All in all, this is a cute book that would appeal to crafters (if only for the novelty) and lovers of the quirky -- and, of course, cat people. And I must admit, I have a sudden hankering to make little tiny finger-puppet doppelgangers of my two cats. I've often joked that I could knit an entire new cat out of the amount of cat hair I sweep up, and perhaps this is the first step towards that. When it comes to felting, many cat owners wonder if certain breeds or types of cat hair are better suited for the art than others. While there isn't a definitive answer for this question, there are certain characteristics of cat hair that make it better suited for felting. Trauma: This includes general trauma to a cat from an accident and can include getting hit by a car or injuries from jumping off something that was too high. Step 3: You’ll now devise a catlike cardboard form. I like to cut out a cat shape and then cover it with plastic wrap and some extra tape for waterproofing.

As such, I find that “furmination” is every bit as therapeutic as it is hygienic and cosmetic. Apart from keeping cat hair lustrous, clean and flake-free, it also cuts down on hairball-hurling episodes and minimizes the possibility of serious hairball trouble — like gastric trichobezoars, nonpassing hairballs that stay uncomfortably in the stomach. This project requires a little bit of sewing or gluing to make the box, but the kitty cats are simple to felt from your own’ kitty’s fur. 3. Cat hair jewelry It is worth noting that cat hair can be used for felting projects regardless of breed or type. All cats shed hair naturally, and with proper grooming, their hair can be collected and used for felting. Some breeds may be more suitable than others, but ultimately the quality of the hair is more important than the breed.

Craft With All That Excess Cat Fluff

What tips or techniques are recommended for successfully felting cat hair, and are there any potential hazards or health concerns to be aware of? Felted cat hair - an unusual crafting material that has gained a dedicated following among cat lovers. While it might seem odd to use your feline friend's shed fur for anything other than decoration, this unique material has several potential applications for the creative among us. Felting cat hair can be a fun and rewarding hobby for cat lovers. It can also be a way to preserve the memory of a beloved pet. However, as with any activity involving animals, there are some potential hazards and health concerns to be aware of. In this article, we will explore some tips and techniques for successfully felting cat hair, as well as discuss some of the health considerations.

The most common outdoor injury/accident is for sure cat bites/abscessed wounds,” says Embrace Pet Insurance Claims Manager, Jenna Mahan. Usually these injuries are the result of fighting. To prevent these types of injuries, Mahan suggests keeping cats indoors. If you’ve had cats for a while, you might already be in the habit of looking down before taking a step or getting up from a chair. Dr. Eisen sees injuries from people stepping on or tripping over their cats. Be careful where you step, and when closing a door, make sure a tail is not in the doorway. “If there are small children in the house, teach them not to yank on tails,” she says. She also sees lacerated paws from stepping on glass. “If you break a glass, make sure your cats aren’t around,” she says. “If you have broken glass, put them in a safe room, and vacuum as well as you can.” This controlled “matting” technique is the crux of the process. Akin to “felting”— the process by which disulfide bonds are encouraged to form strong connections (as happens readily with natural fibers like wool and mohair) — cat fur matting makes for a flattened, solidified mass of surprisingly soft, feltlike fiber. Aside from felting, cat hair can also be spun into skeins of yarn, suitable for sweater or mitten making. If you don’t have the skills or equipment to do it yourself, companies like VIP Fibers will wash, card, and spin the fur you send in, and even knit it into memorable keepsakes to help you remember Fluffy forever. 5. Oil Spill CleanupMost of the projects are with felting techniques. These are presented well with details, so they suit people who've never tried any kind of felting before.