Long Cats — Free Crochet Pattern

There is something undeniably charming about a long cat. Whether they are stretched across a sunbeam, draped over a couch cushion, or dangling from a bookshelf like a furry scarf, long cats have captured the hearts of internet culture and craft lovers alike. This free crochet pattern will walk you through creating your very own adorable long cat — a stuffed amigurumi-style toy that is squishy, huggable, and endlessly poseable. Whether you are a seasoned crocheter or someone who has just learned the basics, this pattern is approachable, fun, and deeply satisfying to complete.

Keep reading for the full free pattern, including materials, stitch counts, tips, and finishing instructions. By the end, you will have a wonderfully floppy feline friend ready to lounge wherever you place it.

Why Crochet a Long Cat?

Crochet animals — often called amigurumi — have been beloved in the crafting world for decades. There is something special about creating a soft, three-dimensional creature from a single strand of yarn. Long cats take the amigurumi tradition and stretch it (quite literally) into something playful and a little absurd in the best possible way.

These crocheted long cats make wonderful gifts for cat lovers, kids, and anyone who appreciates a touch of whimsy in their home. They photograph beautifully draped over shelves or peeking out of baskets, which makes them popular with crafters who share their work on social media. They also make great sensory toys for young children because of their soft texture and flexible, poseable shape.

If you have been looking for a project that is more interesting than a basic square but not as daunting as a wearable garment, a long cat is exactly the kind of satisfying middle ground you need.

Materials You Will Need

Before diving into the pattern, gather your supplies. Here is everything you will need to make your long cat:

Yarn: Worsted weight yarn (approximately 200–300 yards) in your chosen cat color. Classic choices include grey, orange, black, white, cream, or a multicolor variegated yarn for a tortoiseshell effect. You will also want a small amount of a contrasting or complementary color for the belly, if desired.

Hook: Size 4.0 mm (G/6) crochet hook. You can adjust the size up or down slightly depending on your tension, but keep in mind that a tighter tension produces a firmer fabric that holds its shape better for stuffed toys.

Stuffing: Polyfill stuffing, enough to lightly stuff the body. You want the cat to remain floppy and poseable, so do not overstuff. For extra flexibility and posing capability, you can insert a length of pipe cleaner or soft armature wire wrapped in fabric tape before stuffing.

Safety eyes: Two 9 mm or 12 mm black safety eyes. If this toy is intended for a child under three years old, embroider the eyes with yarn instead for safety.

Yarn needle: For weaving in ends and sewing pieces together.

Scissors: A good sharp pair.

Stitch markers: Optional but helpful for keeping track of rounds.

Optional embellishments: Pink embroidery floss for the nose and mouth, small buttons or felt pieces for details, and thin ribbon or yarn for a collar.

Abbreviations and Stitch Guide

This pattern uses US crochet terminology.

MR — Magic ring (also called magic circle)
ch — Chain
sl st — Slip stitch
sc — Single crochet
inc — Increase (two single crochets in the same stitch)
dec — Invisible decrease (insert hook through the front loops only of the next two stitches and complete as one single crochet)
FLO — Front loop only
BLO — Back loop only
st(s) — Stitch(es)
rep — Repeat
pm — Place marker
( ) — Work all stitches inside parentheses in the same stitch
[ ] x — Repeat the sequence in brackets the indicated number of times

All pieces are worked in continuous rounds unless otherwise noted. Do not join at the end of rounds unless the pattern instructs you to.

Pattern Notes

This pattern creates a long cat approximately 18–22 inches in total length, depending on your yarn weight and tension. The body is worked as one long, continuous tube that is lightly stuffed as you go. The head, ears, legs, and tail are worked separately and sewn on at the end.

The beauty of this pattern is its adaptability. Want a very long cat? Work more rounds in the middle section of the body tube. Prefer a medium-length cat? Work fewer rounds. The pattern is designed to be forgiving and customizable.

Work in a spiral throughout, meaning you do not join rounds with a slip stitch. Place a stitch marker at the beginning of each round and move it up as you go.

The Pattern

Head

Start with your main cat color.

