Cats Have Always Been Hard To Draw - Can AI Do Any Better?

During a recent visit to the KattenKabinett in Amsterdam – an art museum entirely dedicated to cats – it became clear that, while cat enthusiasts have long been trying to capture the essence of their beloved pets and companions, they are surprisingly difficult to draw.

Each bizarre exhibit preceded one even stranger, from Picasso’s muscular sketch – which was quite literally crossed out – to a vast tongue-in-cheek tableau so dense with activity that the looming, and frankly terrifying, cat’s head bursting through the clouds I only noticed on second glance.

Great fun was had by all and through the laughter I couldn’t help but ask – would AI image generation tools fare any better at capturing some of the daft things our cats do on a daily basis?

I first asked each tool simply to draw a cat before entering the following prompt, inspired by my own feline housemate: a cat randomly swatting at thin air, like they're battling a ghost only they can see.

Read on for the results:

Canva Free Online AI Image Generator

Canva has a user-friendly interface to make design accessible to everyone, even if you have zero experience. It integrates AI image generation right into its design platform.

• Price Point: Free for basic features, with paid plans for premium content.
• Top Features:
  • Wide selection of free design elements.
  • Great for social media graphics and quick mock-ups.
  • Integrates seamlessly with Storrito.com, allowing you to design and schedule your content within minutes.
• Can Canva draw a cat?

Canva’s first cat was impressive – a distinguished-looking ginger Tom with a yearning look: 9/10

A sophisticated and mysterious rendering of the second prompt: 7/10

Microsoft Designer

Powered by OpenAI's DALL-E model, Microsoft Designer integrates AI with powerful design features to help users create professional visuals in a flash.

• Price Point: Free version available, with additional premium features in Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
• Top Features:
  • AI-powered design suggestions based on your content.
  • Automatic layout and image resizing for different platforms.
  • One-click background removal.
• Can Microsoft Designer draw a cat?

Microsoft Designer was thoughtful enough to make this fluffy fellow a cup of tea: 10/10

From the butterflies and the precariously placed cup of water to the spooky cat ghost zooming through the air, this is exactly what cat owners assume is going through their pet’s mind: 10/10

Adobe Firefly

Adobe Firefly leverages Adobe’s robust creative technology, focusing on creating images based on text prompts, with seamless integration into Adobe Creative Cloud.

• Price Point: 25 free monthly credits with subscriptions starting at $4.99 per month.
• Top Features:
  • Highly detailed text-to-image generation.
  • Built-in tools for editing AI-generated images directly in Photoshop or Illustrator.
  • Focus on designs with a professional look and creative flair.
• Can Adobe Firefly draw a cat?

Simple with fantastic detail – a true feline likeness: 8/10

An atmospheric response to the second prompt with a cinematic feel: 9/10

Pixlr Image Generator

**Pixlr** combines AI with its established image editing platform, making it a good choice for both creating and enhancing images in one go.

• Price Point: Free version available; premium options offer more features.
• Top Features:
  • Easy to add AI-generated elements to your images.
  • Quick photo enhancements and effects.
  • Flexible for both pros and beginners.
• Can Pixlr draw a cat?

A black & white cat portrait fit for a locket: 8/10

A cartoon-like rendering of the second prompt – sweet, but not enough drama: 5/10

Ideogram

Ideogram is known for its typography and ability to integrate text into generated images. It’s ideal for creating visually striking text-based designs.

• Price Point: Free with the option to upgrade for additional features.
• Top Features:
  • Smart typography generation for social media posts or branding.
  • Strong focus on text-image balance.
  • Easy to use for creating promotional graphics.
• Can Ideogram draw a cat?

Like the cat, I’m on the fence here – the contrast between the cat and the background feels too high: 6/10

This cat is as unbothered by a ghost as only a cat can be – it even appears to be giving it a high-five: 8/10

DALL-E 3

The latest in OpenAI’s text-to-image models, DALL-E 3 creates highly detailed images from simple text prompts, with more intuitive control than its predecessors.

• Price Point: Available in OpenAI’s paid plans or via platforms like Microsoft Designer.
• Top Features:
  • Improved prompt understanding for more accurate images.
  • High-quality, artistic output with various styles.
  • Ability to generate edits on existing images through inpainting.
• Can DALL-E 3 draw a cat?

A little too stylised for my liking: 5/10

DALL-E 3 created a solid response to the second prompt – a dynamic image of a playful black cat: 6/10

So, can AI draw cats?

AI did a pretty good job at recreating my visit to the KattenKabinett with results varying from odd to outright hilarious.

Ultimately, each AI image tool brings something unique to the table – whether you’re putting together the cat gallery of your dreams or creating professional-looking social media posts on a budget. The right pick just depends on what you need.

Want to make life even easier? Check out Storrito.com to both edit and schedule your Instagram stories like a pro – or at least swing by here again for some more top-tier cat content!