How to Create Custom Cat Textures in Minecraft Java

 

How to Create Custom Cat Textures in Minecraft Java 1.21.11 (Cheshire Cat Style)

If you’ve ever wanted to customize cats in Minecraft and give them a completely unique look, this tutorial will walk you through the entire process step by step. In this guide, we’ll create a custom Cheshire Cat–style texture, publish it on Planet Minecraft, and then turn it into a working Minecraft Java 1.21.11 resource pack.

This method works even if you’ve never created a custom mob texture before.

What You’ll Need Before You Start

  • Minecraft Java Edition (1.21.11)
  • A Planet Minecraft account
  • Access to the Minecraft installation folder
  • A basic image editor (optional)
  • A ZIP file tool (built into Windows)
  • Notepad++ (recommended, but optional)

Step 1: Open the Planet Minecraft Skin Editor

Start by logging into your Planet Minecraft account.

  1. From the top menu, click Minecraft
  2. Select PMC Skin 3D
  3. Choose the Advanced Editor

This editor allows you to create and modify mob textures directly in your browser.

Step 2: Create a New Cat Skin with a Default Texture

To make editing easier, always start with a default texture.

  1. Go to File → New Skin
  2. Choose Default Texture
  3. Set the model to Cat
  4. Click Create

You’ll now see a standard black cat model that we’ll customize.

Planet Minecraft requires skins to be transformative, meaning you can’t just make small changes or solid colors. Your design must be clearly different.

Step 3: Customize the Face (Eyes, Mouth, and Nose)

Eyes

  • Use a greenish color similar to the Cheshire Cat’s glowing eyes
  • Leave the orange accents on the sides for contrast

Mouth

  • Reset the mouth area
  • Paint a wide white grin across the face

Nose

  • Switch to Draw Mode
  • Use the Pencil tool (1 pixel)
  • Apply a soft purple color to the nose

Lower Face

  • Fill the lower half of the face with a lighter tone to separate it from the rest of the head

Use the Eyedropper tool often to reuse colors you’ve already applied.

Step 4: Color the Head and Ears

  • Apply a solid purple color to the rest of the head
  • Use a lighter pink shade for the inside of the ears

You can zoom in and out using your mouse wheel and drag the view to make detailed edits easier.

Step 5: Add Cheshire Cat–Style Body Stripes

The classic Cheshire Cat look uses alternating pink and purple stripes.

  1. Apply pink stripes first across the body and tail
  2. Add darker purple stripes between them
  3. Lighten the bottoms of the feet slightly for contrast
  4. Add color near the tip of the tail so it doesn’t look unfinished

Take your time here—this is what gives the cat its personality.

Step 6: Check Hidden Parts for Missing Pixels

Some parts of the cat model are hidden by default.

  1. Open Visible Parts
  2. Toggle sections on and off:
    • Head
    • Body
    • Tail
    • Legs
  3. Fill in any missing or uncolored areas

This step is important—uncolored pixels can show up when the cat sits or moves.

Step 7: Download and Publish the Cat Skin

Download

  • Click Download
  • Save the file to a working folder on your computer

Publish on Planet Minecraft

  • Click Publish
  • Name it (example: Cheshire Cat)
  • Choose the Cartoon category
  • Add relevant tags (cat, cat lover, Cheshire)
  • Publish it live

This allows others to download your custom cat skin.

Step 8: Prepare the Resource Pack Folder

To make this work in Minecraft, we need to turn the texture into a resource pack.

  1. Open the Minecraft Launcher
  2. Go to Installations → Latest Release
  3. Click the folder icon
  4. Open the versions folder
  5. Locate the folder matching your version (numbers only, no letters)
  6. Copy the .jar file to your working folder
  7. Rename .jar to .zip
  8. Open the ZIP file

Step 9: Locate the Cat Texture Name

Inside the ZIP file:

  1. Go to
    assets → minecraft → textures → entity → cat
  2. Find the texture name you want to replace
    (for example: calico)

Rename your custom cat image to match that exact filename.

Step 10: Create the Folder Structure

Inside your working folder, create this structure:

assets
└── minecraft
    └── textures
        └── entity
            └── cat

Place your renamed cat texture inside the cat folder.

Step 11: Add the pack.mcmeta File

Minecraft requires a pack.mcmeta file.

  • Download a compatible pack.mcmeta file for version 1.21.11
  • Place it in the main folder (same level as assets)
  • Open it in Notepad++ if you want to edit:
    • Set the minimum format to 75
    • Set the maximum format slightly higher for future compatibility
    • Add a short description (example: Custom Cat Resource Pack 1.21.11)

Save the file.

Minecraft Java pack.mcmeta Downloads and Information

Step 12: Zip the Resource Pack

  1. Select:
    • assets folder
    • pack.mcmeta
    • pack.png (optional icon)
  2. Right-click → Compress to ZIP
  3. Name the file (example: Cheshire Cat)

Important: Minecraft only accepts ZIP files. Other formats will not work.

Step 13: Install the Resource Pack in Minecraft

  1. Open the Minecraft Launcher
  2. Click the folder icon again
  3. Open the resourcepacks folder
  4. Copy your ZIP file into it
  5. Launch Minecraft

Step 14: Enable the Pack and Test It

  1. From the Minecraft title screen, go to:
    • Options → Resource Packs
  2. Enable your custom cat pack
  3. Load into your world

If everything is set up correctly, your Cheshire Cat should now appear in-game with the new texture.

Download the Finished Resource Pack

Want the finished version without building it yourself?

👉 Download Cheshire Cat Resource Pack

Final Thoughts

This is a great way to:

  • Customize your Minecraft world
  • Learn how resource packs work
  • Create and share content on Planet Minecraft
  • Build downloadable assets for your website

If you want more Minecraft customization tutorials like this, be sure to check out the rest of the guides on HTG-George.