Prepare your paper
Paper and preparation
- One square sheet measuring 15 × 15 cm. This is a proposed size awaiting a physical folding test.
- A ruler and pencil for the reference marks described below.
- A pencil or felt-tip pen for the optional eyes, nose and whiskers.
- A clean, flat surface for pressing the folds.
- Dashed line: Make the new fold here
- Thin line: Existing crease or visible layer edge
- Curved arrow: Move this part towards the marked destination
- A and B: Reference points described in the text
All diagrams are viewed from above. Left and right refer to your own sides. Keep the top of the diagram pointing away from you; turn the paper over only when the instruction says so.
Read the complete paper & materials guide ↗Folding instructions
Step 1: Place the square as a diamond
Place the reverse side facing up, with one corner pointing away from you and the opposite corner towards you.
Orientation: Cream side up; one unfolded layer.
Four corners point up, right, down and left.
Step 2: Bring the bottom corner to the top
Lift the lower half and align the bottom corner with the top corner. Press the horizontal fold.
Orientation: Move the lower half only; the coloured side becomes visible.
A two-layer triangle points upwards, with a horizontal base.
Step 3: Make the centre crease
Bring the left corner across to the right corner, moving both layers together. Press the vertical fold.
Orientation: The top apex and the base midpoint stay in place.
A smaller triangle lies to the right of the vertical folded edge.
Step 4: Open the centre fold
Return the upper half to the left without reopening the first diagonal fold.
Orientation: Coloured side up; two layers stay aligned.
The wide triangle returns, with a vertical centre crease and its apex up.
Step 5: Bring the top point to the base midpoint
Fold both layers of the upper point down until the point meets A, where the centre crease reaches the long base. Press the horizontal fold.
Orientation: Keep the long base below; move both layers of the top point.
A horizontal top edge replaces the apex. The folded triangular flap reaches the base midpoint.
Step 6: Raise the left ear
A is the base midpoint. Mark B on the left sloping edge, 5 cm from the left corner along that edge for the proposed 15 cm square. Fold both layers of the left corner upward along A–B.
Orientation: Keep the paper on this side; lift the complete left corner.
The former left corner points up as an ear. Its tip sits above the horizontal top edge.
Step 7: Raise the right ear
Mark B 5 cm along the right sloping edge from the right corner. Fold both layers of that corner upward along the line from A to B. Match the height of the left ear.
Orientation: A remains at the lower centre; do not rotate or turn the packet.
Two pointed ears extend above the top edge. Both lower sloping sides meet at A.
Step 8: Fold the chin upwards
Fold all layers reaching the bottom point upwards along a horizontal line approximately 1 cm above that point on the proposed 15 cm sheet. Measure straight up the centre, rather than along a sloping edge.
Orientation: Keep the ears at the top; move the entire bottom point as one packet.
The lower outline becomes a short horizontal chin; no point hangs below it.
Step 9: Turn the whole face over
Turn the complete model over from left to right like a page, keeping the ears pointing away from you. Do not open any folds.
Orientation: The former back is now the front; all folded layers remain closed.
A cleaner face is visible, with the ears still at the top and the chin below.
Step 10: Add a face if you want
Draw two eyes in the wide central area and a small nose between them, slightly lower. Add short whiskers at the sides. The drawing is optional.
Orientation: Keep the clean front facing up; this action adds no folds.
The paper outline stays the same. The illustration shows one possible drawn face.
Reviewed checks before continuing
- After step 4, reopen only the centre fold. Keep the first diagonal fold closed, with two layers together.
- For each ear, move the complete two-layer corner. A is the midpoint of the long base; B is measured 5 cm along the sloping edge from the side corner on the proposed 15 cm sheet.
- After step 7, the tips of both ears should be above the horizontal top edge. Match the second fold to the first before pressing it firmly.
- In step 8, fold every layer reaching the bottom point together. In step 9, turn the entire packet over without reopening the ears. These are checks derived from the diagram review, not errors recorded in a physical trial.
Your finished paper cat face
The finished outline has two upright ears, a horizontal section between them and a short, flat chin. The final illustration adds drawn features; leaving the face undecorated is also possible. Keep this model flat rather than treating it as a wearable mask.
Printable version pending the physical folding test.
Model reference and illustration licence
Traditional cat-face model, identified as traditional by Origami Expressions (Russell) and Origami Guide. OrigamiLove created the bilingual wording, measured variant and geometric SVG illustrations in 2026; the sources’ photographs and diagrams are not reproduced. Our text and illustrations are licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. The original inventor is not identified by these references.