How to Draw a Cat Step by Step

Cats are one of the most-requested drawing subjects out there, and for good reason — they're made of soft curves and simple shapes, which makes them surprisingly forgiving to draw. Unlike a lot of animals, a cat still looks like a cat even if the proportions are a little off. That makes it a great subject for a beginner or a young artist who wants to feel successful fast.

Just like most animals, a cat drawing breaks down into a handful of basic shapes stacked together. Once you see the shapes underneath, the whole thing stops feeling intimidating.

What You'll Need

A pencil (any regular pencil works fine)
Paper or a sketchbook
An eraser
Optional: black marker for outlining, and colored pencils for shading

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1

Start With the Head

Draw a circle for the head, slightly wider than it is tall. Keep your pencil light — this is a guide shape you'll build on, not a final line.

Step 2

Add the Ears

On top of the head, sketch two triangles with slightly rounded corners. Cat ears sit close together and point up and slightly outward — this small detail is what makes a circle start reading as "cat" instead of just a face.

Step 3

Sketch the Face

Add two almond-shaped eyes in the middle of the head, a small triangle or upside-down heart shape for the nose, and a simple curved "w" or double-curve line beneath it for the mouth. Don't forget the whiskers — three or four short lines on each cheek instantly sell the whole drawing.

Step 4

Draw the Body

Below the head, sketch a rounded oval for the body. Cats have a compact, curled-in body shape when sitting, so keep this shape close to the head rather than stretched out. Connect the head and body with a short curved neck line.

Step 5

Add the Legs and Paws

For a sitting cat, draw two front legs as simple rounded columns coming straight down from the body, ending in small oval paws. The back legs can mostly be hidden, tucked under the body — just a curved bump on either side is enough.

Step 6

Draw the Tail

A cat's tail is one of its most expressive features. Draw a long curved line sweeping out from the back of the body, tapering slightly at the tip. A tail curled around the paws reads as calm and content; a puffed-up tail reads as startled or playful.

Step 7

Clean Up the Lines

Erase your guide circles and any overlapping lines inside the body. Go over your final shapes with a slightly darker or bolder line so the drawing reads clearly.

Step 8

Add Fur and Markings

Add small tufts of fur at the ear tips and cheeks using short, quick strokes. If you want a specific breed or pattern, add patches, stripes, or spots now — tabby stripes, calico patches, or solid black are all easy to add on top of the base shape.

Coloring Your Cat

Common cat colorings that are fun and easy to shade:

Orange and white for a classic tabby
Solid black or gray for a sleek, simple look
Black, white, and orange patches for a calico
Gray with darker stripes for a Russian Blue or tabby mix

💡 Pro Tip: If your cat looks more like a dog or a bear, check the ears and eyes first. Pointed, close-together ears and narrow almond eyes are what make a face read as "cat" — round ears and round eyes will always drift toward a different animal, no matter how the body is drawn.

Try Different Poses

Once the basic sitting cat feels comfortable, branch out into different poses — each one changes the whole feel of the drawing:

Stretching cat: long stretched-out oval body, front paws extended forward
Sleeping cat: a tucked, curled-up loaf shape with the tail wrapped around
Pouncing cat: low crouched body, back legs bunched up, tail low and straight
Standing cat: longer body, all four legs visible, tail up

If you want to see the whole process happen automatically — outline first, then details, then color, one stroke at a time — WatchItDraw animates any subject you type in, cats included. Watching it happen is a great way to learn shape order and stroke direction for your own drawings.

Watch a Cat Draw Itself

Type "a cute cartoon cat" into WatchItDraw and watch the whole drawing build stroke by stroke, right in your browser.

Try WatchItDraw Free →