# How to integrate Cats MCP with CrewAI

```json
{
  "title": "How to integrate Cats MCP with CrewAI",
  "toolkit": "Cats",
  "toolkit_slug": "cats",
  "framework": "CrewAI",
  "framework_slug": "crew-ai",
  "url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/crew-ai",
  "markdown_url": "https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/crew-ai.md",
  "updated_at": "2026-05-12T10:05:49.695Z"
}
```

## Introduction

This guide walks you through connecting Cats to CrewAI using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working Cats agent that can show me five random cat images, list popular cat breeds with photos, find unique cat facts for trivia through natural language commands.
This guide will help you understand how to give your CrewAI agent real control over a Cats account through Composio's Cats MCP server.
Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

## Also integrate Cats with

- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/open-ai-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Agent SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/claude-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/claude-code)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Codex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/codex)
- [OpenClaw](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/openclaw)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/hermes-agent)
- [CLI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/cli)
- [Google ADK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/google-adk)
- [LangChain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/langchain)
- [Vercel AI SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/ai-sdk)
- [Mastra AI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/mastra-ai)
- [LlamaIndex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/llama-index)

## TL;DR

Here's what you'll learn:
- Get a Composio API key and configure your Cats connection
- Set up CrewAI with an MCP enabled agent
- Create a Tool Router session or standalone MCP server for Cats
- Build a conversational loop where your agent can execute Cats operations

## What is CrewAI?

CrewAI is a powerful framework for building multi-agent AI systems. It provides primitives for defining agents with specific roles, creating tasks, and orchestrating workflows through crews.
Key features include:
- Agent Roles: Define specialized agents with specific goals and backstories
- Task Management: Create tasks with clear descriptions and expected outputs
- Crew Orchestration: Combine agents and tasks into collaborative workflows
- MCP Integration: Connect to external tools through Model Context Protocol

## What is the Cats MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Cats MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Cats account. It provides structured and secure access to a wide collection of cat images, breed information, and fun feline facts, so your agent can fetch cat data, browse curated cat images, and pull breed details on your behalf.
- Portals listing for cat resources: Instruct your agent to list and browse all available cat-related portals, making it easy to explore organized collections of cat images and data.
- Metadata exploration with pagination: Have your agent efficiently page through vast cat collections, ensuring you can access just the right portal or dataset without missing a thing.
- On-demand cat image discovery: Let your agent find and retrieve high-quality cat images from the API’s large, curated library—perfect for enrichment or just a dose of cuteness.
- Access to detailed breed and fact data: Ask your agent to pull up detailed info on cat breeds and fun facts, making it a handy assistant for both research and entertainment.

