Exclusive Interview: Japanese Artist Creating One-of-a-Kind Hats and Wigs from Naturally Shed Feline Fur

Introducing Rojiman and Umatan, a Japanese couple who have gained recognition for their talent in making cute, miniature hats out of the fur shed by their cats, Nya, Maru, and Mugi. The idea first came to Umatan while she was brushing one of their cats, and she stacked the stray hairs on top of each other to create a small mountain-like formation. Intrigued, she placed the pile on the cat’s head, and the feline’s expression was priceless. She then started experimenting with shaping the hair into hats, which she found worked well as they hardened like felt. Since then, the couple has expanded their range to include wigs, animal ears, crowns, helmets, and other adorable headpieces. Umatan designs the accessories, while Rojiman takes photos of their cats wearing them. They even created a special Bored Panda hat as a surprise. Check out some of their cutest creations below!

Before crafting your cat hair hat, make sure to wash the cat’s hair that you plan on using to ensure cleanliness and longevity. To create a basic cup shape, start by rolling loose cat hair into a ball roughly the size of a fist. Gently press the center of the ball with your thumb to create a dent for a comfortable fit on your cat’s head. Continue adding hairs to the outside of the cup until you reach the desired size. For more complex designs, craft individual parts separately and attach them to the cup using felting needles and thread – no adhesive necessary. If you’re interested in exploring more cat hair crafting, check out the “CAT-HAIR HATS FOR CATS” book by these talented artists or their other book “Cats In Hats,” available for purchase on Amazon.

Umatan revealed that she has a penchant for creating hats that are in sync with the seasonal festivities. She enjoys crafting Santa Claus hats during Christmas and witch hats during Halloween, which she sportingly flaunts along with her beloved feline friends. Besides, Umatan also indulges in the creation of wigs inspired by popular anime characters, which not only brings joy to her but also entertains her followers. This trend is quite famous in Japan, given the country’s love for anime.

Creating the simple cup design mentioned earlier requires approximately 20 minutes to complete. However, more complex designs may require two to three hours of work. Umatan revealed that the most time-consuming project he had completed was a replication of the beloved Japanese robot animation ‘MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM.’ He devoted three full days to carefully molding the hair for this particular project. What do you think about these charming creations? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!