# Cat Breeds Scraper (TheCatAPI) (`parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper`) Actor

Scrapes cat breed records from TheCatAPI. Returns breed name, ID, description, temperament, origin, life span, weight, and personality trait scores as flat rows.

- **URL**: https://apify.com/parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper.md
- **Developed by:** [ParseForge](https://apify.com/parseforge) (community)
- **Categories:** Developer tools, Education, Other
- **Stats:** 2 total users, 1 monthly users, 89.7% runs succeeded, 0 bookmarks
- **User rating**: No ratings yet

## Pricing

from $9.00 / 1,000 result items

This Actor is paid per event. You are not charged for the Apify platform usage, but only a fixed price for specific events.
Since this Actor supports Apify Store discounts, the price gets lower the higher subscription plan you have.

Learn more: https://docs.apify.com/actors/running/actors-in-store.md#pay-per-event

## What's an Apify Actor?

Actors are web data automations that power AI and operations. They run on the Apify platform to scrape websites, process data, connect APIs, and automate workflows.
In Batch mode, an Actor accepts a well-defined JSON input, performs an action which can take anything from a few seconds to a few hours,
and optionally produces a well-defined JSON output, datasets with results, or files in key-value store.
In Standby mode, an Actor provides a web server which can be used as a website, API, or an MCP server.
Actors are written with capital "A".

## How to integrate an Actor?

If asked about integration, you help developers integrate Actors into their projects.
You adapt to their stack and deliver integrations that are safe, well-documented, and production-ready.
The best way to integrate Actors is as follows.

- **AI agents and MCP clients** — the [Apify MCP server](https://docs.apify.com/integrations/mcp.md) at `https://mcp.apify.com` (remote, streamable HTTP, OAuth on first use).
- **Agentic workflows and local Actor development** — [Agent Skills](https://apify.com/.well-known/agent-skills/index.json) with the [Apify CLI](https://docs.apify.com/cli/docs.md): `npm install -g apify-cli`, then `apify login`.
- **JavaScript/TypeScript projects** — the official [JS/TS client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs.md): `npm install apify-client`.
- **Python projects** — the official [Python client](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs.md): `pip install apify-client`.
- **Any other language** — the [REST API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2.md).

For usage examples, see the [API](#api) section below.

For more details, see Apify documentation as [Markdown index](https://docs.apify.com/llms.txt) and [Markdown full-text](https://docs.apify.com/llms-full.txt).

# README

[![ParseForge](https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ParseForge/apify-assets/main/banner.jpg)](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp)

### Cat Breeds Scraper (TheCatAPI)

**Scrape cat breed data from TheCatAPI, all 70+ breeds in one run.** Every breed comes with its temperament, origin, life span, weight, and 15+ personality trait scores. No API key needed. Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML.

TheCatAPI's official API needs an API key and rate-limits you. This reads the public breed endpoints directly, filtered by name or breed ID, and returns each match in one fixed schema. Get structured cat breed data for apps, research, or content without writing a single line of code.

| Who uses it | What they scrape TheCatAPI for |
|---|---|
| Pet app developers | Populate a breed picker or encyclopedia with accurate, structured cat breed data. |
| Content creators | Build breed guides or comparison articles with temperament, origin, and trait scores. |
| Researchers | Analyze breed characteristics like life span, weight, and personality traits across all breeds. |
| Marketers | Segment cat owners by breed traits for targeted campaigns or product recommendations. |

### What it does

This Actor collects cat breed records from TheCatAPI by list, search, or breed ID, and returns each one as a flat row.

- 📋 **List all breeds:** paginated collection of every breed TheCatAPI knows, up to a million per run.
- 🔍 **Search by name:** type a breed name like Persian or Siamese and get only matching breeds.
- 🎯 **Fetch by ID:** pick one or more 4-letter breed codes from a dropdown and get exactly those records.
- 🧠 **Personality trait scores:** adaptability, intelligence, energy level, affection, and more, all in one row.
- 📊 **Flat output:** every breed is a single row, ready for CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML export.

Results export to CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, or straight from the API.

### What you can do with TheCatAPI data

**📱 Build a cat breed app.**

A developer runs the Actor in list mode, exports JSON, and seeds a mobile app's breed database with all 70+ breeds and their traits.

**📝 Write breed comparison articles.**

A content writer searches for specific breeds, gets temperament and life span, and drafts a comparison post without manual research.

