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Are any of you guys stretching your cats with the legs left inside? The buyer I sold my cats to last year prefers them that way and according to him it is becoming more popular.

I am leaving all my legs inside this year. Last year at the fur sale i saw quite a few like that so i decided i would go that route as well. It is alot easier then messing around with the legs as well and the fur buyers like it that way so they can lay the cats on top of eachother without bulges and whatnot. Here are some pics of two that i have done so far with the legs in. I fluffed the area where the leg holes are so you could see where they would be if they were out. Without me fluffing the leg hole areas you cant even tell they are there, It looks just like a flush chest area. Hope this helps.

I would put them up with a "Nevada Stretch". Front legs out, stretched and pinned toward the head. Inner part of back legs pinned to the centerboard. It gives a real nice look to the put up. My cats go in the top lot at our state sale and also do very well at Fallon and NAFA.

If it's got spots and you don't show them, your loosing $$$.

Pick up Mercer Lawings DVD "Top Dollar Cats". It will pay for itself the first cat you put up.

Just my 2 cents.

strow wrote:I would put them up with a "Nevada Stretch". Front legs out, stretched and pinned toward the head. Inner part of back legs pinned to the centerboard. It gives a real nice look to the put up. My cats go in the top lot at our state sale and also do very well at Fallon and NAFA.

If it's got spots and you don't show them, your loosing $$$.

Pick up Mercer Lawings DVD "Top Dollar Cats". It will pay for itself the first cat you put up.

Just my 2 cents.

I have been kicking around that idea. Here is my question. Do you need a solid board to do that or is there something you can put in the middle that is strong enough to keep the legs pinned up? I like the nevada stretch because like you said it pulls the white together from the legs and looks like one huge belly and at the sales its all about presentation. Thanks

Marshall

For the back legs use a good wood stretcher and pin the inside seams to the centerboard where they almost touch (left and right leg) or overlap. When skinning if you cut into the white just a little it will give the impression of a belly that is 10” longer when you put it up.

For the front legs use a plastic coat hanger cut in half as a mini-stretcher to stretch the front legs. Again make sure there is no brown on the inboard seam. White and spots toward the belly, brown toward the sides. Then pin the front legs up toward the mouth.

If you are not putting your cats up this way you are loosing $$$. I know I only have 3 posts but hate to see a put-up bring less than what it could.

Here are a few cats that the dogs caught early this season not fully prim yet but you can see the Nevada stayle strach..



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WOW! Nice cats. Those should bring some real nice averages this year.
That is just about how I do it as well. A picture says a 1000 words.

I have put up plenty of cats but hate turning the front legs. I'll spend more time on the 2 front legs as I will the whole cat. After asking around and calling a few buyers in other states I called NAFA and they grade the cats with the legs in the same as the others, by the belly color and quality. They said they are seeing more and more with the front legs left in for the past 2 years. There all getting the same average as the same cat with the legs out so I'm trying it this year. I may regret it later but I'll see. I've got 5 put up now and they look nice and it's much easier. I have let them dry a few hours longer than I normally would have before and you really can't tell theres any front leg even there.

I have a few questions about this topic, I was wondering how wide is your stretcher is set, I was told last year by a guy he sets his stretcher at 8 inches wide. I didn't know if this is common or not. Also do you have to have a middle board to do the nevada stretch.I only have regular wood stretchers. I thank you guys for any feed back I can get on this subject.

I don’t turn fur other than once I’m done fleshing. I have never had a fur slip from putting them on the stretcher after fleshing fur side. I do not wait until they are “crinkly” or grocery bag dry to turn them. I do use a good dusting of Borax and I do like in arid AZ. If you pull the arms right side out when you are done fleshing it is pretty easy. If I have one that is giving me trouble I just stick a landscaping spike (12”) head first down inside the leg, twist and pull, turning it that way. Turning dry fur is a royal pain and you have the potential to tear the fur in my opinion. So I see your point. I just don’t think it’s needed out west.

I do tuck the legs in on my coyote and fox though. On my cats, if it has spots I want it showing. But thats just me.

As for width, I would get the length established first. Hopefully +36”. Then I just snug them up until the belly and back are taunt on the stretcher. Yes you will need a center board to use the Nevada stretch.

Hope this helps.

thank you for the info

Here is a picture of my first batch of cats I put up. I did leave the front legs in this year and liked the way they turned out and did better than average at the saleing them.

I use Borax and on my cats coyotes and fox I dont flip them, I put them up fur out right from the start.

If you hate dealing with those dryed up finger pinching front legs, you can leave them inside while you let the cat dry before you turn it. Then when you turn the cat 24-36hrs after you have put in on the stretcher, you will have those legs right side out ready to put your coat hangers in and pin up for that chin to belly spotted look. Yes they stay wet a little longer but they always cure out just fine.

Just one more idea to ponder.

NC

I'm new to hound hunting but Target bobcat when trapping, the Nevada stretch brings top dollar, you can modify your standard wood stretcher to do the NV style. I make custom wood stretchers for bobcat only, I also make grey fox and yote stretchers because I do catch a few in my cat sets. The width you set your stretcher at really depends on the size of the cat. I make 3 different sizes and do use different thickness of wood depending on size. The finished put up really depends on what kind of pride you take in it. I never turn any of my critters, NV is dry, borax the skin side and when dry clean the fur with borax for a nice clean pelt. Imho. JasongNV.