Stripey-Tailed Cat Decoration

This stripey-tailed cat decoration is needle-felted by hand in Nepal from sheep's wool, with a sleepy face, a white and grey coat and a long striped tail. It hangs from a length of jute thread and makes a lovely small present for anyone who loves cats, at Christmas or at any other time of year.

The cat is made by working loose wool with a barbed felting needle until the fibres knit together into a firm shape, and the stripes and closed eyes are added in coloured wool. The wool is coloured with Azo-free dyes, and since each cat is shaped by hand, the stripes and expressions vary a little between them.

They are made in the foothills of the Himalayas by a workshop whose makers are mostly women. We source these from a supplier who describes them as fair trade, with repeat orders giving the makers a steady income.

How to Care for Your Felt Cat

Brush away dust lightly, and if the cat gets marked, wipe it gently with a clean, damp cloth and let it dry naturally. Store it somewhere dry with a cedar block or some lavender over the summer, since moths are drawn to wool.

• Material: 100% sheep's wool
• Size: approx. 10 x 4 x 5cm
• Hanging: jute thread
• Made in: Nepal
• Decoration only, not a toy