Cheetah Coloring Pages – 36 Free Sheets to Print

The cheetah is built for one thing above all else: speed. Long legs, a narrow waist, and a small head make it look almost too delicate to be a big cat, yet it is the fastest land animal alive. These 36 free printable cheetah coloring pages follow that fast, spotted, golden cat through the savanna, from close-up portraits to full hunting scenes, so kids and grownups can slow down and color while they learn what actually sets a cheetah apart from a leopard.

Browse the 36 Free Cheetah Coloring Pages

All 36 cheetah coloring pages below are free and printable. Click any picture to open the full-size PDF, sized to fit standard A4 paper. The set ranges from very easy outlines with big, simple shapes, good for younger kids and quick coloring sessions, up to detailed scenes with fine spot work and background texture for older kids and adults who want a longer, more careful project.

The Cheetah Up Close

Sitting cheetah on the savanna

A cheetah sits upright facing forward, its body covered in dense round spots and its long tail ringed with dark bands near the tip. An acacia tree, distant hills, and tufts of tall grass frame the open savanna scene behind it.

Cheetah mother with two cubs on termite mound

An adult cheetah stands watch atop a textured termite mound while two spotted cubs wait below, one on each side. A flock of birds crosses the sky, and acacia trees dot the grassy horizon on both sides.

Cheetah face close-up in tall grass

A close-up portrait shows a cheetah peering straight ahead, its face marked by bold black tear lines running from the eyes to the mouth. Tall blades of grass rise on every side, and long whiskers stretch out from the muzzle.

Sunny savanna cheetah

Facing forward with its tail wrapped around its paws, this cheetah sits between two acacia trees under a sun with radiating rays and puffy clouds. Its coat is covered in small round spots, and its tail shows five dark bands near the tip.

Yawning cheetah on a rock ledge

Stretched out on a flat rock, this cheetah yawns wide with its tongue curling out and eyes shut. Its long striped tail hangs off the edge, and rocky outcrops, bushes and clouds fill the background.

Cheetah prowling through tall savanna grass

Nearly hidden among tall blades of grass, this cheetah moves through the savanna with acacia trees, distant hills and a setting sun behind it. Three birds fly overhead, and its ringed tail curls up above the grass line.

The Hunt

Cheetah stalking a gazelle

Crouched low in the grass with its bold striped tail curled behind it, this cheetah fixes its gaze on a grazing gazelle across the field. A thorny acacia bush, a distant mountain and two round paw prints in the dirt fill out the scene.

Sprinting cheetah kicking up dust

A cheetah launches into a full sprint across the savanna, all four paws off the ground and its long ringed tail streaming out behind for balance. Dust and small stones scatter beneath its feet, with a lone acacia tree and distant hills marking the horizon.

Cheetah chasing a leaping gazelle

A cheetah makes a sharp turn along a curved trail, its ringed tail sweeping wide for balance while a gazelle leaps away ahead of it. A thorny bush, birds overhead and distant mountains with acacia trees complete the savanna scene.

Cheetah approaching a gazelle herd

A cheetah moves low through the grass toward a herd of six gazelles grazing near two termite mounds. Overhead a flock of birds crosses a cloudy sky, while acacia trees frame the open savanna on both sides.

Simple running cheetah under the sun

A cheetah bounds across a strip of grass beneath a bright sun flanked by two clouds. Bold round spots cover its body and its long tail ends in thick black rings, with clean simple lines throughout.

Cheetah Cubs

Three cheetah cubs sitting together

Three young cheetah cubs sit side by side behind a fallen log, their coats covered in bold round spots and their tails banded in thick black rings. A thorny bush and distant mountains fill the background under a cloudy sky.

Cheetah cubs wrestling by mother

One cub tumbles onto its back while a second pounces on top, paws raised in play, as their mother watches from beneath an acacia tree. Scattered stones and three birds flying overhead fill out the savanna scene.

