Violin strings, and other bowed string instruments, were traditionally, and some still, made with livestock intestines. They’re called catgut strings, they’re not actually made from cat intestines, but the name has lead to the common belief that they are made from cats. I’ve been told by people who use them that they resonate better and they like the tone.
Strings for stringed instruments were at one point traditionally made out of “catgut,” which is animal intestinal material. Though to my knowledge, pretty much never actually from cats.
I feel like I’m missing a huge part of music lore.
Besides the string, some instruments used cat skins as covering, like the shamisen :
https://pictures-of-cats.org/japanese-banjo-shamisen-made-of-domestic-cat-skin.html
https://community.bachido.com/t/marks-on-shamisen-skin/2621
Probably catgut
Violin strings, and other bowed string instruments, were traditionally, and some still, made with livestock intestines. They’re called catgut strings, they’re not actually made from cat intestines, but the name has lead to the common belief that they are made from cats. I’ve been told by people who use them that they resonate better and they like the tone.
Strings for stringed instruments were at one point traditionally made out of “catgut,” which is animal intestinal material. Though to my knowledge, pretty much never actually from cats.