How to Write Cat in Cursive

By Maya Chen, lettering designer and type educator · Checked by Jordan Hale · October 2026 · How we review content

"Cat" in Playwrite US Trad, a typeface modelled on traditional school cursive.

Cat is a good first word for cursive practice: three letters, one connecting capital, one closed oval and one crossed t. It is a favourite for pet name signs and children's practice sheets. The skill in it is simple but strict, as the C must curl at the top, the a must close, and the t needs a crossbar.

Copy and paste "Cat" in cursive

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Letter by letter

Each distinct letter in "Cat" has its own stroke-by-stroke page.

The joins in Cat

Ca: Capital C is a connecting capital. After the top hook and the open curve, the pen finishes with an exit that rises into the a. Keep the a small, about half the C's height.
at: The a closes at the top and exits at the baseline with a short upstroke into the t. The t is about twice the height of the a, and its stem rises straight.

Tricky spots

Capital C: The C starts with a small hook at the top and then curves open. If you close it, it reads as an O. Keep the opening on the right.
Closing the a: The a is an oval with a stem on the right. If the oval does not close at the top, the a reads as u, and cat looks like cut.
The t crossbar: Cross the t at the height of the a, and keep the stroke short. A high crossbar reads as an f, and a low one is lost in the letters.
t exit stroke: End the t with a short exit that rises slightly, so the word does not stop abruptly. Add the crossbar as a separate short stroke after the word is finished.

Capitals

Capitalise Cat at the start of a sentence or when it is a pet's name. The capital C is a connecting capital: its curve ends with a stroke that rises into the a. Lowercase cat is simpler, with a small open c that joins to the a, and it works well for a child's first practice word.

Variations and styles

For a pet name sign, write Cat large and add whiskers or a paw print beside it. A signature-style version joins C, a and t in one stroke and ends the t with a long sweep. A pointed pen gives the C a heavy curve. For practice, write cat on a ruled line four times, using the same height each time.

Printable practice sheet

Trace the grey letters, then write your own on the empty lines. Prints on one page (Letter or A4).

Cursive practice: Cat

Name: ____________________ coolletteringgenerator.com

Copy-paste versions of Cat

Cat in script is 𝒞𝒶𝓉, and in bold script it is 𝓒𝓪𝓽. Capital C, a and t are all regular script letters, so for this word there are no borrowed characters in either set and the letters match in most apps. They are symbols, not a font, so an older device may show boxes, and a screen reader may spell them out.

Cat in cursive: questions

How do you write cat in cursive?

Write a capital C with a small hook and an open curve, then sweep up into a small closed a. Join the a to a tall t with a short upstroke and finish with a small exit. Cross the t at the height of the a.

Does capital C connect to the a?

Yes. Capital C is a connecting capital in traditional cursive. After the curve, the stroke rises to the start of the a without lifting your pen. Keep the a small and close to the C so the two letters sit together.

Why does my cat look like cut?

The a is not closed at the top, so it reads as a u. A cursive a is an oval with a stem on the right. Close the oval completely and make the stem of the t taller than the a, and the word reads as cat.

Can I copy cat in cursive text?

Yes. The script and bold script versions above use letters that are all regular script characters, so they match. Paste them into most apps and messages. They are symbols, not a font, and some old devices show boxes. Both sets work in bios, captions and messages.