Use the video and step-by-step drawing instructions below to learn how to draw Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat. A new drawing tutorial is uploaded every week, so stay tooned!

 

 

Intro: Start off with a pencil sketch. In the beginning stages, don't press down too hard. Use light, smooth strokes for sketching.

 

Step 1: Start by drawing a circle near the bottom half of the page as a guide for the Cat in the Hat's head. The circle doesn't have to be perfect. It's just a guide.

 

Step 2: Next, draw two intersecting lines across the circle, one vertical and one horizontal. Bend the lines a bit so that they contour to the shape of the head. The vertical line should be close to the top, while the horizontal line should be closer to the left side. These will be construction lines that will help you place the Cat in the Hat's facial features later on.

 

Step 3: Draw two long lines below the head as guides for the neck. Don't draw the lines too far apart or the Cat in the Hat will end up with too thick a neck.

 

Step 4: Draw two small ovals as guides for the Cat in the Hat's eyes. Draw them sitting on top of the horizontal construction line and on either side of the vertical construction line.

 

Step 5: On the top, right side of the Cat in the Hat's head, draw a small, angled line similar to a triangle as a guide for the ear.

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Step 6: Draw the guide for the hat on top of the Cat in the Hat's head. First draw the brim of the hat right on top of the head as a long, curved line. Then draw the top part as a kind of rectangular-shaped box that bends a bit in the middle. The height of the box should be about the same as the head and neck combined.

 

Step 7: That's it for the initial sketch! You have the basic shape of Dr. Seuss' Cat in the Hat. Now go in and tighten your drawing. From this point on, press harder with your pencil in order to get darker lines and a more defined sketch.

 

Step 8: Tighten the outer shape of the Cat in the Hat's eyes by making the lines thicker and darker. Draw a few lines around each eye for the eyelashes and extra detail.

 

Step 9: Inside each eye, draw a small dot for the Cat in the Hat's pupils. Above each eye, draw a thick curved line for the eyebrows. The line on the left should be shorter because of the perspective.

 

Step 10: Under the eyes, right where the construction lines intersect, draw the Cat in the Hat's nose. First draw an oval shape, then a small line under it. Draw a few lines within the shape of the nose for extra detail.

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Step 11: Draw the Cat in the Hat's mouth near the bottom of the initial circle. Draw a long, curved line close to the bottom for the top part of the mouth. Under that line, draw a U shape that touches the inner edge of the initial circle. This creates the actual mouth opening. Also draw a small curved line at the right of the first long curve you drew to create the cat's cheek.

 

Step 12: For the tongue, draw a couple of curved lines inside the mouth, near the top. Draw another curved line under the mouth for the Cat in the Hat's lower lip and a smaller one under that for the chin.

 

Step 13: Use the triangle-like shape on the head as a guide to draw the Cat in the Hat's ear. Make the sides of the ear rounder and draw a couple of lines at the tip. Shade a small portion of the inside of the ear.

 

Step 14: Draw the rest of the Cat in the Hat's head by using the initial lines and shapes as guides. On the left side, the face consists of a long line that dips in toward the nose. Use the initial circle as a guide to get the shape right. When you darken the lines on the right side of the face, use jagged shapes to represent the Cat in the Hat's fur. Darken the lines at the bottom for the neck.

 

Step 15: Add the pattern of fur inside the Cat in the Hat's head on the right side as a series of short, curved lines. Dr. Seuss had a very sketchy style of drawing, so just add quick, short strokes down the entire right side of the face. The lines don't have to look exactly like the image. Don't overthink it.

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Step 16: Add a few more lines around the Cat in the Hat's face for extra detail. Draw a couple of lines and dots on either side of the head for whiskers and some over the eyebrows.

 

Step 17: Now draw the Cat in the Hat's hat. Use the line on top of the head as a guide to draw the brim of the hat. Follow the basic path of the line as you make the shape thicker and darken the lines. Make the ends of the shape rounder.

 

Step 18: Draw the top part of the hat by using the rectangle-like shape as a guide. Follow the basic path of the shape as you darken the lines and make the hat rounder and bulgier. The top of the hat bulges out to the left.

 

Step 19: Draw a few lines inside the shape of the hat for the stripes. Draw the lines as broken-up strokes instead of single straight lines to emulate Dr. Seuss' sketchy style.

 

Step 20 (optional): Under the Cat in the Hat's neck, draw a big bow using a few curved lines.

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Step 21 (optional): Draw the bottom ends of the Cat in the Hat's bow by adding a few more long, curved lines.

 

Step 22: That's it! You now have a nice sketch of Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat. You can stop at this quick drawing for a rough, sketchy look or go for a more finished look by continuing to the step below.

 

Step 23: For a more finished, inked look, carefully draw over the final sketch lines with a pen or marker. Wait for the ink to dry, and then get rid of every pencil mark with an eraser. You now have a finished inked drawing of Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat! You can stop here or go to the final step to complete your Cat in the Hat drawing.

 

Final Step: For a completely finished Cat in the Hat drawing, you have to color it. You can use markers, color pencils or even crayons! The stripes on the hat and the bow are red. If you'd like, you can add more sketchy black lines along the right side of the face to represent fur. You can also draw a few more lines along the right side of the hat for more texture. That's it! You now have a completed drawing of Dr. Seuss' the Cat in the Hat.