Cat Hair Handbags

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By Becky Stern
Posted January 7th, 2009
Category Craft, Knitting

Collin @ MAKE writes:

Erica points out this vid on cat groomer Danielle German – Unhappy tossing all the hair leftover from a thorough longhaired feline shave, Danielle decided to try spinning the otherwise unwanted fur into a “silky yarn” fit for an owner’s purse. If that sounds like creep salad to you, consider some stylish pet hair apparel. Still no? – understandable, how about as a simple garden pest repellant?

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11 Responses to Cat Hair Handbags

Anonymous on January 7th, 2009 at 1:55 pm said:

a few years ago a colleague of mine felted beads for jewelry out of cat hair- it was fascinating & creepy at the same time

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Angie on January 7th, 2009 at 4:50 pm said:

I love my dogs and all, but this creeps me out!

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ellen on January 7th, 2009 at 5:12 pm said:

When you think about it I guess it’s no odder than wearing a sheep or a goat…

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Kelli on January 8th, 2009 at 6:16 am said:

We are too selectively creeped out. Seriously, what is more creepy about cat and dog hair than sheep, goat, llama. I felt some dog hair/wool yarn a few weeks ago and it was soooo incredibly soft.

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Jan on January 8th, 2009 at 8:54 am said:

I think it’s cool. And gthe man in the pic looks like Wallace from Wallace and Gromit!

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I have no mouth and I must scream on January 8th, 2009 at 2:38 pm said:

I remember reading a story or article long ago about a woman who had domestic wolfs or wolf hybrids. When they would shed there winter coats she got the idea to spin it into yarn and to knit sweaters. There was a small down side when dogs would catch scent of the sweaters they would react to them as though they were wolves. lol

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erin on January 8th, 2009 at 6:30 pm said:

Better a cat or dog you know and love than a sheep you’ve never even met.

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Melonie on January 9th, 2009 at 9:43 am said:

I had an Old English Sheepdog growing up, my grandmother saved all of his fur…made yarn from it and then knitted socks from it. They are the warmest socks I’ve ever had. The downside was when they got wet…they of course smelled like wet dog.

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Shyrell on January 24th, 2009 at 7:41 am said:

My cat is 13 and will probably not live much longer. I have often thought of having his “STUFFED”. (Taxidermy) So my question would be, which is worse, saving fur or having your pet freeze dried and stuffed? I think a bag out of my cat’s fur is the perfect answer!
Shyrell

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BG on January 26th, 2009 at 2:25 pm said:

Hey Shyrell-
It can be a little weird to think that as your getting your cellphone out of your bag, it used to be your cat before. But I think if you really want to skin your cat once it passes and make something you’ll use and remember her/him by, no harm of it, right? I must confess sometimes I wonder, “what will I do with my cat’s body once she dies (15-20 hopefully years from now)?” Her fur (if she stays small) could make a really nice set of gloves, or a cropped vest, or even a hat. It’s strange to put it that way, but I’d rather make her into something special than have her stuffed.. or worse yet rotting away in the earth (having to pay expensive prices for an urn or a burial site, etc.)
BUT alas, I do wish she would live forever – and on that note, does anyone have a link to a tutorial on how to shave your cat’s fur off? Thanks!
And a note to the creeped out kids: when it comes down to it, if I could make yarn out of MY body parts, I would. But human hair is no match for an animal’s fur – plus, llamas, goats, rabbits, sheep, alpacas – we all get fur from these animals. And some of them people view as full fledged pets. Hardly think it’s weird to get it from a dog or cat. I actually think this is the best form of pet recycling. Imagine all that trouble one has to go through to get cat fur off their clothes only for it to be one of their clothing? And then you can just shave the cat/dog continuously to reduce shedding. Brilliant!
p.s.
no doubt I have disgusted someone out there with my comment to shyrell! yikes!

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Kathy on September 25th, 2009 at 9:08 am said:

I am actually commenting to the woman who thinks the cats pelts are being used. The hair is collected over time by brushing and saving the fur. Just like a sheep which is shaved not scalped. So I have to ask, why is using cat hair creepy when using sheep hair is not?

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