Pencil drawings are not only a way of expressing oneself vividly, but can also be used to get rid of negative emotions and normalize one’s mental state.
Some of the most popular pictures created by modern teenagers for notebook decorations, notebooks and personal diaries are cats. These animals can be depicted in various settings, with a sad or happy expression on their faces, and in a realistic or cartoon style.
What Beginners Will Need to Work on Drawings of Cats
It is impossible to draw cats in pencil without a standard set of stationery (the more professional the artist, the more tools he needs).
For children it is recommended to purchase:
paper of different thicknesses (thick sheets help to draw the details of the image more clearly, while thin sheets allow you to outline the original image by simply placing a clean sheet on the finished picture);
Drawings of cats with pencil or paints require certain materials and tools.
pencils (soft, hard and medium hard).
Soft pencils are recommended for shading, shadowing, etc. on finished images; hard pencils are recommended for drawing fine lines, often contours, that will not require further correction; medium-hard pencils are optimal for the main work process;
colored pencils, paints or markers (if the finished images are planned to be colored);
eraser, made of high-quality rubber (otherwise the eraser will not erase the pencil, but will smear it across the surface of the sheet);
sharpener;
a small piece of paper needed to be placed under the hand when drawing the internal details of the image (without this lining, the artist's hand can leave greasy marks or streaks on the surface of the paper).
Easy drawings of beautiful cats for children. Step-by-step copying with a pencil in a sketchbook, personal diary
Having understood the principle of creating drawings of cats, the child will be able to modify and refine the images independently, thus developing his creative skills.
Cat from circles for little ones
It is recommended that young children be taught to draw by creating a simple image of a cat, consisting of basic geometric shapes.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Visually divide the working plane into 2 equal halves using a horizontal line.
Step back 5-7 cm from the dividing line and find a point in the middle.
Taking the found point as the center, draw a circle (the head of the animal).
On the upper border of the figure, draw 2 triangles of the same size (ears).
Place 2 black dots (eyes) inside the circle, draw a small circle (nose) under them, and draw the animal's mouth under the nose using two lines with smooth curves.
On both sides of the nose, draw 3 lines with smooth curves on each side, extending beyond the boundaries of the main figure (mustache).
Draw another circle (body) closely under the cat’s head.
On the right side of the body, depict the animal's tail using a ¼ circle or ½ semicircle.
If desired, blend under the lower circle (the shadow from the animal's body).
Sleeping Cat for Beginners
Drawings of cats with a pencil can be learned quickly and efficiently only if the young artist has previously mastered the skills of creating the simplest images. These include a sleeping cat.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Draw an even circle in the central part of the working plane.
Next, in its inner part, on the lower edge, draw a circle of a smaller diameter (the head of a sleeping cat).
From the upper border of the cat's head outline, draw 2 triangles of the same size (ears).
Inside the head, draw 2 small semicircles with a downward bend, located at the same level with each other (the cat’s closed eyes).
Between the semicircles, stepping back 1-2 cm down, draw a small triangle in the middle, and then color it inside with a pencil (the cat's nose).
From the lower corner of the triangle – the nose, draw 2 semicircles, the extreme points of which are directed in opposite directions (the cat’s mouth).
Stepping back from the nose to the right and left by 1-2 cm in each direction, draw 2-3 straight lines directed randomly (mustaches).
From the left border of the body of the drawn animal, draw 2 smoothly curved lines towards the upper right corner. Connect them together (tail).
The cat has its back turned
There are several ways to draw a cat with its back. The simplest one looks like this.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Divide the working plane into 2 equal halves using a horizontal line.
Step back 5-7 cm from the dividing line, then find a point in the middle at the specified level.
Taking the found point as the center of the circle, draw a circle of medium diameter (head).
Taking the found point as the point lying on the upper border of the cat, draw another circle of a larger diameter down from the middle of the head (the cat's body).
Erase the bottom border of the smaller circle, creating the appearance of integrity of the animal's body parts.
From the lower part of the body border, draw 2 straight lines to the left, and then connect them with a semicircle (tail).
From the top circle, draw 2 small triangles of the same size (ears).
Fill the space between the ears with short vertical lines (eyebrows).
From the sides of the head outline, draw 4-5 lines, directing them randomly (mustache).
Using additional lines, shadows and shading, create the relief of the animal's skin.
Happy cat
The best way to highlight a cat's good mood is to draw it as a cartoon character.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Divide the working plane into 2 equal halves using a horizontal line.
At the top of the sheet of paper, draw an even circle with a diameter of up to 10 cm.
Inside the main figure, you should draw 2 small circles of the same size (the outline of the cat's eyes).
