about us
Behind the name Kehrääjän you'll find me, Tuuli, my spouse Pasi, our three-year-old son Osku and ofcourse our norwegian forest cats Betta, Nuppu, Elli, Irma, Aino, Fanni, Santtu, Leo, Elkku, Väinö, Joiku and Iris. If I counted correct, we're a family of 15.We live in an old house at the south-western coast of Finland, in a little town called Mynämäki. It's about 30km north from the nearest city, Turku. We used to live in Turku, but moved here in May 2009. As a city people, the moving to a little place with long distances was quite a something to getting used to, but now, after a little over a year, I think we're finally settling in. The cats, ofcourse, felt home right away. Especially since they have so much room to move about and in three stories. In the summer 2010 we built them a cat run outside and now they can have a little fresh air, too.
I've had cats since I was 5-year-old. I got the real-deal, black mackarel tabby/white male cat, born and raised at the countryside as a "birthday present". He worked my heart around his soft paws so tight that living without a cat after him hasn't been an option. My first glimpse of norwegian forest cat was on the pages of cat books I borrowed from the library in the 80's. But it took some years before I got to see one alive. In 1993 after a long search, Dunderkattens Adolf "Aatu" finally moved in our house.
Inspired by the breeder, we took Aatu to a cat show. That one show turned quickly to the second and third and soon the idea of my own forest cat litter started forming.
I got my breeder name FIN*Kehrääjän registered in the year 1995. The paperwork was ready months before I took them to the post office. I had to postpone the sending until my 18th birthday had come and gone. The first ever litter of Kehrääjän was born November 30th 1996 at my parents home in Kokkola.
These past years I've been in close cooperation with my mother, Tellervo Sahlberg, and all-and-all six litters of Kehrääjän have born at my parent's home (A, L, P, Q, T, W). In the year 2008 my mother got her breeder name, FIN Jatulintarhan, registered and our cooperation continues on.
All our cats live indoors as family members. They have access to nearly everywhere in the house.
Just before our son Osku was born, we made the decision to keep our bedroom just for the three of us. At first the cats we're a little incredulous about the situation but they adjusted and everything has gone quite well. Now, that Osku is a little bigger and there's no risk of suffocation or signs of allergies, the cats have been enjoying our bed, time to time. Although they have noticed that one little human child needs quite a lot of space..
We have kittens 1-3 times a year, depending the size of a litter, the cat's heat, success rate (in-the-making) and our own strenght. I always want to have enough time for every kitten born in our home.
The kittens live with us as family members. They've become accustomed to other cats, children and the noises of a home. They've been petted, held and played with a lot. We make sure to do our best to help them to become as social, curious and brave as they can be.
The most important thing for me is to have a best possible home for my kittens, loving, caring and permanent. On top of that you can have the cat shows as a hobby. But that's up to every new cat owners own interest and enthusiasm on the matter. One doesn't have to take their cat to a show.
So, if you are looking for a purr machine for your lap and a bustle paw, you just might have stumbled upon the right address. All questions are welcome and hopefully I have answers to them, too.
Welcome to browse our homepage, to meet our cats and maybe lose a little bit of your heart to the norwegian forest cat!