A tool designed to shorten steps needed to import and optimize models into VRChat. Compatible models are: MMD, XNALara, Mixamo, Source Engine, Unreal Engine, DAZ/Poser, Blender Rigify, Sims 2, Motion Builder, 3DS Max and potentially more.
With Cats it takes only a few minutes to upload your model into VRChat. All the hours long processes of fixing your models are compressed into a few functions!
Download: Cats Blender Plugin
This fork is being updated to support the modern Blender LTS series. Upstream Cats was last updated for Blender 2.93; on newer Blender versions many features hit removed/renamed APIs and crash.
| Blender version | Status in this fork |
|---|---|
| 4.2 LTS | Working — load, import, Fix Model, quick & smart decimation, eye tracking, visemes, combine materials, bake confirmed; atlas, translate, updater popups not yet exercised |
| 3.6 LTS | Not yet retested (expected to work) |
| 3.3 LTS | Not yet retested |
| 2.93 LTS | Last upstream-supported version; should still work |
See docs/changelog.md for the per-fix list of fork-specific changes.
- Optimizing model with one click
- Creating lip syncing
- Creating eye tracking
- Automatic decimation (while keeping shape keys)
- Creating custom models easily
- Creating texture atlas
- Creating root bones for Dynamic Bones
- Optimizing materials
- Translating shape keys, bones, materials and meshes
- Merging bone groups to reduce overall bone count
- Auto updater
Full feature reference: docs/features.md.
- Blender 2.93 LTS or newer (see compatibility table above). Running Blender as administrator is recommended on Windows.
mmd_toolsis not required — Cats ships with a vendored copy.- If you use a system Python that Blender picks up, make sure
numpyis installed there.
- Download the plugin zip: cats-blender-plugin — do not extract it.
- Open Blender →
Edit → Preferences → Add-ons. - Click
Install from Disk…(on Blender 4.2 this is in the dropdown menu at the top-right of the Add-ons panel) and pick the zip. - Tick the checkbox next to "Cats Blender Plugin" in the add-ons list.
- Open the 3D viewport's right sidebar (press
N) and look for the CATS tab.
If you previously installed the upstream Cats and want to upgrade, remove the old version first from Edit → Preferences → Add-ons to avoid a stale-files conflict.
Join the original Cats Discord for community help and bug reports: https://discord.gg/f8yZGnv
Original authors: GiveMeAllYourCats, Hotox. Code contributors: Shotariya, Neitri, Kiraver, Jordo, Ruubick, feilen.
Do you love this plugin or have you found a bug? Post a response in the Cats Discord and look for people with the developer role.
If this plugin saves you countless hours of work, consider supporting the original authors on Patreon: