Mammal
Cats sleep a lot, often 12 hours a day or more. Their whiskers help them feel their way in the dark.
Lives in: Everywhere
HomeAnimals A–ZLetter C
Animals That Start With C: List, Facts & Free Coloring Pages
From cuddly cats to speedy cheetahs, the letter C has a crowd of cool animals. Practice the C sounds, read a fact or two, then print the free coloring page. Here is our list of animals that start with the letter C, perfect when a little one asks what animal starts with C.
12animals
2sounds
3free pages
Letter sound
What Sound Does the Letter C Make?
The letter C can make two sounds. Most of the time it says /k/ like in cat, and sometimes it says /s/ like in circle. Tap any word to hear it.
Cc
Say it together
C usually makes the hard /k/ sound, so start there. Save the soft /s/ sound for later and practice both with the words on the right.
/k/
Hard C
Lift the back of your tongue, then let it go with a quick “k, k, k” like a little cough.
/s/
Soft C
When C comes before e, i or y, it often hisses like a snake and says “sss”.
Make a C handCurve your hand into a C shape as you say /k/.
Count the catsLine up toy animals and pick out every C one.
Snack timeCrunch a cracker and say /k/ with every bite.
Animal list
12 Animals That Start With the Letter C
These C animals live everywhere, from farms and gardens to deserts and coral reefs. Read the names out loud and listen for the C sound at the start. Every one of these animals with C has a short fact you can read aloud.
Mammal
Cows have a stomach with four parts to help them break down grass. A baby cow is called a calf.
Lives in: FarmsMammal
A camel’s hump stores fat, not water. Camels can go for days without a drink in the hot desert.
Lives in: DesertsMammal
The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world. It can run about as fast as a car on the highway, but only for a short sprint.
Lives in: SavannaCrustacean
Most crabs walk sideways. They have a hard shell and two strong claws called pincers.
Lives in: OceanReptile
Crocodiles can stay underwater for a long time. A mother crocodile gently carries her babies in her mouth.
Lives in: Rivers & swampsReptile
Chameleons can change the color of their skin. Each eye can move on its own, so they can look two ways at once.
Lives in: RainforestsFish
Clownfish live safely among the stinging arms of sea anemones. A slimy coat keeps them from getting stung.
Lives in: Coral reefsInsect
A caterpillar eats and eats and grows very fast. Later it turns into a butterfly or a moth.
Lives in: GardensBird
Chickens are birds, but they can only fly short distances. A baby chicken is called a chick.
Lives in: FarmsMammal
Chipmunks stuff food into stretchy cheek pouches. They carry it home and store it for winter.
Lives in: ForestsBird
The male northern cardinal is bright red. Both the males and the females sing.
Lives in: GardensAnimal names that start with C (C animals list): Cat, Cow, Camel, Cheetah, Crab, Crocodile, Chameleon, Clownfish, Caterpillar, Chicken, Chipmunk, Cardinal.
Facts checked with National Geographic Kids and Wikipedia.
Quick quiz
What Animal Starts With C? Quick Quiz
A tiny game to check what stuck. Read the question out loud and let your little one tap the answer.
Question 1
Score: 0
Free download
Free printable
Letter C Worksheets: Free Coloring Page
The free letter C printable has three pages: color a big C and a cute cat, trace the letter C, then find and circle the C animals. It works great for morning work or a quiet afternoon.
1
Download the PDFOne click, no sign-up or email
2
Print at home or schoolFits US Letter and A4 paper
3
Color and traceBig letters and dotted tracing lines
Uppercase CLowercase cTracing practiceFind the C animals
Download Free PDF
3 pages, black & white
Questions
All FAQs
Animals Beginning With C: FAQ
Easy ones for kids are cat, cow, crab, camel and cheetah. Fun extras include chameleon, chipmunk, clownfish and crocodile.
Cat and cow are perfect first words. They are short, easy to say and use the hard C sound.
Yes. Press the download button to get the PDF, then print as many copies as you need.
Start with the hard /k/ sound in words like cat and cup. Once that feels easy, show how C can also say /s/ in words like circle.
The colossal squid is a giant that lives deep in the cold ocean near Antarctica. On land, the camel is one of the tallest C animals.
Caterpillars can be very small. Many are about the size of a grain of rice when they first hatch.
Crabs, clownfish, clams and coral all start with C. Coral may look like a plant, but it is actually made of tiny animals.
Cows and chickens are the big ones. Many farms also have cats to help keep mice away.
The chameleon! It can change the color of its skin, and its eyes can look in two directions at once.
Move on to the letter D page, or print the alphabet flashcards to review A, B and C together.