The Cat Hair Handbag Lady
If you watched Cats 101 on Animal Planet last Saturday, you probably saw the segment on the Cat Groomer who makes purses from the fur she removes from her clients — usually done during the course of giving Persians the coveted Lion Cut.
She cards and felts the fur and makes “yarn” from it using a loom. Then she knits handbags with it. And those handbags sell for up to $300.
Now, making kitty toupees from cat hair is one thing, but handbags? Hubby and I kinda looked at each other and went, “Eeeuuw!” just before she pointed out that there are two responses to cat hair handbags: Eeeuuw! and Ahhhh! Obviously, the second group is the target market.
In trying to convert the “Eeeuuw”s to “Ahhhh”s, she points out the following:
- All pets are washed and groomed PRIOR to collecting their hair. The hair fibers we use are cleaner than your dog or cat that is currently running around your house and sleeping on your bed. Unless it has been bathed within the last 2 minutes.
- Felting requires running the product through a washing process anywhere from 2-6 times. The pet hair handbag is generally cleaner than your own clothing. Unless, of course, you have just washed it 6 times in a row and not worn it yet.
- Do you ever wear wool? Dog and cat hair fibers are no different from sheep hair fibers. Except that dog hair and cat hair fibers are much cleaner. After all, sheep do not usually visit their groomer once a month for a nice bath and blow dry after rolling around in the mud, muck and sheep pie (is that what it’s called?).
- Alpaca, Angora, Llama, Camel – are just a few examples of other natural animal fibers that are spun into yarn and used to create sweaters, purses, scarves, blankets, socks, etc. Many of the yarns made from these animal fibers can be very expensive and are quite beautiful.
One of her clients was thrilled, and said she would especially cherish the bag once her cat was gone, because she’d always have a little piece of Fluffy with her. Others said the concept, “kinda creeps me out.”
So what camp do you fall into? Eeeuuws or Aahhhs?
- Check out Catty Shack Creations
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Thanks to Catsters Reebok and Maddie for sending me this site!
[PHOTO CREDIT: Catty Shack Creations]
Now the LL is a certified “crazy cat lady” but I think that would push her into the eeeeewwwww camp.
First off, we thought that show was awesome! Goma is going to be featured on that show this week!
My Mommie is also a crazy cat lady, but I must sadly say even she said it was a little bit yucky. The purses are pretty though.
My Mum is in the “aahhh” category. Anyway, no one would know they were made from cat hair, apart from her!
I would like a fur coat made as I am naked. I do not need a purse. Do you think they would make me a fur coat? MOL!
I dearly love my cats, but I’m in the “Ewwwwww” category. I could send her lots of dog hair if she wants it!
we’re in the EEEWWWW camp, sorry it really is freaky.
My Meowmy is in the Aahhhs category, she would like to have one from me so when I’m gone she can still snuggle me and think of all the good times we had together. Although I think she would prefer a little snuggle blankie or scarf instead of a purse!
When we first watched that segment mom was in the eeewwww category, but after reading more about it & how clean it is, she is slowly going over to the aahhhh category.
[...] en: The Cat’s Meow. [...]
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ipMMaG1UwFuhBUaO5WO5E82HfBeQD94VLG6G0
Here is a story for you on Edgar the Cat. She is one luckey kitty.
At first Mom was in the Eww catagory but as she thought about it more, she became an Ahh. As the lady points out, the wool that we get from sheep, llamas and alpacas contains much worse stuff than what we pampered kitties would ever have in our furs. We think most people are in the eww catagory because it is so unusual to think of getting yarn made from our furs. Mom says that back in the middle ages, people used to take human hair from their dead loved ones and do something similar. Not that they would make a purse, but they would wear it in a locket, and they would often use human flesh to bind books. At the time, it was looked at as a perfectly normal thing to do, and now again, we have the ewww factor.
Maybe it won’t be such an ewww thing in the future. After all, Mom says that between the three of us kitties, and the doggie, she probably has enough hair to make a book bag, and she just uses the evil rug sucking monster to make it go away.
Tavi, Cody, Camie and Miss Jade
Well, at first I thought “Euwww!” and it still kinda creeps me out, but I guess, to each his own. My kitty Squeakers just died, but i wouldn’t feel right with her fur as my purse, and I definitely don’t feel right paying $300 for it!
a bit creepy for my liking. I love my cat but turning his fur into a handbag Euwww. But if people like it each to their own.
Why not? Sounds like a good idea to us!
It’s fine with me as long is they don’t kill the cat’s.
My mommy would cherish a tiny coin purse made from my long, cottony fur. I even used to smell like cotton. The smell and feel of my fur gave her comfort for almost 24 years. I’m an angel now and she so wishes she had a little purse.
She keeps a whisker of mine in a locket.
