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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To get my cat stuffed anyway?

99 replies

LeatherAndLace · 05/10/2016 17:46

My lovely cat is nearing the end of his life. I've always loved taxidermy but never owned any as dh hates it. He absolutely refuses to 'allow' me to get our cat stuffed.

Aibu to do it anyway?

OP posts:

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SabineUndine · 07/10/2016 05:36

Don't do it. A cat is a lovely warm affectionate animal. Getting yours stuffed will ruin your memories. When my cat was put to sleep I had him cremated and I've still got the ashes in a little box.

franincisco · 07/10/2016 07:28

YWBVU to even consider it for £150. Our local vet does taxidermy and charges at least £1000 for a small animal. Unless you aren't very fussy about what you will get back and have to be haunted by every time you look at it I wouldn't do it.

Don't know whether to be intrigued, comforted or horrified by the cured skin!

wewereonabreak1 · 07/10/2016 08:32

penne

Ta1kinpeece · 07/10/2016 13:39

franin
The cured skin lives in a drawer.
It looks like nothing much rolled up, but wrapped to make a body shape its suddenly her again and I can stroke her - and then put her away for another day.
She was not buried in the garden for various reasons.
The other cats are - and the new cats sunbath on their grave stones.

ErrolTheDragon · 07/10/2016 15:15

Maybe the companies that make those 'sleeping cats' from rabbit fur should do bespoke 'my tibbles' versions with the actual cat fur.

Ginkypig · 07/10/2016 16:37

I spoke to a taxidermist, he said apart from the difficulty in capturing the personality because the animal is a pet.

The main issue he has is the older the animals the harder it is, he said lots of people pets are old and many have age related diseases that affect the "quality" of the animal so he won't do it because the results wouldn't be good enough. I wanted my cat done but she's 13 now so when she goes it would be too late in his opinion.

TroubledTrouble · 07/10/2016 16:46

The OPs question wasn't whether it was ok to stuff her cat, but was it unreasonable to do it even though her DP really doesn't want her to (and would have to live with it). I do think it would be unreasonable. The jewellery is a lovely idea.

maxington · 07/10/2016 16:54

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

VilootShesCute · 07/10/2016 16:56

Oh no you've got me googling cat taxidermy now. Knowing my luck I'd get this...

Oldraver · 07/10/2016 18:24

Its funny we were talking about this, this week (on a side not several convo's we have had have turned up on MN this week)

Someone in tyhe family used to say he would get our old cat made into fluffy slippers but realised there would only be enough for one foot...We decided that stuffing the cat to me is spooky...but I wouldn't mind a small rug made out of his coat.

I think it could be quite comforting to have a cushion made out of the cat pelt

Ta1kinpeece · 07/10/2016 18:41

raver
my cat was my companion for 17 years. She died 9 years ago. I like to be able to stroke her still.
DHs old cat (19 years) is in the garden, but we use his grave to put teacups on while working.

Most of our friends have "met" the flat cat.
Many think its odd but others "get" why I did it.

thatwouldbeanecumenicalmatter · 07/10/2016 21:03

Glad I'm not the only one whose considered this...

We recently had this conversation! DH said if I get the cats stuffed then if I go before him he's going to get me done like one of those stuffed bears in standing up growling pose and use me as a hat stand. I said at least I'll be useful

SexLubeAndAFishSlice · 07/10/2016 21:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ta1kinpeece · 07/10/2016 21:33

Thinking about it, and having my cat in a drawer
if you do have yours suffed, get them to do it in the curled up "ferk you" pose
as then it will hurt less over the years

Reiltin · 07/10/2016 21:34

We have a lovely photo frame with 4 photos of my dear departed kitten. His ashes are within the frame. It makes me very happy to have it on the living room wall.

Benedikte2 · 07/10/2016 22:25

You can get dead pets freeze dried. A few years back a woman got her dog freeze dried. Used to take it out in the car with her. One very hot day the police broke into the car because someone complained there was a dog at risk of heat stroke.

Benedikte2 · 07/10/2016 22:28

I have a very special cat's ashes in a sealed wooden box all ready to be popped into my coffin when I eventually kick the bucket. Poor old girl died about 20 years ago.

Daydream007 · 07/10/2016 22:42

No don't. It will freak your DH out if he isn't into stuffed animals like you are.

nolongersurprised · 08/10/2016 00:17

Would you put the stuffed cat in one place or sort of move it around the house?

dinosaursarebisexual · 08/10/2016 01:07

This is worse than scary clowns you bunch of picture posting freaks.

MsMims · 08/10/2016 03:06

I'm intrigued by the cured skin but too scared to google it.

OP, even if it's technically your cat, if it's now a family pet I think it would be unfair to have it stuffed if your DH doesn't want to. I'm sure he cares for the cat now even if it wasn't his to begin with.

katemess12 · 08/10/2016 03:13

I adore my dog and don't think I could bear looking at him stuffed every day.

When he passes away, I'll probably get him cremated and put in a lovely urn with his name and dates on etc. and it will probably be in our living room where we can have a reminder of him everyday (we also have photos and a portrait of him already).

I don't like the idea of burying them, or planting a tree with them underneath as I did with my beloved childhood dog, because if you ever move, you can't take them with you.

I don't think YABU for wanting to have him stuffed, but if your DH is uncomfortable with it, you are probably best to reconsider. Also consider whether having him stuffed is actually going to be best for you: I personally think it'd be very sad.

Ta1kinpeece · 08/10/2016 19:41

Mims
the funny thing is that if we let her brother sniff the skin he always thwacked it - he knew it was her.
Our current cats ignore it.
It looks like a small fur rug and for various reasons has no tail
I do not regret having it done for an instant

JamieLannistersFuckButler · 09/10/2016 13:40

BishopBrennan's point is a good one.

I'd get it done; but I am into Natural History etc and find it interesting rather than (ghoulish ?) - your cat will have finished with its body at that point!

I wonder if you could get it "taxidermied" in a sleeping position? Which would reduce the chance of having a stuffed animal that looks completely unlike your cat.

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