Animal lovers have slammed New Zealand taxidermist Claire Third for creating a handbag made out of the pelt and face of a dead ginger tomcat, which was snapped up in an online auction for $525 (NZ$545).
A description of the item on the auction site claimed it was "a one off purse that will grab attention where ever you go" and that "no animals were killed or hurt to create this piece."
Several people condemned, and applauded Ms Third's piece in the comments section of the site.
Comments included, "that is sick!! I love animals and you are totally disrespecting them" and "this is morally wrong".
While others saw the item as an "extraordinary piece" and an "awesome purchase".
Ms Third, of Christchurch, told Fairfax she was not an animal hater.
“To spend all that time on tanning and sculpture and making it brand new shows the utmost respect,” she said
“A lot of people think I’m a cat hater, animal hater – I’m absolutely not. I’m the softest thing out there when it comes to animals.”
She claims to have discovered the dead cat while driving along a rural road, and subsequently searched for its owner while storing the it in a freezer for three months.
Her decision to create the handbag came after no owner came forward, Ms Third told Fairfax.
She told Radio New Zealand: “There has been good reaction, bad reaction and crazy reaction.”
“People have been telling me to leave the country.”
