Looking for a free crochet cat toy pattern? Here are 22 of them: little catnip mice, fish and kicker toys, a sushi roll, crinkle and mesh balls, a bouncing jellyfish that hangs from a doorknob, two Christmas cat toys, and three cozy cat caves and beds as a bonus. Every one has the full written pattern free on the designer's own site, with no sign-up. Most of the toys use a few yards of scrap yarn and take under an hour, so you can make a whole basket for your own cat, a friend's new kitten or the local shelter.
For each pattern I've noted the yarn, the hook, the size and how it starts. I've also flagged anything a cat could chew off, like safety eyes, bells or loops, with a safer swap.
First, a word on safety. Cats chew and bunny-kick their toys hard. Embroider the eyes with yarn instead of using plastic safety eyes, sew bells inside the toy rather than on the outside, and weave every end in well. Put the toy away when it gets frayed, and supervise play with anything that has long strings.
Catnip mice
The classic cat toy. Small enough to bat across the floor and carry around in their mouth.
Toy Mouse for Cats — Daisy and Storm. A 7cm mouse in about 20 yards of DK yarn on a 2.75mm hook. It's worked in an sc spiral from a magic ring of 6 sc, with embroidered eyes. Readers like to add catnip to the stuffing.
Cheeky Mice — Haak Maar Raak. Tiny 2-inch mice in cotton (Scheepjes Sunkissed) on a 3.5mm (E) hook. A magic loop of 6 sc for the body, 4 sc ears, and a knotted yarn tail. Rated beginner, in US terms.
Catnip Mouse — Practically Functional. A lip-balm-sized mouse in sock yarn on a 3.25mm hook. Chain 2 and work 4 sc in the second chain, then grow from there. A smart tip: seal the catnip in a tea bag or coffee filter before you stuff it, so it doesn't leak out.
Crochet Mouse — The Green Dragonfly. A cute mouse with little popcorn-stitch hands and feet, in sock yarn on a 2.5mm hook. It starts with 6 sc in a magic circle and is sewn from four pieces, so it takes a bit longer. Lots of step-by-step photos.
Mousie with Catnip — Nicely Created For You. A 3-inch mouse in fine yarn on a 2.5mm hook, with French-knot eyes. Rnd 1 is 4 sc in the second chain from the hook. Easy, and the designer says you're welcome to sell the finished mice.
Easy Peasy Catnip Mouse — Tubachingching. Worked tail-first from a chain of 17, in scrap acrylic on a 3.5mm hook, with dc ears. You can tuck a jingle bell inside with the catnip. The designer made about 50 for a shelter, which says it all about how quick it is.
Little Grey Mouse — Amigurumi To Go. A simple, round mouse in worsted yarn, starting from a magic circle and increasing to 12 sc in round 2. There's a video. The designer glues on small eyes; for a cat, embroider them instead.
Fish, kickers and shaped catnip toys
Long toys are great for cats who like to grab with their front paws and kick with their back legs.
Fish Cat Toy with Catnip — Just Be Crafty. A bright fish in Red Heart worsted on a 4mm hook, with catnip in both the body and the tail. Round 1 is 8 sc in a magic ring, and the eye is embroidered. Beginner.
Octo Octo Cat Toy — Crochet Bird. A little octopus with long curly legs (chain 60 to 70, then 3 sc in each chain). Use DK on a 3.5mm hook or aran on a 4.5mm. The catnip goes inside the toe of a nylon stocking, and the eyes are embroidered.
Kitty Catnip Toys — By Jenni Designs. Candy-shaped kickers with fringe or a braided tail, 12 or 18 inches long, in chunky Bernat Softee and Red Heart Super Saver on 6.5mm and 5mm hooks. They start with 6 sc in a magic circle. Fill with catnip or a bell. Easy.
Sushi Catnip Toy — Ami Amour. A sushi roll with a nori wrap, in worsted acrylic on a 5mm hook. Round 1 is 5 sc in a magic ring. The page has a catnip version and a fridge magnet version, plus a video. A fun gift for a cat lover.
Crinkle Cat Toy — Crochet Spot. A 5 1/2-inch tube in about 15 yards of worsted on an F (3.75mm) hook, made with joined sc rounds. Fill it with crinkly parchment paper and a pinch of catnip. Make sure any crinkle material is fully closed inside, so your cat can't chew it.
Balls
T-Shirt Yarn Cat Balls — Toma Creations. Sturdy balls in upcycled t-shirt yarn on a 7mm hook, in sc only, from a ring of 6 sc. A bell is tied inside at round 4, and a little sachet holds valerian (another herb many cats love). Small and large sizes.
