Kitty Weed Cat Toy

Author

by Marlo D. Cairns

Introduction

This pattern was designed for my cat Rufus. He is a lover of catnip and will fight anyone who tries to take his toys that are filled with it. I have often called catnip Kitty Weed, so I thought he should have his own Cannabis leaf. Your cat will want more than one toy so buy a large bag of catnip! This toy was tested on animals, but no cats were harmed in the use or making of this toy. J They only enjoyed it!

Materials List

• One cat who loves catnip
• Size G (4mm) hook
• small amount of green acrylic worsted weight yarn
• sewing needle
• small amount of fiberfill and dried catnip.

Notes

US Notations used throughout

Ch = chain
Sl st = slip stitch
Sc = single crochet

Special notes
This pattern has a front and a back. The catnip is stuffed in to the largest leaf in the center. The two leaves are sewn together so the catnip will not come out of the leaf. My cats have used their toy for several months and it is still in good shape. Use any acrylic yarn and the toy will hold up to thrashing and biting by your cat. Make sure all of the ends are woven in well so your kitty doesn’t choke on loose yarn. If you have more than one cat you will need to make multiple toys. Cats don’t like to share their stash-filled toys.

Each side of the toy has 7 leaves.

The Pattern

Leaf #1

Ch 5, sl st in 2nd chain from hook and in each remaining chain, DO NOT fasten off, continue with leaf two.

Leaf #2

Ch 7, sc in 2nd chain from hook and in each remaining chain, sc in each stitch on the backside of the chain, join with a sl st to the 1st sc and fasten off.

Leaf #3

Attach yarn to the bottom (the 1st ch) of the chain 5 on Leaf #1. Ch 9, sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each remaining chain, sc in each st on the backside of the chain, join with a sl st to the 1st sc and fasten off.

Leaf #4

Attach yarn to the bottom of Leaf #3. Ch 13, sc in the 2nd chain from the hook and in each remaining chain, sc in each st on the backside of the chain, join with a sl st to the 1st sc and fasten off.

Make another Leaf #1, #2 and #3. This completes one side of the toy.

Repeat all of the above directions for side 2.

Sewing and stuffing the leaf

You now have two sections for each side of the leaf, one with 4 leaves and one with 3. It should look like this:

After sewing the two pieces together you will have a leaf that looks like this:

You now need to stuff a small amount of catnip into the fiberfill.

Take the two leaves and match them up with wrong sides together. Join together with either a slip stitch or whipstitch, beginning with leaf #1 and working your way up to leaf #4. Stuff leaf #4 with the catnip-stuffed fiberfill.

Finish joining the rest of the leaves together. Your leaf will look like this:

Gather the bottom of the leaf up and stitch all the leaves close together. Attach yarn in the middle of the base of the leaf on the bottom and ch 7. Single crochet in 2nd chain from hook and in each remaining chain. Fasten off and weave in all ends.

Toss the toy on the floor and watch your cat enjoy it!