Crafting With Cat Hair – The Review
Written by Nikki-ann on Saturday, 8 October , 2011 at 2:39 pm
Author: Kaori Tsutaya
Translator: Amy Hirschman
Publisher: Quirk Books
ISBN: 978-1-59474-525-6
I’m very much a cat person. I have two cats… or should I say I’m owned by two cats. At this very moment, one of them is using me for his bed. And when they aren’t using me for a bed, they’re using my bed (which is obviously more comfortable than the cat beds I bought them!).
Both my cats molt. Leo loves to have his long fur brushed at least once or twice a day. He’s not shy in asking to be brushed either and would be brushed all day if he could be! We’ve always thought there should be something we could do with all the fur we get out of him.
So when Quirk Books offered me the chance to review Crafting With Cat Hair, I jumped at the chance!
Crafting With Cat Hair was originally published in Japan as Nekoke Feruto No Hon in 2009, but has now been made available in English by Quirk Books.
Crafting With Cat Hair features a number of crafts such as finger puppets, book covers, tote bags, pin cushions and more. Each craft/project gives easy to follow step-by-step instructions, complete with pictures to guide you along. Between the pages, you’ll also find Q & A’s and tips, as well as information about grooming, allergies, craft care, resources etc. There’s even a section where we get to “meet the contributors”, in other words we get to meet the cats!
I thought that all the crafts in the book would be made using cat fur and was imagining just how much we would need to do these projects, but I was wrong. The finger puppets are made mainly from cat fur, but the rest of the crafts use the cat hair as a design to go on them (which is probably more sensible than my idea of things made entirely of cat hair!).
Crafting With Cat Hair is a quirky book (and not just because of it’s publisher’s name!), but it’s also informative and crafty too. Most of the crafts can be made without the use of cat fur (for those who are allergic), but if you’ve got a cat who’s shedding fur like there’s no tomorrow why not make the most of it?!
I’d definitely recommend this book for the craft-loving cat people out there. Christmas is on the horizon and this book would certainly make a fun present!
Right then, where’s that cat brush…….
Buy Crafting With Cat Hair by Kaori Tsutaya.
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Please note: I received this book free from Quirk Books in return for a review. However, this has in no way influenced my opinion of the book.
Comments (8)
Category: Books,Cats,Crafts,Crafts,Reviews
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Comment by rashbre
Made Saturday, 8 of October , 2011 at 4:35 pm
I am so glad you explained that some of the ideas used cat hair for embellishment. I was struggling with the cat hair tote bag which I felt would require an awful lot of raw material. I shall need to move on to another book though because this one will make me sneeze.
Comment by OldOldLady Of The Hills
Made Saturday, 8 of October , 2011 at 7:57 pm
This sounds like a wonderful fun book, and what a great idea–using Cat Hair to craft fun and beautiful things…!
And you are right–What a great Christmas Gift this book is…!
“Sweetie” does NOT like to be brushed, at all…..So I have to have him shaved periodically so that his fur won’t get matted….Too bad I didn’t know about this 5 years ago—before I discovered a Home Groomer….lol!
And….you know the old expression: “Dogs have Masters, Cats have Servants!” So True….lol!
Comment by Jenners
Made Saturday, 8 of October , 2011 at 8:55 pm
If you wanted to be evil, you could make these and gift them to people who were allergic to cats!!! It is an interesting concept but, like you said, a bit quirky!
Comment by Yvonne
Made Sunday, 9 of October , 2011 at 2:01 pm
Hi Nikki,
This has to be one of the most ‘cringeworthy’ posts I have ever read. I can’t possibly think of a worse book to be recommended to me, or a more nauseating concept of a gift making idea!!
I am absolutely terrified of cats and I mean Terrified with a capitol T. I would cross the road to avoid having to pass too closely to a cat and the thought that it may follow me would be awful.
I cannot visit friends who have cats unless they promise to keep them shut out of the room, or preferably the house.
If one were to jump up onto my lap, or brush against my skin, I literally freeze to the spot, then normally scream!
I don’t know why it is, or if anything has happened in my past to cause this extreme reaction. I have a similar reaction to most small, furry animals, including small ‘lap’ dogs. Perhaps it is the thought that all of their bones can be felt beneath the fur and in the cat’s case, I know it has something to do with the eyes.
Definitely not a book I would buy either for myself or as a gift.
Have fun with all that fur, I’m off to wash my hands!!
Comment by Andrea
Made Sunday, 9 of October , 2011 at 11:05 pm
The whole concept of this book makes me LOL! I could probably make a lot of stuff out of cat hair..as I have a small army of them 
Comment by Yvonne
Made Tuesday, 11 of October , 2011 at 1:37 am
Sounds like a fun book!
Comment by Ti
Made Wednesday, 12 of October , 2011 at 5:44 pm
I was glad to read that these projects are not entirely made from cat hair. Can you imagine? I love that little finger puppet on the cover. Very cute.
I LOVE cats. I had mine for 17 years and then he passed away. Right now we have a puppy. Love the pup too but way different than having a cat.
Thanks for stopping by my blog to comment on The Night Circus. You have a very nice blog.
Comment by rashbre
Made Saturday, 15 of October , 2011 at 12:35 pm
(Second comment!) : Did you see this book got featured on one of the TV panel games during the week?
