Cat ears!

Kittyboymuffin · Post by **Kittyboymuffin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 4:35 pm

It has been brought to my attention that I am too big for my cat-ears. I need something that would proportionally fit my head better, so, anyone have any suggestions about how to go about this, i.e. whether to buy some (and where) or make them (and how)? I'm already looking at a couple items on eBay (in addition to also looking at bondage-collars, whee), so yeah ...

RavenxDrake · Post by **RavenxDrake** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 5:10 pm

One of my friends does Jewelry and Beadwork (http://angelsaccessories.com) and she used to do custom sewn Cat ears, tails, and bell colars. I don't find any of those on her site anymore, but you might try emailing her and asking if she still accepts commissions for them, or can direct you to someone who might be willing to commission them.

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 6:30 pm

Use thick pipe cleaner for the rims of the ears and wrap the backs of the ears around the back of your head, using carboard to stiffen the back out a bit. Maybe have the center of the back attach to the collar of the outfit.

That way you can look a lot like your avatar.

Kittyboymuffin · Post by **Kittyboymuffin** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 7:14 pm

Heh ... and the ears themselves should be made out of felt?

That design doesn't seem too stable, though ... especially should I get involved with, ah, action. Or, for that matter, if I store them in my backpack for transportation somewhere ...

Drigovas · Post by **Drigovas** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:29 pm

Well how big are you looking for? The picture you posted doesn't give that much a hint as to scale.

Here seems to sell some of quite significant size, but not sure if they sell them alone.

Honor · Post by **Honor** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 9:50 pm

How about... Uhm... Bunny ears. And an incisor prosthetic... And paw gloves and slippers. And a little cotton tail.

LindaH · Post by **LindaH** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 12:21 am

Honor wrote:How about... Uhm... Bunny ears. And an incisor prosthetic... And paw gloves and slippers. And a little cotton tail.

*gets tingly*

also a little makeup to accenturate (eh howerver that word is spelled) feline features ion the face does wonders.

Kittyboymuffin · Post by **Kittyboymuffin** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 3:55 am

Drigovas wrote:Well how big are you looking for? The picture you posted doesn't give that much a hint as to scale.

Here seems to sell some of quite significant size, but not sure if they sell them alone.

Hmm ... damn, doesn't seem to have "cat ears alone" ...

As for size ... uh ... damn, I can't find a ruler or tape-measure to give anything exact. Maybe ... I dunno, each ear six inches long or so?

Honor wrote:How about... Uhm... Bunny ears. And an incisor prosthetic... And paw gloves and slippers. And a little cotton tail.

O.o *hides*

Aeridus · Post by **Aeridus** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:11 am

Mutilate a pair of earmuffs and attach floppy cat ears?

Kite-san · Post by **Kite-san** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 4:46 pm

raid boggy reject shops. s'about the best way to get decent cat-ears, because while the 'professionally made' ones that cost a metric fuckload more look a bit shinier generally, they fall apart just as easily (leastaways mine always have) so with the rate at which they get gone through, may as well just be sticking to the two-dollar variety... at least for now, a friend of mine's promised that one of her experiments in seamstresshood is going to be making me an ears-and-tail set that won't disintegrate ^_^

it's really a pity the bondage-pet market is -so- heavily slanted toward the dogs and the ponies, but most everybody here's probably heard me do that rant before, and it hasn't gained anything in coherency, so not much point in doing it again.

Kittyboymuffin · Post by **Kittyboymuffin** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 5:16 pm

Kay, but I'm not sure how exactly to look for those. Hell, I'm not good at looking for ANYTHING, but I don't think putting "boggy reject shops" and my hometown into Google will help me very well, whee. I may try the handmade option, though ...

The Cheshire Dragon · Post by **The Cheshire Dragon** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 6:55 pm

Handmade's a good idea. Here is an ear pattern, second post down.

Apparently, ears are fairly easy to make. (I don't know, my avatar is a dragon.) However, if you don't mind paying I suggest:

Furbid! You'll want to click "Costuming-General Audience" and there are people who are auctioning commissions (along with pre-made stuff) and even if they aren't you can sometimes contact them through their website.

