When I was just a young kid from Arkansas, whenever I'd ask my mom "what fer?" her reply was inevitably, "Cat fur makes kitten britches." Since then, we've found that there are a number of clever, practical, and even humane uses for cat fur.
Our Cat Forum members came up with several unique uses for starters, and you will be asked to contribute your ideas.
Cat Fur Spun Into Yarn
Photo Credit: © Franny Syufy
From Biscuit's Mommy: someone really ought to figure out how to spin cat hair into yarn! Imagine the soft sweaters and afghans we could make of it. Oh, and what is warmer than a cat laying on your cold feet? CAT FUR SOCKS!
Actually, this is a very old practice. About 30 years ago I had a beautiful knitted shawl made from dog hair spun together with angora wool. Cat hair can also be spun into yarn, which can really be soft when made from Persians or other longhaired cats, or cats with thick double undercoats like my Billy, pictured here. If you would like to learn to spin your own cat fur yarn, there is a wide selection to choose from, from spinning wheels to hand spinners.
Multimedia Art Project
Photo Credit: © Pat Wolesky
From HOSTPat: The only thing that came to mind for me is a multi-media art piece, with Calypso's cottony white hair globs being used for snow and maybe clouds, and perhaps Coco's hair for earthy things (ground, trees, maybe rock).
Cat Fur Stuffing for Catnip Sock Toy
Photo Credit: © About.com/Video
Most cats love to play with catnip toys, and it's easy to create one with an old sock, as the linked video demonstrates. I also make them with baby or children's socks, and sew, rather than tie the top of the sock.
To use cat (or d*g) fur, simply replace (or supplement) the cotton stuffing with fur, tightly packed. Imagine the fun your kitty will have vicariously kicking the devil out of another cat!
Lessen Carbon Paw Prints With Cat Fur for Birds' Nests
Photo Credit: © iStock Photo/Reuben Schulz
Cat Fur Containment Booms for Oil Slicks
Our Dogs Guide, Jenna Stregowski blogged about the non-profit organization, Matter of Trust, an ecological public charity, which collects hair (human or pet) and nylon stockings. The clean hair and fur are stuffed into the nylon stockings, to create containment booms for oil spills from freighters, tankers, or off-shore drilling rigs.
During the Gulf Oil Spill of 2010, PetCo grooming salons is working with Matter of Trust in hope of collecting several tons of pet hair to help contain the spill and protect additional birds, seal, and other sea life from dying.