Cheetah cub climbing on mother’s back

A resting cheetah lies in the grass while one cub climbs over her back and a second nuzzles close to her face. A rocky peak, a bare thorn tree and two clouds fill the savanna background.

Cheetah cub climbing a tree

One spotted cub grips the bark with sharp claws partway up a tall tree trunk while a second cub watches from the fallen leaves below. Scattered leaves cover the ground and a broad-crowned tree stands beside distant hills.

Cheetah cubs hiding in thorn bushes

Four spotted cheetah cubs peek out from a thicket of thorny branches while an adult cheetah stands watch in the open grassland behind them. A bird perches on a thorny branch in the upper corner, and dense leafy shrubs frame the hideout.

Life on the Savanna

Cheetah family resting under acacia tree

A mother cheetah lies beneath a broad acacia tree with two cubs tucked against her, one resting its paw on her back. A weaver bird nest hangs from a branch overhead, and fallen pods dot the grassy ground beside a distant mountain.

Cheetah family crossing a dry riverbed

A mother cheetah leads two cubs across a cracked, dried-out riverbed lined with paw prints, with an eroded bank, tree roots and a stone arch bridge in the background. Two birds fly overhead and reed grass grows along the ridge above the exposed roots.

Cheetah watching a rock hyrax

A cheetah stands alert on a large boulder, eyeing a small rock hyrax perched on a rock ledge nearby beneath a fruit-laden tree. Layered rocks with lichen patches, an aloe plant and distant acacia trees fill out the savanna scene.

Cheetah and cub walking in the rain

An adult cheetah and its cub walk side by side through tall grass under a heavy rainstorm, streaks of rain falling from thick clouds. A lone acacia tree bends in the wind and five birds fly low near the horizon.

Cheetah family watching a savanna sunrise

An adult cheetah stands tall on a grassy mound while two cubs sit and rest beside it, watching a grazing gazelle herd as the sun rises over distant hills. Six birds fly in formation overhead, and a tall anthill and tufted grass fill the foreground.

Rest and Everyday Moments

Sleeping cheetah by a fallen log

A cheetah lies stretched out on the ground, eyes closed, its ringed tail resting behind it while a small bird perches on a branch nearby. A cracked boulder, a leafy shrub and a fallen log with cut ends fill the rest of the scene.

Cheetah stretching with an open-mouth yawn

A cheetah arches its back in a deep stretch on a rocky outcrop, front claws extended and mouth open wide. An acacia tree, rolling hills and two birds fill the background, with tufts of grass around the rocks.

Cheetah grooming its cub

Two cheetahs lie together in tall grass, the larger one licking the smaller cub’s head while both rest with tails curled around their bodies. Rocky boulders and a distant acacia tree frame the savanna scene, and both cats’ coats are covered in dense round spots.

Two cheetahs chirping to each other

A large cheetah sits with its head tilted back mid-call, sound lines rising from its open mouth, while a second cheetah answers from a distant mound. An acacia tree, three puffy clouds and tufts of grass surround the wide-open savanna scene.

Cheetah grooming its paw

A seated cheetah tilts its head down to lick its raised front paw, eyes closed in concentration. Bold round spots cover its body and a striped ringed tail curls on the ground, with two fluffy clouds and a bush completing the open savanna scene.

Neighbors and Seasons

Cheetah resting among meerkats

A cheetah lies calmly on the sand while three meerkats stand upright nearby, two facing it beside their burrow holes and one perched on a rock. A termite mound and acacia tree rise in the background under a sky with three puffy clouds.

Cheetah walking beneath baboons in a fig tree

A cheetah strides across the savanna beneath a large fig tree where two baboons perch on a branch, one raising a fist and baring its teeth. Fallen figs scatter across the ground below, and rocky cliffs and birds fill the background.

Cheetah family beside a skeletal carcass with a marabou stork

An adult cheetah stands guard over a picked-clean ribcage and skull while two cubs rest nearby on the cracked savanna ground. A marabou stork watches from the side and three vultures circle overhead near a bare, leafless tree.

