Have you ever looked into your cat’s eyes and thought, “You’d make a great president… or possibly a grumpy librarian”? If so, congratulations — you’re perfectly primed to embark on the oddly delightful adventure of seeing who your pet may be if they were a person. And thanks to ChatGPT, you can do it in minutes.
You may have already seen the latest trend circulating the social media platforms of people turning their pets’ photos into their human versions. According to USA Today,1 this trend began on Reddit and then made its way to the social sphere.
In its initial stages, a simple upload of a photo of a pet was recommended by a Reddit user in the r/ChatGPT subreddint on April 7, with the input “Make this cat (male/female) as a real person, pose (optional), keep everything else in the image the same.”
The trend is evolving, and I thought I’d have a go with this, turning my late cat Baby Cat into a human, and share my experience.
The ‘How’: Giving Your Pet a Human Makeover
To get started, you could just upload a photo and give it the prompt I shared above. Or, you could go a little further and get your cat or pet a full character development. All you need is a little imagination and a few details about your furry (or scaly or feathered) friend. What’s their personality like? Are they aloof or needy? Bossy or bashful? Do they knock your water glass off the table like it’s beneath them? Great. Let ChatGPT know.
You can ask it to describe your pet as a person, and don’t be afraid to go big. “Turn my cat, Tuna, into a snarky French art critic who only eats sardines and critiques my outfits.” Or try: “Make my dog, Buster, a retired detective with a soft spot for jazz and chasing squirrels.” ChatGPT will take your prompts and spin them into a whole personality — job, fashion sense, hobbies, and questionable backstory included. A simple picture doesn’t give enough detail.
I asked ChatGPT what it needed specifically, and it responded:
- Name: What’s your cat’s name (and any nicknames)?
- Personality: What are your cat’s quirks or general vibe? (e.g., aloof, needy, cuddly, judgmental, playful, chaotic, refined)
- Habits: Any standout habits or routines? (e.g., always sleeps on your keyboard, insists on being part of yoga, knocks over water glasses)
- Voice or energy: If your cat could talk, what kind of voice or tone would they have? (e.g., posh British accent, surfer dude, librarian whisper)
- Favourite things: What do they love? (e.g., specific toys, foods, people, spots in the house)
- Pet peeves: What really annoys them?
- Any specific human version you’re imagining? (e.g., a barista, CEO, retired rock star, eccentric aunt)
Once I have that, I’ll whip up their human alter ego in glorious, personality-packed detail.
So, I obliged:
- Baby – aka Baby Cat, Baby Catato, Potato, Mr Monkey, Muffin Man, Mr Business, Señor Baby, Bubbs, Bubbarino
- Aloof, needy, and cuddly all at the same time. Adventurous, but his best days are snuggling by the fire or under the blankets with us.
- Loves yoga, the fire, adventures in the car, walks in the forest
- Sometimes I think Russian Oligarch, other times I think posh British, and other times, since he is a Burmese cat, I think he might be Buddhist and sound Nepalese. He also gives off a gentlemanly Tom Selleck vibe. I have no idea, really.
- Eating all day, snuggling.
- When we are snuggling and have to move him.
- Serious but sweet.
Meet Mr. Sebastien “Bubbarino” M. Cattington III
After providing the details, I got the following kitty profile of my beloved Baby Cat:
Mr. Sebastien M. Cattington III (known to his inner circle as Bubbarino, Señor Baby, or simply “Muffin Man”) is a man of refined contradictions. A serious, sweet, and slightly mysterious figure, Sebastien moves through the world like someone who’s both inherited an empire and chosen to renounce it in favor of forest walks and deep meditation.
Dressed in tailored loungewear (think cashmere joggers and a robe so plush it has its own Wikipedia page), Sebastien starts each day with an oat-milk cappuccino and 20 minutes of Yin yoga. He doesn’t need the practice — his hips are naturally open — but it’s a non-negotiable part of his spiritual routine. He often ends in savasana, stretched out like a warm Himalayan hot water bottle on someone else’s mat.
