A crochet cat is one of the best first amigurumi projects. The body is a simple ball or loaf, the ears are two tiny triangles, and the face is a few embroidered stitches. You can make one in an evening from scraps, and a cat looks right in any colour you have.
We opened and checked each of these 12 free patterns. There are no-sew loaf cats in chenille, a tiny keychain cat you can finish in an hour, a fluffy cat in faux-fur yarn, a sitting cat with joined legs, and a striped Cooper the Cat for when you want a colourwork challenge. Each one lists the yarn and hook the designer used, and most come with a video.
Looking for another animal? See all our crochet animal patterns in one place, sorted by farm, wild, ocean, pets and fantasy.
Crochet Cat Free Patterns
This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What You’ll Need
- Worsted (#4) or DK (#3) acrylic or cotton in grey, white, ginger or black; super bulky chenille for the squishy no-sew cats
- A hook one size smaller than the yarn label says, so the stuffing does not show: 2.5 mm for DK cotton, 4 mm for worsted, 4.5 to 5 mm for chenille
- Safety eyes, 6 mm for small cats up to 14 mm for chenille ones, or black yarn to embroider them
- Fiberfill, a stitch marker, a tapestry needle and pink embroidery thread for the nose
1. No-Sew Loaf Cat
Photo: Nicki's Homemade Crafts
A loaf cat crocheted in one piece: no limbs, tail or head to sew on, everything is worked as you go. Made in super bulky chenille with a 4.5 mm hook, it measures under 3 by 5 inches and the designer says it takes an hour or two. Written pattern plus a full video.
- Designer: Nicki's Homemade Crafts
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: super bulky (#6) chenille
- Hook: 4.5 mm
- Price: Free written pattern + video
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
2. Lily the Cat
Photo: DIY Fluffies (Mariska Vos)
A mini cat that takes about an hour. The designer made a 2-inch keychain from sport weight cotton with a 2.5 mm hook and a 6-inch cuddly one from super bulky chenille, from the same pattern. The page has a full step-by-step video.
- Designer: DIY Fluffies (Mariska Vos)
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: sport (#2) cotton or super bulky chenille
- Hook: 2.5 mm (B) for cotton; larger for chenille
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
3. Simple Kitty Cat Amigurumi
Photo: Hooked On Patterns
A quick cat built on the same body as the designer’s bunny pattern. You only need magic ring, single crochet, increase and decrease. The grey cat in acrylic is about 4.25 inches tall; a black Halloween version in bulky yarn with a 5 mm hook comes out at 6 inches.
- Designer: Hooked On Patterns
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: worsted (#4) acrylic, or bulky (#5) for the larger cat
- Hook: 4 mm or 5 mm
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
4. Cat Amigurumi with Video
Photo: Stella's Yarn Universe
A realistic standing cat in DK cotton with colour changes for the markings, or make it in one colour if you prefer. The designer rates it for intermediate crocheters and gives a video tutorial. Whiskers are made from thick thread stiffened with glue.
- Designer: Stella's Yarn Universe
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Yarn: DK (#3) cotton, Paintbox Cotton DK
- Hook: 2.5 mm (C)
- Price: Free written pattern + video
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
5. Little Amigurumi Cat
Photo: Stella's Yarn Universe
The designer’s first cat, updated in 2023 with a more realistic head and hand-made cat eyes. Single crochet, magic ring and invisible decreases are all you need to know. The written pattern is the new version; the older video shows the construction.
- Designer: Stella's Yarn Universe
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: DK (#3) cotton
- Hook: 2.5 mm (C)
- Price: Free written pattern + video
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
6. Small Cat with Joined Legs
Photo: lilleliis
A 6-inch cat whose legs are joined so it stands on its own. The page gives a girl version with a striped blouse and ruffled skirt and a boy version, in DK cotton with a 3 mm or 3.5 mm hook. Available in English, Dutch, French, Hungarian and Danish.
- Designer: lilleliis
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: DK (#3) cotton, Drops Cotton Light
- Hook: 3 mm or 3.5 mm
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
7. Small Calico Cat
Photo: Chai Coffee Crochet
A palm-sized calico in rust, white and black with a 2.75 mm hook, or a solid colour for beginners. The designer points out that the same pattern in super bulky blanket yarn gives an 11-inch cuddle cat. Part of a series of small crochet animals.
