Painting a Cat

[Death Pony]

So, a few months ago I found a dead cat in my backyard, which was almost fully decomposed. Here's what I've done with it, being the creative person I am. Don't worry, it has been properly cleaned and sterilized.

The rest of the skeleton is waiting to be planned, painted, and assembled.

 

[iManipulate]

Thats really neat! I love it

 

[poly-nomial]

ew, but cool. people do this with their fish skeletons

 

[Liam]

omg rad

 

[Arturo]

That's pretty sweet.

 

[Aqua Sanctuary]

It looks beautiful man. Like something the ancients would do.

Epic

 

[jinkzd]

That's slick. How did you clean this? I have tons of dead wildlife in my area - I live near Three Mile Island - I often thought of cleaning them up like you've done.

 

[Bottomfeeder]

Nice yet disgusting

Cool idea though. I have to wonder what triggered that little light bulb...
Most people say "Eew gross" when they see a rotting animal, but others say, "Huh, i bet I can cut off it's head and paint it."
I like it.

 

[Aqua Sanctuary]

Nice yet disgusting

Cool idea though. I have to wonder what triggered that little light bulb...
Most people say "Eew gross" when they see a rotting animal, but others say, "Huh, i bet I can cut off it's head and paint it."
I like it.

Original thinking is a commodity. DP is rich.

 

[Death Pony]

That's slick. How did you clean this? I have tons of dead wildlife in my area - I live near Three Mile Island - I often thought of cleaning them up like you've done.

Thanks!
The first thing you'll want to do is get some high quality gloves, and sharp X-acto knife, and possibly a gas mask or respirator. Cut off all of the remaining tissue from the bones with the knife and submerge them in a watertight container and fill it with a half water, half ammonia solution. Change the water and ammonia (Ammonium Hydroxide) solution daily for about a week. This degreases the bones, basically ridding them of grease, blood, and other organic matter. Do this until the water runs clear. After that horrible smelling period, it's time to bleach the bones. Mix a solution of 50% water and 50% Hydrogen Peroxide to whiten the bones. This will also get rid of any remaining non-bone tissue, or make it easier to manually remove.

It's a smelly, dirty process, but well worth it for specimens in good condition. Another word of advice, remove the brain from the skull with a wire or something similar. I had the nasty experience of shooting the half decomposed brain out of the kitties nasal cavity with a hose.