Turn a photo of your cat into a cross-stitch pattern

Updated 3 November 2026

Short answer: pick a photo with the cat's eyes in sharp focus and a background that contrasts with its fur, make the pattern at least 80 stitches wide, and use enough colours to keep the eye colour separate from the fur.

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Which photo works best

Close and clear: the face fills most of the frame, in focus.
Even light: daylight from a window, no harsh shadows across the face.
A plain background that contrasts with the subject. It becomes a simple area of stitches, not hundreds of tiny colour changes.

Fur patterns

Tabby stripes need detail. Go wider (100 stitches or more) so the stripes don't blur into one colour.
White cats need a darker background and a few grey and cream shades, or the face looks flat.
Black cats need a lighter background and the eye colour kept as its own thread.

The eyes

A cat's eyes carry the portrait. In the preview, check that the green, yellow or blue of the eyes is its own colour. If it merged with the fur, add one or two colours.

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Questions people ask

How many colours for a cat cross-stitch?

12 to 18 usually keeps the eyes and fur separate. A black or white cat on a plain background can work with fewer.

Why does my cat look flat in the preview?

Usually the background is too close to the fur colour, or there are too few colours. Try a photo with more contrast, or add colours.