Easy Crochet Cat Pattern: A No-Sew Cat With Built-In Ears
A chubby little cat made as one tube — the ears appear when you close the top flat. No sewing on ears or head; just a tail and a face. Done in about an hour.
Pattern at a glance
US terms- Skill level
- Beginner
- Yarn
- Worsted (#4) yarn, about 35 yd, plus a little pink and black
- Hook
- 3.5 mm (E-4)
- Time
- About 1 hour
- Finished size
- About 3½ in (9 cm) tall
You'll need
- Worsted weight (#4) yarn — about 35 yd in any cat colour
- 3.5 mm (E-4) hook
- Two 8 mm safety eyes (or black yarn), pink yarn for the nose
- Fiberfill, stitch marker, tapestry needle
In this post
This is the cat to make when you want a cat tonight. It's a single tube worked from the bottom up. When you reach the top, you flatten it and single crochet the two sides together — and the two corners pop up as ears. No head to sew on, no ears to attach. Just a tail and a little face.
(Want a classic sitting cat with legs? Try our black cat amigurumi.)
The rest of this post is just below — free, as always.
The pattern
Body (one piece)
- Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring. (6)
- Rnd 2: Inc in each st. (12)
- Rnd 3: (Sc, inc) 6 times. (18)
- Rnd 4: (2 sc, inc) 6 times. (24)
- Rnd 5: In back loops only: sc around (the flat base edge). (24)
- Rnds 6–17: Sc around. (24)
- Eyes: Insert between Rnds 13 and 14, 5 stitches apart. Embroider a pink nose between them, one round lower.
- Stuff: Stuff firmly up to about ½ in from the top.
- Ears (close the top): Sc 3 more sts so your hook sits at the side of the head. Flatten the opening so the eyes face forward. Sc through both layers across the top. (12)
- Finish: Fasten off and weave the tail in. Pinch each top corner and wrap the yarn tail around its base once to define the ears, if you like.
Tail
- Rnd 1: 5 sc in a magic ring. (5)
- Rnds 2–12: Sc around. Don't stuff. (5)
- Finish: Sew to the back near the base and curl it around the side.
Make it your own
- Tabby: alternate two colours every 2 rounds from Rnd 6.
- Tuxedo: black body with a white bib stitched on the front.
- Keychain: sew a split ring between the ears.
- Other animals: the same tube makes a bear (round the ears with a few stitches), a bunny (add long ears) or an owl (felt eyes and a beak).
Common questions
Is this a good first amigurumi?
Yes — it's one piece with no decreases, so it's ideal after a crochet ball.
Why are my ears not pointy?
Stuff the top corners lightly with small pinches of fiberfill before closing, and pull your sc across the top firmly.
How can I make a bigger cat?
Use bulky yarn and a 5 mm hook (about 5 in tall), or increase to 30 sts and work 4 more rounds.
Name your cat in the comments! 🐱
Did you make this?
Tap a star to rate this pattern — it helps other makers find it.
Be the first to rate it!
YarnBloom
Crochet patterns & tutorials
YarnBloom shares cozy, beginner-friendly crochet patterns written in clear US terms, with a stitch count on every round and tips for the tricky bits. Grab your hook — let’s make something lovely.
You might also love
Crochet Frog: The Free Sitting Frog Pattern Everyone Wants
Crochet Bee: A Free Beginner Amigurumi in One Hour
Crochet Axolotl: Free Amigurumi Pattern with Frilly Gills
Crochet Mushroom: Free Pattern for a Spotted Toadstool
Leave a comment