Crochet Cat Patterns: Kittens, Loaf Cats and Cats in Clothes
For a first crochet cat, choose a chubby kitten or a loaf cat with short ears and a plain body, and make it in a light smooth yarn so you can see your stitches. The cat family is one of the most varied: kittens, cats in dresses and sweaters, sleeping cats, cats with yarn balls and no-sew cats. The Cats folder in 1,947 Amigurumi Patterns holds 77 patterns, and cat designs turn up in other folders too.
Cat styles at a glance
| Style | What to expect | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Kitten or kitty | Small, round head, tiny ears | A first cat |
| Loaf cat | Oval body, tucked paws | Learning to work an oval |
| Chubby and no-sew | Pieces made as one | If assembly puts you off |
| Cats in clothes | Dresses, sweaters, capes, overalls, vests | Dressing practice and gifts |
| Cat couples and sets | Matching pairs or trios | A present, not just a toy |
| Cats with yarn | A cat with a ball of yarn | Gifts for crocheters |
| Mini cats and kittens | Quick, small | Charms and toppers |
What the cat folder holds
Counted from the folder's titles:
- 28 kittens (titles with "kitten" or "kitty"), from sleeping kittens to a kitten with a pink bow.
- 14 cats in clothes: dresses, shirts, sweaters, pants, vests and a cape.
- A handful of beginner or easy designs: two carry "no sew" in the title, and "mini" or "little" appears in four more.
- Fun shapes: a cat with a ball of yarn, a cat bed, a toaster cat, a lovey with a rattle, and sets such as twins, trios and couples.
Cats also appear elsewhere in the collection. Across the whole library, 123 titles mention a cat, kitten or kitty. Nine of those are keychains and minis, nine are Christmas cats, seven are Valentine's Day designs, six are bags and five are for Halloween.
Loaf cat or sphere cat?
Sphere cat
A round head, round body and triangular ears. It uses the same single crochet in a spiral as a round bear, and is the quickest to make.
Loaf cat
An oval body with tucked paws. The difference is that you work an oval rather than a circle, so you place increases at the ends of the oval instead of all round. A loaf class toy is a medium toy for planning: about 30 to 40 grams of DK, or 45 to 60 grams of worsted, with a few grams of contrast for the ears and muzzle.
Cat in clothes
A dress or sweater adds pieces and finishing. Make a plain cat first, then a dressed one.
Choosing yarn and eyes for a cat
- Colour: grey, cream or ginger shows stitches. Black is lovely but hard to see while you work, so save it for a second cat.
- Eyes: match the size to the head. A head of 30 stitches suits 6 to 8 mm eyes, 36 stitches suits 8 mm, 42 stitches suits 9 to 10 mm. Place them five to seven stitches apart, and check from the front before you lock the washers.
- Whiskers and nose: embroider them with black yarn or floss, about 50 cm for the nose and mouth of a small toy.
- For a child under 3: embroider the eyes and skip anything glued on. For regional rules, check a recognized source such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
A tidy finish
- Stuff firmly, a little at a time, before the opening gets small.
- Pin the ears and view the cat from the front, then from each side, before you sew.
- Hide your yarn tails inside, not on the surface.
- Embroider the face last. It is the one step that you cannot unpick quickly.
If you enjoy cats, you might also like crochet bunny patterns and crochet teddy bear patterns, which use the same shapes. For the bigger picture, see animal patterns by family, and for a cat as a present, crochet gift ideas.
Go deeper
The Cats folder in 1,947 Amigurumi Patterns has 77 patterns, and the Yarn, Hook & Leftover Calculator lists how many grams a small, medium or large toy needs and which eye size suits each head. The Gift Animal Planner includes a "kitchen pair" set recipe for a cat loaf and a small fish.