Hope those suit your needs at all. ^.^

Toawa · Post by **Toawa** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 7:16 pm

Or you just change human evolutionary trends so that they always had cat ears..

Oh, you think time goes that way.

(Shamelessly stolen from HHGTTG.)

Sorry about the absence; if anyone has seen recent weather news, they might know that a federal disaster has been declared for the St. Louis area. Let's just say, I know why. Fortunately, I was on the edge of it; I just had three crazy work days to deal with.

Lulujayne · Post by **Lulujayne** » Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:30 pm

I agree with Toawa, there are other ways that you could attack this problem.
I thought that perhaps you could try this, that way you can use the ones you have already, they'll be enormous

Jackalope · Post by **Jackalope** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 3:56 am

The Cheshire Dragon wrote:Handmade's a good idea. Here is an ear pattern, second post down.

Actually, I was going to suggest something like this. When the instructions say "canvas" they mean plastic needlepoint canvas, which you can buy at a craft store for about $1 a sheet. Once you get the shape down right, make yourself a pair using faux fur instead of cheap-ass felt. I made myself a set of black cat ears and used a lighter grey fur inside with white fluff along the inner side seam (just like a cat has long hair along the inner edge of her ear). I attached it to a rigid hair band that had a metal strip inside it (I think it was fake leather outside), so it kept its shape and stayed on my head.

The end result was convincing enough that my cats had to sniff at me and my new ears before they'd settle down. Good thing I attached the ears in a pricked-up, forward-facing position (interested and friendly expression). If I'd had them turned out and down just a little (cautious, don't come too near me), the cats wouldn't have liked it at all.

But if you buy the faux fur as remnant pieces at the fabric store, you can usually make yourself a set of kitty ears for less than $5 that will last far longer than the store-bought varieties. At least, mine do.

The one thing I do differently than those directions is to whip-stitch hat-maker's wire to the edge of my plastic canvas pieces to help them keep their shape better. You could probably use a couple pieces of florist's (wrapped) wire instead to get the same strength. The wire I use is about 16 or 14 ga and has been wrapped in thread (comes that way, and is therefore relatively expensive). You can use vinyl-covered electrical wire of the same guage since this isn't going to show as long as the wire inside is solid core.

I unfortunately don't have a photo of the kitty ears anywhere right now. I wore it with a rhinestone collar with a bell and a shirt that said "Bad Kitty" in rhinestones on it.

links courtesy of the Costumer's Manifesto

Grow Your Own Horns
Sewing Halloween Costume Tails
Halloween Costume Ears Constructed on Headbands
Cheap'n'Sleazy Ears <--but this method WILL work

Kittyboymuffin · Post by **Kittyboymuffin** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:51 am

Ah, yes, looking better and better! I might hafta try out those patterns ... that last one looks the best so far.

Tellner · Post by **Tellner** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:15 am

Toawa wrote:Or you just change human evolutionary trends so that they always had cat ears..

Oh, you think time goes that way.

(Shamelessly stolen from HHGTTG.)

That would work as long as Commander Suzdal noticed the trap the Klopts had set for him in time to set it up. The only downside is being sent to Sheyol to be eternally set upon by the dromozoa.

Kittyboymuffin · Post by **Kittyboymuffin** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 10:18 am

Are dromozoa tentacle monsters?

Squidflakes · Post by **Squidflakes** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 1:05 pm

tellner wrote:
Toawa wrote:Or you just change human evolutionary trends so that they always had cat ears..

Oh, you think time goes that way.

(Shamelessly stolen from HHGTTG.)
That would work as long as Commander Suzdal noticed the trap the Klopts had set for him in time to set it up. The only downside is being sent to Sheyol to be eternally set upon by the dromozoa.

Yes, but they got such wonderful condamine, and eventually Lady Da was able to contact the Instrumentality and all was put right.

Alas, poor Go-Captian Alvarez.. I wonder if they ever found socks to fit him

Tellner · Post by **Tellner** » Sun Jul 23, 2006 4:36 pm

squidflakes wrote:Yes, but they got such wonderful condamine, and eventually Lady Da was able to contact the Instrumentality and all was put right.

Alas, poor Go-Captian Alvarez.. I wonder if they ever found socks to fit him

Ah, a cephalopod who knows the Classics!