Make a cozy, machine-washable crochet cat bed for your favorite feline friend! This crochet pet bed pattern is super simple and offered in two sizes to fit small to medium cats and dogs.
Get the free crochet cat bed pattern and tutorial below or purchase the ad-free, printable PDF.
This pet bed crochet pattern is part of a collaboration with Lion Brand Yarns. This post contains affiliate links.
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Crochet Cat Bed Pattern Introduction
Crochet a comfy, machine-washable and antimicrobial haven for your fur baby! This cat and dog bed pattern uses single crochet to create a sturdy, yet cozy, pet bed. Make the optional faux fur snuggle pad for extra cozy-factor.
Skills You’ll Practice
While crocheting this dog and cat bed, you’ll use the following advanced beginner-level skills:
- Single crochet (sc)
- Double crochet (dc)
- Slip stitch (sl st)
- Crocheting a circle and working in the round
- Weaving in ends
Complete beginner? Check out our guide on How to Crochet for Beginners
How to Crochet a Ped Bed Step-By-Step
This cat or dog bed comes together quite easily with zero seaming.
Step 1. Crochet the bottom circle using one strand of yarn and double crochet stitches.
Step 2. Add a second strand of yarn and continue working in the round to form the sides. The two strands of yarn held together ensure the sides of the bed are quite stiff, giving the bed structure.
Step 3. Crochet a simple border around the top using the crab stitch (aka reverse single crochet.)
Step 4. Use faux fur yarn to crochet a circle the size of the bed bottom. This step is optional, but creates and extra cosy crochet cat bed and the furry blanket is easy to remove and wash.
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Keep the sized of the bed up for a secluded cat cave.
Or fold them inward if your pet prefers a head rest.
Why you’ll love this kitty bed!
Will It Fit My Cat?
This crochet cat bed pattern is written in two sizes to accommodate most cats and smaller breeds dogs. (Think like chihuahuas, miniature pinschers, and havanese.)
The small bed, which is what is pictured, measures 15” across. It’s best for pets under about 8 pounds.
The medium bed measures 19.5” across. It’s ideal for pets under about 14 pounds.
The sides on both sizes are approximately 7” tall.
Modifying the Size for Larger Cats and Dogs
For bigger breeds like Maine Coones or Ragdoll cats, it’s quite easy to make a larger cat bed to give your furry friend more space. I’ve included specific notes in the free pattern below, but it basically comes down to adjusting the size of the bottom circle.
Similarly, if you’d like to make more of a cat cave or cat house with higher sides, just work extra rounds to make the walls of the bed taller.
Keep in mind that adjusting the size of your crocheted cat nest will also affect the amount of yarn needed for the project overall.
Pro Tip: Another option to make a larger pet bed is to follow the pattern as written, but substitute a jumbo yarn such as Lion Brand WOW.
Best Yarn For a Crochet Bed Bed
For the Harbor Pet Bed pattern, we used Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Microbial Thick & Quick yarn.
It’s a recycled, chunky weight yarn that provides long-lasting protection against odor, allergens, and bacteria (up to 100 washes). The Amicor technology that makes this yarn anti-microbial keeps crochet and knit items fresher for long, making it perfect for pet projects!
Substitutions
If Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Microbial Thick & Quick yarn is not available near you, you can substitute another category 5 weight yarn such as Hue + Me.
All-in-One Crochet Kit
If you don’t live near amazing yarn stores or if you just like to get fun packages in the mail, the all-in-one kit is a perfect way to make your cat cave or dog digs.
This bundle from Lion Brand includes all the Basic Stitch Anti-Microbial Thick & Quick yarn you’ll need, plus a bonus printable PDF of the pattern (delivered digitally).
Print this Pattern
Prefer to crochet on the couch? Need a portable, printable pattern? You’ll love the premium PDF! The instantly downloadable, ad-free file is formatted for easy printing and includes the complete cat bed pattern and all the tutorial photos.
More Free Crochet Patterns for Animal Lovers
If you love furry friends, check out these animal-themed crochet patterns.
Harbor Pet Bed – Free Pattern
Supplies + Materials
Order an all-in-one kit from Lion Brand.
- Lion Brand Basic Stitch Anti-Microbial Thick & Quick (Weight: 5/bulky-chunky – 87 yds, 3.5 oz, 100 g)
color: Cement [209-149AV] – 8 skeins (approx. 790 g) for smaller bed, 12 skeins (approx. 1150 g) for larger bed
- Size L (8.00 mm) crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
- Stitch markers or safety pins
Optional Materials:
- Lion Brand Go For Faux (Weight: 6/super bulky – 65 yds, 3.5 oz, 100 g)
color: Chinchilla [322-204BH] – 1 entire skein for smaller bed, 2 entire skeins for larger bed
Measurements
Small bed (pictured) measures 15” across. Best for pets under 8 pounds.
Medium bed measures 19.5” across. Best for pets under 14 pounds.
The sides on both sizes are approximately 7” tall.
You can easily modify the size of the bed by creating a smaller or larger bottom circle. Adjusting the size will also affect the amount of yarn needed for the project overall.
Gauge
Base circle: diameter of 5 rounds = 7.5”
Sides of Bed: 9 sts x 12 rows = 4”
Gauge check instructions are given
after Round 5 of the bed bottom.
Abbreviations + Glossary
(US Terms)
ch – chain
dc – double crochet
PM – place marker
rep – repeat
RS – right side
rsc – reverse single crochet
sc – single crochet
sk – skip
slst – slip stitch
st(s) – stitch(es)
Special Stitches
SPsc – spike single crochet: work as a typical single crochet, but hook is
inserted in base of stitch one round
below. This creates the look of a visual spike pointing down.
Permissions + Copyright:
Please do not publish or share this pattern as your own. You may make items to sell with this pattern. In exchange, please link back this post. Do NOT use our photos as your own sales photos.
How to Crochet the Spike Stitch
The sides of this pet bed pattern are crocheted using the spike stitch.
The spike stitch is an easy variation on single crochet. The unique twist is where the hook is inserted for every other stitch.
One single crochet is worked under the previous row, making it a taller “spike.” The next single crochet is worked as usual.
Here are step-by-step instructions to crochet the spike stitch:
Step 1: Insert hook below next single crochet.
Step 2: Yarn over and pull up a loop to height of other stitches (which is higher than usual).
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Step 3: For the next single crochet, insert the hook in the top loops of the next stitch (as usual).
Step 4: Complete as a typical single crochet.
Overall Pattern Notes
- Bed is worked in the round in one seamless piece, beginning with the circle bottom.
- The bottom uses one strand of yarn. The sides of the bed use two strands held together
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Bottom of Bed
Notes:
- Chain 3 counts as one double crochet throughout. Chain these stitches tightly to minimize the gap that can be created by the turning chain.
- Circle is worked in joined rounds, which means you’ll slip stitch to the beginning of each round to complete it. The right side is facing you throughout.
- To modify the bed size, adjust the number of rounds in the bottom circle. Regardless of modifications, end your circle by following the instructions for Round 10.
Using one strand of yarn:
Foundation: Make a magic ring.
Round 1 (RS): Ch 3, 11 dc into the ring, slst to third ch from the beginning of the round to join. (12 dc)
Round 2: Ch 3, 2 dc in each st around, slst to join. (24 dc)
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