I am a fourth grade science teacher and I often bring animal skulls and bones into classes for lessons. I recently aquired a complete cat skeleton. I have already bleached the bones, and I would like to assemble the skeleton for display. I've seen skeletons wired and mounted in museums and such. Where can I get information on how to do this? Thanks for the help.
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You can just go to google and type in "articulating a skeleton".
A good friend and master articulator has written several books on this very subject. They are geared toward teachers, as he is an educator himself. You won't find anything more complete and easy to understand. You can buy it at his site at http://www.theboneman.com/
The "small mammal" book is your best bet. A warning though: Skeletal articulation is no easy task even with the best of manuals, and successful mounts only come with experience and a solid understanding of osteology. If your cat skeleton is a complete pile of bones, it may be wise to find another specimen for your first attempt at a skeletal mount, or consider a ligamental mount if possible. Before articulating specimens, we categorize each bone so that they don't become lost or mixed up. Articulating the carpals corrrectly can prove a task for even experienced osteologists. Pictures, drawings, and other data collection before the animal is reduced to bones are key. Your endeavor is not impossible though, and should provide a great learning experience for both you and your students. I strongly reccomnend Lee's book, and you can feel free to contact me if you need any help. Best of luck on your mount. Look forward to a long but rewarding journey.