I feel like I've got to be doing something wrong, because it took me 5 hours last night to skin a cat, and that can't be right, can it? I worry about damaging anything, so I'm pretty careful and I'm using a scalpel, which isn't very big. How long does it take you guys to skin something the size of a housecat?
Also, I'm having a hell of a time getting the tail out. I got the feet all to the last knuckle and the face is ok, but the tail is stuck about 1/3 of the way out. Should I just split it all the way?
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I would take that scapel away from you an give you a good sharp paring knife. Flesh the cat AFTER you skin it not while skinning. Split the tail all the way to the tip and then skin it./ The whole job should not take over 3 hours, five is OK but only if its your cat and and you not trying to make a profit.
I meant mountain lion. A house cat should take 15 minutes.
Takes me about 20-30 min to skin a bobcat (removing toes, slipping tail, etc..). The more animals you skin of that species, the faster you will be. I also reccomend getting the animals off the table and onto a skinning gambrel-much faster this way as you have gravity working for you. If doing a dorsal, cut enough to free the back legs, then hang to finish skinning.
Sheila
... one way to skin a cat. Sorry could not stop myself
It takes me around 45 min. to skin a cat. The gambrel is great for every thing from ducks to deer. I have a crank that is used on boat trailers with a rope run through a couple of pulleys with a peice of 6 ga. wire bent to run through the animal to hang them up and skin. You can crank to your desired height. Works great and cost very little.
after you use a tail skinner you will kick yourself - on small animals get two dowels rods and place on either side of tail bone - pull towards you and the skin will 'slip' right off the root
i just use 22,250 it,s quick and easy . sorry