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Scanned newspaper and magazine articles and stuff (for more info see respective news- date) (Reduce zoom for faster loading!)

Gibson in Satakunnan kansa 09.12.07.

Figaro and me in Vasabladet 14.04.08.
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Me and the cats in ByaNytt 18.04.08.


Figaro and me in Keskipohjanmaa 22.09.08.

In memoriam Sylvester & Uusi aurinko Tryffel, Osikatti-magazine 1/09

Figaro on the cover of Pohjan Kissa- magazine 1-2/09

In memoriam Sylvester, Pohjan Kissa-magazine 1-2/09

Gibson on the cover of the catshow-catalogue in Tampere 27.09.09

Figaro and me (+the others mentioned) in Vasabladet 13.12.09

I haven't scanned any graduation-photos from magazines.

































































































































































































02.02.2010 - Showrankings - Other stuff

Here are the showcats' final showrankings for 2009, in respective breed (+in the whole category) in Finland:

Gibson: 2nd place among all Kurilian Bobtails in Finland! :) (95th place among  all 447 neuter cats in category III in Finland)

Figaro: 1st place among neuter American Curls in Finland and 2nd place among all American Curls in Finland! :) (34th place among all 553 neuter cats in category II in Finland)

Safiira: 5th place among adult longhaired American Curls (8th among adult ACL&S) in Finland! :) (224th place among all 1045 adult cats in category II in Finland) and 2nd place among longhaired kitten American Curls (4th among kitten ACL&S)  in Finland! :) (80th place among all 1023 kittens in cat.II in Finland)

Tryffel: 18th place among neuter Ocicats in Finland! :) (123th place among all 447 neuter cats in category III in Finland) and 17th place among kitten Ocicats in Finland! :) (96th place among all 697.kittens in cat.III in Finland)

I haven't got any results/placements in the different Cat of the year-competitions yet (POHKIS (all 4), PIROK (all 4), Kissaliitto (Figaro), OCI RY (Tryffel)...

The following shows me, Figaro, Tryffel & Safiira are going to are Tallinn, Estonia (27-28.2), Seinäjoki (6-7.3) and Turku (27-28.3).

Here everything is normal...Renewed some vaccinations and put the showcats' passports in order and removed some tartar (hammaskiveä / tandsten) from Chewie´s teeth, a year ago since last time, she has a tendency to get inflamed gums...the sedation and everything went well...Also old Evita and the rest of the gang are doing well, as usual :) We've got lots and lots and lots of snow....Figaro and Safiira have even started to use a part of the outdoor enclosure as a litterbox, due to the huge amount of snow...hahaha


06.01.2010 - Showpics - Scanned newspaper article - Link to radio interview - Gibson's birthday

Now I've added a few showpics from Laihia, check them out in Showpics page 9.
I've scanned the Vasabladet-newspaper article from 13.12.09 with me and Figaro, and if you scroll down to the left, you find a PDF-link and you can read it (in swedish)! :)

The radio interview I did for Radio Vega (in swedish) can be found and listened to HERE! It is only available for 16 more days, 22.01 it will be removed from the site, so if you want to hear the interview, check it out before 22.1! ;)

Yesterday Gibson celebrated his 4th birthday! :)

And, yes...HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 EVERYONE!

Our year has started calmly, enjoyed the holidays and we've got lots of snow...but despite that, the younger ones still want to spend time in the outdoor enclosure... ;)  Our next catshow will be in Tallinn, Estonia in February...


20.12.2009 - Show results - Vasabladet (newspaper) interview - Radio Vega interview - Figaro in "Hauskat nettivideot"

Last weekend me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira was at the catshow in Laihia. On saturday it was the annual finnish winnershow. Gibson got his Honor prize :) and Figaro won his 8th and last CAGPIB-certificate and therefore now bears the fine title Grand International Premior!! :) So, now he has the next highest title both as a non-neuter and a neuter! :) He was also in the nomination-selection and very liked, but another cat was nominated...Tryffel won his second CAPIB-certificate and Safiira her second CACIB-certificate! :)

On sunday, Tryffel and Safiira didn't participate because they already have got two finnish CACIB / CAPIB-certificates and the third one needs to be from abroad, so the show in Tallinn, Estonia in February is next for them. Gibson got his Prize of Honor and Figaro won his first CAPS-certificate! :) Both Gibson and Figaro were in the nomination-selection. Figaro competed in the nomination-selection among others also against a practically unbeaten cat, so I knew this cat would get nominated, but I´m very certain that if this cat hadn't been at the same judge, Figaro would have been nominated... ;)

I'll be back with a few photos from the show...