Inside the equal circles, draw a small semicircle with a bend to the right, placing it vertically so that it is located exactly in the middle.
Color the right side of the animal's eye, indicating the pupils.
Draw a small triangle between the eyes (the animal's nose).
Draw a semicircle with a downward bend under the nose (mouth).
Stepping back 1-2 cm to the right and left from the nose, draw 3 horizontal lines directed randomly (mustache).
From the upper border of the head outline, draw 2 small triangles of equal size (ears).
On the right side, draw another circle, smaller in diameter, so that part of it is located behind the animal’s head (body).
Draw 2 semicircles at the bottom with a downward bend (cat's paws).
Erase the lower edges of the body and paws, creating the integrity of the cat's body parts.
From the right side of the body, draw 2 lines with smooth curves directed upwards. Connect them with a semicircle (tail).
Sad cat
Pencil drawings of cats can also help children get rid of accumulated negative emotions.
Children trying to cope with stress or depressive thoughts on their own most often draw animals with sad faces.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Divide the work plane into 2 halves with a horizontal line.
Draw a large rounded oval at the top of the sheet of paper.
Inside the oval, pressing lightly on the pencil, draw 2 perpendicular lines, the intersection point of which is exactly in the middle of the figure (the cat's head).
From the lower edge of the circle, draw a semicircle, strongly curved downwards (torso). This figure should be located in the lower half of the working plane, under the dividing line.
Adjust the top circle so that its outline resembles the face of a sad cat.
Inside the head, on the horizontal line, draw 1 slightly curved line to the right and left of the vertical. From these lines, draw 1 semicircle down (the cat's eyes).
Between the eyes, you need to draw a small triangle (nose) on a vertical line, and under it, draw a semicircle with an upward bend so that the nose is located exactly in the middle of the mouth.
Finish drawing the cat's whiskers, pupils and the fold above the eyes.
Delete the auxiliary lines located inside the head contour.
Draw 2 identical triangles (ears) above the top border of the cat's head.
Adjust the outline of the lower semicircle so that it resembles the body of a sitting cat.
Finish drawing the animal's limbs using straight and slightly curved lines.
To the right of the body, draw the tail using two slightly curved lines connected by a semicircle.
The cat sits and washes itself
One of the easiest ways to draw a sitting cat washing itself is the one below.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Divide the working plane into 2 equal halves using a horizontal line.
Draw a rounded oval at the top, then divide it into 2 equal halves using a vertical line.
From the lower border of the oval, draw a semicircle with a downward bend (the cat's body).
Outside the upper border of the cat's head, draw 2 identical triangles (ears). Erase the border between the ears and the head, creating the appearance of integrity of the animal's body parts.
Inside the cat's head, on a vertical line, draw a small triangle (the nose), and under it a short semicircle (the mouth).
Above the nose, on the right and left, draw eyes so that one eye is open (a small oval) and the other winks (a semicircle with an upward bend).
Adjust the lower semicircle by drawing the upper and lower limbs of the animal so that one paw is extended and stands on the floor, and the other is bent towards the muzzle.
Draw the tail to the left of the body, depicting it raised upwards.
If necessary, color the drawn cat.
Cat stretching
Pencil drawings of cats, in which the animal is depicted in motion, are considered more complex. It is recommended to teach their creation to children who have already mastered the algorithms for drawing the simplest pictures. A stretching cat can be drawn like this.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Divide the working plane into 2 halves using a horizontal line.
On the dividing line, draw a semicircle with an upward bend, placing it slightly diagonally.
Step back 1 cm from the edges of the semicircle, draw short lines directed towards the center. In the center between the ends of the lines there should be 1-2 cm (head).
Step back from the upper border of the semicircle 3-4 cm up, then draw a semicircle from this point with a bend to the right (the cat's body).
From the lower end of the semicircle, draw 2 slightly curved lines, then connect them with a wavy line (the cat's hind leg). Along the left border, at a distance of up to 1 cm, draw another line (the second hind leg, hidden by the other limb).
Draw 2 more paws (front ones) under the head in the same way.
Draw ears (triangles) on the head, depict a tail to the right of the body and detail the muzzle (eyes, nose, whiskers).
Connect the animal's body parts and color them if necessary.
Image in motion
You can draw a cat in motion like this.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Draw a small semicircle in the center of the working plane.
Without lifting the pencil from the sheet of paper, draw a triangle (ears) from the extreme point of the semicircle, then draw a short diagonal directed to the lower left corner (neck).
Next, draw a long straight line, placing it diagonally, directing the extreme point to the upper right corner (the body).
Finish drawing the tail using smoothly curved lines directed upwards, connected by a semicircle.
From the tail, draw the outlines of the cat's hind legs.