Sparkly Catnip Ball — By Jenni Designs. Red Heart Scrubby Sparkle on a 4mm (G) hook, starting with 8 hdc in a magic circle. The textured yarn is fun to grab, and there's a video.
Mesh Ball Cat Toy — Meladora's Creations. An open net ball in worsted scraps on a 5mm (H) hook, made for teething kittens. Round 1 is 12 sc in a chain-3 ring. There's no stuffing; you add catnip a third of the way in. Beginner, with a video.
Hanging and play-mat toys
Bouncing Rainbow Jellyfish — Maz Kwok. A rainbow jellyfish that hangs from a doorknob on a crocheted spring, so it bounces when your cat bats it. Scrap yarn on a 5mm hook (go down to 3 or 4mm for a smaller one). Intermediate. Take it down when you're not there to watch.
Harry the Cat Toy Blanket — Loopsan. A small play mat with toys attached, in aran-weight yarn on a 7mm hook. Chain 31 and work dc and chain-1 rows, to any size you like. It has jingle bells, so sew them on very securely. US terms with UK in brackets.
Christmas cat toys
Cats deserve a stocking too. These make sweet little gifts tied to a present.
Tiny Christmas Mouse — Repeat Crafter Me. A 3-inch mouse in a Santa hat, in Lion Brand Vanna's Choice on a G (4mm) hook. It starts with 4 sc in a magic ring. The pattern uses safety eyes; for a cat, leave them off or embroider them, and add catnip.
Star Cat Toy — Pine Tree Crochet. Two red and green stars, joined, in about 15 yards of worsted on a G (4mm) hook. The points are made from a chain 7 with graduated stitches. Tuck catnip between the layers, and skip the ornament loop for a cat.
For more holiday makes for pets, see our crochet dog sweater patterns, and hang a crochet Christmas stocking for the cat.
Bonus: cat caves and beds
Every cat loves a hideaway. These are bigger projects, but they're the kind of thing a cat uses every day.
Marley's Cat Cave — By Jenni Designs. A 14 x 9-inch cave in four strands of worsted held together on 9mm and 6.5mm hooks, so it's thick and stands up on its own. It starts with 6 sc in a magic ring and is all sc. Easy, and you can fold the top down to make a bed.
Cat or Small Dog Cave Bed — Kitty's Kreations Boutique. About 29 rounds of dc in worsted on a K (6.5mm) hook, starting with 12 dc in a magic circle. Easy, with video tutorials.
Crochet Cat Bed — Two Cats Handmade. A cave in chunky acrylic and cotton t-shirt yarn on a 6mm hook. The round entrance is 70 sc worked around a macrame ring to hold its shape. Intermediate, translated into English by the Italian designer.
Tips for cat toys that last
- Use cotton or sturdy acrylic. Cotton is easy to wash. Avoid fuzzy yarns that shed, since cats may swallow the fibers.
- Crochet tightly. Go down a hook size or two so the stitches are dense and the stuffing and catnip stay put.
- Make catnip refillable. Put the catnip in a tea bag, a coffee filter or a stocking toe. That keeps it in, and you can swap it out when it loses its smell.
- Try silvervine or valerian. About a third of cats don't react to catnip. Many of them love silvervine or valerian instead.
- Make a batch for a shelter. Small mice and balls are a lovely donation. Call first to check what they accept.
Frequently asked questions
What is the easiest crochet cat toy?
A simple catnip mouse or ball. The Easy Peasy Catnip Mouse is mostly single crochet rows, and the mesh ball needs no stuffing. Both take less than an hour, even for a beginner.
What yarn is safe for cat toys?
Cotton or a tightly crocheted acrylic. Skip fuzzy, hairy or loosely spun yarn that sheds, and never use tinsel or metallic yarn that a cat could swallow.
How do I add catnip to a crochet toy?
Stuff the toy most of the way with fiberfill, add a teaspoon or two of dried catnip near the center, then close it up. To stop leaks, seal the catnip in a tea bag or coffee filter first.
Are crochet toys safe for kittens?
Yes, with care. Use embroidered eyes, sew bells inside, weave in every end, and keep long strings and dangling toys for supervised play. Check toys often and throw out any that are coming apart.
More crochet gifts for pet lovers
A cat toy is a perfect stocking stuffer or add-on to a weekend crochet gift. Pair it with a crochet mug cozy for the cat's person, or wrap it in a crochet gift bag. For a soft toy for the humans in the house, see our crochet teddy bear patterns.