The Paradox of Presence
Though aloof by nature, Sebastien is also deeply emotionally available — when he chooses. He’s the kind of man who stares out windows dramatically, contemplates clouds, and then suddenly lies across your lap with the weight of someone who’s seen too much of the world and just wants to be held.
He is, quite literally, the perfect snuggle — but God help you if you move. One shift, one twitch, one muscle spasm, and he’ll fix you with a look that says, “I believed we had a contract.”
Adventurer at Heart
Don’t mistake his love of firelight and blanket nests for laziness. Sebastien is also an explorer — partial to long car rides (front seat only, obviously) and weekend forest rambles where he strides ahead as if he once led a Himalayan expedition and just wants to “stay sharp.”
His boots are always polished, though suspiciously scuffed from off-trail detours. No one knows quite what he does for work, but everyone suspects it’s something simultaneously stressful and oddly peaceful — possibly an elite risk consultant for Eastern spiritual retreats.
Voice Like Velvet, Eyes That Judge
His accent changes depending on mood. Sometimes it’s a low, contemplative Nepalese cadence, especially when he’s by the fire or watching birds through the window. Other times, when he’s being cheeky or disdainful, he sounds like a posh British professor who’s not mad, just disappointed. And occasionally — usually during food prep — he channels the overindulgent bluster of a Russian oligarch demanding caviar with a side of affection.
A Man of Snacks and Stillness
Sebastien lives to eat, nap, and repeat. He has a six-meal-per-day schedule, punctuated by emotional check-ins and moments of unblinking stillness. He believes in leisure as an art form. He does not believe in being moved.
I must admit, this was hilariously accurate in so many ways. Especially “Sebastien moves through the world like someone who’s both inherited an empire and chosen to renounce it in favor of forest walks and deep meditation.” This was my Baby Cat to a T. The photo, however, was not what I was expecting — though I did call him chonky, so I shouldn’t be too surprised. I thought he’d be a bit more dapper and charming looking, but he likely was in his younger days. So, of course, I added that bit in as a further prompt, “Can you give me an updated photo, where he’s a bit more slender and dapper, and charming?” and I got this:
It was not entirely wrong (except for the face being a little darker than the real Baby Cat). But it made sense because no human can exude the same charm, prestige, aloofness, and cuddliness as a cat.
Why Do It? Because It’s Hilarious (and Weirdly Insightful)
The joy is in the ridiculousness. Anthropomorphizing our pets lets us reflect on their quirks in a fun, creative way. It’s storytelling with heart, and for some, it becomes an affectionate tribute. A grumpy old cat might become a cynical newspaper editor from 1940s Chicago. A hyperactive parakeet might be recast as a motivational speaker who runs on caffeine and chaos.
And let’s be honest — it’s a great way to spend an afternoon and send your friends into fits of laughter. For me, it was an experiment, and it turned out to be a beautiful and hilarious way to remember my little muffin man.
But Wait — There Is a Line
As funny as it is, it can get weird. If you forget it’s a joke, or if you start projecting too much emotional baggage onto your pets (especially if you assign them disappointing ex-boyfriend energy), things might start to feel… unsettling.
Some might find the idea creepy, especially when ChatGPT gets too good at imagining them as people. Suddenly, your beloved cat, Greg, isn’t just a chill dude. He’s a washed-up actor who peaked in the ’90s and talks about his glory days over nachos. You’ll never look at his terrarium the same way again.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Take It Too Seriously
Using ChatGPT to humanize your pets is all about play. It’s creative, a little absurd, and best enjoyed with a healthy sense of humor. If you find yourself referring to your cat as “Mrs. Penelope Hopkins, certified life coach and tuna sommelier,” just know you’re not alone. We’re all out here assigning résumés to our pets for the sheer joy of it.
Have a little fun with it, and remember who’s still in charge, regardless of their AI-generated bio or image: the cat.
The ‘How’: Giving Your Pet a Human Makeover
