Whiskers that end in spiralsBlack. A black nose tip and three whiskers on each cheek, each one ending in a small spiral.
Brown tabby with a white mouth and chinBrown, black, white, pink. Brown cheeks with black stripes, white around the mouth and over the chin, pink nose tip.
Black-and-white patch cat, three patchesWhite, black, pink. White muzzle and three rounded black patches: above one brow, on one cheek, beside the jaw.
Brown tabby with a white mouth and chinBrown, black, white, pink. Brown cheeks with black stripes, white around the mouth and over the chin, pink nose tip.
Classic tabby with a bullseye swirl on each cheekTan, brown, black. A swirl of two thick rings on each tan cheek, an M high on the forehead, brown nose tip.
Cream tabby in two pale colorsCream, tan, pink. Cream cheeks with faint tan stripes and a pink nose tip; the softest full face on the list.
Forehead M with stripes running back to the hairlineBrown, black. An M high on the forehead, a stripe from each of its peaks to the hairline; the cheeks stay bare.
Ginger tabby with rust stripes curving off the noseOrange, rust, white. Soft orange cheeks, three rust stripes curving out from each side of the nose, white muzzle pads.
Kitten tabby with big ears and one stripe a sideTan, brown, pink. A large rounded ear above each brow, one short stripe on each cheek, a tiny pink nose tip.
Mackerel tabby: thin stripes side by side on each cheekGray, black, pink. Four thin black stripes side by side on each gray cheekbone, running toward the ear; pink nose tip.
Ringed tabby tail curling around one cheekOrange, brown. A tail ringed in brown starts at the jaw, curls around the cheek and ends in a tip on the cheekbone.
Silver tabby in gray and white onlyWhite, gray. White muzzle and chin, gray stripes rising from the brows and crossing each cheekbone; no black needed.
Spotted tabby: cheek stripes that break into dotsTan, brown. Two stripes start beside the nose on each cheek and break into rows of dots toward the ears.
Tabby cheek stripes that thin out into whiskersGray, black. Three stripes start near each ear, narrow across the cheek and end as whisker lines beside the mouth.
Tabby ears above the brows, striped at the edgesGray, pink, black. A pointed ear above each brow, pink inside, two short black stripes on each outer edge.
Tabby in a loaf, paws tucked, on the cheekGray, black, pink. A loaf-shaped cat on one cheek, paws tucked under, stripes over its back, eyes shut as two curves.
Tabby stretching on the cheekbone, tail in the airOrange, brown. A cat with front paws out and tail up along the cheekbone, brown stripes across its back.
Calico and tuxedo 13
Black-and-white patch cat, three patchesWhite, black, pink. White muzzle and three rounded black patches: above one brow, on one cheek, beside the jaw.
Calico cheeks, one orange and one blackOrange, black, white. An orange patch on one cheek, a smaller black one on the other, white pads beside the nose.
Calico ears: one orange, one black, both pink insideOrange, black, pink, white. An ear above each brow in different colors, pink inside each, white muzzle below.
Calico seen from behind, tail hanging down the cheekWhite, orange, black. A seated cat seen from behind on the cheekbone, patches on its white back, tail hanging down.
Calico with an orange patch and a black patchWhite, orange, black, pink. White muzzle, an orange patch above one brow, a small black one above the other, pink nose.
Pale calico in gray, cream and whiteGray, cream, white, pink. The calico look in soft colors: a cream patch above one brow, gray on the other cheek.
Small calico head on the cheek, a patch over one earWhite, orange, black. A small white cat head on the cheek, orange over one ear and eye, black over the other ear.
Tortoiseshell dabs of orange and black, no whiteOrange, black, pink. Small sponge dabs of orange and black mixed over both cheekbones, pink nose tip, black whiskers.
Tuxedo cat sitting on the cheek in a red bow tieBlack, white, red. A seated cat facing forward on the cheek, black with a white chest and paws, a red bow tie.
Tuxedo cat with a white muzzle and black earsBlack, white, pink. White muzzle and chin, a black ear above each brow, pink nose tip; the forehead stays bare.
Tuxedo socks: two white front paws over one browWhite, black. Two white paws with black toe lines hang over one brow bone, as if a cat sat on top of the head.
Tuxedo with a black mustache patch under the noseWhite, black, pink. White muzzle pads, a black patch under the nose like a mustache, black ear tips above the brows.
Tuxedo with a white goatee patchWhite, black, pink. A black ear above each brow, a pink nose tip and one small white patch on the chin like a goatee.
Big cats kept small 12
Cheetah at full stretch along the cheekboneYellow, black. A thin spotted cat running along the cheekbone, legs stretched front and back, tail straight out.
Heart filled with leopard spots on the cheekGold, brown, black. A gold heart on the cheek covered in broken rings with brown centers, black outline.
Lion cub with a tufted tail on the cheekTan, brown. A seated cub on the cheek with two round ears and a brown tuft on the tip of its tail.
Lion nose with one tuft of mane on the foreheadTan, brown. A brown nose tip, tan muzzle pads and a single flame-shaped tuft of mane high on the forehead.
