How to Draw a Lucky Cat: Easy 10-Step Guide for Kids

Bring a little good fortune to your sketchbook! This tutorial is perfect for artists ages 5 and up who want to master drawing a classic Maneki-neko. You will only need a pencil, an eraser, and your favorite markers to complete this charming, screen-free art project.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful and cute finished lucky cat drawing, perfect for beginners.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Head and Ears

Pencil sketch showing a rounded oval head with two triangular cat ears on top.

Draw a soft oval for the head. Add two triangles on top for the ears, and place smaller triangles inside them for detail. Teacher's Tip: Keep the oval rounded and friendly—don't worry if it's not perfectly symmetrical!

Step 2: Adding the Friendly Face

Close-up of the cat face with closed eyes, a small nose, and a smiling mouth.

Draw two thick, curved lines for closed eyes and a tiny inverted triangle for the nose. Connect the nose to a sweet, curved smile. Teacher's Tip: Use short, light strokes for the eyebrows to give your cat a happy expression.

Step 3: Details and Collar

Drawing showing the addition of whiskers, a forehead spot, and a collar with a central coin.

Add whiskers on the cheeks and a small spot on the forehead. Draw a circle below the chin for the coin and outline the collar. Teacher's Tip: Keep the collar lines smooth to make it look like a soft fabric band.

Step 4: The Raised Paw

Sketch of the cat's raised paw with visible toe details.

Draw the waving paw using long, sweeping curved lines. Add small notches for the toes. Teacher's Tip: Make the paw look like it's waving 'hello' by angling it slightly outward.

Step 5: The Second Forepaw

Drawing of the second forepaw tucked against the cat's side.

Draw the other forepaw tucked against the body. Use a curved line that doubles back to create the shape. Teacher's Tip: Keep this paw smaller than the waving one to show perspective.

Step 6: The Torso and Rear Paw

Drawing of the cat's torso and one rear paw.

Draw the side of the body and the rear paw using a simple oval shape. Add lines for the toes. Teacher's Tip: Ensure the rear paw sits firmly at the bottom to give your cat a stable base.

Step 7: Balancing the Figure

Adding the second rear paw to complete the cat's sitting pose.

Draw the final rear paw on the opposite side to balance the drawing. Connect it to the arm with a smooth curve. Teacher's Tip: Symmetry is key here—try to match the size of the first rear paw.

Step 8: Adding the Coin Detail

Sketching a rectangular coin detail within the cat's paw area.

Draw a rounded rectangle inside the paw area to represent a traditional coin. Connect the lines to the rear paws. Teacher's Tip: Use a steady hand for the rectangle to keep it looking clean.

Step 9: Finalizing the Outline

Finalizing the body outline with the chest bib detail.

Complete the body by drawing two curved lines from the shoulders that meet at the chest. Teacher's Tip: This creates the 'bib' often worn by traditional lucky cats.

Step 10: Adding Color

A fully colored, vibrant cartoon lucky cat drawing.

Bring your cat to life with color! Use white for the base, and add red or gold accents. Teacher's Tip: Use bright, saturated markers to make your lucky cat pop off the page.