If you know how to knit and you have a bored cat at home, then you’re in the right place. Are you ready to embark on a purr-fectly delightful adventure in the world of DIY cat toys? Well, grab your knitting needles, cat lovers, and prepare to be charmed by the cutest creations your kitty could ever dream of, because it’s time to talk about patterns for knitted cat toys!
In this article, we’ve rounded up 25 fabulous and, dare I say, utterly adorable knitting patterns for cat toys that’ll make your heart melt. From tiny critters to mouthwatering treats, these patterns are sure to tickle your creative fancy and bring joy to your furry friend. Oh and I haven’t even mentioned the best part yet. All the patterns we’re featuring today are available for free!
But hey, we’re not stopping there. We’re spilling the beans on how to take these toys from “meh” to “me-WOW” in your cat’s eyes. Think sprinkling a bit of premium catnip inside or tossing in a jingling ball for that extra dose of excitement. Trust me, your cat will be bouncing off the walls with delight! We’ve also got tips for making your knitted cat toys more durable for felines that like to play rough.
And can we just take a minute to mention how ridiculously fun these projects are? Not only are they quick and easy, but they also require just a smidgen of yarn making them perfect for those leftover bits of yarn. So, even if you’re a newbie knitter or have a yarn stash the size of a kitten’s whisker, you can dive right in without breaking a sweat. Plus, many of the featured patterns today have adorable pictures of their cats playing with their soft toys so it’s basically going to be cuteness overload!
So, are you ready to spoil your kitty rotten with handmade goodies? Well, what are you waiting for? Scroll down to see all of these feline-tastic knitted cat toys for yourself and prepare to be inspired to make a lucky feline in your life a new toy!
In this article...
Catnip Candy Toys
Cats love catnip like humans love candy, so this catnip cattoy pattern just makes sense! The classic treat shape of this toy conceals a pocket of organiccatnip inside that is sure to drive your kitty crazy. It’s super easy to make since it is worked flat in one piece using just stockinette and rib stitches. And just like when you eat candy in real life, you might find it hard to stop yourself after just one!
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Lily Sugar’n Cream Solids & Denim (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Cheddar the Goldfish
You can probably recognize the iconic shape and color of the snack that smiles back. Cats might not like cheese crackers but they do like fish! This easy cat toyis very simple to make since it it is all one piece that is worked flat in back and forth rows of stockinette stitch. If you use a wool yarn like the one recommended, then you can felt the finished project for added durability.
Designer: Frances Gillespie for Knitty
Yarn: Patons North America Classic Wool Worsted (Worsted Weight Yarn #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Jingle Mouse Cat Toy
Adding a little jingle bell inside your knitted cat toys is a great way to make them utterly irresistible to your kitties. Just be sure to supervise playtime and inspect toys for holes, because we don’t want any cats to choke! This mouse knittingpattern is worked in stockinette stitch in the round on double pointed straight knittingneedles. A little embroidery skills with some pieces of leftover yarncome in handy for making the mouse’s nose and eyes.
Designer: Dooley and Spud
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Tiny Chook
I’ve been seeing a lot more projects and patterns out there with a chicken theme lately. Have you caught the chicken fever yet? This is a great project to let your kitty get in on the fun too with this cute little chicken cat toy. The pattern calls for knit stitches, basic shaping, picking up stitches, working in rows, and working in the round.
Designer: Eva Mcdonald
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Under Door Two Cat Toy
A knitted icord with a stuffed ball on either end is the perfect toy for folks with multiple cats. Your kitties are sure to have hours of fun playing tug-of-war underneath the door with this exciting toy. If you only have one kitty, then you can tug on the other end yourself. The pattern is worked flat all in one piece using just basic stitches.
Designer: Fun Things To Do While You’re Waiting
Yarn: Herrschners Worsted Weight (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Catnip Bunnies
Cats may not be able to see as many colors as humans, but that doesn’t mean it’s not still fun to make knitted cat toys in every color of the rainbow. There’s something particularly satisfying about this ring of colorful bunnies! The chubby bodies of the bunnies are perfect for stuffing with catnip and the floppy ears are sure to entice your kitty to bat and nip at them. The pattern is worked flat in stockinette stitch.
