I would wash it for sure. You don't want to try and do it with all of that cat hair and that would get into your machine. Plus, you'd wash it afterwards anyways so why can't you do it before. It makes nice backing.

They had a booth at the quilt market in Portland OR. The store will be in Southern Utah. Check their website to see if they sell online. The store has been around for a long time but is converting to minky only.

Wash it - it's not going to shrink like traditional 100% cotton quilting fabric.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

You could also use one of those lint removers that is a roller of sticky tape. I have two cats and I should buy stock in the company that makes them. Takes cat hair off anything, though you may need to use several sheets.

don't have a cat but I have read that if you run a window squeeze over the fabric it will get a lot of hair off it

I would definitely wash it. You don't know whose cat it is unless you've since adopted it, and where it's been. I'm just not fond of any animal getting on my furniture or other stuff. I don't allow my dogs on my furniture and since they still have not found out how to do a running leap, I'm certainly not going to encourage it. I've always got a lint roller and shake as much hair off as possible before I throw it into the washer. I also give it another good shake before tossing into the dryer. Don't need anyone having any kind of allergic reaction.

Just wash it in your machine. I don't think it will be a problem for you and I would sure want the cat hair off of it. I've used minky several times and have not had any problems with it.