- Easy
- 20–30 minutes
- No glue
- about 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.4 cm)
This round calico kitty has orange and brown patches, rosy cheeks, tiny tucked paws, and sparkly eyes with little heart highlights. Grab the free printable cat paper squishy template below—the PDF comes in US Letter and A4 and gives you 3 versions: full color, a coloring page, and a blank outline. Pair it with our cat paw paper squishy or the cute puppy squishy for a sweet pet collection.
What you need
How to make it, step by step
1Print the template
Print your chubby cat sheet at 100% scale on plain printer paper (make sure “fit to page” is turned off). Check the test line in the top corner—it should measure exactly 2 inches (50 mm on A4). If you picked the coloring page to design your own tabby, tuxedo, or pastel kitty, color both pieces now and let any marker ink dry completely.
2Tape the pieces
Cover only the front and back cat shapes with wide clear packing tape, rather than taping the whole sheet. Smooth each strip down from the middle of the round belly outward without pulling or stretching the tape, because stretched tape wrinkles later. This glossy coat makes your kitty strong, shiny, and extra squishy.
3Cut out both pieces
Cut out the front and the back right along the solid outer line, keeping the narrow white border around the cat. Take your time curving around the pointed ears at the top and the little dip beside the striped tail at the bottom so both cutouts match up neatly.
4Add a tape border to the back
Lay the back piece printed side down onto strips of clear tape so the sticky side faces up toward you. Cut the tape about 1 cm (½ inch) past the paper edge, then snip into that sticky border every 2 cm (1 inch) right up to the paper, following the curved ears and cheeks. These little flaps will hold your squishy together.
5Join front and back
Put the front cat piece right on top of the back piece with the white sides together, lining up the ears and tail. Fold the sticky tape flaps over the front edge one by one and press them down flat. Leave a 4 cm (1½ in) gap open on the side as shown by the pink line in the picture—that is your gap for the stuffing.
6Stuff it
Tear plastic bags, cotton, or fiberfill into small pieces and push them in through the open gap. Fill the far corners first—tucking bits up into the pointy ears and down into the tail curve—before filling the round belly. Stop when the kitty feels soft and puffy, around 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.4 cm), since too much stuffing makes the seams pop.
7Close the gap
Fold the last tape flaps neatly over the open edge and tape the gap shut with an extra strip of clear tape. Run your finger all the way along the cat’s outer edges, from the ears down to the little paws, to press the tape down well.
8Squish!
Done! Give the round calico belly a big squeeze and watch your chubby cat puff right back up. Want a slow-rising squishy? Prick one tiny pinhole in the back of the kitty so air escapes slowly when you press it.
Free Chubby Cat Squishy Template
- Color
- Coloring page
- Blank, design your own
- Step-by-step guide
One free PDF: the template in three versions (pages 1–3) and the step-by-step guide (pages 4–5). Print the template at 100% on plain printer paper.
Tips for the perfect squish
- The round kitty feels too hard. It has too much stuffing inside the belly. Gently open the side gap, take a few pieces out, and tape it shut again.
- Seam splits near the ears. The dip between the cat’s ears curves inward, so if an edge splits open there, place a new short strip of tape across the edge overlapping the old ones.
- Tape wrinkles across the kitty’s face. Use shorter strips of packing tape across the wide cheeks and lay them on without pulling so the clear coat stays smooth.
- Calico patches smeared under tape. Printer ink is fine right away, but if you colored the calico spots with markers, let the ink dry fully before taping.
Questions
Can I make this cute cat paper squishy with glue instead of tape?
Not for the edges. Glue doesn’t stick to tape-covered paper, so the seams around the round belly would open. The snipped tape border folded over the edge holds best.
What paper works best for this cat paper squishy template?
Plain printer paper (80–100 gsm / 20–24 lb) works best. Heavy cardstock makes the chubby cat stiff and it won’t squish as nicely.
What can I stuff my paper squishy cat with?
You can use plastic grocery bags for a crinkly and light feel, or cotton balls and fiberfill for a soft pillow texture. Small pieces of memory foam also work well for a slow-rising squishy.
Can I make a bigger cat or a matching cat paw paper squishy?
Yes! To make a jumbo kitty, print the page at a larger scale like 120% with both pieces on the same sheet so they match, or pair this 3.9 × 3.7 in (9.9 × 9.4 cm) cat with our separate cat paw template.
Can I make this paper cat squishy with a class or group?
Yes. Print 1 sheet per person and cut the tape strips in advance. Kids can color the kitty coloring page while you help with taping—plan about 30 minutes.
More paper squishies to make
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