Designer: Coffee and Cream
Yarn: DK Weight #3
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Out of Yarn
You really can’t go wrong with a classic ball toy for your furry friends both feline and canine. This cool multicolor design looks kind of tricky but it’s knit all in one piece. When you make this project you can unlock the secrets of its construction and use up some of your yarn scraps while you’re at it. (Then maybe you can make some room for another yarn haul!)
Designer: Audrey Bochantin
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Dumpling Cat Toy
I could really go for a nice steamed dumpling right about now, what about you? Handmade cat toys in the shape of iconic foods are just plain fun, so why don’t you give this one a try? You’ll be knitting in the round to create a flat circle, using cleverly placed increases to create the doughy pleats. Then the circle is folded in half and seamed to form the classic dumpling shape.
Designer: Dale Hwang
Yarn: DK Weight #3
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Nom the Catnip Mouse
This chubby little mouse looks like he might have been eating too much cheese. Your kitties are sure to delight in his big floppy ears and long enticing tail. The pattern is knit in the round in stockinette stitch using basic decreases. A little length of knit icord is used for the tail. The ears are knit separately and then sewn on.
Designer: The Ginger Cat Designs
Yarn: None specified
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Mini Traffic Cones
Fact: everything is cuter in miniature form and it turns out that that’s still true for mundane things like traffic cones. Why would you make your cat a toy in the form of a mini traffic cone? I think the better question is: why not? The pattern is worked seamlessly in the round using stockinette stitch. You’ll need a bit of polyfil stuffing and/or catnip to tuck inside.
Designer: Prairie Knitter
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Jingle Fish Cat Toy
This adorable 2 color fishy looks like he is blowing a little fishy kiss. The quick and fun pattern is knit in the round using stockinette stitch. The original fish was made with a thin #2 weight yarn, but you could opt for a thicker weight of yarn if you’d like your fish toy to turn out larger. A jingling bell hiding inside the toy is sure to surprise and delight your kitty with its pretty sound.
Designer: Dooley and Spud
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Knitted Cat Toys
The next one of our free patterns for knitted cat toys is actually 3 patterns in one. You can choose t make a bird, a fish, a ladybug, or all 3! All of the patterns share the same base body shape which looks a bit like a fat popsicle. The difference is in the color selection and the embellishments, of course. The pattern is worked flat in stockinette stitch.
Designer: Amanda Berry
Yarn: Hayfield Bonus DK (DK Weight #3)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Carrot Top Cat Toy
My cat is especially partial to toys that involve feathers, so I’m sure that she would be all over this cute carrot top toy. The pattern is super easy to make and because it is knit in the round you don’t need to do any purl stitches – just knit stitches. There are a couple knit options for the carrot top if you would prefer to skip the feathers.
Designer: Teekay Knits
Yarn: Cascade Yarns ® Cascade 220® (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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A Fish for Kitty
It seems like many knitted cat toys call for stockinette stitch but I think that kitties would be delighted by the garter stitch texture of this family of fish friends. The pattern is knit flat in back and forth rows using just knit stitches and basic shaping techniques. They are quick and easy to make, so you will likely want to make a few!
Designer: My Pink Bathtub
Yarn: Bernat Super Value Solids (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Woolly Mice
Go big or go home with these cute and chubby mice. These mice toys are almost as large as that kitten’s head and I’m totally here for it! The project is knit on straight needles, then it is stuffed and seamed, and finally it is felted for a smooth and sturdy finish. Facial features and ears are added on afterwards using basic embroidery and sewing skills.
Designer: DROPS Design
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Snow (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Jingle Bird Cat Toy
If this cat toy looks familiar that’s because you’ve seen this same body shape before in rodent form. Here is the avian version of the design complete with a little yellow beak. Hmm I guess I never noticed before how similarly mice and birds are shaped. The pattern is knit in the round using stockinette stitch and basic shaping techniques.
Designer: Dooley and Spud
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (Sport Weight #2)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Easy Catnip Bowtie
It really doesn’t get much easier than this when it comes to knitted cat toys, folks. First you knit a rectangle in stockinette stitch (and you’re using bulky weight yarn so it works up very quickly), then you deposit a little pocket of catnip to entice your kitty and then you fold the sides in and tie the whole thing in a knot.
