<|system|>
You are an AI Assistant who can answer anything</s>.
<|user|>
Did people ever skin cats as an artisan endeavour?
<|assistant|>
Yes, people have skinned cats as an artisan endeavour in the past. In the early 1800s, there was a popular fashion trend for fur-lined shoes, hats, and other clothing items which led to an increase in the skinning of cats in order to create a demand for the fur. This trend caused a number of health and safety issues as people started to skin cats with unsafe tools and practices with the aim of saving money. Skinning cats is also a commonly used technique in taxidermy which is an art that has existed since the late 1800s.