## Supported Tools

| Tool slug | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| `CATS_CREATE_FAVOURITE` | Create Favourite | Tool to save an image as a favourite to your account. Use when you want to mark a cat image as a favourite for later retrieval or filtering by user ID. |
| `CATS_CREATE_VOTE` | Create Vote | Tool to vote on a cat image. Send image_id and value (1 for upvote, 0 for downvote) to register your vote. Optionally include sub_id for user tracking. |
| `CATS_DELETE_FAVOURITE` | Delete Favourite | Tool to delete a favourite from your account by its ID. Use when you need to remove a previously saved favourite image from your Cat API account. |
| `CATS_DELETE_IMAGE` | Delete Image | Delete an uploaded image from your account by its ID. Use this when you need to remove an image you previously uploaded to The Cat API. |
| `CATS_DELETE_VOTE` | Delete Vote | Tool to delete a vote from your account by its ID. Use when you need to remove a previously submitted vote for a cat image. |
| `CATS_GET_BREED` | Get Cat Breed by ID | Tool to get detailed information about a specific cat breed by its ID. Use when you need comprehensive details about a particular breed including temperament, origin, characteristics, and URLs. |
| `CATS_GET_FAVOURITE` | Get Favourite by ID | Tool to retrieve a specific favourite by its unique ID. Returns full favourite details including user ID, image ID, creation timestamp, and associated image data. Use when you need to fetch a particular favourite's information or verify favourite existence. |
| `CATS_GET_IMAGE` | Get Cat Image by ID | Tool to retrieve a specific cat image by its unique ID. Returns full image details including URL, dimensions, and breed information if available. Use when you need to fetch a particular image's data or verify image existence. |
| `CATS_GET_IMAGE_ANALYSIS` | Get Image Analysis | Get machine learning analysis results for an uploaded image. Returns labels with confidence scores, bounding boxes for detected objects, and content moderation results from ML vendors. Note: GIF images are not supported for analysis. |
| `CATS_GET_IMAGE_BREEDS` | Get Image Breeds | Tool to retrieve breed information associated with a specific cat image. Use when you need to identify which breed(s) are shown in a particular image from The Cat API. |
| `CATS_GET_PORTALS` | Get Cat Breeds | Retrieves a paginated list of cat breeds from The Cat API. Returns comprehensive breed information including name, description, temperament, origin, life span, and weight. Use this to browse available cat breeds or search for specific breed information. |
| `CATS_GET_VOTE` | Get Vote by ID | Retrieves a specific vote by its unique ID from The Cat API. Returns detailed vote information including the image ID, vote value, timestamp, and optional metadata like sub_id and country code. Use this when you need to fetch details about a specific vote. |
| `CATS_LIST_CATEGORIES` | List Image Categories | Retrieves a list of all active image categories from The Cat API. Categories include hats, sunglasses, boxes, sinks, and more. Use category IDs when searching or filtering images by category. |
| `CATS_LIST_FAVOURITES` | List Favourites | Tool to get all favourites belonging to your account. Use when you need to retrieve saved cat images, optionally filtered by sub_id. Supports pagination to browse through large collections of favourites. |
| `CATS_LIST_UPLOADED_IMAGES` | List Uploaded Images | Tool to get all images uploaded to your account via /images/upload. Supports pagination and filtering by sub_id or original filename. Use this to retrieve your uploaded images, check if a file already exists, or filter by user identifiers. The API returns images in order of upload date. |
| `CATS_LIST_VOTES` | List Votes | Tool to retrieve all votes you have created. Returns a paginated list of votes with image IDs, vote values, and metadata. Use this to view voting history, filter by user segment (sub_id), or analyze vote patterns. |
| `CATS_SEARCH_BREEDS` | Search Cat Breeds | Search for cat breeds by name. Use the 'q' parameter with part or all of the breed name to find matching breeds. Returns breed details including temperament, origin, and characteristics. |
| `CATS_SEARCH_IMAGES` | Search Cat Images | Search for random cat images with optional filters. Filter by breed availability, size, and file type. Returns an array of image objects with URLs and metadata. Use this to find cat images for display, testing, or content generation. The default behavior returns 1 random cat image. |

## Supported Triggers

None listed.

## Creating MCP Server - Stand-alone vs Composio SDK

The Cats MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent to Cats. It provides structured and secure access so your agent can perform Cats operations on your behalf through a secure, permission-based interface.
With Composio's managed implementation, you don't have to create your own developer app. For production, if you're building an end product, we recommend using your own credentials. The managed server helps you prototype fast and go from 0-1 faster.

## Step-by-step Guide

### 1. Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
- Python 3.9 or higher
- A Composio account and API key
- A Cats connection authorized in Composio
- An OpenAI API key for the CrewAI LLM
- Basic familiarity with Python

### 1. Getting API Keys for OpenAI and Composio

OpenAI API Key
- Go to the [OpenAI dashboard](https://platform.openai.com/settings/organization/api-keys) and create an API key. You'll need credits to use the models, or you can connect to another model provider.
- Keep the API key safe.
Composio API Key
- Log in to the [Composio dashboard](https://dashboard.composio.dev?utm_source=toolkits&utm_medium=framework_docs).
- Navigate to your API settings and generate a new API key.
- Store this key securely as you'll need it for authentication.

