Draw the basic shapes of the cat. Determine if you want your cat sitting or standing, then draw your shapes accordingly. Draw an oval shape with slight curves for the body, a circle for the head and an oblong circle for the tail. Draw sticks for the legs to give you a guideline. Draw smaller circles for the paws.
Add features. Divide the face into sections by drawing a cross. Use the lines to center the eyes, nose and mouth. Draw a line where each ear should be and then form the shape of a triangle around the line. Use the lines you drew for the legs to fashion the legs. Make the thighs thicker and then make the shape slimmer as your pencil nears the paws.
Sketch details. Add definition and details of a cat. Draw sharp teeth, whiskers, full cheeks, raised hair on the back and a bushy tail. Sketch claws. Use a different colored pencil to add the details. Use light strokes so they are erasable. Your sketch should begin to resemble a cartoon cat more than a set of shapes stuck together.
Erase guiding marks. The guiding marks exist to help you draw proportionate features and center them. Once you have drawn in details, erase the guiding marks to leave a fully developed, furry feline. Erasing extra marks will also help as you add color or accessories, such as a collar.