In the world of children’s literature, few characters are as iconic as The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss. With his mischievous charm and signature striped hat, the Cat has captured the hearts of generations, bringing joy and imagination to countless young readers.
As we celebrate Dr. Seuss Day this year, what better way to start than with the iconic character? Using just a simple paper plate and a handful of basic supplies, kids can bring the mischievous feline to life through this Cat in the Hat paper plate craft!
Watch as the cat comes together when they paint the head and craft the classic red and white stripes for his distinctive hat. Your kids will be bursting with pride when they display their creations.
Join us in celebrating the joy of reading with even more Dr. Seuss crafts. From Horton Hears a Who to The Lorax, the crafting ideas are as boundless as the whimsical worlds Dr. Seuss has gifted us.
Cat In The Hat Project

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To make this crafting experience easy and fun, we’ve provided a free template for you to download. Simply follow the guide, and your little ones will be well on their way to bringing this beloved character off the pages.
Supplies
- Paper Plate
- Black Paint
- Paint Brush
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Marker
- Cat in the Hat Template (click the “click here to get this freebie” image at the end to open the form)
Directions
Download the Cat in the Hat template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.

Begin by painting the paper plate in 1-2 thin coats of black paint. Let it dry completely before moving on. Once it is already dry, place the cat’s face in the middle of the paper plate.

Place the bowtie at the bottom of the head and glue it in place.

Make the hat by gluing the three red stripes onto the main piece. Cut off any paper that hangs off the sides.

Next, glue the base of the hat to the main part of the hat.

Take the completed hat and glue it to the top of the cat’s face.

Finish up by gluing the ears to the back of both sides of the head.

Isn’t it simple and easy to make? Check out our paper plate crafts to keep them entertained this holiday!

Dr. Seuss Day Ideas
Celebrate the whimsical world of Dr. Seuss with some creative and educational activities perfect for Dr. Seuss Day! Engage your little ones in a day filled with imagination and learning inspired by the beloved characters of Dr. Seuss.
Read on below for a list of books, crafts, and activities that will spark their imaginations and foster a love for learning. Be sure to save the ones that are a perfect fit for your young readers and crafters.

Dr. Seuss Books For Kids
Are You My Mother? is a cute book about a little bird who’s trying to find his mom in a big world!
Oh, The Places You’ll Go! – This book is a classic Dr. Seuss book about the ups and downs of life. It’s such a great read and will soon become your kid’s new favorite book!
Dr. Seuss Second Book Collection– This boxed set of five Beginner Books by Dr. Seuss—The Cat in the Hat Comes Back, Dr. Seuss’s ABC, Oh Say Can You Say?, Oh the Thinks You Can Think!, and I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! is a great addition to your home library.

Dr. Seuss Pre K Crafts
Printable Dr. Seuss Hats – Wearing these hats inspired by Dr. Seuss characters will make your little one’s day! Choose from four beloved characters: The Lorax, Thing 1 and Thing 2, and Horton from Horton Hears a Who!
Put Me In The Zoo Puppet Craft – Kids can create Spot, the polka-dot leopard with a paper bag! They can use their new puppet to pretend Spot’s changing colors and juggling his spots!

Handprint Thing 1 Printable Craft – Get ready for hands-on fun with our adorable Thing 1 craft! Thing 1’s signature blue hair is made using your child’s sweet handprint!
Horton Hears A Who Paper Plate Craft – Take a simple paper plate and turn it into a lovable Horton! Kids will be able to paint, craft, and pretend with their newest creation. Grab our free template to get started!
Dr. Seuss Book Activities
Looking for a fun no-prep activity? Download our free Dr. Seuss color by number printables! Featuring beloved characters like Horton, Fox, The Cat in the Hat, and The Fish, kids can hone their color and number recognition as they color in each numbered space.
As they reveal each character, they’ll also use their fine motor skills to carefully color within the lines. It’s a great way to learn and have fun with Dr. Seuss!
Calling all Dr. Seuss fans! Our Dr. Seuss printable bookmarks feature Horton, Thing 1, The Lorax, and the Cat in the Hat.
These bookmarks are a perfect tribute to your favorite Seuss stories. For a fun and simple activity to celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday, print these bookmarks out and let the kids color them in. Let the coloring fun begin, and mark your place in the whimsical pages of Seussian adventures!

Get ready for some coloring fun with these Grinch coloring pages for kids! This free coloring packet is perfect for kids who adore the Grinch and the whimsical world of Whoville.
Featuring multiple Grinch themed coloring pages, including the big green guy, Cindy Lou, and other beloved characters, this packet promises hours of creative fun. Your little artists will love bringing the magic of the Grinch story to life with crayons or markers.
Elevate handwriting practice with Dr. Seuss quotes copywork for a perfect blend of fun and skill building! Your kids will copy some of Dr. Seuss’s most iconic sayings to perfect their handwriting, spacing, capitalization, and punctuation.
These quotes are filled with motivation and inspiration for your young ones to soak up as they write each saying. Make learning enjoyable with the wise words of this beloved author!

Share With Us
Did you make this activity with your kids or students? We’d love to feature them on our social media!
For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and post it to our Facebook page, email it to us directly by clicking here, or use #simpleeverydaymom on your social media!

Cat In The Hat Paper Plate Craft
Materials
- Paper Plate
- Black Paint
- Paint Brush
- Colored cardstock or construction paper
- Scissors
- Glue
- Markers
- Cat in the Hat Template
Instructions
- Download the Cat in the Hat template, print, and cut out the pieces you need.
- Begin by painting the paper plate in 1-2 thin coats of black paint. Let it dry completely before moving on. Once it is already dry, place the cat’s face in the middle of the paper plate.
- Place the bowtie at the bottom of the head and glue it in place.
- Make the hat by gluing the three red stripes onto the main piece. Cut off any paper that hangs off the sides.
- Next, glue the base of the hat to the main part of the hat.
- Take the completed hat and glue it to the top of the cat’s face.
- Finish up by gluing the ears on both sides of the head.
Cat In The Hat Face Template


Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.
Sheila
Wednesday 19th of February 2025
Great ideal for the kids it's amazing
Kamille - Community Support Assistant
Thursday 20th of February 2025
Appreciate that! Hope it brings lots of creativity and smiles!
Isabel
Saturday 9th of March 2024
Where is this template?
Sam
Monday 11th of March 2024
Since you’re a subscriber, you just need to click the “Click Here To Get Your Freebie” image at the end of the post and then enter your email in the form. After that, it’ll automatically redirect you to the download page ◡̈
Maribel Moreno
Friday 1st of March 2024
Why are all your templates so hard to access? Can I pay for them? Do you have a better website?
Sam
Monday 4th of March 2024
Some of templates are available in our shop here. Otherwise, once you understand the system, it's very simple. To get this one, all you need to do is click the “Click Here To Get Your Freebie” image at the end of the post and then enter your email in the form Once you've been confirmed as an email subscriber (by clicking the link in the first email), you simply enter your email in any of the forms and it'll automatically redirect you to the download page.
Vicky
Tuesday 27th of February 2024
its coming Dr Seuss birthday, this is easy craft for kinder kids, they will love it.
k
Monday 26th of February 2024
This is a nice updated version of a fun craft
Sam
Monday 26th of February 2024
Thanks!!