**📊 Analyze breed traits for research.**

A researcher collects all breeds with trait scores, loads the CSV into a spreadsheet, and looks for patterns in energy or intelligence.

**🎯 Target cat owners by breed.**

A marketer fetches breeds by ID, filters by grooming needs, and builds a campaign for high-maintenance breeds.

### Why choose this scraper

| | What you get |
|---|---|
| **No API key** | TheCatAPI's public endpoints work without authentication for breed data. |
| **All breeds** | Covers every breed in TheCatAPI's database, including rare and new ones. |
| **Trait scores** | Get 15+ personality trait scores per breed, not basic facts. |
| **Structured export** | Flat rows in CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML, ready for your pipeline. |

### How it compares

This Actor focuses on structured breed data from TheCatAPI with all trait scores, while competitors may include images or different fields.

| Feature | ParseForge | Cat Breeds Scraper (TheCatAPI) | Cat API Breeds Scraper | Thecatapi Scraper |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15+ personality trait scores | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Search by breed name | Yes | Yes | Not listed | Not listed |
| Fetch by breed ID | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
| Export to CSV, JSON, Excel, XML | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Not listed |
| No API key required | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |
| Cat images | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed | Yes |

### Configure the run

Drive the Actor from list, search, or breed ID modes, and set a maximum number of breeds to collect per run. The Input tab lists every parameter.

A first run with the defaults:

```json
{
 "maxItems": 10,
 "mode": "list"
}
```

A larger pull:

```json
{
 "maxItems": 200,
 "mode": "list"
}
```

### Pricing

Pay-per-result: **$0.012 per result** collected. You pay only for the results written to your dataset.

| Results collected | Approximate cost |
|---|---|
| 100 results | $1.20 |
| 1,000 results | $12.00 |
| 10,000 results | $120.00 |

New Apify accounts start with $5 in free credit.

### Free users

Free-plan runs return up to 10 results as a preview. [Upgrade your Apify plan](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp) to collect up to 1,000,000 results per run.

### Run it

1. [Create a free Apify account with $5 in credit](https://console.apify.com/sign-up?fpr=vmoqkp).
2. Open the [Cat Breeds Scraper (TheCatAPI)](https://apify.com/parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper?fpr=vmoqkp).
3. Set your inputs and any filters, then click **Start**.
4. Export the results as CSV, Excel, JSON, or XML from the **Dataset** tab.

Run it programmatically through the [Apify API](https://docs.apify.com/api/v2) (`run-sync-get-dataset-items`) or the [ApifyClient](https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js) for JavaScript and Python.

