How to Draw a Cat

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Learn how to draw a cat with this easy tutorial. With a few basic shapes, you can be on your way to drawing all sorts of cats and kittens.  Follow along with the pictures and learn how to draw a cat step by step. These are easy instructions for all ages.

We’ve been sketching all sorts of things at our house this month, and we’ve practiced making cat drawing easy. Although our cats all turn out differently, they start with the same basic lines. We’ve found that learning to draw is easy with simple drawing guides and videos. Make sure you check out all of these fun things to draw. There are simple animals, flowers, and even faces.

How to Draw a Cat

How to Draw a Cat Step by Step

Follow this drawing tutorial to learn how to draw a realistic cat.

Cat guidelines (Step 1-5) Draw these lines lightly with a pencil.

Step 1: draw a circle (head guide).

Step 2: add a slightly smaller circle overlapping the first at the bottom quarter (shoulder guide).

Step 3: draw a third circle overlapping half of the second(body guide).

Step 4: add a vertical line going down the center of the first circle.

Step 5: add a horizontal line through the center of the first circle. Let’s start drawing. You can make this drawing your own by changing the position of the ears, nose, and eyes and by making them as big or small as you like.

Cat Drawing

Starting with step 6 you could now change to a pen or colored pencil

Step 6: draw along the second and third circle to create the shoulder belly and hind legs; add a bump for the hindfoot.

Step 7: draw the same line mirroring the one in step 6.

Step 8: starting where the second and third circle meet and drawing down right next to the first hind foot created in step 6 – add the first front leg. Try to close all lines.

Step 9: add the second front leg mirroring the one you created in step 8. Try to close all started lines and fit the front feet next to each other.

Step 10: add a flat swirl-like line for the tail – fit it directly to the body, so that all lines are closed or add step 11.

Step 11: add a line to connect the bottom of the tail to the body.

Step 12: add an arch at the very top of the head (the first circle). Make it as long as you like and how big you want the ears to be. We drew the arch 1/4 of the circle long.

Step 13: add the ear (a soft-edged triangle, starting at the end of the arch – from step 12 – and ending at the horizontal guideline) and the side of the cat’s face (curl up the line slightly as you reach the vertical center guideline.

Step 14: add a second ear and cheek mirroring the one you drew in step 13.

Step 15: add a little upside-down arch underneath the curled up ends you created in step 13 and 14. This forms the chin.

Step 16: draw an inverted, curved L-shape line with a slight offset from the top of the ear and along to the head guideline.

Step 17: draw a second curved L-shape line, mirroring the one from step 16. This has created the detail for the ears.

Step 18: at the vertical center guideline, draw a double arch along the top line of the second guide circle -where you like the nose to be.

Step 19: draw an inverted flat s-shape line connecting the end of the double arch with the point of the curves from step 13 and 14.

Step 20: add a second flat s-shape line mirroring the one you created in step 19. These lines have created the nostrils and complete the nose.

Step 21 and 22 (optional): add a small line from the side of the nose upwards to create detail for the back of the nose.

Step 23: Under the horizontal guideline, in the middle of the left side, add an arch for the first eye – the upper eyelid.

Step 24: add an upside-down arch connecting each end to the one you drew in step 23 – the lower eyelid.

Step 25: add an oval or circle for the first pupil – make sure, the pupil is connected to the upper eyelid line.

Step 26: create the second upper eyelid, mirroring the one you created in step 23.

Step 27: create the second lower eyelid, mirroring the one you drew in step 24.

Step 28: add the second pupil, mirroring the one you drew in step 25.

Step 29 and 30 (optional):add highlights to the eyes/pupils.

Step 31-36: add a few thin downward curved lines for the whiskers – 3-5 on each side.

Step 37: erase the guidelines. You are now all done with your first drawing of a sitting cat. Add some markings to its coat and color it. It’s a fun drawing practice and perfect for any cat lover.

This tutorial merely serves as a basic start. You can change it and make it your own in no time. The more you practice, the more you will be able to individualize the drawing. Now try drawing a tabby cat. Have fun drawing!

Download——> Cat Drawing Guide

Here is a Video for More Help

Love drawing animals? Try these drawing tutorials for more practice.

• How to Draw a Dog
• How to Draw a Unicorn
• Horse Drawing
• Dragon Drawing

If you’ve tried this drawing tutorial or any of the others on my blog, please let me know what you thought in the comments below! I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, and PINTEREST to see more crafty ideas and what I’m getting up to.