In this free art lesson, you'll learn how to draw a Cat Sleeping step-by-step.

 

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All of the tutorials on How2DrawAnimals.com are good drawing tutorials for beginners and experienced artists alike. The online tutorials are easy to follow; they teach you the how to draw basics while showing you how to draw animals step by step. Each animal has a video drawing tutorial option, as well as step-by-step photos and written text to follow.

 

The Time-Lapse (Speed Drawing) video:

 

To draw a sleeping cat step by step, follow along with the video tutorial below and pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace. You may find it easier to follow the step-by-step drawings below the video. The new lines in each step are shown in red, so you'll know exactly what to draw next. You may want to open the video in a new tab and use both drawing methods. Take your time and draw at your own pace.

 

The Written step-by-step video tutorial:

 

For the first few steps, don't press down too hard with your pencil. Use light, smooth strokes to begin.

 

 

Step 1: Draw a circle on the left side of the paper as a guide for the sleeping cat's head. First make four small marks to indicate the circle's height and width. Then connect the marks using curved lines. Sketch lightly at first so that it's easy to erase if you make a mistake. If you're struggling to draw the circle, trace the outer rim of a cup, a lid or any other object with a circular edge. For a more detailed guide on the different ways to draw a circle check out this tutorial: Four simple ways to draw a circle.

 

Step 2: Draw a curved, horizontal line across the sleeping cat's head to help you add facial features later. On top of that, draw a short, vertical line for another construction guide.

 

 

Step 3: Draw a small circle on the bottom part of the head as a guide for the muzzle. The bottom edge of this circle should be outside the larger circle, and it should be close to the right side.

 

Step 4: On top of the head, draw two small, triangle-like shapes as guides for the sleeping cat's ears. Space the ears apart and pay attention to their size in relation to the head.

 

 

Step 5: Now add the guide for the body by first making a small mark far off on the right side. The space between the head and the mark should be almost twice the width of the head. Right under the sleeping cat's head, draw a very long, horizontal line that curves on the right and connects to the mark.

Slightly above the ear on the right, make a small mark to indicate the top of the body. Continue drawing the mark toward the left and curve it down so that it meets the long, horizontal line at the bottom. Don't overlap the cat's ear. Extend the line toward the right as well to close off the shape. The overall shape of the body should be similar to a wonky oval/egg.

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That's it for the guides! From this point on, press harder with your pencil for a more defined drawing.

 

Step 6: Draw the sleeping cat's closed eyes inside the head as small, dark, slit-like lines. Use the construction lines and the small circle as guides to determine the position and size of the eyes. Don't draw the lines for the closed eyes too long or too far apart. Add some extra strokes at the bottom of each eye.

 

 

Step 7: Lightly sketch a small triangle inside the small circle for the sleeping cat's nose. When you get the size and position of the shape right, darken the top part using a wavy line. Darken the left side but curve the line inward to create the nostril. Darken the rest of the shape. Add a line to the bottom and curve the right side for the other nostril.

 

Step 8: Under the nose, draw a line that curves to the left for the first part of the sleeping cat's mouth. Use short strokes to represent fur. Add a line that curves to the right for the other side of the cat's mouth.

 

 

Step 9: Under the mouth, draw a curved line that's made up of short strokes for the cat's chin. Follow the edge of the initial small circle as you draw the chin. Continue to draw short strokes on the sides to create the sleeping cat's lower jaw.

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Step 10: Darken the triangle-like shape on top of the head, on the left side, to create the cat's first ear. Make the overall shape curvier and shorter. Add a line inside for the ear opening. The bottom of the ear should be situated inside the head. Add a series of strokes within the shape for the fur.

 

Step 11: Use the triangle-like shape on the right side as a guide draw the cat's other ear the same way. Darken the basic path of the shape and draw another curved line inside for the ear opening. Use a series of strokes inside the ear for the fur found there.

 

 

Step 12: Use the main circle as a guide to draw the rest of the sleeping cat's head. Make the shape of the head a bit wider than the initial circle. Use short strokes to create a fur-like texture. Don't darken the top part and leave a section on the left side blank because that's where the cat's paw will go.

 

Step 13: Under the head on the left side, draw a big, curved line for the cat's first paw. This shape should be within the body. Leave enough room at the bottom for the other paw. The line for the paw should come in toward the head a bit at the top. This represents the head resting on the paw. Add a couple of curved lines within the shape of the paw to separate the cat's individual toes.

 

 

Step 14: Under the first paw, draw a long, curved line for the second paw. Use the initial shape of the sleeping cat's body as a guide to draw the paw along its edge. Inside the shape, on the left side, draw a couple of curved line to separate the toes.

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Step 15: Use the bottom edge of the sleeping cat's initial body shape as a guide to draw the tail. Follow the path of the guide and draw a series of strokes along it to create the furry tail. Directly above, draw another long line that's made up of short strokes for the top part of the tail. Curve the lines upward on the right side so that the tail connects to the cat's body.

 

 

Step 16: Use the big, initial shape as a guide to draw the rest of the body. Follow the path of the guide and draw a series of short strokes along its path to create the shape of the body. Don't overlap the shape of the ear as you draw the strokes on the left side. To the right of the head, draw a couple of long lines made up of short strokes for the top parts of the cat's legs.

 

Step 17: For a cleaner look, erase as much as you can of the initial guide lines. Don't worry about erasing all of the guides. It's okay to leave some behind. Re-draw any final sketch lines you may have accidentally erased.

 

 

Final Step: Add some shading to your sleeping cat drawing to give it more dimension and volume. Pick the direction of the light source when shading so that the shadows are consistent with it. Vary the pressure on your pencil to get different degrees of tonal value. You can actually stop here for an all-white cat. For a tabby cat, continue to the next steps. For a more detailed guide on how to shade, check out this tutorial: How to shade.

Add a cast shadow underneath. This helps to ground the sleeping cat so it doesn't appear to be floating.

Add even more value throughout the sleeping cat's body for extra detail. Use a medium value for the edge of the ears. Use short strokes to create a shape around the closed eyes. Use dark strokes to add the tabby pattern above the eyes. Add some lines on the sides of the eyes using dark strokes as well. Now use a medium value to cover the head in short strokes. Don't overlap into the shapes around the cat's closed eyes.

The strokes should go in the general direction of the cat's fur. On the head, they should radiate outward from the middle. Add some dots on the muzzle for the base of the whiskers. I'm omitting the whiskers, but you can add some using long strokes if you'd like.

Shade the sleeping cat's body using strokes with a medium value. Shading can be time- consuming, so be patient and take breaks. Separate each individual stroke a bit so that the white of the paper comes through and creates a more fur-like texture. If you have a pet cat, try to duplicate its coat pattern on your drawing.

When you shade the tail, alternate between dark strokes and medium strokes to create a striped pattern. Using dark strokes, draw a series of curved bands across the body to create a striped pattern. Shade lightly at first, and then gradually build up to a darker value. Don't forget to pause the video after each step to draw at your own pace.

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