How to Draw a Funny Cat in a Box: Easy 10-Step Guide

Perfect for young artists ages 5 and up, this drawing lesson turns a simple box into a playful feline friend. All you need is a pencil, an eraser, and a piece of paper to get started. Follow these steps to build confidence in your sketching while creating a charming cartoon character.

10 Steps

🎯 Final Result

A colorful, finished illustration of a happy orange cat peeking out of a cardboard box.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Sketching the Eyes and Nose

Pencil sketch showing two oval eye shapes and a small triangular nose for a cartoon cat.

Draw two light egg shapes for the eyes, then sketch a small, rounded triangle between them for the nose. Teacher's Tip: Keep your pencil pressure very light here so you can easily adjust the spacing if the eyes look too far apart.

Step 2: Defining the Mouth

Close up of a cat's muzzle showing the nose and mouth curves being added.

Add two gentle curves extending downward from the nose to form the mouth, connected by a short straight line. Tip: Think of this as a tiny 'w' shape to give your cat a friendly, curious expression.

Step 3: Adding Ears and Whiskers

Drawing the cat's triangular ears and long whisker lines on the face.

Sketch two large, rounded triangles on top of the head for ears and connect them with a soft curve. Add three quick, flicking lines on each cheek for whiskers. Tip: Make the whiskers quick, confident strokes to keep them looking sharp.

Step 4: Shaping the Head

Refining the cat's head shape and adding inner ear details.

Draw an 'L' shape inside each ear for depth, then connect the sides of the face with smooth curves to complete the oval head shape. Tip: Use a continuous motion to make the head look soft and fluffy.

Step 5: Drawing the Paws

Sketching two small cat paws resting on the edge of a surface.

Sketch two loops that look like fish hooks resting on a horizontal line. These will be your cat's front paws. Tip: Keep the paws close together to make the cat look cozy inside its box.

Step 6: Constructing the Box

Adding the box structure around the cat's paws.

Use light, angled lines to create the sides of the box. Add small, short lines on the paws to represent toes. Tip: Don't worry about perfect straight lines; a slightly wobbly box adds to the 'funny' cartoon character style.

Step 7: Completing the Box Shape

Refining the cardboard box shape with additional geometric lines.

Draw a triangle on the left and a box shape on the right to give the container depth. Tip: Imagine the box is made of cardboard—it doesn't need to be perfectly symmetrical to look great.

Step 8: Adding the Tail and Base

Adding a curved tail and finishing the base of the box.

Add a wavy loop behind the cat for a playful tail, and finish the box by sketching vertical and horizontal lines underneath. Tip: A curved tail suggests the cat is happy and relaxed!

Step 9: Adding Stripes

Adding decorative stripe patterns to the cat's body.

Draw small, soft loops on the cat's body to create stripes. Tip: Vary the size of the stripes to make the cat look more natural and textured.

Step 10: Final Outline and Coloring

The final colored cartoon cat sitting in a brown box.

Outline your drawing with a black pen, then gently erase your pencil guidelines. For coloring, try bright orange for the fur, white for the ears and paws, and a warm brown for the box. Tip: Use light pink for the nose to make it pop!