How to Draw a Hamster Step by Step
Take your time with each step. Look at the red lines in the picture, then add them to your own drawing.
Step 1: Draw the Hamster’s Nose and Mouth
Start near the middle of your paper. Draw a small upside-down triangle with soft, rounded corners. This is the nose. Under the nose, draw two curved lines that look like a wide letter “w”. This makes a happy little smile. Keep the nose small. A tiny nose makes your hamster look cute.
Step 2: Add Big Shiny Eyes
Draw two large ovals above the nose, one on each side. Leave a small space between them. Now color the eyes black, but leave a tiny white circle near the top of each one. These white spots make the eyes look shiny and alive. Big eyes are the secret to a cute hamster drawing.
Step 3: Draw the Fluffy Top of the Head
Above the eyes, draw a wide arch, like a rainbow. Instead of one smooth line, make small zigzag bumps along the top. These bumps look like soft fur. Let both ends of the arch curve down a little on the sides of the face.
Step 4: Shape the Chubby Cheeks
From each end of the head, draw a long curved line going down and in toward the mouth. Stop each line a little below the smile. Do not join them at the bottom. These lines make the round, puffy cheeks. Hamsters have big cheek pouches, so make them nice and chubby.
Step 5: Draw the Left Ear
On the top left of the head, draw a rounded triangle. It should look like it sits behind the head. Inside it, draw a smaller curved line for the inner ear. Hamster ears are small and round, so do not make them too tall.
Step 6: Draw the Right Ear
Now draw the same ear on the right side of the head. Try to make it the same size and shape as the left ear. Great job! Your hamster’s head is finished.
Step 7: Draw the Round Body
From the bottom of each cheek, draw a curved line that goes down and out. The body should get wider as it goes down, like a pear. Add a couple of small fur tufts on each side. Then join the two sides with a gently wavy line at the bottom. Your hamster now has a big, round body.
Step 8: Draw the Left Arm
Under the left cheek, draw a short arm. It should bend in toward the middle of the belly. Use a few small bumps on the outside of the arm to show fur. Hamster arms are short, so keep this arm small.
Step 9: Draw the Right Arm
Draw a matching arm on the right side. Both arms should reach toward the center of the body, almost touching. It looks like your hamster is about to hold something.
Step 10: Add the Left Paw
At the end of the left arm, draw a tiny rounded paw. Add two or three short lines inside it for little fingers. Hamsters use their front paws like hands to hold food.
Step 11: Add the Right Paw
Draw the right paw so it faces the left paw. The two paws should touch in the middle of the belly. Leave a little space between them for the snack you will add soon.
Step 12: Draw the Left Foot
At the bottom left of the body, draw a small oval foot poking out. Add three short lines on the front of the foot for toes. The foot should point a little to the side.
Step 13: Draw the Right Foot
Draw the matching foot on the bottom right. Now your hamster can stand up!
Step 14: Give Your Hamster a Peanut
Time for a snack! Between the paws, draw a long oval that pinches in at the middle, like the number 8 stretched tall. This is a peanut shell. Draw part of it above the paws and part below, so it looks like the hamster is holding it. Add a few small criss-cross lines on the shell for texture.
Step 15: Finish the Outline
Trace over all your pencil lines with a black marker or pen. Wait a minute for the ink to dry, then gently erase any pencil marks. Your cute hamster drawing is done! Now it is ready to color.
How to Color Your Hamster Drawing
Real hamsters come in many colors, so you can choose your favorite. Here are some ideas:
- Golden hamster: Color the head, back and sides light orange or golden brown. Leave the belly, cheeks and paws white or cream.
- White hamster: Leave the fur white and add soft grey shading on the edges.
- Grey or black hamster: Use grey or black for the back and a lighter color for the belly.
- Patched hamster: Add a few big brown or black patches on a white body.
For all hamsters, color the inner ears, nose and feet light pink. Make the peanut tan or light brown. Remember to keep the white shine spots in the eyes. They make your hamster look happy.
Tips for a Perfect Hamster Drawing
- Make it chubby. A round, plump body is what makes a hamster look like a hamster.
- Keep the ears small. Big ears can make your hamster look like a mouse.
- Skip the long tail. Hamsters have a very short tail that you usually cannot see.
- Use bumpy lines for fur. Small zigzags on the head and sides look soft and fluffy.
- Go slow. Draw only the red lines in each step. Small steps make big drawings easy.
Common Mistakes and Easy Fixes
- My hamster looks like a mouse. Make the body rounder, the ears smaller, and remove any long tail.
- The eyes look scary. Make sure you left the white shine spots. Also make the eyes a little bigger.
- The face looks squished. Leave more space between the eyes and the nose.
- The body looks thin. Push the side lines of the body further out, so it looks like a pear.
5 Fun Hamster Drawing Ideas to Try Next
Once you can draw this hamster, try changing it a little:
- Sleepy hamster: Draw the eyes as two curved lines, like smiles, and add “Zzz” above the head.
- Hamster in a wheel: Draw a big circle behind your hamster with lines like a wheel.
- Stuffed cheeks: Make the cheeks extra puffy, like your hamster is full of seeds.
- Baby hamster: Draw a tiny copy of your hamster next to the first one.
- Sunflower seed snack: Swap the peanut for a striped sunflower seed.
Fun Hamster Facts for Kids
- Hamsters are small rodents. Their front teeth never stop growing, so they chew on things to keep them short.
- Hamsters have stretchy cheek pouches. They stuff food inside and carry it back to their nest.
- There are about 18 different kinds (species) of hamsters. Wild hamsters live in parts of Europe and Asia.
- The most common pet hamster is the Syrian hamster, also called the golden hamster.
- Hamsters are most active in the evening and at night. That is why they often run on their wheels after dark.
Learn more about hamsters on Britannica.
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FAQs About Drawing a Hamster
What is the easiest way to draw a hamster?
Start with the face. Draw a small nose and smile, then two big eyes. Next, add the fluffy head, ears and a round body. Drawing face-first means you do not need guide lines, so there is nothing to erase later.
How do you draw a cute hamster?
Make the eyes big and shiny, keep the nose tiny, and give the body a chubby pear shape. Giving your hamster a small snack to hold, like a peanut or a sunflower seed, makes it look even cuter.
How do I make my hamster drawing not look like a mouse?
Hamsters have round, chubby bodies, small rounded ears, puffy cheeks and almost no tail. Mice have bigger ears, pointy faces and long tails. Keep your hamster round and skip the tail.
What do I need to draw a hamster?
You need paper, a pencil, an eraser, a black marker for the outline, and crayons, colored pencils or markers for coloring.
How long does it take to draw a hamster?
This 15-step hamster takes about 20 minutes to draw. Coloring takes about 10 more minutes. Younger kids may want to take a short break halfway.
What colors are hamsters?
Golden hamsters are orange-brown with a white belly, and they are the most common. Hamsters can also be white, cream, grey, black, or have patches of different colors.
How do you draw hamster fur?
Use short, bumpy or zigzag lines on the outline instead of one smooth line. Add a few small tufts on top of the head and on the sides of the body.
Is drawing a hamster good for kids?
Yes! A hamster uses simple shapes like ovals and curves. Following 15 small steps helps kids practice focus, hand control and patience, and the result is a drawing they are proud of.