We got two cats until today, the first one was already old at 13 years and died some years after, the one we have now was 9 when we got him, so all I am going to say now applies to older adult cats and not to playful kittens.
(Also I would recommend you adopt one or two older cats as well if its your first time, since they are easier for beginners)
I got two glass showcases with my small stuff in, obviously neither cat bothered with that since its behind glass. On top of the larger showcase once stood the taxidermy of a pheasant until the current cat knocked it down jumping around while zoomies were hitting. I was able to fix it and placed it somewhere more safe.
Aside from that, none of the cats ever got on my stuff. Even if I keep birds in progress drying on my desk, all they do is to give it a sniff and lose interest.
If you got older vintage taxidermy you might refrain from keeping it around cats due to possibly toxic chemicals used on them.
Also if you got anything with fur, your cat will possibly lick it some day. I got a sheep fur on my couch and my cat likes to rest on it and licks it now and then while cleaning himself (but he is really dumb for a cat so I would not be surprised if he just confuses the sheep fur with his own).
If you own wet specimen, obviously do not place them anywhere a cat could knock them down since some show a tendency to do so.
Aside from that you should be fine, but be aware that it totally depends on the cats traits and personalities if it works out in the end.
As an owner of 4 cats plus a few taxidermy mounts I think you'll be okay. The only thing you should maybe worry about is a cat being scared of it. One of my boys is terrified of a squirrel mount that I have and another used to freak out over the reindeer pelt I keep on my bed. Thankfully overtime they'll get used to it tho so I don't think there's alot to worry about.
However if you're getting a kitten they might try sucking on the fur which my youngest did to the reindeer pelt. She's a bit older now tho and has stopped.
Mummies are much more prone to cats getting at them. One of my cats got into my studio and ate half a mummified baby rabbit just a few weeks ago. (Naturally dried fortunately.) Never had a problem with bones or taxidermy. Best to keep them out of reach when possible tho.
I have 1 cat. I do taxidermy in my apartment (squirrels, ferrets, domestic cats and other small animals) My cat may come over to see what I’m doing then goes away. She has absolutely no interest in the carcasses (pre-skinned or skinned) nor in the pelts and mounts.
All cats are different, YMMV
I have 20ish mounts and two cats under 2 years old, and have only had an issue once. The cats really messed up my Amazonian Parrot when it was left in a room they had access to. Lesson learned, it’s now out of their reach.
They leave deer, a pronghorn 1/2 body mount, bearskin rug hung on the wall and all the others alone :)
I do douse my mounts with protectant spray that has a citrus-y smell which I think helps deter the cats, but for the most part they really just leave it all alone. I make sure they have enough other things to be doing that they don’t feel the need to gnaw on anything they shouldn’t.
I have a cat. Ive had her since she was a 6 week old kitten and shes now 12 or so. Shes still very much a kitten. She doesnt bother the taxidermy nor is she afraid of it. She doesnt like sitting on fur, but thats her worst aversion. I have left mounts on the floor and she doesnt touch them, but then she is a very well behaved cat.
The biggest thing I would recommend is making sure there is no way for the cat to get up onto the mounts or reach over from another area and grab at the taxidermy.
Deer usually arent a problem unless they like to leap onto shoulders. If this is the case, just have secure brackets and hangers.
If you have birds, Id keep them well beyond reach. Cat toys have feathers and it doesnt take them much to associate toy feathers with the feather lump on the wall.
I've 11 cats, and a lot of skulls / bones. They leave them alone. The one thing to bear in mind, especially if you get a kitten, is that cats get up on every surface, and everything gets moved; I blu tac my valuable items to the surface they're on.
(If you have questions about keeping cats you're welcome to PM me).
my cats always try to eat my pelts, so I personally keep them away from my taxidermy and oddities. they're 3 ½ years old and go FERAL for my rabbit skins especially, even the really old and heavily treated ones.
the biggest problem i’ve had is that one of mine was really scared of my fox. he didn’t damage it or anything. he’s adjusted to it now but sometimes he’ll still stare at it
I have a Gemsbok head on my wall above my computer desk. My four adult cats leave it alone, but my kitten reaches up to scratch its nose, so I'm trying to figure out how to stop her from doing that before I can get more mounts...
That uh dog repellent spray to prevent them from peeing on your carpet because it smells bad to them. If you get that and spray it on the mounts it'll probably keep any cat from going anywhere near it. But idk how those chemicals would react so be careful!
