How to Draw a Cat

Are you ready to make some fun art today? If you are looking for exactly how to draw a cat, you are in the perfect spot. We will show you how to draw a cat easy for kids and beginners using basic shapes. Just grab your drawing tools and follow along with us!

  • Easy
  • 15 minutes
  • Ages 5+
  • Animals
  • Pets
Step 1Step 2
Easy for beginners

About This Drawing Guide

This how to draw a cat tutorial breaks everything down into basic lines and circles. By taking it one step at a time, anyone can master how to draw a picture of a cat without feeling overwhelmed.

Blank Paper — A clean sheet of paper to start your art.
Drawing Marker — A dark marker for outlining your shapes.
Eraser — To wipe away any early sketch lines.
Crayons — Fun colors to fill in your final drawing.
Drawing supplies: pencil, paper, eraser and crayons

How to Draw a Cat Step by Step

  1. 1
    Step 1 of 9

    Draw the head

    How to draw cat — step 1

    Start by drawing a nice, round circle near the top of your paper. This circle will become the head for your drawing. Make sure to leave plenty of room below it for the body and the legs later on.

    Tip: Make your circle big enough to fit the face details later.

  2. 2
    Step 2 of 9

    Add the ears

    How to draw cat — step 2

    Draw two neat triangles right on top of the big circle you just made. These pointing shapes will become the ears for your drawing. Place one triangle on the top left side and the other triangle on the top right side.

    Tip: Keep the very top tips of the triangles slightly rounded.

  3. 3
    Step 3 of 9

    Draw the face

    How to draw cat — step 3

    Inside the big circle, draw two small solid dots for the eyes. Right below those eyes, add a tiny triangle shape for the nose. Finally, draw a little curved 'W' shape connected to the nose for a happy mouth.

    Tip: Place the dots for the eyes exactly in the middle.

  4. 4
    Step 4 of 9

    Add the whiskers

    How to draw cat — step 4

    Draw three long, straight lines coming outward from the left cheek of the face. Next, draw three more straight lines coming outward from the right cheek. These long lines are the whiskers that help your drawing look completely finished and fun.

    Tip: Make the whiskers nice and long so they stand out!

  5. 5
    Step 5 of 9

    Draw the body

    How to draw cat — step 5

    Starting directly from the bottom edge of the head, draw a large curved U-shape going downward. This large curve creates the chest and the back. Make sure this body shape is slightly wider than the head you drew earlier.

    Tip: Keep the bottom curve very smooth and soft.

  6. 6
    Step 6 of 9

    Draw the front legs

    How to draw cat — step 6

    Draw two long, straight oval shapes coming down from the middle of the chest. At the bottom of each shape, add a small curve to show the front paws resting flat on the ground. These act as the front legs.

    Tip: Make both of the front legs the exact same length.

  7. 7
    Step 7 of 9

    Add the back paw

    How to draw cat — step 7

    On the bottom right side of the body, draw a small half-circle bump sticking out slightly. This rounded bump shows one of the back legs tucked comfortably against the body while sitting on the ground.

    Tip: Keep the little back paw close to the bottom edge.

  8. 8
    Step 8 of 9

    Draw the tail

    How to draw cat — step 8

    Starting from the bottom left side of the body, draw a long, curvy line that swoops up into the air. Bring a second line right back down alongside it to make the tail nice and thick.

    Tip: Give the tail a smooth, sweeping curve for extra fun.

  9. 9
    Finished drawing

    Add simple color

    How to draw cat — step 9

    You finally figured out how to draw a cat today! Now, grab your favorite crayons or markers and add simple colors to your art. You can make it orange, black, or grey to finish your masterpiece.

    Tip: Always color inside your outlined shapes for a neat finish.

Draw Cat in 9 Easy Steps

Anyone can learn how to draw a cat — no drawing experience needed.

9

Simple steps

15 minutes

Start to finish

Ages 5+

Great for

Fun Ways to Change Your Drawing

Once you know how to draw a cat, you can easily change how it looks! Try these fun ideas.

Change the tail

Draw a fluffy, thick tail instead of a smooth, thin one for a totally different style.

Add an accessory

Give your drawing a bright collar with a little bell around the neck.

Make it sleep

Draw small downward curves for the eyes instead of solid dots to show it resting quietly.

how to draw a cat — colorful finished example

Common Drawing Mistakes

Ears are too big

When figuring out how to draw a cat, big ears might look strange. Keep the top triangles small and neat.

Body is too long

If the body stretches out too far downward, it looks unnatural. Keep the sitting shape compact and round.

Crooked whiskers

Whiskers pointing in every direction can look messy. Make them point outward gently from the face.

how to draw a cat — adding the details
All steps

How to Draw Cat: All 9 Steps at a Glance

Here is the whole cat drawing, step by step, in one picture — save it or print it to follow along.

How to draw cat — all 9 steps in one chart

Frequently Asked Questions

General

Ready to Draw Cat?