There’s something so comforting about doodling a little animal when the world feels busy or chaotic.
One of my favorite creative escapes lately has been — surprise, surprise — drawing cute cartoon animals. Especially cats. – Cute Cat Drawing
I remember one afternoon, I was sitting with my iPad, Procreate open, zero expectations, and a hot cup of tea by my side. I started with two round eyes, a tiny nose, and somehow that little face just turned into the coziest cartoon cat I’d ever drawn. I couldn’t stop smiling. That’s when I knew — I had to turn this into a step-by-step tutorial, so you could try it too.
Whether you’re a total beginner or just love adding little illustrations to your journal margins, planner pages, or sketchbook, this cute cat drawing guide is for you.
Why Drawing Cats Is So Fun (and Beginner-Friendly)
Let’s be honest — we’re not all aiming to become professional illustrators.
Sometimes we just want to relax, create something lighthearted, and feel proud of it without overthinking every line.
That’s where drawing animals like cats comes in.
They’re:
- Made of soft, easy-to-follow shapes
- Flexible in style (you can go realistic or totally cartoony)
- Instantly adorable — even if it’s not “perfect”
A cat drawing doesn’t judge you. It doesn’t need flawless anatomy. You can make the paws extra round, the face super smiley, or give it quirky little stripes — it’ll still be cute.
That’s why I recommend it for:
- Kids and adults just starting out
- Busy people who just want 10 minutes of creative joy
- Anyone who loves decorating their journal with little doodles
And if you enjoy this, be sure to check out some of my other easy animal tutorials too:
🦋 How to draw a butterfly
🐸 How to draw frogs
🐾 12 Cute Animal Drawing Ideas
Cute Cat Drawing – Step-by-Step Tutorial
Let’s draw this together! All the drawings you see below were made by me using the Procreate app, but you can follow along with just pencil and paper, or even colored pens if you’re doodling in your journal.
Each new line is highlighted in red to keep things easy to follow!
Step 1: Draw the Eyes, Nose, and Mouth
Let’s start with the basics of your kitty’s face!
Draw two large round eyes, leaving a tiny white circle in each to make them look shiny and full of life.
Right between them, add a small rounded triangle nose pointing down.
Now for the smile: draw a curvy “w” shape below the nose to form the mouth — it should look sweet and playful!
Step 2: Draw the Head and Ears
Time to give your cat a proper face frame!
Starting from just above one eye, draw a rounded line going up into a tall triangle for one ear. Curve it down, then up again for the second pointy ear, and bring the line back down to the other side of the face.
Make the cheeks a bit chubby and round — it adds to the cuteness!
Leave a little space open at the bottom — we’ll connect the body later.
Step 3: Add Inner Ears and Whiskers
Let’s give your cat some character!
Inside each ear, draw a smaller triangle to create the inner ear — this adds cute detail and depth.
Then, on each cheek, draw three short curved lines going outward to make the whiskers.
These little features make your kitty look alert and playful — just how we like it!
Step 4: Draw the Body and Back Leg
Let’s shape that cozy cat body!
Start by drawing a curved line from the head downward to form the cat’s back. Then, from under the head, draw another curved line to form the chest and belly.
Next, draw a large rounded shape on the side to make the cat’s back leg, and add a simple curve inside it to suggest the paw.
Your kitty is sitting nicely already!
Step 5: Draw the Front Legs
Let’s give your kitty some paws to sit on!
Draw two long, slightly curved lines coming down from the chest area. Curve them outward at the bottom to form round paws, then curve back up to meet the body.
Make sure the two front legs are close together — like your cat is politely sitting and waiting for cuddles!
Step 6: Add the Tail and Tiny Toes
Let’s bring this kitty to life with a swishy tail and some cute little toes!
Draw a long curved tail starting near the bottom right side of the body. Make it go up and around in a gentle wave — nice and fluffy!
Now, on each paw, add three tiny curved lines to show the toes. Just a few quick strokes, and your cat is officially ready to pounce (or nap)!
Final Steps – Color Your Cat!
Time to bring your drawing to life!
Color in the fur with warm orange tones, and leave the belly, paws, and muzzle white. Fill in the ears with a soft pink, and don’t forget those cute black eyes and nose.
You can add a few simple stripe markings on the head, back, and tail — just small curved lines to suggest soft tabby fur.
You can follow the classic orange tabby look or get creative with your own color combo. Either way — your cat is now ready to shine!
Want to Draw More? Try a Parrot Next!
Another favorite of mine? Parrot drawing!
They’re cheerful, colorful, and full of personality. Plus, the shapes are super beginner-friendly — lots of smooth curves and simple feathers.
If you’re someone who loves decorating journals, planners, or scrapbooks, parrots are the perfect pop of color and fun.
They look amazing perched on a branch, peeking from a corner, or even wearing a little pirate hat (just saying).
So after your cat, why not give a parrot a try?
Wrap-Up and Next Steps
I hope this how to draw a cat tutorial sparked some joy and gave you a moment of creative calm.
This cat was one of my favorite digital doodles I made in Procreate, but like I said — you can easily follow along using just paper, a pencil, or even markers in your journal or sketchbook.
If you loved this, be sure to follow along on Pinterest too for more updates, doodle ideas, and free goodies:
📌 CozyMomJournal
Over to You
- Have you tried drawing this cat?
- Do you decorate your planner with doodles too?
- What should we draw next together?
Let me know in the comments on Pinterest or shoot me a message — I love seeing your creations and connecting with fellow creatives like you.
Until next time: keep sketching, keep smiling, and don’t forget — even five minutes of creativity a day can do wonders. 💛