### 2. Install dependencies

**What's happening:**
- composio connects your agent to Cats via MCP
- crewai provides Agent, Task, Crew, and LLM primitives
- crewai-tools[mcp] includes MCP helpers
- python-dotenv loads environment variables from .env
```bash
pip install composio crewai crewai-tools[mcp] python-dotenv
```

### 3. Set up environment variables

Create a .env file in your project root.
What's happening:
- COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio
- USER_ID scopes the session to your account
- OPENAI_API_KEY lets CrewAI use your chosen OpenAI model
```bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here
OPENAI_API_KEY=your_openai_api_key_here
```

### 4. Import dependencies

**What's happening:**
- CrewAI classes define agents and tasks, and run the workflow
- MCPServerHTTP connects the agent to an MCP endpoint
- Composio will give you a short lived Cats MCP URL
```python
import os
from composio import Composio
from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew
from crewai_tools import MCPServerAdapter
import dotenv

dotenv.load_dotenv()

COMPOSIO_API_KEY = os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")
COMPOSIO_USER_ID = os.getenv("COMPOSIO_USER_ID")

if not COMPOSIO_API_KEY:
    raise ValueError("COMPOSIO_API_KEY is not set")
if not COMPOSIO_USER_ID:
    raise ValueError("COMPOSIO_USER_ID is not set")
```

### 5. Create a Composio Tool Router session for Cats

**What's happening:**
- You create a Cats only session through Composio
- Composio returns an MCP HTTP URL that exposes Cats tools
```python
composio_client = Composio(api_key=COMPOSIO_API_KEY)
session = composio_client.create(user_id=COMPOSIO_USER_ID, toolkits=["cats"])

url = session.mcp.url
```

### 6. Initialize the MCP Server

**What's Happening:**
- Server Configuration: The code sets up connection parameters including the MCP server URL, streamable HTTP transport, and Composio API key authentication.
- MCP Adapter Bridge: MCPServerAdapter acts as a context manager that converts Composio MCP tools into a CrewAI-compatible format.
- Agent Setup: Creates a CrewAI Agent with a defined role (Search Assistant), goal (help with internet searches), and access to the MCP tools.
- Configuration Options: The agent includes settings like verbose=False for clean output and max_iter=10 to prevent infinite loops.
- Dynamic Tool Usage: Once created, the agent automatically accesses all Composio Search tools and decides when to use them based on user queries.
```python
server_params = {
    "url": url,
    "transport": "streamable-http",
    "headers": {"x-api-key": COMPOSIO_API_KEY},
}

with MCPServerAdapter(server_params) as tools:
    agent = Agent(
        role="Search Assistant",
        goal="Help users search the internet effectively",
        backstory="You are a helpful assistant with access to search tools.",
        tools=tools,
        verbose=False,
        max_iter=10,
    )
```

### 7. Create a CLI Chatloop and define the Crew

**What's Happening:**
- Interactive CLI Setup: The code creates an infinite loop that continuously prompts for user input and maintains the entire conversation history in a string variable.
- Input Validation: Empty inputs are ignored to prevent processing blank messages and keep the conversation clean.
- Context Building: Each user message is appended to the conversation context, which preserves the full dialogue history for better agent responses.
- Dynamic Task Creation: For every user input, a new Task is created that includes both the full conversation history and the current request as context.
- Crew Execution: A Crew is instantiated with the agent and task, then kicked off to process the request and generate a response.
- Response Management: The agent's response is converted to a string, added to the conversation context, and displayed to the user, maintaining conversational continuity.
```python
print("Chat started! Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end.\n")

conversation_context = ""

while True:
    user_input = input("You: ").strip()

    if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit", "bye"]:
        print("\nGoodbye!")
        break

    if not user_input:
        continue

    conversation_context += f"\nUser: {user_input}\n"
    print("\nAgent is thinking...\n")

    task = Task(
        description=(
            f"Conversation history:\n{conversation_context}\n\n"
            f"Current request: {user_input}"
        ),
        expected_output="A helpful response addressing the user's request",
        agent=agent,
    )

    crew = Crew(agents=[agent], tasks=[task], verbose=False)
    result = crew.kickoff()
    response = str(result)

    conversation_context += f"Agent: {response}\n"
    print(f"Agent: {response}\n")
```