Round 1: Make a magic ring, sc 6 into the ring. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st around. (12 sts)

Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6. (18 sts)

Round 4: [Sc 2, inc] x 6. (24 sts)

Round 5: [Sc 3, inc] x 6. (30 sts)

Round 6: [Sc 4, inc] x 6. (36 sts)

Rounds 7–13: Sc around in each st. (36 sts, 7 rounds)

Before closing the head, attach your safety eyes between rounds 9 and 10, approximately 8–10 stitches apart. Stuff the head firmly. The head should be the most firmly stuffed part of the entire cat.

Round 14: [Sc 4, dec] x 6. (30 sts)

Round 15: [Sc 3, dec] x 6. (24 sts)

Round 16: [Sc 2, dec] x 6. (18 sts)

Round 17: [Sc 1, dec] x 6. (12 sts)

Do not fasten off. Leaving an opening of about 6 stitches, continue directly into the neck tube. If you prefer, fasten off, close the head, and sew it onto the body afterward — both methods work equally well.

Body (Main Tube)

If you are continuing directly from the head, you will naturally transition into a narrower tube. If starting fresh, make a magic ring, sc 6, then inc to 12 stitches.

Rounds 1–4: Work around the 12-stitch opening to create a short neck. (12 sts)

Round 5: [Sc 1, inc] x 6. (18 sts)

Rounds 6–8: Sc around. (18 sts)

Round 9: [Sc 2, inc] x 6. (24 sts)

Rounds 10–12: Sc around. (24 sts)

Round 13: [Sc 3, inc] x 6. (30 sts)

Rounds 14–60: Sc around in each stitch for all 46 rounds. (30 sts)

This long section creates the iconic elongated body. As you crochet, lightly stuff as you go, pausing every ten or fifteen rounds to add polyfill. Keep the stuffing light so the body remains flexible and can be draped and posed. This is the section you can lengthen or shorten to your preference.

Round 61: [Sc 3, dec] x 6. (24 sts)

Rounds 62–64: Sc around. (24 sts)

Round 65: [Sc 2, dec] x 6. (18 sts)

Rounds 66–67: Sc around. (18 sts)

Round 68: [Sc 1, dec] x 6. (12 sts)

Round 69: Dec x 6. (6 sts)

Fasten off and close with a yarn needle, weaving the tail through the front loops of remaining stitches to close. Weave in the end.

Ears (Make Two)

Round 1: MR, sc 6. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st. (12 sts)

Round 3: [Sc 1, inc] x 6. (18 sts)

Rounds 4–5: Sc around. (18 sts)

Round 6: [Sc 1, dec] x 6. (12 sts)

Do not stuff. Flatten the piece and slip stitch across the opening to close it into a little triangle shape. Leave a long tail for sewing. Sew the ears onto the top of the head, positioning them symmetrically. For a more pointed ear, pinch the corners slightly before sewing down.

Legs (Make Four)

The legs are short, slightly chubby little tubes that give the cat its paw-like appearance.

Round 1: MR, sc 6. (6 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st. (12 sts)

Rounds 3–12: Sc around. (12 sts, 10 rounds)

Round 13: Dec x 6. (6 sts)

Stuff the leg lightly and close. Leave a long tail for sewing. Attach the front two legs to the upper portion of the body, just below the neck, and the back two legs to the lower section near the hips, each pair spaced evenly apart.

Tail

Round 1: MR, sc 5. (5 sts)

Round 2: Inc in each st. (10 sts)

Rounds 3–30: Sc around. (10 sts, 28 rounds)

Round 31: Dec x 5. (5 sts)

Stuff lightly and close. Leave a long tail for sewing. The tail can be attached either pointing straight out or curled around to one side, depending on the personality you want to give your cat. A slightly curled tail gives the cat a particularly playful look.

Optional Belly Patch

If you want to give your cat a lighter-colored belly, work a flat oval in a cream or white yarn and sew it onto the underside of the body before closing it up, or attach it as a surface embellishment. To make the oval, chain 8, then work single crochets around both sides of the chain, increasing at each end, for two or three rounds. This creates a soft egg-shaped patch that mimics a real cat’s lighter underbelly.

