There is a special kind of joy in watching your cat completely lose her dignity over something you made with leftover yarn and a free evening. A handmade crochet cat toy costs pennies, works up in under an hour, and somehow outranks every shop-bought mouse that ever came home in a crinkly packet. Stuff it with catnip, hide a bell inside, add a crinkle or a springy tail, and you have a toy that is made for exactly the way your cat loves to play.
So here are twenty of my favourite cat toy patterns, every single one genuinely free and written out in full: six irresistible mice, fish and sushi for the seafood lovers, a jellyfish, a long kicker for teething kittens, a refillable catnip pouch, a bouncy door-hanger toy and even a pretzel. A quick safety note before we start — work your stitches tightly, embroider faces instead of using plastic parts, and always supervise playtime, whichever toy you choose first.
1. Miss Mouse, the Jumbo Catnip Pyramid
We are starting big, because this mouse is gloriously oversized. Emilee Gettle builds her Miss Mouse from three flat crocheted pieces that are whip-stitched together into a plump pyramid, then filled with stuffing and a generous quarter cup of catnip. Grey yarn forms the body, pink eyelash yarn makes the long tail, and the eyes, nose and whiskers are all stitched on with yarn, so there are no plastic parts for a determined chewer to worry at. The finished mouse is chunky enough for proper bunny-kicking, and the flat base means it sits up invitingly on the rug instead of rolling under the sofa. It is a brilliant first amigurumi-style project, because every piece is worked flat in simple single crochet.
Pattern: Miss Mouse Cat Toy by Emilee Gettle — Get the free pattern
2. Little Mouse with a Secret Catnip Pouch
Tiny cats deserve tiny prey, and this little mouse finishes at just six and a half centimetres long. Woolshie's pattern is a sweet amigurumi mouse in DK yarn with a 3 mm hook, and the designer includes her own clever option that turns it into a true cat toy: a small felt pouch that slips inside the body and holds the catnip, so the scent stays fresh and the stuffing stays clean. The full written pattern is free on the page; the printable PDF version is unlocked with an emailed password, so just know that before you click. Worked in soft greys and pinks, a whole mischief of these takes one relaxed evening and uses up the last scraps in your basket.
Pattern: Little Mouse (Macy & Mousie) by Woolshie — Get the free pattern
3. Big Catnip Mouse with a Tea-Bag Trick
If your cat prefers her mice supersized, Jessi Wohlwend's Big Catnip Mouse is the one. She enlarged a classic little mouse design — she credits the original to Nicely Created For You — and her smartest tip is how the catnip goes in: sealed inside a tea bag or coffee filter first, so it perfumes the whole toy without leaking dusty leaves through the stitches. She also suggests tucking in a few small pebbles to give the mouse a satisfying weight for throwing and carrying, though I would only do that for a gentle cat and always supervise. The body is simple, sturdy single crochet in whatever worsted scraps you have, and the finished mouse is big enough to hug, kick and proudly parade around the house.
Pattern: Big Catnip Mouse by Jessi Wohlwend — Get the free pattern
4. Easy Peasy Catnip Mouse for Shelter Cats
This little mouse was designed with rescue cats in mind, and it shows in every practical detail. The free pattern sheet from Cat Protection Australia starts with the tail — a simple chain of seventeen — then works the body in a spiral around it, so there is almost no sewing at all. It asks for nothing but scrap acrylic yarn, a 3.5 mm hook, a pinch of stuffing and catnip, and there is an optional jingly bell to tuck inside for cats who love sound. Because it is so quick and cheap to make, it is perfect for crocheting in batches: a basket of these for your local shelter means every adopted cat goes home with a handmade toy of her very own.
Pattern: Easy Peasy Catnip Mouse by Cat Protection Australia — Get the free pattern
5. No-Sew Mouse with a Curly Tail
One piece, no sewing, and the cutest curly tail — MummaJ Crochet's mouse is made entirely in one go, with the little ears worked straight into the body using front-loop stitches. The tail is a simple chain finished with two single crochets in every stitch, which is what makes it spring into that irresistible corkscrew. It is written for cotton yarn and a 3 mm hook, and there are instructions woven in for adding catnip as you stuff. Two honest notes from the designer: the pattern is for personal use only, and while the blog version is completely free, she also sells a low-cost ad-free PDF that includes both a small and a large mouse size. Finished toys may be sold if you credit her design.