Lioness and cub touching noses on the cheekboneTan, brown, black. Two heads in profile, the small one lower, noses touching; black nose tips and dot eyes.
Lynx face on the cheek with black ear tuftsTan, black, white. A small face on the cheek, a pointed black tuft on each ear tip, a white ruff at each side.
Panther cub face in dark gray on the cheekDark gray, black, pink. A small cub face on the cheek in dark gray, black ears and nose, a pink tongue tip.
Snow leopard sitting with its tail around its feetWhite, gray, black. A pale cat on the cheek with black spots and a long thick tail wrapped around its feet.
Three jaguar rosettes on the templeGold, black. Three open rings on a dab of gold at one temple, one black dot in the middle of each ring.
Tiger cub asleep on a branch on the cheekboneOrange, black, brown. A striped cub draped over a brown branch along the cheekbone, all four legs hanging.
Tiger cub on its back, paws in the airOrange, white, black. A cub on its back along the cheekbone, white belly up, four paws in the air, striped sides.
White tiger cub sitting on the cheekWhite, gray, pink. A seated cub in white with gray stripes, round ears and a pink nose on one cheek.
Nose and whiskers only 13
Cheek whiskers plus two brow whiskersBlack. A nose tip, three whiskers on each cheek and two fine lines rising from above each brow.
Dotted whiskers from a cotton swabBlack. Each whisker is a row of dots pressed on with a cotton swab; one larger dot on the nose tip.
Long whiskers that reach toward the earsBlack. A black nose tip; three thin whiskers on each side run right across the cheek toward the ear.
Milk mustache catWhite, black, pink. Pink nose tip, three black whiskers on each cheek and a white line along the top lip like milk.
Nose and whiskers with a small fish on one cheekBlack, blue. Nose tip and whiskers, with a small blue fish on one cheek swimming away from the mouth.
Pink triangle nose with a line to the top lipPink, black. A pink triangle, point down, on the nose tip; a short black line from its point to the top lip.
Rainbow whiskers, each one a different colorBlack, red, yellow, blue. A black nose tip and three whiskers on each cheek, each in a different color.
Short kitten whiskers and a pink nosePink, black. A pink nose tip and two short whiskers on each cheek, each no longer than the nose is wide.
Smiling cat mouth: a W under the noseBlack, pink. Pink nose tip, a short line to the top lip and a wide W along the lip so the mouth smiles.
Whisker dots beside the nose, no linesBlack, pink. A pink nose tip and a small cluster of black dots on each side of the nose; no whisker lines at all.
Whiskers that end in spiralsBlack. A black nose tip and three whiskers on each cheek, each one ending in a small spiral.
Whiskers with a ball of yarn on one cheekBlack, any bright color. Nose tip and whiskers; a ball of yarn on one cheek, its loose end trailing to the jaw.
White whiskers and a white nose outlineWhite. The nose tip outlined in white, three white whiskers on each cheek and white dots beside the nose.
How it works
These cat face painting ideas are 52 designs sorted by coat pattern: 14 tabbies, 13 calico and tuxedo cats, 12 big cats kept small, and 13 easy ones that are a nose and whiskers and nothing more.
Read the full guide
Kitty cat face paint ideas: a nose and whiskers
Thirteen designs need no base coat: Pink triangle nose with a line to the top lip, Whiskers that end in spirals, Dotted whiskers from a cotton swab. Milk mustache cat adds one white line along the top lip, and White whiskers and a white nose outline drops the black altogether.
Tabby, calico or tuxedo
A tabby is its stripes and the M on its forehead: thin stripes side by side on a mackerel tabby, thick swirls on a classic one. A calico is white with orange and black patches. A tuxedo cat is black with white on the face and chest, so it is painted as a white muzzle under black ears.
Questions and answers
What are cute cat face painting ideas?
Tabby in a loaf, paws tucked, on the cheek; Kitten tabby with big ears and one stripe a side; and Tuxedo cat sitting on the cheek in a red bow tie. For one with no cat drawn, try Rainbow whiskers, each one a different color.
Which cat face paint ideas for kids fit on one cheek?
Big cats kept small has 12, among them Tiger cub asleep on a branch on the cheekbone, Lioness and cub touching noses on the cheekbone and Snow leopard sitting with its tail around its feet. Most are one small picture on a cheek.
Are there kitty face painting ideas for kids who will not sit still?
Yes. Short kitten whiskers and a pink nose is a nose tip and four lines, and Smiling cat mouth: a W under the nose is as short. Whisker dots beside the nose, no lines takes a pink nose tip and a few black dots.
How do you paint a tabby cat face?
Put the M high on the forehead first, then the cheek stripes, then the nose tip. Forehead M with stripes running back to the hairline leaves the cheeks bare, and Silver tabby in gray and white only needs no black.
What paint do you use for cat whiskers on a face?
Face paint sold for use on skin, never a marker or craft paint. The US FDA says not to decorate your face with things that are not intended for your skin, and suggests trying a dab on the arm for a couple of days first.