Guide · Updated July 2026
CatchCat on iPhone? Here's the Real-Cat Collecting App iOS Has Right Now
CatchCat is Android only. An iOS version is in development, with no release date. If you have an iPhone and want to start collecting real cats today, Cat Collector is free on the App Store: snap a real cat, get a trading card, build your collection.
What CatchCat is
In June 2026, a solo developer released CatchCat, an Android game where you photograph real cats and collect them like Pokemon. It blew up. Dexerto, GameRant, and SVG all covered it, and the pitch writes itself: Pokemon GO, but the creatures are the actual cats of your neighborhood.
There's one problem if you're reading this on an iPhone: you can't play it. CatchCat is only on the Google Play Store. The developer has said an iOS version is in development, but there's no release window.
The real-cat collecting app that's already on iOS
Cat Collector is built on the same idea. The difference is what a catch becomes. You see a real cat, you snap a photo, and the app checks it's an actual cat and lifts it onto a die-cut sticker card: your photo, the place you found it, and your name, all on one hand-drawn trading card.
No AI stats, no battles. The card is the point. Your collection is the real cats you've met.
Cat Collector vs CatchCat
How catching works
- Catch a cat. See a cat, snap a photo, it's yours.
- Get the card. Your photo, the place, and the finder all go on the card.
- Share it. Drop the card's link anywhere; anyone who taps it collects your cat too.
- Send stickers. Your cats become iMessage stickers you can text from the keyboard.
Frequently asked questions
Is CatchCat available on iPhone?
No. As of July 2026, CatchCat is Android only. An iOS version is in the works, but no date has been announced.
Is there an app like CatchCat for iOS?
Yes. Cat Collector is a free iPhone app where you photograph real cats and collect them as trading cards. It's on the App Store now.
Is Cat Collector free?
Yes. Free to download, no email sign-up, nothing to buy.
Are the cats real?
Yes. Machine vision checks that every photo is an actual cat before it becomes a card. No AI-generated cats.
Can my friends collect the cats I catch?
Yes. Every card has a link. Send it in a group chat or post it to a story, and anyone who taps it can add your cat to their own collection.
Related guides
Free on the App Store. The cats are already out there.