Pattern: Mouse Cat Toy by MummaJ Crochet — Get the free pattern
6. Flat Catnip Mouse with Picot Ears
Kristin Omdahl's catnip mouse takes a completely different route: it is worked flat, starting from the tail and building the body in rows, with sweet little picot ears added as you go. That flat construction makes it a lovely confidence-building project if working in the round still feels fiddly, and the finished mouse has a satisfying, slightly squishy shape that slides beautifully across wooden floors. One thing to know: the pattern page carries both her knitted and crocheted versions of the toy, so scroll to the crochet instructions — they are complete and free. It is shared for personal use only, and there is an optional ad-free PDF for ninety-nine cents if you prefer printing. A spoonful of catnip inside is, of course, highly recommended by Kristin's own cat.
Pattern: Catnip Mouse (Crochet Version) by Kristin Omdahl — Get the free pattern
7. Catnip Fish Toy in One Piece
Every toy box needs at least one fish, and this one is worked in a single piece from nose to tail fin, so there is nothing to sew on and nothing for sharp little teeth to pull off. MummaJ Crochet shapes the body in simple rounds, pinches it closed, then works the pretty fan tail directly onto the body using back loops — it looks clever but is honestly very beginner friendly. The pattern is written in US terms for cotton yarn and a 3 mm hook, with catnip and stuffing added as you go. Like her other designs it is for personal use only, and a low-cost ad-free PDF is available if you want one; the version on her blog is free in full. Make a whole rainbow school of them in an afternoon.
Pattern: Catnip Fish Toy by MummaJ Crochet — Get the free pattern
8. Goldfish Cat Toy with a Jingly Secret
This cheerful goldfish from Lion Brand is the polished, pattern-library option of the list — an easy design worked in fine sport-weight yarn with a 3.5 mm hook, so it comes out petite and perfect for batting across the kitchen tiles. The materials list includes little bells and dried catnip alongside the stuffing, so your goldfish can jingle softly and smell wonderful while it is being chased. The pattern itself is a free download from the Lion Brand site, listed at no cost, and it is the kind of tidy, well-tested pattern that behaves exactly as written. In a bright tangerine orange it looks wonderful against grey floors, and a tiny bowlful of three or four makes the sweetest gift for a new kitten.
Pattern: Goldfish Cat Toy by Lion Brand Yarn — Get the free pattern
9. A Whole Sushi Set of Catnip Toys
Here is the showstopper for cats with sophisticated taste: a complete crochet sushi set. Ami Amour's free pattern builds a simple rice-ball base, then tops it with salmon, tuna, roe and egg nigiri, a shrimp, and a little California roll — and she designed them with cats firmly in mind, suggesting you stuff them with organic catnip, just as she does for her own cat, Callie. To be completely honest about the framing, this is her amigurumi sushi pattern presented as cat toys by the designer herself, and it works beautifully because each piece is small, soft and seam-free. Worked in worsted scraps, the set makes a hilarious and gorgeous gift: a platter of sushi that nobody has to share with the humans.
Pattern: Sushi Crochet Pattern Set by Ami Amour — Get the free pattern
10. Four Toys in One: Fish, Mouse, Octopus and Jellyfish
Why choose one sea creature when Lindsey Roe gives you four complete patterns on a single page? Her collection at Off the Beaten Hook includes a fish, a mouse, a mini octopus and a jellyfish, all written out in full and all completely no-sew, which makes them wonderfully fast. They are designed for DK cotton yarn, with the option of adding catnip to any of them, and the little tentacled two are especially good for cats who love to grab and wrestle. A few honest details: the patterns are for personal use only — though finished toys may be sold with credit to the designer — and there is an optional paid ad-free PDF if you like your patterns printable. As a one-link toy library for a new cat, this page is hard to beat.
