Roadkill catskin rug sells for $800

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A catskin rug made from roadkill just sold for NZ$955 -- around $800 -- on New Zealand auction site Trade Me.

Taxidermist Andrew Lancaster found the cat on the side of the road last month. "I thought 'that's a pretty nice looking cat', did a U-turn and picked it up,'' he told the New Zealand Herald.

Catskin rug by sold by taxidermist Andrew Lancaster on New Zealand auction site Trade Me. (via Trade Me)

Many of the British-born taxidermist's creations end up on the auction site, including a possum-headed chicken with vampire teeth and a small bird with the head of a child's doll. But this is his first time working with a cat. "I usually sort of steer clear of cats and dogs because you get a lot of people who say they're pets and should be left alone and not stuffed," he said.

He says users on the site went "ballistic" over the catskin rug, commenting "you sicko" or "hope this happens to you." Lancaster said that he just responds "with a smiley face."

One Trade Me user came to his defense. She described herself as a an ethical vegetarian, animal lover, and collector of Victorian taxidermy. She cheerfully added that she's "not offended at all by this art installation and would encourage those that are offended by this to question themselves why .... this was created from a long dead animal. Upcycling!"

Catskin rug by sold by taxidermist Andrew Lancaster on New Zealand auction site Trade Me. (via Trade Me)