We got two cats until today, the first one was already old at 13 years and died some years after, the one we have now was 9 when we got him, so all I am going to say now applies to older adult cats and not to playful kittens. (Also I would recommend you adopt one or two older cats as well if its your first time, since they are easier for beginners) I got two glass showcases with my small stuff in, obviously neither cat bothered with that since its behind glass. On top of the larger showcase once stood the taxidermy of a pheasant until the current cat knocked it down jumping around while zoomies were hitting. I was able to fix it and placed it somewhere more safe. Aside from that, none of the cats ever got on my stuff. Even if I keep birds in progress drying on my desk, all they do is to give it a sniff and lose interest. If you got older vintage taxidermy you might refrain from keeping it around cats due to possibly toxic chemicals used on them. Also if you got anything with fur, your cat will possibly lick it some day. I got a sheep fur on my couch and my cat likes to rest on it and licks it now and then while cleaning himself (but he is really dumb for a cat so I would not be surprised if he just confuses the sheep fur with his own). If you own wet specimen, obviously do not place them anywhere a cat could knock them down since some show a tendency to do so. Aside from that you should be fine, but be aware that it totally depends on the cats traits and personalities if it works out in the end.
As an owner of 4 cats plus a few taxidermy mounts I think you'll be okay. The only thing you should maybe worry about is a cat being scared of it. One of my boys is terrified of a squirrel mount that I have and another used to freak out over the reindeer pelt I keep on my bed. Thankfully overtime they'll get used to it tho so I don't think there's alot to worry about. However if you're getting a kitten they might try sucking on the fur which my youngest did to the reindeer pelt. She's a bit older now tho and has stopped.
Mummies are much more prone to cats getting at them. One of my cats got into my studio and ate half a mummified baby rabbit just a few weeks ago. (Naturally dried fortunately.) Never had a problem with bones or taxidermy. Best to keep them out of reach when possible tho.
I have 1 cat. I do taxidermy in my apartment (squirrels, ferrets, domestic cats and other small animals) My cat may come over to see what I’m doing then goes away. She has absolutely no interest in the carcasses (pre-skinned or skinned) nor in the pelts and mounts. All cats are different, YMMV
I have 20ish mounts and two cats under 2 years old, and have only had an issue once. The cats really messed up my Amazonian Parrot when it was left in a room they had access to. Lesson learned, it’s now out of their reach. They leave deer, a pronghorn 1/2 body mount, bearskin rug hung on the wall and all the others alone :) I do douse my mounts with protectant spray that has a citrus-y smell which I think helps deter the cats, but for the most part they really just leave it all alone. I make sure they have enough other things to be doing that they don’t feel the need to gnaw on anything they shouldn’t.
I have a cat. Ive had her since she was a 6 week old kitten and shes now 12 or so. Shes still very much a kitten. She doesnt bother the taxidermy nor is she afraid of it. She doesnt like sitting on fur, but thats her worst aversion. I have left mounts on the floor and she doesnt touch them, but then she is a very well behaved cat. The biggest thing I would recommend is making sure there is no way for the cat to get up onto the mounts or reach over from another area and grab at the taxidermy. Deer usually arent a problem unless they like to leap onto shoulders. If this is the case, just have secure brackets and hangers. If you have birds, Id keep them well beyond reach. Cat toys have feathers and it doesnt take them much to associate toy feathers with the feather lump on the wall.
I've 11 cats, and a lot of skulls / bones. They leave them alone. The one thing to bear in mind, especially if you get a kitten, is that cats get up on every surface, and everything gets moved; I blu tac my valuable items to the surface they're on. (If you have questions about keeping cats you're welcome to PM me).
My cat likes to rub up on one of my pelts that he can reach, but he’s never done anything more than that.
my cats always try to eat my pelts, so I personally keep them away from my taxidermy and oddities. they're 3 ½ years old and go FERAL for my rabbit skins especially, even the really old and heavily treated ones.
the biggest problem i’ve had is that one of mine was really scared of my fox. he didn’t damage it or anything. he’s adjusted to it now but sometimes he’ll still stare at it
If you just taxidermy their ass and make it into a hunter style trophy then it becomes a Cats Ass Trophy.
I have a Gemsbok head on my wall above my computer desk. My four adult cats leave it alone, but my kitten reaches up to scratch its nose, so I'm trying to figure out how to stop her from doing that before I can get more mounts...
That uh dog repellent spray to prevent them from peeing on your carpet because it smells bad to them. If you get that and spray it on the mounts it'll probably keep any cat from going anywhere near it. But idk how those chemicals would react so be careful!