Fur animals: cat pelts extraction and processing in 19th and early 20th century Russia

There were huge reserves of raw materials for the fur and leather industry in the territory of Russian Empire. The climate of Northern Russia and Siberia has also contributed to the development of this industry. The demand for its products has long been great among the population of Russia and abroad: “Russian fur” was exported to European countries and China. In addition to wild animals, domestic animal skins were also mined, collected, and processed. Harvesting and processing of cat pelts was common in the past. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, cats were caught, killed and processed precisely because of their fur. The paper presents a comprehensive analysis of previously undisclosed archival documents, statistical data, ethnographic materials, and descriptions of this business in journalism and fiction. The authors discuss the reasons for the emergence and development of the cat pelts processing business, as well as the extent of its spreading. The terminology used to refer to cat skinning and to the fur industry is analyzed. The main regions for harvesting and processing the raw materials in the European part of Russia, primarily Simbirsk, Nizhny Novgorod and Vyatka provinces, are identified, and the technology for cat pelts processing is described, along with the places where the ready-made cat pelts were sold. The authors clarify the export potential of such goods, particularly in Russia’s trade with China. The Nizhny Novgorod fair, where peltry (including cat fur) was being exhibited and sold, is given particular attention. The paper notes that due to its high demand, this business continued to develop during the Soviet period, lasting until approximately the mid-20th century. The paper uses an anthropological approach (and specifically a zooanthropological approach) to study the economic history and history of daily life. Attention is drawn to the changing attitudes towards domestic animals (in particular, cats) in Russia throughout the 20th century, from their pragmatic and utilitarian perception to their status as family pets in modern culture and society.