Cheetah family watching an elephant herd

A cheetah sits atop a hillside with two cubs beside her, all watching an elephant herd with a calf cross the plain below. Bird flocks glide overhead and elephant footprints dot the sandy ground in the foreground.

Cheetah watching zebras at a waterhole

A cheetah crouches in tall reeds in the foreground while a line of four zebras, including a foal, walks past a waterhole behind it. Reflections ripple in the water, and cattails and scattered rocks line the muddy bank.

Cheetah resting at midday

A cheetah lies stretched out on its belly with eyes closed under a round midday sun, its ringed tail curling beside a large rock. A lone acacia tree stands on the horizon, and tufts of grass frame the scene on both sides.

Two cheetahs resting under a full moon

Two curled-up cheetahs doze in the grass beneath a giant full moon, with a nightjar gliding past a starry sky and a beetle crawling over a nearby rock. A lone acacia and distant hills complete the nighttime savanna scene.

Patterns and Mandalas

Cheetah face mandala

A symmetrical cheetah face sits at the center of a mandala built from concentric rings of dots, paw prints and fern-like leaves, framed by a petal border. One striped ring echoes the cheetah’s ringed tail pattern.

Patchwork pattern cheetah

A standing cheetah is divided into patchwork sections filled with paw prints, waves, grass blades, spirals, zigzags and a checkerboard, alongside its natural black spots. The many small, dense zones make this one of the more advanced sheets to complete.

Savanna scene cheetah silhouette

A leaping cheetah’s body is filled entirely with savanna scenery instead of plain spots: acacia trees, leaping gazelles, birds in flight, paw prints, suns and grass tufts. Its natural black spots remain only on the face, legs and ringed tail.

All About Cheetahs

The cheetah is a large spotted cat best known as the fastest land animal in the world, capable of reaching speeds of roughly 100 to 120 kilometers per hour (about 62 to 75 mph) in short bursts. It cannot hold that speed for long, only a few hundred meters at a time, and it needs to rest and recover before it can safely eat its catch. That short recovery window is actually a weakness: cheetahs lose a significant share of their kills to lions and hyenas, who chase them off the carcass while they are still too worn out to defend it.

Where the Name Comes From

The word “cheetah” comes from the Hindi word cita, which traces back to the Sanskrit word citraka, meaning “the spotted one” or “the speckled one.” The scientific name, Acinonyx, roughly translates to “the one who cannot move its claws,” pointing to the exact feature that separates the cheetah from every other big cat.

Where Cheetahs Live and What They Eat

Cheetahs live in the savannas and dry grasslands of eastern and southern Africa, along with a very small and critically endangered population of Asiatic cheetahs in Iran. They need open country with clear sightlines and room to run, not dense forest. Their diet is made up of medium-sized antelope such as Thomson’s gazelle, impala, and springbok, along with young wildebeest, hares, guinea fowl, and other ground birds. Cheetahs hunt during the day, mostly in the early morning and late afternoon, unlike lions and leopards, which are mostly active at night. This is not a preference so much as a workaround: hunting by daylight lets the cheetah avoid competing directly with stronger nighttime predators.

Cheetah vs. Leopard: How to Tell Them Apart

Cheetahs and leopards are often confused, but a few features make the difference clear. A cheetah has small, solid, round black spots rather than the ring-shaped rosettes seen on a leopard, plus distinct black “tear streaks” running from the inner corner of each eye down to the mouth. Its body is slim, with long legs and a small head built for running. Leopards are heavier and more muscular, and they climb trees and haul their prey up into the branches, something a cheetah cannot do. Cheetahs also cannot roar the way lions, tigers, leopards, and jaguars can. Instead, they purr on both the inhale and exhale like a house cat, and they communicate with a high, bird-like chirp that carries over long distances.

Before You Start Coloring

These coloring pages print best on standard A4 or letter paper, at least 20 lb weight if you want to use markers or watercolor without heavy bleed-through. Select “fit to page” or “actual size” in your printer settings rather than “scale to fit,” since scaling can shrink fine detail lines until they disappear. Choose “best” or “high quality” print mode for the more detailed sheets so thin spot lines and whisker lines stay crisp.