I am definitely on the “Euwwww” side! It is not a matter of cleanliness or cat fur being the same as alpaca or sheep (though I don’t keep alpacas or sheeps at home as pets). To me, it is rather like wearing a wig made from human hair.. or having a coin purse made with a dead parent’s hair. When time will come, I’ll probably want to keep a lock of my beloved kitties furs, but nothing more.
Ewwww. Definitely the ewww side. We really hope it doesn’t give people ideas to go shave fur off cats just to make a profit.
i kinda like the idea. i have a cat i wouldn’t mind doing that with, she has the softest fur i’ve ever felt (including Angora, which is supposed to be one of the softest natural materials in the world). not a purse, necessarily. i don’t like purses. but maybe a baby blanket or something. as long as it doesn’t shed. i just don’t like the idea of paying $300 for something like that.
[...] The Cat Hair Handbag Lady [...]
This is definitely cool. Cat hair is amazingly soft and as long as there’s no cruelty involved in obtaining the fur, then great! They purses are very pretty. I would wear a cat hair scarf, but I’d say no to sweaters.
Our Meowmy thinks it is strange, but what new idea isn’t at furst considered strange?
However we agree with LittleBigMan that a little blanket or scarf might be more popular. That said, our Meowmy likes the wallet design too.
Thanks fur posting this article.
mommy is in the ahhh category , whihc means she is not disgusted by it or anything , thinks its kinda cool , but wouldnt have one bc
a) she is allergic to cat hair
b) she never wear wool or anything made of fur , it amkes her feel hot and itchy and icky.
but its a cool idea! purrs,
michis
I think thats great really, I use the hair from my kitties to line my bird houses and leave some out for the birds to use to make nests for their young, I think that could be another use and a blankey for the kitties to lay on or pillows to, and for my outdoor strays that happen to come by it be great to have a blanky made of the fur for them to, or baskets lined with the fur to. I think its a great idea to put the fur to good use, I have always kept the fur from grooming my kitties and used it for something useful and for birds life saving to, if kept at an affordable price, its a great idea! I like it!
We were just watching that epsisode right now as I was looking at this site… I am definatly in the EEEEWWWWW catagory, but when my first cat got hit by a car and died 10 years ago, I would have relished a coin purse or something made from his beautiful fluffy fur! I don’t think Ori would like to be shaved though, so I wouldn’t get one made from his fur. lol.
I am a Flamepoint Himalayan, and my fur is very thick and fluffy! It also Matts easily, so I know how “thick” it can get! My Momma thinks it is an “Ahhhhh” idea! She has 5 indoor Kitties (Me, 3 short-hairs, and a Ragdoll, with “angora” like fur) and around here, “Cat Hair is a Condiment”! MOL!
My Catster ID is: 398034 and it is a link to all of us Pretty Kitties! I think something made from our Pretty-Colored Fur would be lovely, and would match just about anything! Momma saves Kitty-Whiskers, for “Good Luck”!
Im am in the ‘ahhh’ category. I think these are adorable and very brilliant. I knit with alpaca fur all the time and I see cat fur as nothing different.
We know that our mama would cherish anything made of our fur. We don’t care for being bathed but Mama does it anyway. She says we make the furniture smell yucky when we smell like animals. Imagine that, right??? We don’t think mama has $300 to pay for a purse though, even if it is custom made. This is a great idea.
My grandparents actually used to do this with their dog, Snoopy. They didn’t make the products but the lady who did requested if she could have the fur they get when they brush Snoopy in exchange for treats. So they would take the hair out of the brush after they brushed Snoop and then bring it in in exchange for treats! Of course the lady would wash the treats and what-not…she actually made all kinds of products…mittens…hats…
Whoops I meant to say wash the fur* not the treats lol. We never did buy any of the things that she made, she sells them in a booth at the market (not just made out of Snoopy fur lol)
How do we buy one of your cat fur bags?
I took my cat to the vet to have have a “lion cut” done today and asked her to put the cat hair she cut in a bag and keep it for me.
I already do some key fobs and bracelets from horse hair, so why not use my cat’s hair to make myself a nice souvenir.
Somebody even asked me to make something for her from the horse hair she kept when her horse died. Why not do the same with the cat hair?
I am so very sorry people are so closed-minded! This is an Incredibly Amazing idea/invention! I was soo happy and exited when i saw this! I am trying to contact/locate you or whom it may concern to get info on how i can have a bag made? Im not shore i should leave my email here so i really hope u can contact me back here!?! Please contact me i am so very exited cuz i want 1 very badly! Thank yoU very much!
I’m an aaaahhhhh person. I would love to find someone who would spin my cat’s hair into the yarn so I could crate something besides a purse. Anybody have any ideas…???
this is a great idea i wish i could get one ,see my moms cat is 19 and I think hes going to go soon.She is very upset and it would be a great present for her .Plus we get him shaved every couple of months