Free word search maker and printables

Cat Word Search

Cat breeds and cat words hidden in a grid, with an easy version for kids, to print or play online.

This free cat word search makes a grid of cat words that you can solve on screen or print for a class or a cat lover. It runs in your web browser, with no sign-up or download. The page opens on the Cats topic: 47 words about cat breeds, coats, behaviour and cat care, in a 15×15 grid at Medium difficulty.

For a cat word search that suits younger players, choose Cats (easy). It has 33 short words of 3 to 8 letters, and the grid works well at 10×10 on Easy. The Pets topic mixes cats with other pets. You can also type your own list of words, such as the names of your cats. Nothing you make is uploaded, and the puzzles are yours to use at home, at school or in class.

The cat sheets are yours to use at home, in class or in products you sell, such as Etsy activity packs.

  1. Open the Topic menu and choose Cats for breeds and cat words, Cats (easy) for short words, or Pets for cats and other pets.
  2. Set Grid size. The default is 15×15. Use 10×10 for younger players.
  3. Set Difficulty to Easy, Medium, Hard or Expert. The hint line under the menu explains which directions each level uses.
  4. Adjust Number of words from 4 to 60. The tool starts at a good number for the grid size you chose.
  5. To use your own words, choose My own words, type a title, then type your words in the Your words box. Put one word per line, or separate them with commas or semicolons. Words that are left out are listed with the reason.
  6. Click or tap the first letter of a word, then its last letter. Found words get a coloured outline and a tick in Find these words. If you get stuck, press Hint or Show answers.
  7. Open the Print panel. Choose the number of Copies, the Paper size (Letter or A4) and the Answer keys option. Then press Print puzzles + answer keys.
  8. Press Copy link to share the exact same puzzle.

On a keyboard, use the arrow keys to move and Enter or Space to mark letters. Press Next puzzle for a new grid with the same settings. Your game is saved in this browser, so reloading the page continues it. To save the printout as a PDF, choose Save as PDF in the print window.

The Cats topic has 47 words. Each new puzzle picks as many of them as the Number of words setting asks for (18 on the 15×15 grid), at random, so every puzzle mixes them differently. The Cats (easy) topic has 33 words.

The full lists:

Cats (47 words): Siamese, Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Bengal, Sphynx, Burmese, Abyssinian, Birman, Manx, Savannah, Russian Blue, Scottish Fold, Norwegian Forest, Shorthair, Tabby, Calico, Tortoiseshell, Tuxedo, Ginger, Kitten, Whiskers, Purr, Meow, Claws, Paws, Litter box, Scratching post, Catnip, Hairball, Feline, Tomcat, Mouser, Stray, Shelter, Adoption, Spay, Neuter, Microchip, Groom, Pounce, Prowl, Stalk, Cuddle, Collar, Kneading, Hunting.

Cats (easy) (33 words): Cat, Kitten, Kitty, Tabby, Purr, Meow, Whiskers, Paws, Claws, Tail, Fur, Fluffy, Nap, Pounce, Mouse, Yarn, Ball, Bowl, Milk, Fish, Catnip, Litter, Collar, Bell, Lap, Cuddle, Stripes, Spots, Hiss, Climb, Leap, Sleepy, Feline.

The difficulty level sets the directions. On Easy, words run only left to right and top to bottom, and they never cross. Medium adds diagonals down-right and up-right, still never backwards, and words may cross where their letters agree. Hard uses all eight directions, including backwards, and Expert also tries crossings first. The default puzzle is a worked example you can open at /cat-word-search/?seed=demo1. It contains 18 words. PROWL starts in row 15, column 3 and runs left to right, TOMCAT starts in row 1, column 10 and runs left to right, and NORWEGIAN FOREST starts in row 3, column 1 and runs left to right.

Yes. The Cats topic includes 16 breeds and coat types, such as Siamese, Persian, Maine Coon, Ragdoll, Bengal, Sphynx, Burmese, Abyssinian, Birman, Manx, Savannah, Russian Blue, Scottish Fold, Norwegian Forest, Shorthair and Tortoiseshell. A puzzle shows a random mix of them with cat words such as Whiskers, Purr and Catnip, so each sheet is different. To make a puzzle of breeds only, choose My own words and paste the breeds you want.

What is Global Cat Day?

Global Cat Day is held on 16 October each year. It is an awareness day for cats, including community cats that live outdoors, and many shelters and cat lovers mark it with a post, a donation or an activity. The Cats topic includes related words such as Shelter, Adoption, Spay, Neuter, Microchip and Stray, so a puzzle can double as a short conversation starter in a class or club.

Why are some cat words missing from a puzzle?

A puzzle uses only as many words as the Number of words setting allows, and a word is left out if it does not fit the grid. NORWEGIAN FOREST has 15 letters once the space is removed, so it needs a 15×15 grid or bigger. On a 10×10 grid the tool leaves out the long words, and it lists them with the reason.

Frequently asked questions

Is the cat word search free?

Yes. It runs in your web browser, with no sign-up and no download. Your puzzles are not uploaded, and you can make as many as you like.

Can I print the cat word search with answers?

Yes. In the Print panel, choose Four per page, One per page, or One per page with word positions under Answer keys, then press Print puzzles + answer keys. The answer keys come after the puzzles, with the words outlined.

How many copies can I print, and will they be different?

You can print 1 to 20 copies. Every copy has a different arrangement of letters. If your topic has more words than fit the grid, each copy also uses a different set of words.

Can I share the same puzzle with my class?

Yes. Press Copy link to get an address that holds all your settings, so it opens exactly the same puzzle. If you used your own words, they sit after the # sign in the link, which browsers do not send to a server.

Can I sell cat word searches in an Etsy printable or KDP book?

Yes. Puzzles made here are royalty-free for personal, classroom and commercial use, including Etsy printables, Teachers Pay Teachers, KDP activity books and print-on-demand products. No credit is required, and the only thing you may not do is copy the site itself or resell the tool.

Will my progress be saved if I close the page?

Yes. The game is saved in your browser, so reloading the page continues where you left off.