Aktualizované 23.08.2026
Imagine Pokémon GO, but instead of searching for virtual creatures, you look for real cats while out for a walk. That is the simple yet highly addictive idea behind CatchCat, a new mobile game that turns cats photographed in the real world into unique collectible cards.
CatchCat is a free mobile app for Android and iOS that lets you use your camera to discover real cats nearby. The app verifies that there is a live cat in front of the lens, then turns it into a collectible item with a name, photo, attributes and rarity level. You do not physically catch the cats; you simply add them to a virtual album.
What is the CatchCat app?
CatchCat is a mobile game based on discovering cats in the real world. It was created by German developer Sebastian Seidel, who initially released the game for Android devices. The project quickly attracted attention on social media and later expanded to iOS, although availability may vary by region.
The basic idea is simple. The user goes outside, finds a cat, opens the camera directly in the app and tries to scan it. If the system determines that the image shows a genuine encounter with a cat, it creates a digital memento resembling a collectible card.
Each recorded cat can receive a generated name, serial number, attributes, statistics and one of several rarity levels. An ordinary walk around the neighborhood can therefore become a hunt for the next addition to your collection.
How does catching cats in CatchCat work?
Some aspects of the app resemble traditional mobile games built around collecting characters. Instead of virtual creatures placed on a map, however, you must find a real cat in front of you.
You must photograph the cat directly in the app
CatchCat uses a live camera feed. You therefore cannot simply download a picture of a cat from the internet or upload an older image from your gallery. The game is designed to reward real-life encounters, so new cats are recorded using the camera directly within the app.
When you point your phone at a cat, the recognition system activates. According to the operator, the initial verification takes place directly on the device. The app also attempts to detect whether it is seeing a real cat, a duplicate shot or a photograph displayed on another screen.
This restriction is intended to prevent players from simply filling their albums with images from the internet. The collection should represent cats the user has genuinely encountered.
Next, you toss a can of cat food
The photography is accompanied by a simple minigame. The player drags a virtual can of cat food and must release it at the right moment. If it lands in the marked area, the cat scan begins.
Each can provides three attempts at a successful throw. The cans also serve as a form of in-game energy that replenishes over time. Under the game’s current rules, additional cans can be obtained by watching an advertisement or through paid options, for example.
This system limits the number of cats that can be recorded within a short period. However, it may not appeal to players who expect completely unrestricted photography.
The cat becomes a collectible card
After successful verification, the cat is saved to the user’s personal album. It is more than just an ordinary photograph. The game can assign it a name, serial number, experience points, gameplay attributes and other information.
The resulting card looks like a combination of a photograph, sticker and character from a collectible game. Even two similar-looking cats can therefore have different names, attributes or rarity levels.
The randomness of the result is precisely what motivates players to continue. They do not know in advance whether the cat sitting outside a shop will become an ordinary addition or one of their rarest catches.
Five cat rarity levels
Every successfully recorded cat receives one of five rarity levels. The game’s official website calls them Alley, Garden, Moonlit, Velvet and Golden.
The lower levels represent more common finds, while cats in the Golden category are among the rarest. Rarer cards are displayed more prominently in the album, award more experience points and can become the most valuable part of a player’s collection.
Rarity does not necessarily mean the app has objectively identified an exceptionally rare breed. It is primarily a gameplay mechanic that assigns a certain value to each photograph and encourages further collecting.
CatchCat can therefore create suspense even when you encounter a completely ordinary cat. Players only find out what kind of card they have received after successfully scanning it.
Is CatchCat really like Pokémon GO?
The comparison with Pokémon GO is understandable, but the two games work somewhat differently. Both encourage players to go outside, explore their surroundings and expand their collections. That, however, is where the main similarities end.
Pokémon GO places virtual characters in real-world environments using a map, GPS and augmented reality. CatchCat focuses on animals that genuinely exist in the location. The app does not create a cat on the screen; it turns a real encounter into a digital collectible card.
CatchCat also functions as an unconventional photo diary. Each card can preserve an image of a specific cat the user encountered while on holiday, commuting to work or walking around their city.
The experience is also less predictable. A game can place a virtual Pokémon at a designated location, but a real cat can move away, hide or simply refuse to cooperate at any moment.
The map shows cats recorded by the community
CatchCat includes a community map featuring records created by other players. It shows locations where someone has previously recorded a cat successfully. When users approach a marker, they may be able to view the find and add the linked card to their album.