Pattern: Crochet Cat Toy Patterns — Fish, Mouse, Octopus & Jellyfish by Lindsey Roe — Get the free pattern
11. Bjorn's Catnip Jellyfish with Popcorn Tentacles
Named after the designer's own cat, who has given it an enthusiastic paws-up, this jellyfish is soft, squishy and built for pouncing. Kristin Omdahl works the head as two simple circles — a cup and a flat belly — sewn together with layers of stuffing and dried catnip inside, then adds twelve long tentacles, each tipped with a popcorn stitch at both ends so they bounce and bob as the toy moves. It is made in bulky yarn with a 5 mm hook, so it grows quickly and feels satisfyingly chunky in a cat's paws. Only basic stitches are used, and Kristin includes her own sensible safety note: always supervise play and double-check your seams so the catnip stays where it belongs.
Pattern: Bjorn’s Catnip Jellyfish Toy by Kristin Omdahl — Get the free pattern
12. Long Kicker Toy for Teething Kittens
Kittens who are teething need something they are allowed to chew, grab and rabbit-kick, and this long, slim toy from Meladora's Creations was designed exactly for that job. It is essentially a firm worsted-weight tube, worked in simple rounds with catnip layered in at intervals as you stuff, so the scent runs through the whole toy instead of sitting in one spot. The length is the clever part: a kitten can hold it with her front paws and kick with her back feet, which is deeply satisfying play and much better for everyone than chewing your charging cable. It uses only scraps of yarn, and the designer also offers a photo PDF version through Ravelry if you like pictures with your patterns.
Pattern: Cat Toy for Teething Kittens by Meladora’s Creations — Get the free pattern
13. Crinkle Cat Toy for Noise Lovers
Some cats ignore catnip completely but go absolutely feral for a crinkly sound — this is their toy. Amy Yarbrough's design is a simple crocheted cylinder, about five and a half inches long, that you stuff not with fluff but with crinkle material: parchment paper, cellophane, or even a piece of foil emergency blanket, with a little catnip added if you like. The crochet cover keeps the noisy filling safely contained while giving claws something textured to grab. It works up in about fifteen yards of medium-weight yarn, so it is a true one-sitting project, and the rustle it makes rolling across the floor will bring your cat running from two rooms away. Use fresh, clean crinkle material and check the cover regularly for worn spots.
Pattern: Crinkle Cat Toy by Amy Yarbrough — Get the free pattern
14. Refillable Catnip Pouch with Teasers
The trouble with most catnip toys is that the magic fades in a week. This clever pouch from Simply Collectible Crochet solves that properly: it is a long crocheted pocket with a proper opening, so you can tip out the stale catnip and refill it whenever playtime goes quiet, and it finishes with dangly yarn teasers for extra batting fun. I love that the designer includes a genuine safety warning in her pattern — never stuff the pouch with yarn scraps, because loose fibres are not safe if a cat works them free — and it is exactly the kind of honest detail worth passing on. Worked in sturdy yarn, the pouch survives months of refills, which makes it the most economical toy on this whole list.
Pattern: Catnip Pouch Cat Toy by Simply Collectible Crochet — Get the free pattern
15. Catnip Empanada, Ready in Half an Hour
From our house to the cat's: this little empanada is the fastest make here, at roughly thirty minutes and twenty yards of worsted cotton. Karen's pattern starts with a flat crocheted disc, then folds it over a small sewn fabric sachet of catnip — keeping the herb neatly contained — and finishes with a chain tail for dragging games. It is a wonderfully forgiving project for beginners, because a slightly wobbly disc still folds into a perfect little pastry. The shape turns out to be ideal for sliding across hard floors, and cats seem to love carrying it by the tail. Make a batch in bakery shades of cream and tan, and do not be surprised if they keep disappearing under the furniture.
Pattern: Catnip Empanada by Karen’s Knittin’ Crap — Get the free pattern
16. Carrot Cat Toy with a Crazy Curly Top
A vegetable your cat will actually ask for seconds of. MummaJ Crochet's carrot has a plump orange body you can fill with catnip as you stuff, and a gloriously silly green top with three options — really curly, semi-curly or straight — made by working back down long chains. Her own sample mixes all three for maximum chaos, and it is hard to argue with the result. The pattern is written for cotton yarn with a 2.5 mm hook, in US terms, with the full instructions free on the page. As with her other designs, it is for personal use only and there is an optional low-cost ad-free PDF, though finished carrots may be sold with credit to her. A bunch of these in a basket makes a very funny spring display.
