Cat's
fur is documented to have been worn by Nuns in the 13th Century, and it was
probably worn before that. Today people are still wearing cat's
fur, whether they realize it or not is a different matter! It seems that labels
on some imported goods that contain what we are led to believe is synthetic fur,
is in fact, cat or dog fur. Some
of the pelts originate from countries
where feral cats are dealt with as pests and fur farming and pest control are
legal, but non-the-less, distasteful! The
farming and slaughter of cats and dogs in some Far Eastern countries is a
thriving business, carried out in very inhumane conditions.
Cats
were being farmed for their skins in the European Union in spite of assertions
from officials that there is no cat or dog farming inside the E U. The USA banned
the trading of cat and
dog skins in 2001 this resulted in an increase in the European
market.
A
Belgian furrier has claimed that cats in his area are being rounded up and
skinned, some cat skins are believed to
originate from much-loved family pets which have been taken indiscriminately
along with the strays.
It has long
been believed that a cat fur trade exists in Britain, possibly supplying
continental markets.
Every year many pet cats and dogs go missing in England. It is estimated (to
our shame) that worldwide, two million cats and dogs are slaughtered
every year. The fur is
used in hats, gloves, shoes, blankets, boot and coat linings, stuffed animals,
toys, ornaments, and even fur-covered
figurines of cats bought by unsuspecting cat lovers!