On saturday, the local newspaper Vasabladet (in swedish) came to the catshow to do an article about it and they interviewed me about my cats in the show! :) They took photos of all my cats there and chose to put a huge photo of Figaro and me in the paper :) Figaro loooves to show himself ;) The headline in the paper was "Figaro vet att han är vackrast" (Figaro knows he is the most beautiful) and there were quite a lot of text about us ;) I will scan the article for viewing later...

And more media...A few days ago I got contacted by the nationwide radio channel Radio Vega (in swedish) and they wanted to do an interview with me for their radio show "Människans bästa vänner" (Man's best friends) :) So, yesterday the woman visited me and my cuties :)  I talk about all my cats, but mostly about Curls, the focus is of course on them, since it's Curls I'm about to breed...On Tuesday (22.12) we can hear what they've put together ;) The show is aired nationwide (Finland) in Radio Vega at 10:00 in the morning. If you miss it and want to hear it, you can listen to the show afterwards on Radio Vega's pages on the internet. There will also be a photo of me, Figaro and Safiira there. I'll add a link later, when this show is there.

If I'm not back with showpics, the scanned newspaper article and link to the radio interview, before Christmas....

Me and my hairy family wish u all a Merry Christmas!!

We are going to enjoy a wonderful, peaceful Christmas with lots of food ;) And of course the cuties look forward to the wrapping of the christmas presents! It's so much fun, they always want to help... ;) This year the christmas tree is standing outside, because after last year I gave up since the tree (which usually makes it through christmas before tilted and destroyed) didn't even survive Christmas Eve... ;) A part of this you can witness through a video of Figaro climbing the christmas tree on Christmas Eve 2008, which I sent to "Hauskat Nettivideot" (Funny net-videos), the internet version of the tv-show "Hauskat Kotivideot" (Funny home videos). Check it out HERE! Now we're trying an alternative tree, a wooden obelisc made of small branches, spraypainted green and with lights and decorations...Quite nice...let's see if it survives... ;)


04.12.2009 - Chewie's birthday - Sylvester's anniversary - Next catshow

A couple of days ago, 1.12 Chewie celebrated her 8th birthday! :)

Today is the first anniversary of Sylvester's passing. It is a year ago since I lost him to cancer. This day has been a bit emotional, heartace and feelings of sorrow, longing and love. I miss him tremendously and will always love and remember my wonderful darling! Sylvester's candle is lit to his loving memory!

Next weekend, me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira are going to a catshow in Laihia. On saturday it is the annual finnish winner-show and on sunday a normal show. I'll be back with the results and pics.


15.11.2009 - Gibson's show catalogue cover scanned! - Plenty of new pics added!! - Safiira's birthday

Now I've finally scanned the showcatalogue cover with Gibson's picture on it, from the Pirok catshow in Tampere 27.09.09! (see news 3.10) To take a look at Gibson on the cover (which over 600 people had in their hands this date) see to the left on scanned stuff and scroll down a bit!

I've also added several new pics of each cat!! Check out Pictures / Cuties and Pictures / The Cats (all of them!) ! :)

I haven't written any news for a while, so therefore Safiira's birthday is now mentioned afterwards, but of course she was remembered on the actual day! Safiira celebrated her first birthday 20.10! :)

Here everything is well, we are all enjoying a calm autumn :) The next catshow we're going to is in the middle of december in Laihia...


11.10.2009 - Playground pics added!! - Showpics from Tampere - FIN*Dezzicat's American Curls - Site updates and Kittens-page

Now I have finally, finally added pics from our new home and the cats' places of fun!! Definately check them out in Pictures / Our playground!!

I've also added some pics from the catshow in Tampere two weeks ago, check them out in Pictures / Showpics / Page 9.

Now I am officially a catbreeder and officiallty have a cattery under the name FIN*Dezzicat's! :) My cattery and breeding-name FIN*Dezzicat's was approved in FIFe 01.10.2009. I got my first cat in 1996 and it was many, many years ago I decided I will have kittens some day. When Figaro (who was planned to be used as a breeding-male) joined the family in 2007, everything fell in place. I felt that I want to breed American Curls in  small scale and planned and hoped that Figaro would breed a daughter, who I could use in breeding. A year ago Figaro became a father to three boys and one girl (Safiira). Since I've planned this for several years I could have applied for my breeding-name much earlier, but I didn't feel any rush, since I knew it will take time before my plans are put in action. Now Safiira has been in heat for the first time, so I can start making more concrete plans. Safiira is almost a year old and I want her to get a bit older and achieve a higher title in catshows before I use her in breeding, so my first litter is planned perhaps to late summer 2010.

