How to Draw a Jaguar

1. Begin by drawing guide lines, which will help you to give your jaguar accurate proportions. Draw a large horizontal oval for the body and a small circle for the head. Draw two circles overlapping the body, indicating the location of the shoulder and hip.

2. Begin to flesh out the head of your jaguar. Use a series of curved lines that meet at jagged points to connect the head to the body, forming the furry neck. Use curved lines to outline the near ear, the top of the head, and the opposite ear. Detail the near ear with furry jagged lines. Enclose an irregular shape to form the nose, and use curved lines to outline the nose, the open mouth, the lower jaw, and the teeth.

3. Use a series of curved lines to draw the top of the neck, the back, and the rump. Notice the short, jagged lines that give a furry appearance when the line changes direction.

4. Draw the foreleg. Beginning at the guide line circle, outline the leg with a series of lines, noting the furry appearance. Use overlapping curved lines to distinguish the toes and paw.

5. Beginning at the remaining guide line circle, draw the rear leg. Again, use a series of curved lines to give the leg a furry appearance. Draw a jagged, furry line between the front and rear legs to indicate the belly. Finally, draw the far foreleg. Outline the leg using furry, jagged lines. Then, use overlapping curved lines to create the toes and paw.

6. Erase the guide lines to leave a clean outline of the big cat. Then, draw the remaining rear leg. Use long, curved lines and furry, jagged lines to outline the leg. Connect the lines at the paw using overlapping curved lines.

7. Draw the jaguar's tail. Use a long, curved line and double it back upon itself. Don't forget to add the furry texture in patches. Band the tip of the tail with a curved line.

8. Erase lines that overlap the tail. Then, draw the jaguar's eye and whiskers. Begin to enclose the irregular spots across the cat's face.

9. Fill the jaguar's coat with spots and splotches known as rosettes.

Color your cartoon jaguar. Jaguars are typically orange, yellow, or tan with black or brown spots. Some are black with even darker spots. These cats are often called black panthers, but are scientifically classed as the melanistic jaguar color morph.