Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about Furriq: how accurate the AI is, how many breeds it covers, what happens to your photos, guest limits, refunds, and more.
Last updated: 2026-08-13
Short answers to the questions people ask most about Furriq, the free AI cat breed identifier. Every number here matches what the tool actually does. If you cannot find your answer, read the full methodology or contact us.
Results and accuracy
How accurate is Furriq's breed identification?
Furriq reads visible traits, not ancestry. The AI checks 40+ markers across seven families (coat, color, ears, face, body, tail, photo quality) against 61 breed profiles. Every report is framed as clues with a required uncertainty note, and a domestic mix is the default conclusion unless the visual evidence is strong. You will not see one confident percentage, because that would be fake precision.
How many breeds does Furriq support?
61 breed profiles, from Maine Coon and British Shorthair to rare ones like Lykoi and Sokoke. The scanner also uses 121 side-by-side comparisons for breeds that look alike, like Russian Blue, Chartreux, and Korat. The full list is on the scanner page.
Why do two photos of the same cat give different clues?
Angle, lighting, focus, age, and pose all change which traits stand out. A photo from above hides ear tufts. A dark room hides coat pattern. Consistency across several clear photos beats any single result.
Photos and limits
What happens to my cat's photo?
The quality check runs in your browser before anything leaves your device. Original photos are not stored by default: retention is set to none, so the image is used for the scan and not kept. The only things sent are the image and a few local diagnostics, and only when the photo clears the quality gate. To delete anything tied to your account or guest identifier, email support@furriq.com.
What photo formats and sizes are accepted?
JPEG, PNG, and WebP up to 8MB. iPhone's default HEIC format is not supported in most browsers, so convert it to JPEG or PNG first. Try it anyway and the tool will tell you exactly that.
Can I scan a photo with more than one cat?
No. One cat per photo. A second cat in the frame confuses any scanner, because the AI cannot tell which traits belong to which cat.
Can Furriq identify kittens and mixed breeds?
Partly, and it will say so when it cannot. Kittens change fast: faces, ears, and coats shift through the first year, so a 10-week-old can look like almost anything. Mixed breeds blend markers from several breeds, so a report may surface a breed that contributed one visible feature, like ear tufts, without meaning that breed dominates. Around 95% of cats are domestic shorthairs or longhairs with no breed ancestry, and that is the honest default.
Errors and troubleshooting
What do the error messages mean?
Each message points at a fix. "iPhone photos (HEIC) are not supported" means convert to JPEG or PNG. "Exceeds the 8MB limit" means the file is too big, so resize or compress it. "Free quota used" means your guest tries are done, and signing in gives you a credit balance. "AI provider could not finish" means the model service failed on our side, so wait a minute and try again.
Furriq vs DNA tests
Why is Furriq not a DNA test?
Because a photo cannot show genetics. DNA tests read genetic markers from a cheek swab and report exact percentages, but they cost $80 to $150 and take 2 to 4 weeks. Furriq reads visible traits and answers in seconds, free, with clues instead of proof. For curiosity, start with the scan. For papers or health screening, DNA is the only option.
Cost and accounts
Is Furriq free? Will it cost money later?
Furriq is free during beta for everyone. When beta ends, a free tier stays free, and shelters, rescues, and adoption agencies stay free for good. Paid plans may appear for high-volume users like breeders and clinics, and any change will be announced clearly in advance. No surprise paywalls.
How does the guest quota work?
Guests get a small free trial allowance without signing up: the default is 2 scans, and the tool shows how many tries are left. The counter is tracked by a signed guest cookie that expires after 180 days. Setup checks do not consume tries. When the allowance runs out, sign in for a credit balance.
What do I get after registering?
A credit balance instead of the guest cap. New accounts get a welcome credit grant (3 credits by default, valid 30 days), and each AI scan costs 1 credit. The tool claims your credits automatically, and your balance shows under Settings.
Billing and your data
How do I cancel my subscription?
Cancel anytime from your billing settings. Cancelling stops future charges. It does not automatically refund money you already paid, so if you want money back, send a refund request separately.
How do I get a refund?
Email support@furriq.com or use the contact page with your account email, the charge date, and the amount. Refunds cover unused subscription time, duplicate charges, and failures on our side, within 30 days of the charge. We reply within 3 to 5 business days, and approved refunds go back to your original payment method.
How do I delete my data?
Email support@furriq.com and ask. Photos are not stored by default, so there is usually nothing to delete on the image side. Feedback submissions are kept for up to 30 days, then deleted by an automated cleanup job. We honor reasonable deletion requests for anything connected to your account or guest identifier.