How to Draw a Cat

Co-authored by Renée Plevy

Drawing a cat is easy to do. While there are many possibilities, this tutorial will show you how to draw a cat in cartoon style and realistic style. From here, you should feel able to continue your cat drawing abilities, helped by observing any cats around you.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Realistic Cat

1
Draw an outline of the body. Sketch a circle for the head and add two crossed lines at the center. Use a much bigger circle for the body and a curved line attached to it on the back.
2
Sketch the outline of the face. Make the cheeks appear plumped and the ears pointy and protruding on each side of the head.

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3
Add two small oblongs on the lower part of the head, add a curved line connected to these circles. This will be your guide in drawing the nose and the mouth. Draw another pair of two small oblongs at the bottom of the body’s outline and add a long rectangle shape on one side.
4
Draw details of the face. Make the eyes almond shaped, draw the nose and in framing the face, draw small strokes to make the cat appear furry.
5
Add the cat’s whiskers and brows using longer strokes.
6
Sketch the limbs, tail, and nails. Remember to use small strokes to make it appear furry.
7
Sketch the rest of the body with small strokes.
8
Erase unnecessary lines and color the drawing.

Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Cartoon Cat

1
Draw an outline of the head and body. Use a circle for the head. Add a crossed vertical and horizontal line at the center of the head. Add a big oblong shape for the cat’s body.
2
Add the eyes using two small circles, sketch the nose and mouth. Sketch two half almond shapes protruding on each side of the head.
3
Sketch an outline of the cat’s limbs. Make the hind leg circular.
4
Sketch the tail, make it long and curved.
5
Darken the eyes and add whiskers. You can also add a collar on the neck.
6
Sketch the body and add a few furry details.
7
Color and complete.

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Side View Standing Cat

1
Sketch the main shapes. Sketch a circle for the head. The body is a rectangle with a curved line at the end near to the head. A big fat oblong-ish squished oval is drawn for the thigh area.
2
Sketch the basic feature of the face. Add the mouth area, ears, and face guidelines. Try to make the muzzle short and squarish.
3
Add more features of the head. Add the eyes and make sure they are at the cross-section of the face’s guidelines. Now add the nose.
4
Sketch oblongs and circles for the thighs, legs, and paws. Add also the tail.
5
Draw the main features of the cat. Use lines to indicate a pattern in the cat’s fur.
6
Erase the draft lines and add more details.
7
Color the finished cat.
- Use colored pencils, crayons, markers, or watercolors.

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Resting Cat

1
Sketch a circle and an oblong. These will serve as the guide for the head and the body.
2
Add the guidelines for the face. Add the nose area, guidelines for the face, and the ears.
3
Sketch circles and oblongs for the thighs, the legs, and the paws. There is 3 oblongs used in the picture for each leg.
4
Add the guide for the face.
5
Draw the main features of the cat. Use irregular lines to indicate the fur.
6
Erase the draft lines and add more details. You can add more details like whisker and fur.
7
Color and Complete.
- To improve your drawing skills you should read about art.
- Do a lot of sketches.
- Learn to observe things from an artist's perspective from a good teacher.

Community Q&A

Question

What is the use of a color wheel?

Renée Plevy
Portrait Artist & Educator
Renée Plevy is an Internationally Acclaimed Portrait Artist from New York/Palm Beach who has painted The Grand Dames of Palm Beach and various celebrities and community leaders. With over 50 years of experience, Renée specializes in painting realistically in oil and capturing the soul of the person. She has studied under internationally renowned portrait artists John Howard Sanden, David Leffel, Robert Beverly Hale, Clyde Smith, and Leonid Gervits. Renée is featured in over 68 shows and galleries including a one-woman museum show at the Paterson Museum. She has garnered numerous awards including “Artist of the Year” from The Bloomfield Art League and First Prize from the Boca Raton Museum Artist’s Guild. Renée has even painted a portrait of celebrity, Vanilla Ice. She also teaches at the Boca Raton Museum Art School - formerly at SVA in Manhattan.

Renée Plevy

Portrait Artist & Educator

Expert Answer

A color wheel shows colors that complement each other. It also lets you know the opposite colors. Blue and orange are complements. Red and green are opposite on the color wheel.
Question

What are some ways to improve your drawing skills?

Renée Plevy
Portrait Artist & Educator
Renée Plevy is an Internationally Acclaimed Portrait Artist from New York/Palm Beach who has painted The Grand Dames of Palm Beach and various celebrities and community leaders. With over 50 years of experience, Renée specializes in painting realistically in oil and capturing the soul of the person. She has studied under internationally renowned portrait artists John Howard Sanden, David Leffel, Robert Beverly Hale, Clyde Smith, and Leonid Gervits. Renée is featured in over 68 shows and galleries including a one-woman museum show at the Paterson Museum. She has garnered numerous awards including “Artist of the Year” from The Bloomfield Art League and First Prize from the Boca Raton Museum Artist’s Guild. Renée has even painted a portrait of celebrity, Vanilla Ice. She also teaches at the Boca Raton Museum Art School - formerly at SVA in Manhattan.

Renée Plevy

Portrait Artist & Educator

Expert Answer

You need to do a lot of reading and sketching. But primarily, you need to find a good teacher in your area who will help you develop an artist's eye.
Question

How do I draw a cat cuter?

Community Answer

Adjust the eyes. The eyes are the most important part to making a cute cat.