I have a request from a customer to mount his bobcat carrying a quail in its mouth.Any tips on the quail......should I use a body form? or should I fill it just enough to fit in the cats mouth?Has anyone done this enough for tips on how to position the quail?
What would you charge for the total job?
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If you will carve the body with foam rubber, it will form fit the mouth and no teeth will be needed in the cat.
I normally use a quail form, either purchased or hand-carved. On the bobcat form, I check to see if the bird will fit in the mouth as made, or if I will have to enlarge the opening of the mouth. I don't use a jawset because the way I position the bird in it, it wouldn't show anyway. I dry them separately, then attach the bird in the cat's mouth when I do the finish work. You can drive a U shaped wire through the body of the bird and into the mouth of the cat to hold the bird in place.
I've not tried the foam rubber idea, but it sounds like a good idea. Thanks, John! =)
I suggest you follow some of Vicki"s advise with respect to the bobcat, but for the quail, I wrap a body from excelsior. This will allow it to be compressed when inserted into the mouth and give the impression that the cat is squeezing the bird with it's jaws. The other methods listed here likely accomplish the same thing, but excelsior is cheaper and a bit more forgiving, as you can manipulate and fluff it up later if you want the body a little "fatter" in some areas. Foam on the other hand is pretty rigid and doesn't allow that compressed look in your bird.
Finally, make sure you get some good references, bobcats (and lynx) that I have seen carrying dead birds usually do it the same way... grabbing the bird in the area of the wings with the back furthest inside the mouth (at the molars) and the chest at the canines, body laterally compressed, feet pointing out toward the ground. Good luck!
Mount the bird using a sponge for the body.