how old is this stuffed animal, has a bell in the tail

1950-something? Is it mohair?

 

How do you tell if it is mohair?

 

Kingjoker, I'm wondering if perhaps you have a STEIFF "bell in tail" cat. I have a lot of Steiff animals, but I don't have one like yours...

Its face just seems to have "the look" of Steiff (and yes, Steiff used mohair - and did offer some "bell in tail" models) but I'm not sure about the underside. I don't have one with so little "definition" to the legs, but you never know!

You might want to check out some of the Steiff collectors' websites.

 

I just realized that none of my Steiff cats have round pupils. I don't know if that's relevant here or not, but I thought I'd mention it.

 

... or is it maybe more like this one:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/107409890/vintage-mid-century-kitsch-baby-leopard

 

I'm fonder of SBSVC's avatar. (can you tell I'm cat-deprived?)

 

Thanks, Evelyb! That's Joseph. Tomorrow (Valentine's Day) is his 15th birthday! He is about the most spoiled, demanding feline I've ever know - and I love him!

 

Happy birthday Joe!

 

I'd like to pet him !!!!

 

Muffy says "Hi Joseph."

 

Kya likes cats too, and she sez "hi" too.

 

Joseph most happily says "Hi, back at you, Muffy! Is that you in the photo? You're awfully cute..."


Any hi, to you, too, Kya! My Mom loves German Shepherds!

As for me, I actually used to think I was a dog! That was back before I came to live with my forever family. I didn't know any better. When I found this home & realized that I was a CAT, an entire new world opened up to me! I've been celebrating ever since.

 

Exactly, Komo... EXACTLY!

 

That's a Maine Coon. They think they're small humans in fur suits.

 

@Kingjoker.....2 questions.....does his nose have vertical stitching? and is there a small hole in his left ear where there might have been a Steiff button?? "He" certainly has the 'look' of Steiff, but just not sure.....I CAN tell you that at the following link, she WILL tell you if it IS STEIFF or not!!!!! She was very helpful to me!!!! Good luck!!!
http://mysteifflife.blogspot.com/

 

they ain't that small !!

 

Mine was; he was a runt. There was all of ten pounds of him, but he chased critters like he was 25.

 

I bought the cat from Etsy back in Dec of 2012. As a baby back in 1966 I was given this cat/baby tiger/leopard, it was with me everywhere I went as a child. I've asked my mom who gave it to me to get more details, but she does not remember. I was disappointed when I received the cat in the mail from Etsy because it was obvious someone tried too hard to restore it, filling it with too much stuffing and adding mo-hair of a different color around its head, so it looks like a patchwork cat. I keep hoping to find my original cat that I called 'tiger', which got lost in the shuffle of my parents moving. I also thought it was Steiff, and not a Kitsch, but I don't know for certain. The one from Etsy did not come with a red ribbon around its neck, but pretty sure the one I had as a child did, as I can recall it getting so frayed I finally untied it. My tiger had the bell in it's tail - clearly the greatest feature! The one I received from Etsy did as well, so that was enough to make me want it. Still in search of a truer, more original version of my Tiger!