A taxidermist turned a dead cat into a handbag and people are upset

A professional taxidermist’s latest creation has upset a whole lot of people.

Claire Hobbs, from Christchurch, New Zealand, has turned a dead cat into handbag – complete with its head.

An unsettling photo of the handbag went viral after Hobbs listed it on the auction site Trade Me with a starting price of $1,400 (£800).

The ad, titled ‘REAL Glamour puss PURSE’, reads:

One off glamour puss purse. A very stylish handbag... for the girl that has everything a one off purse that will grab attention where ever you go. This handbag will last for years and years as long as it is looked after. The purse strap is easily changed to suit your taste....

She added:

This is not for the faint hearted... No animals were killed or hurt to create this piece.

Hobbs said that the purse was made from a feral cat, which had been “hit by a car on backwash country road”.

She then apparently kept it in her freezer for three months while she attempted to find its owner through lost pet ads on community noticeboards.

Reactions have understandably been mixed, with some people calling her work "sick", "crass" and "not the slightest bit creative or artistic". However, others have praised Hobbs, and even asked her if she could make more.

Hobbs, who has been a professional taxidermist for 15 years, has defended her work, telling Stuff:

It is certainly a statement bag and while it's not for me, we suspect there will be a buyer out there who is keen. This is a pretty unusual bag and we expect the auction will attract a lot of attention over the next few days.

As well as the cat handbag, Hobbs also currently has a listing for a ‘unicorn’ on the Trade Mewebsite. While it comes with a starting price of $6,500 (£3,600), she is also charging a $50 admission fee for anyone curious enough to go and see it in person.