‘He’s exactly how he was and I’m so happy’: Nursing assistant, 28, who spent £4,000 stuffing her dead cat after he was hit by a car says hiring a taxidermist ‘was all worth it’

• Nursing assistant Harriet Peace, 28, spent £4,000 stuffing her dead cat Tango after he was struck by a car
• The taxidermy process took seven months with a specialist in London and his owner is thrilled with the result
• Ms Peace of Mauchline, Ayrshire, said: ‘He looks so realistic. He’s exactly how he was and I’m so happy’
• She said her ex-partner, who she shared the cat with, was ‘horrified’ by the prospect but it didn’t stop her
• Ms Peace now wants to challenge notions about taxidermy and encourage other people who can afford it

A devastated cat owner who spent £4,000 stuffing her beloved animal to make it look as it was asleep in its basket has insisted it was the best decision she ever made. 

Nursing assistant Harriet Peace, 28, was distraught when her cat Tango died after being hit by a car in September 2021.

Ms Peace says she couldn’t bear the thought of burying her cat, which she thought of as ‘her child’ and so was determined to have him preserved.

The taxidermy process took seven months and Tango had to be sent down to a special business in London. His grieving owner collected him last month and was thrilled with the results.

Ms Peace, of Mauchline, Ayrshire, said: ‘He looks so realistic. He’s exactly how he was and I’m so happy I have him here to remember him.’ 

She said her former partner, who she shared Tango with, was ‘horrified’ by the idea but it didn’t stop her.

Nursing assistant Harriet Peace, 28, was distraught when her cat Tango died after being hit by a car in September 2021 and was determined to preserve him through taxidermy

Ms Peace says she couldn’t bear the thought of burying her cat, which she thought of ‘like her child’ and so opted to have him preserved

The taxidermy process took seven months and Tango had to be sent down to a special business in London. His grieving owner collected him last month and was thrilled with the results (Pictured: Tango alive one Christmas morning)

Ms Peace said she thought of Tango like her child and was devastated when he was struck by a car last September

Ms Peace now wants to challenge notions about taxidermy and encourage other people who can afford it to consider it. She says having Tango back in her home was worth every penny of the £4,000 price tag.

She said: ‘When Tango died, I was devastated – I couldn’t bring myself to have him cremated.

‘When someone mentioned taxidermy it sounded like the perfect way for him to be with me forever.

‘I was really nervous when I dropped him off because I was worried he would look different and I would have made the wrong decision.

‘But when I picked him up it was all worth it.

‘Everyone jumps to the conclusion it is disgusting or degrading or prevents an animal from being at peace, but it’s done very respectfully.

‘If you had the chance to have your pet preserved how it was before for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you do it?

‘It is the best decision I ever could have made.’

Despite being hit by a car, Ms Peace said the cat had no visible injuries and he just looked asleep.

Ms Peace, of Mauchline, Ayrshire, said having Tango (pictured when alive) back in her home was worth every penny of the £4,000 price tag

Ms Peace, of Mauchline, Ayrshire, said: ‘He looks so realistic. He’s exactly how he was and I’m so happy I have him here to remember him’

Ms Peace said: ‘[Tango] was like my child, it was a huge loss to me. He had been through so much with me and I thought I’d have him for at least ten years – he was my wee sidekick’

 ‘Taxidermy sounded like the perfect way for [Tango] to be with me forever,’ said Ms Peace, whose former partner was ‘horrified’ by her decision

Taxidermy involves preserving an animal’s body to appear life-like and only a select few businesses in the country offer it for pets.

Ms Peace said: ‘He was like my child, it was a huge loss to me.

‘He had been through so much with me and I thought I’d have him for at least ten years – he was my wee sidekick.

‘Taxidermy sounded like the perfect way for him to be with me forever.’

Ms Peace put Tango in the freezer straight away and soon afterwards, was travelling from her home in Scotland to specialists Get Stuffed in London.

She chose to get Tango in a sleeping position with his eyes closed, so the specialists wouldn’t need to put fake ones in.

Not everyone agreed with her decision and Ms Peace described how told how many people thought it was a bad idea.

She said: ‘I thought it was an amazing thing to do, but I learnt quickly that everyone has different views on it.’

‘I was really nervous when I dropped him off because I was worried he would look different and I would have made the wrong decision. ‘But when I picked him up it was all worth it,’ said Ms peace

Ms Peace said: ‘If you had the chance to have your pet preserved how it was before for the rest of your life, wouldn’t you do it?’

The taxidermy process took seven months and Tango had to be sent down to a special business in London so he could be preserved with chemicals

‘Tango is exactly how he was. It’s not for everyone but honestly, I couldn’t thank the man who did it enough,’ said Ms Peace

Despite brushing off negative opinions, Ms Peace said as time passed waiting for Tango to be ready to bring home, she did grow concerned she had made a bad decision.

‘I got really quite scared at points,’ she said. ‘You don’t really know what to expect.’

But when the time came on April 26, she went and picked Tango up from London to bring him home.

And as soon as she saw him, all her worries disappeared, adding: ‘I couldn’t believe it. His fur and everything – it was amazing. He is so realistic.’

Ms Peace wants to challenge notions about taxidermy and encourage people who can afford it to consider it.

She said: ‘You hear a lot of bad things, and it costs a lot of money, so I was worried.

‘But as soon as I walked in and saw him sat with all the other cats I just knew he was absolutely perfect.

‘Tango is exactly how he was. It’s not for everyone but honestly, I couldn’t thank the man who did it enough.

‘After losing my best friend it’s the best gift anyone could give me. It’s the best decision I ever made.’

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