### Use with AI agents (MCP)

Give an AI agent live access to TheCatAPI through the Model Context Protocol. Add the Actor to Claude, Cursor, or any MCP client:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http apify "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper"
```

Then prompt it in plain language to run the scraper and read back the results.

### Troubleshooting

**Why am I getting no results?**

Check your mode. In search mode, make sure the search term matches a breed name. In byId mode, ensure you selected at least one breed ID. Also verify that maxItems is at least 1.

**The Actor returns fewer breeds than expected.**

TheCatAPI may have added or removed breeds. Check the current breed list on TheCatAPI's website. Also ensure maxItems is high enough to cover all breeds.

**I get an error about invalid breed ID.**

Breed IDs are 4-letter codes. Use the dropdown in the input to select valid IDs. If you typed an ID manually, double-check the spelling.

**The run takes too long.**

TheCatAPI's rate limits may slow down large requests. Reduce maxItems or use byId mode to fetch only the breeds you need.

**Some trait scores are missing.**

Not all breeds have complete trait data in TheCatAPI. Missing values will be null or empty in the output. This is expected for some rare breeds.

### FAQ

| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need an API key for TheCatAPI? | No. The breed endpoints used by this Actor are public and do not require authentication. You can run it immediately. |
| How many breeds can I scrape in one run? | You can set the maximum number of breeds up to 1,000,000. TheCatAPI currently has around 70 breeds, so a single run can collect all of them. |
| What data do I get for each breed? | Each row includes the breed name, ID, description, temperament, origin, life span, weight, and 15+ personality trait scores like adaptability, intelligence, and energy level. |
| Can I search for a specific breed? | Yes. Use the search mode and enter a breed name like 'Maine Coon' or 'Siamese'. The Actor returns only matching breeds. |
| Can I fetch multiple breeds by their IDs? | Yes. In byId mode, select one or more 4-letter breed codes from the dropdown, and the Actor fetches exactly those records. |
| What export formats are supported? | You can export the results as CSV, JSON, Excel, or XML directly from the Apify dataset. |
| Is the data from TheCatAPI reliable? | TheCatAPI is a widely used public API for cat breed data. The data is sourced from breed registries and is generally accurate, but always verify for critical use. |
| Can I schedule this Actor to run regularly? | Yes. You can set up a schedule in Apify to run the Actor daily, weekly, or at any interval to keep your breed data up to date. |
| Does this Actor scrape images? | No. This Actor focuses on breed data only. For images, consider a separate Actor that targets TheCatAPI's image endpoints. |
| What is the difference between list, search, and byId modes? | List mode collects all breeds paginated. Search mode filters by a name query. byId mode fetches specific breeds using their 4-letter codes. |

### Related actors

Browse the full [ParseForge collection](https://apify.com/parseforge?fpr=vmoqkp) for more scrapers.

🆘 **Need help?** Email parseforge@protonmail.com with your run ID, your input, and what you expected.

⚠️ **Disclaimer.** This Actor is unofficial and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by TheCatAPI. It collects only publicly available data. You are responsible for using the collected data in compliance with the source's terms of service and applicable data-protection laws, including GDPR, CCPA, and PIPL. Do not use it to collect personal data unlawfully.

# Actor input Schema

## `maxItems` (type: `integer`):

Maximum number of breeds to collect per run.

## `mode` (type: `string`):

Choose how to pull breeds.

## `searchQuery` (type: `string`):

Breed name search (mode = search). Example: Persian, Siamese, Maine Coon.

## `breedIds` (type: `array`):

Breed IDs to fetch (mode = byId). Pick one or more 4-letter codes.

## Actor input object example

```json
{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "mode": "list"
}
```

# Actor output Schema

## `overview` (type: `string`):

No description

# API

You can run this Actor programmatically using our API. Below are code examples in JavaScript, Python, and CLI, as well as the OpenAPI specification and MCP server setup.

## JavaScript example

```javascript
import { ApifyClient } from 'apify-client';

// Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
// Replace the '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token
const client = new ApifyClient({
    token: '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>',
});

// Prepare Actor input
const input = {
    "maxItems": 10,
    "mode": "list"
};

// Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
const run = await client.actor("parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper").call(input);

// Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if any)
console.log('Results from dataset');
console.log(`💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/${run.defaultDatasetId}`);
const { items } = await client.dataset(run.defaultDatasetId).listItems();
items.forEach((item) => {
    console.dir(item);
});

// 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/js/docs

```

## Python example

```python
from apify_client import ApifyClient

# Initialize the ApifyClient with your Apify API token
# Replace '<YOUR_API_TOKEN>' with your token.
client = ApifyClient("<YOUR_API_TOKEN>")

# Prepare the Actor input
run_input = {
    "maxItems": 10,
    "mode": "list",
}

# Run the Actor and wait for it to finish
run = client.actor("parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper").call(run_input=run_input)

# Fetch and print Actor results from the run's dataset (if there are any)
print(f"💾 Check your data here: https://console.apify.com/storage/datasets/{run.default_dataset_id}")
for item in client.dataset(run.default_dataset_id).iterate_items():
    print(item)

# 📚 Want to learn more 📖? Go to → https://docs.apify.com/api/client/python/docs/quick-start

```

## CLI example

```bash
echo '{
  "maxItems": 10,
  "mode": "list"
}' |
apify call parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper --silent --output-dataset

```

## MCP server setup

```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "apify": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://mcp.apify.com/?tools=fetch-actor-details,parseforge/thecatapi-cat-breeds-scraper"
        }
    }
}

```

The hosted server signs you in with OAuth on first connect, so no API token belongs in this config. Clients without OAuth support can send an `Authorization: Bearer <APIFY_API_TOKEN>` header instead, using a token from API & Integrations in Apify Console (https://console.apify.com/settings/integrations).

## OpenAPI specification

Download the OpenAPI definition: https://api.apify.com/v2/actors/L3zA9rW9cQEY812dx/builds/o0Td3KyOqYJk9D6Ru/openapi.json