Tutorial

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Best for Schematic stage · Ages 5–8

How to Draw a Cute Cat – Easy Step-by-Step PDF for Kids

Learning how to draw a cute cat step by step is a fun and easy drawing activity for kids and beginners. In this adorable cat drawing tutorial, we will slowly build the cat one step at a time — starting with the big cartoon eyes and finishing with fluffy fur, whiskers, and a curly tail.

Every step is shown clearly with simple pictures so you can follow along at your own pace. The cyan lines in each image show exactly what to draw next, making this tutorial extra beginner friendly.

By the end of this tutorial you will have your own cute cartoon cat drawing ready to colour in. Try grey, orange, black, white, or any fun colours you like.

Which cat is this?

This is the cute cartoon version — big-eyed, fluffy, full-body cat.

For a more textured longer-fur version, try our Fluffy Cat.

For absolute beginners using only basic shapes, see Simple Cat.

Just the portrait? Cat Face.

Grab a pencil and paper and follow along step by step. The cyan lines show exactly what to draw next.

By Charlene · graphic designer and self-taught illustrator · Published 12 April 2026 · Updated 20 May 2026

Drawing Tips

1 Draw lightly at first so you can erase mistakes easily

2 The fluffy fur lines do not need to be perfect — uneven lines help the cat look soft

3 Take your time drawing the eyes because they are the main focus of the cute expression

4 Try making the tail extra fluffy with bigger zigzag lines

5 Once finished, trace over your drawing with a darker pencil or black marker

Preview of free Cats drawing printable worksheet

Free printable worksheet — print at home or in the classroom

Download Free Cute Cat Drawing Printable (PDF)

How to Draw a Cute Cat – Easy Step-by-Step PDF for Kids

Step 1

Draw the eyes

Start near the top middle of your page and draw two large oval eyes. Leave a little gap between them. Big eyes help give the cat its extra cute cartoon look.

The eyes carry most of the cuteness in this style — get these right and everything else follows.

Watch for: Eyes drifting apart. If the gap is wider than one eye, the cat ends up looking surprised instead of cute. Aim for a gap narrower than one eye's width.

Step 2

Add highlights inside the eyes

Inside each eye, draw a large circle and a tiny dot for shiny highlights. These little reflections make the eyes look bright and adorable.

Tip: Two highlights look more alive than one. The big circle is the main light reflection; the small dot adds depth.

Step 3

Colour the eyes

Shade in the eyes dark while leaving the highlight circles white. This creates the shiny cartoon eye effect that makes the cat look extra cute.

Tip: For a smooth shade, fill one direction first (all diagonals the same way), then go over it at the opposite angle. Much neater than random scribbling.

Step 4

Draw the ears and top of the head

Above the eyes, draw two pointy cat ears connected by fluffy zigzag fur lines. The fluffy top helps make the cat look soft and furry.

Watch for: Ears too thin make it look like a fox; too round and it looks like a bear. Aim for chunky triangles.

Step 5

Draw the fluffy face

Continue the fluffy zigzag fur lines downward on both sides to form the round cat face. Keep the fur bumpy and soft looking.

Tip: Be deliberately uneven. Real fur isn't regular — some bumps bigger, some smaller. Identical zigzags look like a saw blade, not fur.

Step 6

Draw the body

From the bottom of the head, draw two fluffy lines downward to create the cat's body. Make the body slightly rounded and furry.

Watch for: Body wider than the head looks off. In this cartoon style, head and body should be roughly equal, or the body slightly narrower.

Step 7

Draw the first front leg

Add the first front leg on the left side. Use smooth rounded lines for the paw so the cat looks soft and friendly.

Step 8

Draw the second front leg

Draw the second front leg beside the first one. Try to keep both legs a similar size so the cat looks balanced sitting down.

Tip: If you struggle to match the leg height, make a tiny pencil dash at the bottom of the first leg as a target for the second.

Step 9

Add the back paw

Draw the rounded back paw tucked beside the body. This helps show the cat sitting comfortably on the ground.

Tip: This step is the trickiest — if a younger child is getting frustrated, it's fine to skip. The cat still looks adorable with just the two front legs.

Step 10

Draw the fluffy tail

Add a big fluffy tail curving upward behind the cat. Use soft zigzag fur lines to make the tail look thick and furry.

Tip: A tail curling forward = happy. Tail straight up = alert. Tail down = sad. For maximum cuteness, curl it forward.

Step 11

Draw the nose and mouth

In the middle of the face, draw a small rounded triangle nose and a tiny smiling mouth underneath it. These little details bring the cat to life.

Watch for: A nose that's too big makes the cat look grumpy. The nose should be about half the width of one eye.

Step 12

Add whiskers and ear details

Draw whiskers on both sides of the face and add small fluffy shapes inside the ears. You can also add tiny paw lines for extra detail.

Tip: Don't make whiskers perfectly straight — gentle curves look much more natural than ruler-straight lines.

Step 13

Finish your cute cat drawing

Go over your final lines with a darker pencil or black marker and erase any extra sketch marks. Your cute cat drawing is now finished and ready to colour in with your favourite colours.

Common mistakes (and how to fix them)

Eyes too far apart. The single most common issue. The gap between the eyes should be narrower than one eye's width. Wider than that and the cat looks startled.
Fur lines too neat. Children often try to make every zigzag identical. Be deliberately messy — varied bumps look like fur, identical bumps look like a saw blade.
Body wider than the head. In this cartoon style, head and body should be roughly equal. If the body balloons out, the cat loses its cute proportions.
Straight tail. Even a gentle S-curve adds life. A perfectly straight tail looks stiff.

Variations to try next

Sleepy cat: Replace the open eyes with two curved U-shapes (closed eyes). Add a little 'z' floating above the head.
Surprised cat: Make the eyes perfectly circular instead of oval, with a tiny 'o' highlight.
Tabby pattern: Keep the same shape, add darker stripes across the body and tail.
Tuxedo cat: Black body with a white chest, white paws, and white tail-tip.

Colouring ideas

Classic grey tabby with darker stripes on body and tail
Orange marmalade with a white chest and paws
Black cat with bright green or yellow eyes (recolour the highlights)
Calico — orange, black, and white patches
Or invent your own — galaxy cat, rainbow cat, watermelon cat

Fun Facts About Cats

Cats can sleep for around 13 to 16 hours every day.

A cat's whiskers help it sense nearby objects and spaces.

Kittens are born with blue eyes that can change colour as they grow.

Cats use their tails to help them balance while climbing and jumping.

Some cats can jump up to six times their body length.

Frequently Asked Questions

My child's cat doesn't look cute — what went wrong?

Almost always, it's the eyes. Check that they're tall ovals rather than circles, close together (gap narrower than one eye), and big — about a third of the head height. Fixing the eyes solves the majority of 'my cat looks weird' problems.

How long does this tutorial take?

Older kids (8+) usually finish in about 15 minutes. Younger kids (4–5) take closer to 30 minutes, mostly because the legs and back paw can be fiddly.

What if my child gets frustrated?

The back paw (step 9) is the trickiest part. If frustration sets in, skip it — the cat still looks great with just the two front legs. The point of the tutorial is the practice and the finished feeling, not perfection.

What developmental stage is this tutorial for?

This tutorial suits the schematic stage of children's drawing development, roughly ages 5–8. Children at this stage are learning that complex objects can be broken into simpler repeatable shapes — which is exactly what step-by-step tutorials make visible. Read more in our developmental guide.

Can I use this in the classroom?

Yes — the printable PDF is free for classroom, art club, and homeschool use. Please don't redistribute the PDF on other websites.