Finishing Touches

Once all the pieces are assembled, take your yarn needle and pink embroidery floss and add a small nose between the eyes. A simple upside-down triangle shape works beautifully. Add two short curved lines beneath the nose for a mouth if you like.

You can also use the embroidery floss or thin yarn to add small toe details to each paw — three or four small straight stitches across the end of each leg suggest little cat toes without requiring any additional construction.

If you would like to give your cat a collar, cut a length of thin ribbon or crochet a short chain in a contrasting color and tie or sew it loosely around the neck. A small button or bead can serve as a collar tag.

For a finishing flourish, consider adding very thin strips of black yarn or embroidery floss on either side of the nose for whiskers. Thread a yarn needle with three strands and pull them through the head so equal lengths stick out from each side, then knot them close to the face or dab a tiny dot of fabric glue to keep them in place.

Tips for the Best Long Cat

Tension matters more than you think. For stuffed animals, tighter tension is your friend. A looser fabric lets the stuffing peek through and looks less polished. If you are naturally a loose crocheter, try going down a hook size.

Stuff as you go on the body. Trying to stuff a long, narrow tube from the open end is an exercise in frustration. Add stuffing every ten to fifteen rounds and use a pencil, chopstick, or the eraser end of a pencil to push it down into the tube evenly.

Don’t skip the pipe cleaner if you want posability. A wrapped pipe cleaner or soft armature wire running through the body makes the cat genuinely poseable and allows you to drape it over shelves, door handles, the back of a chair, or a friend’s shoulder. Just make sure the wire is fully enclosed and cannot poke through the fabric.

Use a consistent color for a cleaner look. Variegated yarns can produce beautiful results, but sometimes they obscure the shape of amigurumi pieces. If this is your first time making a long cat, a solid color will make it easier to see your stitches and count accurately.

Block it if needed. If the body seems to curl or twist slightly, give it a gentle blocking by misting it lightly with water and laying it flat on a foam mat, pinning it into the desired shape, and letting it dry.

Customizing Your Long Cat

One of the great joys of a free crochet pattern like this one is how easily it lends itself to customization. Here are a few ideas to make your long cat uniquely yours.

You can crochet tiny accessories — a miniature bow tie, a little witch hat for Halloween, or a festive scarf for the holidays. You can create an entire family of long cats in different sizes by adjusting your yarn weight and hook size. Fingering weight yarn produces an adorably tiny cat about six inches long, while bulky yarn makes a giant, pillow-sized version.

For a truly personalized touch, match the yarn color to someone’s actual cat. A quick look at photos of a beloved pet is usually enough to find a close match in a yarn shop or online. This turns the long cat into a sentimental keepsake as well as a craft project.

Sharing Your Finished Long Cat

Once your long cat is finished, drape it somewhere photogenic — over a bookshelf, along a windowsill, or wrapped around a houseplant — and take some photos. The craft community is full of long cat enthusiasts, and sharing your finished object brings a lot of joy to other makers who are deciding whether to try the pattern themselves.

If you share on social media, consider using hashtags like #crochetcat, #amigurumi, #freecrochetpattern, and #longcat so that other crafters can find your work and leave a comment. There is a genuinely warm and encouraging community of crochet makers online, and long cat photos tend to be particularly popular.

If you make changes to the pattern — adding rounds to the body, changing the ear shape, creating a whole new accessory — share those notes too. Your modifications might be exactly what another crafter is looking for.

Final Thoughts

This long cat free crochet pattern is everything a good craft project should be: accessible, fun, finished in a reasonable amount of time, and charming enough to make you smile every time you look at it. Whether you make one for yourself, as a gift, or as part of a collection of crocheted creatures, the finished cat will bring a particular kind of delight that only handmade things can.

Crochet is a craft built on patience and repetition, and there is something meditative about working through the long body tube of this pattern — round after round, stitch after stitch — knowing that what you are building is something soft and joyful and a little bit silly. That silliness is a feature, not a bug.

So pull out your yarn, grab your hook, and get started. Your long cat is waiting to be brought into the world.

Happy crocheting.