How to Draw a Saber Tooth Tiger (Smilodon)

1. Begin the cartoon saber tooth tiger outline by drawing its face. Use a long curved line for the front of the face and shorter lines to outline the eye. Shade a small round pupil inside the eye.

2. Use curved lines to enclose the triangular nose at the front of the face and the incomplete circle at the base of the tooth.

From the circle, extend two curved lines, allowing them to meet at a sharp point. Extend the jawline using a jagged, furry line.

3. Use curved lines in a jagged series to draw the lower jaw and the ear. Contour inside the ear with a curved line.

4. Use a series of curved lines to draw the furry neck. Then, draw the foreleg. Use long curved lines for the front and back of the leg.

The elbow should be marked by an "M" shape, indicating the texture of the fur. Curl the lines at the bottom and include another overlapping line to form the toes of the paw.

5. Use long curved lines with occasional jagged points to sketch the shoulders, back, belly, and rear leg.

6. Complete the rear leg, using a long curved line for the back of the leg and several shorter, overlapping lines for the toes.

7. Use long, curved lines that overlap at the toes to draw the remaining legs.

8. Finish the final rear leg, then draw the cat's short tail. Use short lines that meet at points to make the tail bushy.

9. Use curved lines that meet at jagged points to texture the fur of the ear, jaw, shoulder, and hips. Use several rows of dots to indicate whiskers on the side of the face.

Your cartoon saber-toothed tiger outline is now complete. Color your drawing.

What do you think saber-tooth cats looked like? Were they sandy brown like lions? Striped like tigers? Spotted? Solid black or white? The choice is yours.