## Complete Code

```python
from crewai import Agent, Task, Crew, LLM
from crewai_tools import MCPServerAdapter
from composio import Composio
from dotenv import load_dotenv
import os

load_dotenv()

GOOGLE_API_KEY = os.getenv("GOOGLE_API_KEY")
COMPOSIO_API_KEY = os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")
COMPOSIO_USER_ID = os.getenv("COMPOSIO_USER_ID")

if not GOOGLE_API_KEY:
    raise ValueError("GOOGLE_API_KEY is not set in the environment.")
if not COMPOSIO_API_KEY:
    raise ValueError("COMPOSIO_API_KEY is not set in the environment.")
if not COMPOSIO_USER_ID:
    raise ValueError("COMPOSIO_USER_ID is not set in the environment.")

# Initialize Composio and create a session
composio = Composio(api_key=COMPOSIO_API_KEY)
session = composio.create(
    user_id=COMPOSIO_USER_ID,
    toolkits=["cats"],
)
url = session.mcp.url

# Configure LLM
llm = LLM(
    model="gpt-5",
    api_key=os.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY"),
)

server_params = {
    "url": url,
    "transport": "streamable-http",
    "headers": {"x-api-key": COMPOSIO_API_KEY},
}

with MCPServerAdapter(server_params) as tools:
    agent = Agent(
        role="Search Assistant",
        goal="Help users with internet searches",
        backstory="You are an expert assistant with access to Composio Search tools.",
        tools=tools,
        llm=llm,
        verbose=False,
        max_iter=10,
    )

    print("Chat started! Type 'exit' or 'quit' to end.\n")

    conversation_context = ""

    while True:
        user_input = input("You: ").strip()

        if user_input.lower() in ["exit", "quit", "bye"]:
            print("\nGoodbye!")
            break

        if not user_input:
            continue

        conversation_context += f"\nUser: {user_input}\n"
        print("\nAgent is thinking...\n")

        task = Task(
            description=(
                f"Conversation history:\n{conversation_context}\n\n"
                f"Current request: {user_input}"
            ),
            expected_output="A helpful response addressing the user's request",
            agent=agent,
        )

        crew = Crew(agents=[agent], tasks=[task], verbose=False)
        result = crew.kickoff()
        response = str(result)

        conversation_context += f"Agent: {response}\n"
        print(f"Agent: {response}\n")
```

## Conclusion

You now have a CrewAI agent connected to Cats through Composio's Tool Router. The agent can perform Cats operations through natural language commands.
Next steps:
- Add role-specific instructions to customize agent behavior
- Plug in more toolkits for multi-app workflows
- Chain tasks for complex multi-step operations

## How to build Cats MCP Agent with another framework

- [OpenAI Agents SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/open-ai-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Agent SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/claude-agents-sdk)
- [Claude Code](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/claude-code)
- [Claude Cowork](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/claude-cowork)
- [Codex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/codex)
- [OpenClaw](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/openclaw)
- [Hermes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/hermes-agent)
- [CLI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/cli)
- [Google ADK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/google-adk)
- [LangChain](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/langchain)
- [Vercel AI SDK](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/ai-sdk)
- [Mastra AI](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/mastra-ai)
- [LlamaIndex](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cats/framework/llama-index)

