Cat on a Rooftop Coloring Page

This cat on a rooftop coloring page shows a striped gray cat sitting on the very top of a tiled roof, gazing up at a huge full moon. We see it from behind, with its head turned to the side and its long tail hanging down the slope. It is a quiet night scene, and it suits kids from about 6 to 12.

The town sleeps below. There is a row of tall houses with lit windows and a little clock tower. A brick chimney on the right has a thin curl of smoke and a small bird perched on it. Down on the roof, a tiny dormer window with curtains and a box of hearts looks out toward you.

Cat on a rooftop coloring page steps

Most pages start with the main character, but this one works better the other way around. Start with the sky.

Use a deep navy or dark purple. Go around the moon, the stars and the clouds first, then fill in the open space. Dark crayon needs firm pressure, so press hard and work in small circles. Markers are faster here, but check that your paper can take it.

Leave the moon for second. A soft yellow with darker gold craters gives it a warm glow. Because the cat sits right in front of the moon, a bright moon will show off its outline. Ask your child to squint at the page when finished. If the cat stands out clearly, the colors are working.

Window lights and roof tiles

The small town windows are a chance for some magic. Color most of them yellow, and leave a few dark, as if those people went to bed early. It takes only a few minutes, and the scene suddenly feels alive.

Each roof tile is a separate shape, so there are a lot of them. Here are three easy ways to handle them:

• Take turns with red and orange across each row.
• Color the whole roof one color, then add a darker shade at the bottom of each tile.
• Pick out a few random tiles in a different color, as if someone patched the roof.

Give the cat soft grays with dark stripes, plus a white muzzle. Yellow eyes will catch the moonlight. If your child has a pet at home, change the fur to match.

How do cats keep their balance?

Cats climb to high places with ease, and kids are often curious about how they do it. A big part of the answer is the righting reflex. It is the skill that lets a falling cat turn in the air and land on its feet.

Cats are born with it. It starts to show at about three or four weeks of age, and kittens have it down by six to nine weeks. The inner ear tells the cat which way is down, while a very flexible backbone lets it twist. Cats also have no working collarbone, which adds to that bendy body. See the cat righting reflex page on Wikipedia for more.

This is a good moment for a safety note. The reflex does not make falls safe, so pet cats should stay away from open windows and high ledges at home.

Story starters for the page

This picture almost begs for a story. Ask your child why the cat is out so late. Maybe it is waiting for a friend. Maybe it wants to reach the moon. Maybe the bird on the chimney owes it a favor.

Write the story on the back of the page, or simply tell it out loud at bedtime. For a classroom, turn this into a five-sentence writing prompt: what the cat sees, hears, smells, feels and wishes for. It is a tidy way to practice the five senses.

Science teachers can tie in the moon too. Ask what shape the moon has tonight, then have kids keep a moon diary for a week.

Time and paper

Allow about forty minutes, since the sky and the tiles take a while. Thicker paper will handle all that dark color better, and a sheet of scrap under the page protects your table. Your child can also split the job into two sittings: town one day, roof the next.

For more nighttime fun, print the moon and stars coloring page. The black cat coloring page is another good choice for anyone who likes a cat with a bit of mystery.

Questions