Pattern: Carrot Cat Toy by MummaJ Crochet — Get the free pattern
17. Star Cat Toy with a Hidden Catnip Heart
Not every toy needs stuffing: this pretty star from Pine Tree Crochet is made from two flat crocheted stars joined edge-to-edge with a contrasting slip-stitch border, and the slim space between the layers is exactly big enough to hide a pinch of catnip. At about four inches across and only fifteen yards of worsted yarn, it is one of the quickest gifts on the list, and the designer adds a lovely extra: finish it with a chain loop and it hangs from a door handle or a Christmas tree as a dangling bat-toy. Hers is worked in festive red and green, but it is charming in any two colours. The blog pattern is complete and free; a paid Ravelry PDF with step-by-step photos exists too, if you prefer that format.
Pattern: Star Cat Toy by Pine Tree Crochet — Get the free pattern
18. Love Our Kitty Toy, the Classic Catnip Ball
Sometimes the old favourites are favourites for a reason. Michael Sellick's kitty ball for The Crochet Crowd wraps a hidden treasure — a little roll of spare fabric with catnip folded inside, tied shut like a sweet — in a firm half-double-crochet shell padded with polyfil. That fabric core is a genuinely clever touch: the scent lasts far longer than loose catnip, and the ball keeps its round shape through months of being carried, kicked and sat on. It is written for any scrap yarn with a 4.5 mm hook, and the pattern is a free PDF from The Crochet Crowd. Work a few in bright colours, because a ball this good will inevitably migrate under a bookcase and a spare will save the day.
Pattern: Love Our Kitty Toy by Michael Sellick — Get the free pattern
19. Door Hanger Bouncy Cat Toy with a Jingle Bell
For the cat who plays hardest when you are busy, this classic Lion Brand design hangs the fun on a doorknob and lets her entertain herself. A flat crocheted hanger loops over the knob, a tight corkscrew "squiggle" spring hangs below it, and at the bottom swings a plump ball with a jingle bell buried in its stuffing — about fourteen inches of bounce, spring and jingle in total. It is an easy pattern in three colours of worsted yarn, and the complete instructions come as a free pattern download from Lion Brand. Hang it on a door your cat can reach safely, keep an eye on the spring for stretching over time, and enjoy the sound of independent play from the next room.
Pattern: Door Hanger Bouncy Cat Toy by Lion Brand Yarn — Get the free pattern
20. Pretzel Pet Toy for Serious Bunny-Kickers
We are finishing with the toy that always makes visitors laugh: a soft pretzel, crocheted as one long stuffed tube and twisted into that classic knot shape. Designed by Amy Gaines for Lion Brand, it is an easy pattern in worsted yarn, finishing at about six and a half by four inches — exactly the size a cat wants to hug with her front paws while her back feet do the kicking. In the spirit of honesty, Lion Brand offers it as a pet toy for dogs and cats alike, and the page carries the sensible reminder not to leave any pet alone with a toy unsupervised. In a warm golden brown with a few white "salt" stitches, it is as cute on the rug as it is in play.
Pattern: Pretzel Pet Toy by Amy Gaines — Get the free pattern
Conclusion
Twenty toys, and not one of them needs more than scrap yarn, an hour and a cat willing to supervise your work from inside the yarn basket. If you are new to making pet toys, start with the Easy Peasy mouse or the star, then graduate to the jellyfish and the sushi set when you are feeling fancy. Cotton or sturdy acrylic yarn, tight stitches and embroidered details will keep every toy safe and washable, and a little dried catnip tucked inside turns almost any shape into an instant favourite.
Now tell me — is your cat a catnip devotee, a crinkle chaser or a jingle-bell hunter, and which of these twenty toys is going on your hook first? I read every comment, and I cannot wait to see your makes!
