Kittens in a Basket Coloring Page

This kittens in a basket coloring page has three tiny friends squeezed into one woven basket. A ginger tabby stands in the middle and laughs with its mouth open. On the left, a calico kitten hooks two paws over the rim and glances at its brother. On the right, a gray kitten has already fallen asleep. A tall handle curves over all three heads, and a big bow sits on top of it.

We rate it as medium. The faces are full of small parts, and the basket has rows of woven strands. Plan on 30 minutes or so, and think of it as a good page for ages 4 to 10.

How hard is the basket?

Those weave rows are the fun part for kids who like patterns. A six year old can use one brown crayon and fill the whole thing at once, right over the lines. An older child can color each strand by itself and switch between two browns to make the weave stand out.

Both ways look great. Let your child choose. If the strands start to feel like too much, stop for a snack and come back later, because the page will still be there and the kittens are in no hurry.

Giving each kitten its own look

Three kittens means three chances to play with color. We made one ginger, one calico and one soft gray, so they look like brothers and sisters from a mixed litter. That can really happen, since kittens in the same litter can have very different coats.

Kids may want to copy their own pets. The calico has two patches already drawn on its head, so orange and black go there, with white for the rest. Tiny pink ears and noses add a soft touch.

For the basket, try honey brown with a cream rim, and wrap the handle in two browns. A red bow with a yellow center stands out well. Keep the wall pale, and give the oval rug rings of blue and pink so the kittens stay the stars of the page.

Tips for your kittens in a basket coloring page

• Do the three faces before anything else. Then the page feels nearly done, even for kids who tire quickly.
• The handle has a spiral wrap, so color every other band for a rope look.
• Rest your wrist on a spare sheet of paper while you work on the weave. The purple yarn ball on the floor makes a nice break.
• Pick a kitten name for each one and write it on the floor boards.

Fun facts about baby cats

A newborn kitten cannot see or hear. Its eyes stay shut for about the first week, and they open bit by bit after that. All kittens start out with blue eyes, and the true color shows up a few weeks later.

A mother cat often moves her babies from one nest to another. She picks them up gently by the loose skin on the neck, and they go limp so she can carry them. A group of kittens born together is called a litter, but there is an older word as well, which is a kindle. The kitten article on Wikipedia has more about how they grow.

Young cats also sleep a great deal. Most of their growing happens during those long naps, so a warm basket is a very good place to be.

Things to try next

Make a welcome card. Fold a sheet of card stock in half, glue the colored picture on the front and write a note inside. It works for a friend with a new pet, or for a grandparent who loves cats.

Use the page for a small writing task. Ask your child to give each kitten a name and one job. Maybe the gray one guards the basket and the striped one finds the snacks. Young writers can say their ideas out loud while you jot them down.

Counting works too. How many ears can you see? How many paws are on the rim? Tally them on the back of the sheet and check the answer together.

More kittens and pups to try

Kids who like this one may want the kitten coloring page with a ball of yarn. The puppy coloring page is a good match for dog fans, and our cute coloring pages have many more tiny friends.

Questions