If you’re looking for someone to make a realistic, three-dimensional portrait of your pet cat using felt wool, you’ll have a tough time finding someone better than Wakuneco. Just have a look at what she can do with a needle and wool thread.

Looking at some of the feline portraits created by the talented Japanese artist, it’s hard to believe they are made of felted wool and not taxidermy masterpieces. To achieve this level o realism, Wakuneco – which translates as “frame cat” – spends hours on end poking at wool with a needle to create solid layers that mimic cat fur, applying realistic glass eyes and finally adding the whiskers. After everything is just as she wants it, the 3D portrait is framed and sent to the owner who commissioned it.

Photo: Wakuneco/YouTube

Losing a beloved pet is never easy, but Wakuneco’s ultra-realistic cat portraits – made using photographs of real cats as a reference – help owners cope with their loss. And while not all of her clients are owners looking for something special to remember their pets by, many of her portraits are commissioned as a means of coping.

Wakuneco currently offers her incredible wool felting skills through Yahoo Auctions, but only to Japanese customers. However, after photos of her incredibly detailed portraits went viral online, she did express her intention to start taking international orders in the near future. In the meantime, you can admire her amazing creations on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and watch videos of the creative process on YouTube.

For more incredible felted wool artworks, check out the creations of Gardenia Miru and Terumi Ohta, two other very talented Japanese artists, as well as the felted wool animal portraits of Dani Ives.