- Designer: Chai Coffee Crochet
- Skill level: Easy
- Yarn: DK (#3); super bulky for the large version
- Hook: 2.75 mm
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
8. Secret the Fluffy Cat
Photo: Little World of Whimsy
A cat in faux-fur yarn that does not look crocheted at all. The designer says fur yarn is doable for advanced beginners who have made amigurumi before: feel for the stitches instead of looking, and place a marker every three to six stitches.
- Designer: Little World of Whimsy
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Yarn: faux fur yarn
- Hook: see pattern
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
9. Cooper the Cat
Photo: Nicole Chase
A 5.5-inch sitting cat (7 inches standing) in Brava Worsted with a 4 mm hook, with a striped body for an intermediate colourwork challenge. Yardage is given per colour, about 110 yards in total. The designer rates it advanced beginner to intermediate.
- Designer: Nicole Chase
- Skill level: Advanced beginner to intermediate
- Yarn: worsted (#4) acrylic, WeCrochet Brava Worsted
- Hook: 4 mm (G)
- Price: Free written pattern + paid PDF
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
10. Chubby Cat
Photo: Ami Saigon
A round, two-tone cat in white and yellow with the full round-by-round pattern written out on the page and a video tutorial. Made with a 2 to 3 mm hook and 8 mm safety eyes placed between rounds 7 and 8.
- Designer: Ami Saigon
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: see pattern (fine cotton)
- Hook: 2 to 3 mm
- Price: Free written pattern + video
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
11. No-Sew Sad Kitty
Photo: Yarn Society
A lying-down kitten with big soulful eyes, about 2 inches tall and 4 inches long in super bulky chenille with a 5 mm hook. It is no-sew and takes about 24 yards of yarn. Written in US terms with pictures and a video tutorial.
- Designer: Yarn Society
- Skill level: Advanced beginner
- Yarn: super bulky (#6) chenille, Premier Parfait Chunky
- Hook: 5 mm (H)
- Price: Free written pattern + video
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
12. Easy Loaf Cat for Beginners
Photo: Red Ted Art
A loaf cat pattern shared on Red Ted Art, designed by Solid and Marl, that does not even need a magic circle to start. The site is a kids’ craft blog, so the steps are written for people who are still learning. Good for a child’s first amigurumi.
- Designer: Red Ted Art
- Skill level: Beginner
- Yarn: aran (#4)
- Hook: see pattern
- Price: Free written pattern
- Get the pattern: Get the free pattern →
Which One Should You Make?
For a first cat, pick a no-sew one: Nicki’s loaf cat (#1) or the Sad Kitty (#11). Chenille hides uneven stitches and there is nothing to sew on at the end.
For a quick gift or keychain, Lily the Cat (#2) takes about an hour, and the Hooked On Patterns kitty (#3) uses only four stitches.
For a cat that looks like your cat, Stella’s standing cat (#4) and Cooper (#9) have proper markings and stripes; Chai Coffee’s calico (#7) shows how to match the patches.
FAQ
Which yarn is best for a crochet cat?
For a small, detailed cat use DK or sport weight cotton with a 2.5 to 3 mm hook; it holds the shape of the ears and face. For a squishy toy use super bulky chenille with a 4.5 to 5 mm hook; it is fast and forgiving but harder to see the stitches, so count carefully.
How do I make the ears stand up?
Crochet the ears tightly and sew them on with the flat side against the head, through both edges, rather than just the base. Several designers here add a strand of thread or a little extra stuffing in the ear. On loaf cats the ears are crocheted straight into the body, so nothing can flop.
Can I make a crochet cat safe for a baby?
Yes: embroider the eyes with black yarn instead of using plastic safety eyes, skip the glued whiskers, and stuff firmly so nothing can be pulled out. The two Stella patterns show embroidered eyes as an option.
Pick a loaf cat for tonight, use whatever grey or ginger yarn is in your basket, and you will have a cat sitting on your desk before bed.
More Free Patterns You Will Love
Love these patterns? Get new ones in your Pinterest feed.
Follow us on Pinterest