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View all stencils →About this stencil
Download the Arched Black Cat pumpkin stencil as a free printable PDF, then tape the pattern to your pumpkin and trace the lines. A Halloween black cat with its back dramatically arched and tail curling overhead covers this pumpkin stencil. The body is rendered with bold tribal-style linework: parallel flowing stripes run along the spine and haunches, leaving thin curved bridges of solid pumpkin wall between each cut channel. The face features large round eyes with pointed eyebrows and small whisker marks. Carve the eye circles early while the surrounding face structure is solid, then progress along the stripe channels from front to back so you don't weaken the frame before the detailed head is complete. It works as a carving template for a Halloween jack-o'-lantern or a fall porch display. It is rated Advanced. Actual time varies with preparation, pumpkin size and experience. Fine details and narrow supports need careful planning. Follow the cutting and shading key in this design’s PDF.
Pumpkin size guide
- 🎃 Small (5 to 7"): print at 80%
- 🎃 Medium (7 to 10"): print at 100% (recommended)
- 🎃 Large (11 to 13"): print at 130%
- 🎃 Giant (14"+): print at 150% on tabloid paper
Frequently asked questions
Can I resize this stencil?▾
Yes. The PDF is vector so it scales cleanly. Print the pattern at 100% for a 7 to 10 inch pumpkin, 130% for 11 to 13 inch, or 150% for a giant. Use your printer's "Fit to page" or "Custom scale" setting.
What kind of paper works best?▾
Standard 20 lb letter or A4 printer paper is fine. Heavier paper is harder to bend around the pumpkin curve. If your printer supports it, set the quality to 'best' so the lines are crisp.
How long will the carved pumpkin last?▾
Usually 5 to 10 days. Coat all cut surfaces with petroleum jelly and store the pumpkin somewhere cool overnight. Avoid direct sun. Battery LED pumpkin lights produce no heat and help it last longer.
Can I sell pumpkins carved with this stencil?▾
Yes, the carved pumpkin you make is yours. The license covers personal and small-scale commercial carving (selling carved pumpkins, photographing them, posting on social). You may not resell the PDF file itself.
What if my printer doesn't print the whole stencil?▾
Set 'Page scaling' to 'Fit' in the print dialog and uncheck 'Auto-rotate'. If it still cuts off, the design includes 0.25" of safe-area margin so a small crop won't ruin it.
How to carve this stencil
- Transfer all stripe channels, eye outlines, and whisker marks carefully.
- Cut the two eye circles first; their round borders are easiest to score cleanly while the pumpkin face is fully intact.
- Carve the ear and eyebrow cutouts flanking the top of the head.
- Work backward along the body: cut the chest and front leg stripe channels before moving to the middle body.
- Carve the long spine stripes last, progressing from neck toward tail; these run close together, so remove one channel at a time to avoid snapping the bridges between them.
- The tail outline is a single curved cut; complete it in one smooth motion to keep the tip connected.
Tools you'll need
For a advanced carve like this you'll want a fine-detail pumpkin saw, spoon / scoop, pin transfer tool, and small gouge if the pattern includes shading. Here's the kit we reach for, but start with whatever you already own.
Elmchee Pumpkin Carving Kit
13-piece kit with carrying case
Saws for the larger cutouts, plus a scoop for hollowing. Covers both jobs in one kit.
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HOME MOST LED Pumpkin Lights
4-pack, battery operated, with remote + timer
Orange glow made for jack-o'-lanterns. The remote and timer light the pumpkin every evening without reaching inside.
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Speedball 4131 Lino Cutter Set
Handle + 5 interchangeable cutters
Interchangeable cutters for peeling and shading the face. Useful for the finer details.
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AdvancedTribal Black Cat Pumpkin Stencil
An arched black cat with its back up and tail raised high forms this hard pumpkin stencil, drawn in a tribal-tattoo style with flame-shaped fur tufts along the spine, a narrow elongated face with almond-shaped eyes, and wispy leg strokes that taper at the paws. The many curved, pointed cuts leave thin pumpkin bridges between them that form the cat's body outline when the jack-o-lantern is lit. The wispy tail tip at the very top is the most isolated piece; cut it before removing the large body negative-space below.
AdvancedStargazer Cat Pumpkin Stencil
A sitting cat gazes up at a crescent moon while six small stars scatter across the night sky, its long tail curling into an elegant spiral. This is a shading design, so the moon, stars, and cat outline are shaved into the skin and glow as luminous grooves rather than open holes. Rated hard for its long unbroken curves, carve the tail spiral in one slow continuous pass and keep your groove depth consistent so the glow stays even.
AdvancedStanding Black Cat Pumpkin Stencil
A sly Halloween black cat stands upright in this hard pumpkin stencil, its body a combination of carved-open channels and solid pumpkin masses that together read as fur texture. The tail curls upward into a spiral behind the cat, and the whisker area beside the face consists of short, delicate radiating spikes that must stay intact. When lit, the cat's slitted eyes and facial details glow as narrow cuts within the solid face mass. Carve the large body cavities first, then finish the face and whisker spikes with a fine blade to avoid tearing those thin projections.
IntermediateFeline Fury Pumpkin Stencil
A low, wide cat face with menacing slanted eyes, a triangle nose, and long horizontal whisker slashes stretching across both cheeks. Each feature is pierced clean through, and the wide layout suits a squat, round pumpkin. Angle your saw to match the eye slant, and cut the long whiskers in two passes from the outside in so the thin slits stay crisp and even.
IntermediateMidnight Fang Pumpkin Stencil
A grinning cat face made for a black-painted pumpkin: big almond eyes with pointed ear tips, a triangle nose, four whisker slits, and a wide smile showing two tiny fangs. Every feature cuts through so the orange interior glows against the dark shell. Paint the pumpkin first and let it dry fully before transferring the pattern; carve the whisker slits last with gentle strokes so the paint edge does not chip.
IntermediateThe Sly Grin Pumpkin Stencil
A sly cat face with two swooping almond eyes, a small triangle nose, and an enormous curling grin that stretches nearly ear to ear. The eyes, nose, and mouth are cut fully through, and the thin rind strips inside the smile create the mischievous cat-lip curves. At medium difficulty, the tapering eye points need patience; finish each point with a short pull cut toward the corner.