I actually think this craft is hilarious, but a lot of people are horrified, which is why I am including it in this series. (Of course, those of us with cats know that basically all crafts count as "crafting cat hair," if only as an accidental inclusion. Like a garnish.)
If you have ever brushed Fluffy and thought, "I wish I could find something useful to do with all this extra fur," then you are in luck! The undercoat of a cat is soft and warm, and can be used to make felt. (Felting is, after all, just a controlled way of making matts. And if you have ever seen an unkempt or sick cat, you know that cat hair can matt up quite well.)
On the down side, cat hair has a short staple length compared to more traditional fibers. Even if you have a longhaired cat like a Persian, the undercoat is still going to be short compared to the fibers of a sheep. This is why spinning cat hair into yarn is not a "thing" the way it is with dog fur.
This great Etsy post walks you through the process of collecting, sorting, and prepping the cat fur. It then offers several patterns for you to use the cat fur in needle felting projects. It's so pleasingly self-referential, to brush the fur off your cat and use it to create a tiny needle felted sculpture of your cat, don't you think?
I also love the way it frames this pastime as "crafting with your cat." Cats may not be very helpful in the crafting world as a rule, but in this case, they are definitely giving you a helping hand. (Paw?)
You can also use your cat's fur to create needle-felted embellishments and shapes, like little felted hearts or beads. The world is your oyster, really, once you discover that your cat is also a sustainable source of crafting material!
Image courtesy Flickr/Magnus Brath
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