How to Draw Bobcat — Free Practice Sheets

A bobcat face is recognizable before any fur texture is added: tall pointed ears with dark tips, a broad muzzle, a pale chin and cheek ruff, and dark stripes sweeping across the cheeks. This page explains how to build that face in a reliable order, then use the practice sheets to trace, copy, or complete the drawing. The goal is a clear, well-proportioned bobcat, not a pixel-perfect copy.

Start with the head shape and ear placement

Begin with a vertical oval for the head. Keep it slightly wider at the bottom than at the top, because the cheek ruff will broaden the lower face later. Add two tall triangular ears above the oval. Bobcat ears are noticeably tall and pointed, and each tip carries a dark tuft. Place the ears so their bases sit on the upper curve of the head, with a small gap between them.

Check the ear height before adding details. If the ears look short, lengthen the triangles rather than widening them. Tall, narrow ears do more to identify a bobcat than any other single feature.

1. Draw a vertical oval for the head, wider at the bottom.
2. Add two tall triangular ears above the oval, leaving a small gap between them.
3. Mark a dark tuft at each ear tip with a short, angled stroke.

Place the eyes, nose, and muzzle

Draw a light horizontal midline across the oval. Place the eyes on this line, spaced roughly one eye-width apart. Below the eyes, sketch the nose as a rounded triangle pointing downward. The muzzle should be broad rather than narrow, so keep the nose and mouth area wide enough to support the cheek ruff on either side.

Add a short vertical line from the nose toward the mouth, then curve two lines outward to suggest the mouth. Keep these lines light so they can be adjusted after the ruff is drawn.

1. Draw a horizontal midline and place the eyes on it.
2. Sketch a rounded triangle for the nose below the eyes.
3. Add a short vertical line and two curved mouth lines.
4. Keep the muzzle broad enough for the cheek ruff.

Build the cheek ruff and dark facial stripes

The cheek ruff is the pale, curved fur that sweeps outward from the muzzle. Draw it as curved lines flowing away from each side of the nose and mouth, widening the lower face. This ruff is a key bobcat feature and should look soft and outward-sweeping, not blocky.

Next, add the dark cheek stripes. These run across the cheeks, roughly following the direction of the ruff. Keep them as separate strokes rather than a solid block, and vary their length slightly. Add short fur strokes along the jaw and neck to soften the outline.

1. Draw curved lines sweeping outward from the muzzle on both sides.
2. Add dark cheek stripes that follow the direction of the ruff.
3. Vary stripe length and keep strokes separate.
4. Add short fur strokes along the jaw and neck.

Finish with whiskers and inner ear lines

Finish the face with whiskers emerging from the muzzle, inner lines inside each ear, and a few short strokes suggesting mottling on the forehead. Keep whiskers light and slightly curved. Inner ear lines should follow the triangular shape rather than crossing it.

When the drawing is complete, compare it with the separate full reference sheet. Check the tall tufted ears, broad muzzle, pale chin and cheek ruff, dark cheek stripes, and whiskers. Different drawings can all be correct, so assess whether the visible features and proportions are present rather than whether every line matches.

1. Add light, curved whiskers from the muzzle.
2. Draw inner ear lines that follow each triangle.
3. Add a few short mottling strokes on the forehead.
4. Compare the finished drawing with the full reference sheet.

Check your work

• Tall pointed ears are present, with dark tufts at the tips.
• The muzzle is broad and supports a pale chin and cheek ruff.
• Dark cheek stripes follow the direction of the ruff and are drawn as separate strokes.
• Eyes sit on a horizontal midline with reasonable spacing.
• Whiskers and inner ear lines are light and follow the face and ear shapes.
• The finished drawing shows the identifying bobcat features even if it differs from the reference.

Worked example

bobcat: Trace the reference outline, then practise the contour independently. Compare with the separate full reference sheet.

Common mistakes

• Drawing short, wide ears that look like a domestic cat's. Lengthen the triangular ears and keep them narrow, then add a dark tuft at each tip.
• Making the muzzle too narrow, which leaves no room for the cheek ruff. Widen the nose and mouth area before drawing the outward-sweeping ruff lines.
• Filling the cheeks with one solid dark block instead of separate stripes. Draw individual cheek stripes that follow the ruff direction and vary in length.

Questions and answers