This beginner cat keeps the body rounded and lets the ears and tail do the character work. Choose charcoal, cream, gray, orange, or any solid yarn that shows stitch definition. Embroidered whiskers make the cat recognizable without adding hard parts.
Terms: This pattern uses US crochet terms. Work in continuous spiral rounds unless a step says to join. Place a stitch marker in the first stitch of every round.
Safety note: Handmade toys require maker judgment. For items intended for babies or young children, avoid small detachable parts, use secure embroidery instead of loose pieces, and follow the toy-safety rules in your country.
Materials
- Worsted yarn in one cat color plus a scrap for nose
- 3.0–3.5 mm hook
- Stuffing, stitch marker, yarn needle
- Black or charcoal embroidery floss
Abbreviations
- MR = magic ring
- ch = chain
- sl st = slip stitch
- sc = single crochet
- inc = 2 sc in the next stitch
- dec = invisible single-crochet decrease
- st/sts = stitch/stitches
- FO = fasten off
Construction
Crochet the body as a rounded cylinder, make two flat triangle ears in rows, and make a narrow tail tube. The pattern is written for a seated cat shape with the face centered on the upper rounds.
Round-by-round instructions
Body R1: 6 sc in MR. (6) R2: inc around. (12) R3: [1 sc, inc] x6. (18) R4: [2 sc, inc] x6. (24) R5: [3 sc, inc] x6. (30) R6-R12: sc around. (30) R13: [3 sc, dec] x6. (24) R14: [2 sc, dec] x6. (18) Stuff. R15: [1 sc, dec] x6. (12) R16: dec around. (6) FO and close. Ears, make 2 in rows Row 1: ch 7, sc in second ch from hook and across. (6) Row 2: dec, 2 sc, dec. (4) Row 3: dec twice. (2) Row 4: dec. (1) FO, leave tail. Tail R1: 6 sc in MR. (6) R2-R12: sc around. (6) Lightly stuff as you go.
Stuffing and assembly
Sew the ears to the top of the body, placing them a few rounds apart so the center face area stays open. Sew the tail to the back around R10–R12. Embroider eyes, a small triangle nose, and three short whisker stitches on each side.