Designer: Melissa McNeill
Yarn: Bernat Softee Chunky Solids & Marls (Bulky Weight #5)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Feline Dim Sum
We’ve seen cat toys in the shape of dumplings and now we have cat toys in the shape of dim sum. This post is starting to make me hungry! The distinctive shape of this design seems like it might be a little trickier to replicate but the pattern works up easily in stockinette stitch rows. You’ll want to knit tightly or go for a tighter gauge to keep the catnip inside from spilling out.
Designer: Julie Falatko for Knitty
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Encore Worsted Solids & Heathers (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Cat Nip Toy
This pretty two-color kitty toy is knit flat with basic stitches and then felted. Felting a cat toy can make it last longer so your kitty can get hours and hours of play out of it. The felting process also has the added benefit of reducing any small holes in the work so you don’t have to worry about any little bits of catnip coming out.
Designer: Maggie Pace
Yarn: Pick Up Sticks Wool – Small Balls (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Rocky’s Bluebird of Happiness
All of these fantastic patterns for knitted cat toys have given me a great idea! If you catch the cat toy bug, then you can make a few extra to donate to your local cat shelter. This pretty little birdie is a fast and fun make that’s knit in the round using stockinette stitch and basic decreases. A bit of embroidery is needed to make the eyes and beak.
Designer: Wandering Cat Studio
Yarn: Wandering Cat Yarns Top Cat (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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SquiddyCat
All the dangling legs of this squid toy are sure to prove irresistible to your playful kitty. The pattern is knit flat in garter stitch. There are some short rows involved as well as a 3 needle bind off. If you know how to crochet, you can make quick work of the 8 legs. Otherwise knitted icord does the trick! Either way, you are sure to have a winning cat toy on your hands.
Designer: Simple Knits
Yarn: Worsted Weight #4
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Henry’s Toy Snake
My cat has brought live snakes into my house before (luckily they were only garter snakes) but I much prefer this knit version. It feels a little bit like magic that you can use yarn to make something scaly and scary in the wild look cuddly and cute in knit form. The pattern is worked flat in back and forth rows of striped stockinette stitch and then seamed.
Designer: Monnibo Designs
Yarn: TLC Essentials Solid (Worsted Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Knitted Cat Tunnel
This knitted cat tunnel will provide hours of endless entertainment as your kitty hides inside and jumps out again with delight. You cat might even want to curl up inside the warm, safe space to take a nice cat nap. The pattern is knit in the round with stockinette stitch and a thick super bulky weight yarn. You’ll need to knit around a ring so that the opening of the tunnel will stay open and retain its shape.
Designer: Knitting Novice
Yarn: Sirdar Big Softie (Super Bulky Weight #6)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Miss Mousie
Its no surprise why knitted cat toys for mice seem to be the most popular design. Cartoons like Tom and Jerry have long since perpetuated this species rivalry. This pretty multicolor mouse is knit double stranded in sock yarn. The pattern is worked flat in back and forth rows of stockinette stitch and then seamed. Ears are knit separately and then sewn on.
Designer: Lion Brand Yarn
Yarn: Lion Brand Sock-Ease (Fingering Weight #1)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Playful Kitty Toys
You get the pick of the litter with this design that includes 4 different cat toys. Will you decide to make the candy, the inchworm, the pretzel, or the ladybug? All of the patterns are quick and fun to make knitting with stockinette stitch in the round. You might just decide to go nuts and make the full set for your spoiled kitty!
Designer: Yarnspirations Design Studio
Yarn: Red Heart Super Saver (Aran Weight #4)
Click here for the free knitting pattern!
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Final Thoughts on Knitted Cat Toys
With these 25 adorable knitted cat toys, you’ll have your furry friend purring with pleasure in no time. So, gather your yarn, sprinkle in some catnip, and let the fun begin – because there’s nothing quite like seeing your cat happily playing with a toy made with love.
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I’ll see you next week for another free knitting pattern round-up. Make sure to follow the blog so you never miss a post. <3
Happy Knitting!
