrates their passion in a creative, personal way.