If I were you, I would spiral cut the cat hides and make rawhide bowstrings. I love rawhide bowstrings. They are super tough and super reliable...it takes a lot to break them.
You don't even necessarily need to dehire them either. Just skin the cats, dry out the hides, spiral-cut a few long strands, rehydrate them, stretch them, twist as many strands as you need together and finally id you don't like the look with the hair on you can burn them off or shave them off with a sharp knife.