Then draw a straight line parallel to the long diagonal (the cat's belly).
Draw the cat's front paws so that one paw is close to the back ones, and the other is extended forward (a walking cat).
From the extreme point of the front paw, draw slightly curved lines, with the help of which it is necessary to connect the upper and lower parts of the animal's body. The cat's muzzle should be made slightly pointed.
Side view with head turned
It is best to draw a drawing of a cat from a side angle with a simple pencil of medium hardness.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
In the upper half of the plane, draw an even circle (head).
From the lower border of the circle, draw an elongated oval, placing it slightly diagonally (body).
On the left border of the cat's head, draw a small rectangle (the outline of the muzzle) and 2 triangles located close together (the ears).
Inside the oval, in its lower part, draw another semicircle with a bend in the upper right corner (cat's paw).
Finish drawing the animal's front paw using straight and slightly curved lines.
From the right side of the body, draw the cat’s tail from below (2 curved lines connected by a semicircle).
Detail the cat's face (eyes, whiskers, nose and mouth).
anime cat
To draw an anime cat, it is recommended to use the algorithm below.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Draw a rounded oval, placing it slightly diagonally.
From the right edge, draw a semicircle downwards to the right.
Inside the top figure, draw 2 parallel horizontal lines and one vertical line passing through them.
From the upper border of the oval, draw 2 small triangles of the same size (ears), and then divide them into 2 parts with a vertical line.
Inside the head, between the 2 horizontal lines, draw 2 large ovals (eyes). Detail the organs of vision in accordance with the characteristic features of anime characters.
Finish the cat's face by drawing the eyebrows, nose, mouth and whiskers.
Adjust the outline of the cat's head so that the relief of the animal's fur is visible.
Finish drawing the animal's front legs and tail using parallel straight lines and lines with smooth curves.
Cat head in a realistic manner
To create a realistic cat head drawing, it is recommended to follow the basic steps.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Draw an even circle.
Inside the circle, draw 2 parallel horizontal lines, located at a distance of 5-7 cm from each other. The lines should be placed slightly diagonally.
Exactly in the middle of the circle, draw a vertical line passing through both horizontals.
Between the two horizontal lines, draw one semicircle on both sides of the vertical line, placing their curves towards the center.
From the semicircles, draw another semicircle, curved downwards (the cat’s eyes).
Detail the animal's visual organs by drawing the pupils in a realistic style.
From the upper semicircle draw vertical, slightly curved lines (folds of wool).
Draw the animal's nose at the base of the original circle.
From the lower corner of the nose, draw 2 semicircles curved downwards, and then draw another semicircle between them (the cat's muzzle).
Step back 5-7 cm from the main part of the drawing and draw the outline of the cat’s muzzle.
Realistic cat
It is recommended to draw a cat in a realistic style using the algorithm below.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Draw an angular semicircle with a downward bend in the center of the sheet of paper.
Draw the cat's muzzle above the semicircle (mouth and nose using smoothly curved lines and a triangle).
From the area of the muzzle, draw several randomly directed lines (whiskers).
Draw 2 small ovals (eyes) above the muzzle.
Add detail to the visual organs by drawing the pupils and adding shadows.
From the extreme points of the semicircle, draw 2 equal triangles on top, connected by a smoothly curved line (ears).
From the lower border of the muzzle, draw an oval downwards.
Adjust the outline of the oval, making it look like the body of an animal, and then draw the front legs.
If necessary, color the drawing.
Cat with a bow
When trying to create a drawing of a cat with a bow, children in the vast majority of cases work on an image of the main character of the cartoon "The Aristocats" Marie.
Example of a cat image
Workflow Algorithm
Draw 2 mirrored semicircles, using slightly curved lines as their sides. The result should be an outline of a figure that resembles a lemon (cat's muzzle) in shape.
Inside the muzzle, draw 2 small semicircles on top (eyebrows), 2 ovals in the middle (eyes), a small black triangle (nose) and the cat's mouth (3 semicircles located close together). Detail the cat's muzzle (finish drawing the pupils, folds, fur relief, etc.).
From the sides of the muzzle, draw 2 volumetric triangles (ears).
Between the ears, using parallel straight and curved lines, draw a tail with a bow.
Draw a rounded rectangle under the cat's muzzle (the animal's neck).
Drawings of cats created by children with a pencil, despite their apparent simplicity, reveal the creative potential of the younger generation, and also provide adults with the opportunity to understand what their child is feeling at a particular moment.
To ensure that drawing does not cause negative emotions in a young artist after a short time, he should begin mastering a new field by creating the simplest drawings of cats, organizing the work process in strict accordance with generally accepted algorithms.
