Years ago red was made differently than it is done now. The formula was lost in the war. It should hold the color much better. You could test it in a small area to see if it bleeds. Retain is a market product many use on batiks these days to keep the colors from running.
I would not wash it before I quilted it though. I would take it out and hang it in the wind to air and give it a good shake. Perhaps use a lint brush to remove the remaining hairs. Then it would be good to give it a press from the back to align the blocks that were pressed out of place by the weight of the cat. You also have to wonder if the fabrics will shrink after washing and then it could be a real mess.
Last edited by RedGarnet222; 02-15-2015 at 09:19 AM.