I’m a taxidermist – people say I “kill kittens” but my work is “magical” and inspired by the Jonas brothers

A TAXIDERMIST has claimed her work is magical and inspired by the Jonas brothers, though people say she murders kittens.

Mickey Alice Kwapis, 29, is a taxidermist who works mostly on smaller animals in her Chicago apartment.

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“I’ve definitely learned a lot more about animal anatomy than I ever thought I could because I originally wanted to be a visual artist and then a taxidermist,” Kwapis told Chicago PBS station WTTW.

In another interview with Refinery29, Kwapis explained more about how she makes a living from animal conservation.

She claims to have learned from the Jonas Brothers – but not from the popular band.

Three different Jonas Brothers taxidermy studios date back to the early 20th century.

They then worked with Carl Akeley and other taxidermists to pass on their wealth of knowledge.

Kwapis said she first encountered taxidermists during her college days when a friend asked her to help with a class project.

“I ended up at her house with a dead squirrel and a bottle of wine on her kitchen table,” she recalled.

“That’s kind of where it all started.

“I just got extremely interested in the idea that you can take something completely dead and lifeless… and make it look alive again.

“It’s kind of magical.”

However, the job also has its downsides.

“Someone tells me that what I’m doing is gross or disgusting or that I’m ‘murdering kittens,'” Kwapis said.

“Not true.

“So yes I have dead kittens in my freezer because I took in a pregnant cat and she got infected with a very deadly virus while she was at the shelter waiting for someone to come and rescue her.”

Kwapis said it was “sad” that she had the kittens that “died in my hands”.

“I get very emotional, but without understanding the context behind something, you just don’t get it.”