For younger kids, start with the very easy pages that use big, simple shapes and thick outlines, since these are the fastest to finish and the most forgiving of crayon or marker. School-age kids tend to do well with the medium pages showing a full cheetah in a savanna scene. The detailed sheets, including the pattern and mandala designs, are better suited to older kids and adults who enjoy a longer, more focused coloring session with colored pencils or fine-tip markers.

Things to Make With Your Finished Pages

Once a page is colored in, there are plenty of ways to put it to use beyond the folder or the fridge.

Build a wildlife wall display. Group a few finished cheetah pages together, mix in the savanna and cub scenes, and pin them up as a small gallery wall for a bedroom or classroom reading corner.

Turn one into a greeting card. Fold a colored page in half, or glue a smaller printed image onto cardstock, for a homemade birthday or thank-you card with a wildlife theme.

Make a cheetah fact booklet. Staple several finished pages together and add a line or two of facts under each one, such as top speed or diet, to turn the coloring session into a simple homemade animal book.

Use them as placemats or table décor. Laminate a finished page, or slip it into a plastic sleeve, and use it as a fun, durable placemat for a safari-themed party or family dinner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are these cheetah coloring pages really free?

Yes. All 36 pages in this collection are free to download and print for personal and classroom use. Just click the picture to open the full PDF.

What age are these coloring pages meant for?

The set covers a wide range. The very easy pages with large, simple shapes suit toddlers and young children, the medium pages work well for school-age kids, and the detailed scenes and pattern designs are best for older kids, teens, and adults.

What colors should I use for a realistic cheetah?

A cheetah’s coat is sandy to golden yellow, with a white belly and throat and spots that are solid black. The eyes are amber to golden brown, and the nose is black or dark brown. Cub coats have a grayish-silver mantle along the back. The spots are the detail that matters most: coloring them brown instead of black turns the picture into something that no longer reads as a cheetah, since brown rosette-style spots are what a leopard has, not a cheetah.

Can I use these pages in my classroom?

Yes, teachers are welcome to print and use these pages for classroom activities, worksheets, or homeschool lessons at no cost. They work well alongside a short lesson on African wildlife, animal speed, or predator and prey relationships.

Why do some pages show tear-streak marks on the cheetah’s face?

Those black lines running from the inner eye down to the mouth are a real and defining cheetah feature, not an artist’s mistake. They are one of the clearest ways to tell a cheetah apart from a leopard or jaguar, so most of the face-focused pages in this set include them.

What is the easiest way to pick the right page to print?

Look at the gallery headings first. Pages under sections like “The Cheetah Up Close” and “Cheetah Cubs” tend to run simpler, while “Patterns and Mandalas” and detailed savanna scenes are better saved for a reader who already has some coloring experience and wants more of a challenge.

Matthew Matthysen( Drawing and Painting Artist )

Matthew Matthysen is an educated multidisciplinary artist and illustrator. He successfully completed his art degree at the University of Witwatersrand in South Africa, majoring in art history and contemporary drawing. The focus of his thesis was to explore the philosophical implications of the macro and micro-universe on the human experience. Matthew uses diverse media, such as written and hands-on components, to explore various approaches that are on the border between philosophy and science.

Matthew organized various exhibitions before and during his years as a student and is still passionate about doing so today. He currently works as a freelance artist and writer in various fields. He also has a permanent position at a renowned online gallery (ArtGazette) where he produces various works on commission. As a freelance artist, he creates several series and successfully sells them to galleries and collectors. He loves to use his work and skills in various fields of interest.

Matthew has been creating drawing and painting tutorials since the relaunch in 2020. Through his involvement with artincontext.org, he has been able to deepen his knowledge of various painting mediums. For example, watercolor techniques, calligraphy and lately digital drawing, which is becoming more and more popular.

Learn more about Matthew Matthysen and the Art in Context Team.