## Related Toolkits

- [Youtube](https://composio.dev/toolkits/youtube) - YouTube is a leading video-sharing platform for uploading, streaming, and discovering content. It empowers creators and businesses to reach global audiences and monetize their work.
- [Amara](https://composio.dev/toolkits/amara) - Amara is a collaborative platform for creating and managing subtitles and captions for videos. It helps make content accessible and multilingual for global audiences.
- [Chatfai](https://composio.dev/toolkits/chatfai) - Chatfai is an AI platform that lets users talk to AI versions of fictional characters from books, movies, and games. It offers an engaging, interactive experience for fans to chat, roleplay, and explore creative dialogues.
- [Cincopa](https://composio.dev/toolkits/cincopa) - Cincopa is a multimedia platform for uploading, managing, and customizing videos, images, and audio. It helps you deliver engaging media experiences with robust APIs and flexible integrations.
- [Dungeon fighter online](https://composio.dev/toolkits/dungeon_fighter_online) - Dungeon Fighter Online (DFO) is an arcade-style, side-scrolling action RPG packed with dynamic combat and progression. Play solo or with friends to battle monsters, complete quests, and upgrade your characters.
- [Elevenlabs](https://composio.dev/toolkits/elevenlabs) - Elevenlabs is an advanced AI voice generation platform for lifelike, multilingual speech synthesis. Perfect for creating natural voices for videos, apps, and business content in seconds.
- [Elevenreader](https://composio.dev/toolkits/elevenreader) - Elevenreader is an AI-powered text-to-speech service by ElevenLabs that converts written content into lifelike audio. It enables fast, natural audio generation from any text.
- [Epic games](https://composio.dev/toolkits/epic_games) - Epic Games is a leading video game publisher and digital storefront, known for Fortnite and Unreal Engine. It lets gamers access, manage, and purchase games all in one place.
- [Fal.ai](https://composio.dev/toolkits/fal_ai) - Fal.ai is a generative media platform offering 600+ AI models for images, video, voice, and audio. Developers use Fal.ai for fast, scalable access to cutting-edge generative AI tools.
- [Giphy](https://composio.dev/toolkits/giphy) - Giphy is the largest online library for searching and sharing GIFs and stickers. Instantly add vibrant animated content to your apps, chats, and workflows.
- [Headout](https://composio.dev/toolkits/headout) - Headout is a global platform for booking travel experiences, tours, and entertainment. It helps users discover and secure activities at top destinations, all in one place.
- [Imagekit io](https://composio.dev/toolkits/imagekit_io) - ImageKit.io is a cloud-based media management platform for image and video delivery. Instantly optimize, transform, and deliver visuals globally via a lightning-fast CDN.
- [Listennotes](https://composio.dev/toolkits/listennotes) - Listennotes is a powerful podcast search engine with a massive global database. Discover, search, and curate podcasts from around the world in seconds.
- [News api](https://composio.dev/toolkits/news_api) - News api is a REST API for searching and retrieving live news articles from across the web. Instantly access headlines, coverage, and breaking stories from thousands of sources.
- [RAWG Video Games Database](https://composio.dev/toolkits/rawg_video_games_database) - RAWG Video Games Database is the largest video game discovery and info service. Instantly access comprehensive details, ratings, and release dates for thousands of games.
- [Seat geek](https://composio.dev/toolkits/seat_geek) - SeatGeek is a live event platform offering APIs for concerts, sports, and theater data. Instantly access events, venues, and performers info for smarter ticketing and discovery.
- [Shotstack](https://composio.dev/toolkits/shotstack) - Shotstack is a cloud platform for programmatically generating videos, images, and audio. Automate creative content production at scale with flexible RESTful APIs.
- [Spotify](https://composio.dev/toolkits/spotify) - Spotify is a streaming service for music and podcasts with millions of tracks from artists worldwide. Enjoy personalized playlists, recommendations, and seamless listening across all your devices.
- [Ticketmaster](https://composio.dev/toolkits/ticketmaster) - Ticketmaster is a global platform for event discovery, ticket sales, and live entertainment management. Get real-time access to events and streamline ticketing for fans and organizers.
- [Gmail](https://composio.dev/toolkits/gmail) - Gmail is Google's email service with powerful spam protection, search, and G Suite integration. It keeps your inbox organized and makes communication fast and reliable.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and Cats MCP?

With a standalone Cats MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Cats tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Cats and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

### Can I use Tool Router MCP with CrewAI?

Yes, you can. CrewAI fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Cats tools.

### Can I manage the permissions and scopes for Cats while using Tool Router?

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Cats scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

### How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Cats data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

---
[See all toolkits](https://composio.dev/toolkits) · [Composio docs](https://docs.composio.dev/llms.txt)