Importantly, however, a marker on the map does not show the current location of a live cat. It is only a record of another user’s encounter. The cat may no longer be there at all, and the map should not be treated as a live animal radar.
This feature may encourage players to explore new streets or parts of a city. At the same time, they must respect private property, traffic regulations and personal safety. No one should follow a cat into someone else’s garden, a construction site, railway tracks or any other dangerous location.
What does the app do with photos and location data?
CatchCat uses the camera and, for certain features, location data, so privacy concerns are understandable. According to the operator, the initial cat recognition process and some duplicate-image checks take place directly on the phone.
However, this does not mean that all data remains exclusively on the device. For confirmed records, photos, derived data and other information may be sent to servers to synchronize the album, moderate content and support community features. Data transfers are meant to be encrypted, and users can request the deletion of their accounts.
Before using the community map or publishing images, it is therefore wise to review the privacy settings. Besides the cat, a photo might contain a person, vehicle registration number, the interior of a home or other information that its owner would not want made public.
Is the CatchCat app free?
The basic version of CatchCat can be downloaded and played without a mandatory purchase. However, the app contains advertisements and in-app purchases. Users can pay for premium features, cosmetic extras or in-game items, including packs of cans used for scanning.
Free players can wait for their supply of cans to replenish automatically or use rewarded advertisements. The premium version is intended to speed up replenishment and increase the maximum number of cans available.
The game has already surpassed 100,000 installations on Google Play. Reviews show, however, that the app is still evolving. Some users praise its original concept, while others report slow responses, camera issues, duplicate records of the same cat or the limited number of free attempts.
Cat cards are also set to battle in the future
Collected cats are not meant to remain static photographs in an album. The developer is preparing a game mode called Alley Clash, in which records will become cards that players can use in battles against one another.
The cards already contain attributes and abilities intended for use in the planned matches. Players could therefore build their own lineup of cats, compare their stats and compete with friends.
According to the official website, however, Alley Clash was still listed as an upcoming feature in July 2026. App store descriptions may already mention battles, but their availability can vary depending on the operating system version, region and current stage of the update rollout.
The cats themselves must be respected when taking photos
Although the game uses the word “catch,” the cats should obviously not be caught by hand, chased or lured into dangerous situations. The best photos are taken from a reasonable distance, when the animal remains calm and is free to leave.
Not every cat outdoors is a stray. It may be a pet roaming near its home. The mere presence of a cat on the street is therefore no reason to catch or relocate it.
Users should avoid using the flash at very close range, blocking an escape route or forcing a cat to look into the lens. The purpose of the app is to create a collection of natural encounters, not to frighten an animal for the sake of a better card.
Why did such a simple idea become an internet hit?
CatchCat combines two things that have long been popular online: collecting and cat photos. The rules can be understood within seconds, and users do not need to learn a complicated story or gameplay system.
The app also turns an everyday situation into a small event. A cat sitting on a wall is no longer just a random animal but a potentially rare card. Players can then share their most interesting finds, compare albums and pay closer attention to their surroundings than before.
The fact that every collection is personal also plays an important role. While most games give users the same digital characters, a CatchCat album documents specific cats that the individual has genuinely encountered.
CatchCat offers an original reason to go outside
CatchCat probably will not replace Pokémon GO, but it offers a fresh take on mobile collecting. Instead of tracking virtual creatures, it teaches users to pay closer attention to the real world around them and create an album of their encounters with cats.
The game’s success will depend on how quickly its technical issues can be resolved, its gameplay options expanded and a reasonable balance established between free play, advertisements and paid items. The concept alone, however, shows that an engaging mobile game does not always require a complicated virtual world. All it takes is a camera, a walk and a cat willing to stay in front of the lens for at least a moment.
Sources
- CatchCat – Spot Real Cats & Collect Unique Cat Cards
https://catchcat.lol/ - CatchCat – official app page on the Google Play Store
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=xyz.catchcat.app - CatchCat Privacy Policy
https://www.catchcat.lol/legal/privacy - CatchCat Lets You Collect Real Neighborhood Cats Like Pokémon Go
https://games.gg/news/catchcat-collect-real-cats-mobile-game/
Jana
I like turning curiosity into words, and writing articles is my way of capturing ideas before they slip away — and sharing them with anyone who feels like reading.
