Make your own Cat Mummies!

Overview

This is a crafting activity that can be undertaken at home or as part of a group. You can create your own mummified cat to follow you to the afterlife!

Background

The Egyptians are well known for their mummies, including animal mummies. Egyptian pets include cats, dogs, mongooses, monkeys, gazelles and birds. Before animal mummies became a common practice, bronze statues depicting animals were used in funerary rites. The practice of mummy animals became more common because mummy animals were not as expensive as the bronze statues. Sometimes cat mummies had wooden or bronze sarcophaguses. The more extravagant examples of cat mummies had feature drawn on in black paint and coloured glass or precious stones for eyes.

Questions and Further Discussion

  • Explore mummifications process and perhaps trial it e.g. mummifying oranges
  • Explore the reasons behind why cats were so important. What other animals were important in ancient Egypt and why?

Instructions

Leeds YAC

Adult supervision is required.

Type of Activity : Crafting

How many people required (minimum) : 1

Safety Measures :
1. Some children may be upset by the thought of mummifying cats, especially if they own one as a family pet

2. Carefully use scissors

Ages : 8+

Step 1

Take the toilet roll tube and press the top together and down to make the ears for the cat.

Step 2

Cut enough wrapping paper to cover the tube.

Step 3

Secure the wrapping paper round the tube with either glue stick or sellotape. Tuck the excess wrapping paper at the bottom into the tube and secure with tape or glue. Fold over the top to cover the ears.

Step 4

Using a black felt tip pen decorate the mummy cat, adding eyes and patterns. Sequins or small fake jewels could be used to mimic the precious stones Ancient Egyptians sometimes used as eyes on cat mummies.