The whole site is updated with my breeding-name-logo and I've made a "Kittens"-page and updated "About me".  I'll later scan the cover of the show catalogue with Gibson's photo on it...



03.10.09 - Tampere showresults - Tryffel's birthday

Last weekend me, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira were at the catshow in Tampere and it was a great success! :) On saturday, Tryffel won his third and last CAP-certificate and therefore now got the title Premior! :) Safiira won her third and last CAC-certificate and therefore now got the title Champion! :) Safiira was in the nomination-selection and came close, but another cat got nominated, but Safiira was the judge's favourite curl this day ;) Figaro won his 6th CAGPIB-certificate and was nominated for Best In Show (Tuomarin Paras / Domarens Bästa)! :)

On sunday, Tryffel won his first CAPIB-certificate and Safiira won her first CACIB-certificate! :) Safiira was in the nomination-selection but lost due to her rufism. This day all judges handed out a small present with goodies and toys to their favourite cat and Safiira was her judge's favourite cat, so she got this present! ;) Figaro won his 7th CAGPIB-certificate, was in the nomination-selection and got nominated for Best in Show! :)  In other words, Figaro was nominated for Best In Show both days!! :)) In every catshow there is a show catalogue with a cat on the cover and on the cover of the show catalogue of this day, was Gibson!! :)) (On of the forest-graduation-photos) (Members of the arranging catassociation can send in photos and then they choose one and Gibson was chosen :) ) So, over 600 people walked around with Gibson in their hands! ;) Super weekend! :)

The day before yesterday (1.10) Tryffel celebrated his first birthday! :)

Now I have taken photos of our home and the outdoor enclosures, so soon I will add them to Our playground-pics! I'll also add showpics from Tampere and scan the cover of the show catalogue with Gibson on it...



20.09.2009 - Breed presentation show - Showpics - Catshow in Tampere  - Terrace and back yard enclosure finished

I've added a few pics from the catshow in Jyväskylä, see pictures / showpics page 8. Last sunday, me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira were at a breed presentation show in Pietarsaari. It was lots of fun! Really a lot of people visited the show and I got to show and talk about my cats all day ;) Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos from the event...

There were also a match show there, just for fun, which all my cats took part in. This is just play, where the "judges", not according to standards, but just according to their own mind, choose out of couples a red ribbon-cat resp. a blue-ribbon-cat. The red ribbon-cats continue and then compete for 1-3 places (about 10 red ribbon-cats total per class). The ones who got 1st place then compete against the other classes' 1st place-cats about BIS1-5. The classes were kittens, youngsters, longhaired pedigree cats, shorthair pedigree cats, oriental/slim cats and housecats. The competing system, rules and classes are made up however the arrangers want to...all just for fun...However, Tryffel, although charming, got a blue ribbon (youngsters class), when another younger, cute lady got the red ribbon. Safiira, cutie, got a red ribbon and continued among 10 youngsters, but ended there. Figaro was charming as ever, but actually got a blue ribbon (longhaired pedigree cats), since he competed against a very rare, longway travelled cutie, who got the red ribbon and lateron got 1st place among longhaired pedigree cats and after that BIS1, so he once again lost to the best one... ;) Gibson got a red ribbon and continued among 10 longhaired pedigree cats and finished in 2nd place among longhaired pedigree cats in the show!! :) Fun! After this day we went home with ribbons, food and toys...The match show was not a real show of course, just pretend for fun, but entertaining :) The audience voted for their favourites and among youngsters Tryffel came in 5th and Safiira 7th :) and among longhaired pedigree cats Gibson came in 11th and Figaro 7th :) Very liked and popular, since there were about 20 of each class and audience who voted, over 500 people... ;)

Next weekend (25-26.9), me, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira are going to a catshow in Tampere. I'll be back with the results and pictures. The terrace (with roof) and outdoor enclosure (with net roof) on our back yard was finished two weeks ago and all cuties enjoy themselves there every day :) They have access to it and can go there whenever they like, while I'm at home and awake! And the other enclosure on the front yard they still get to be in now and then, when I am also out there (no roof, so needs surveillance)...I'll really soon add playground-pictures from our new home, both outdoor and indoor pics, but there is a bit tidying up to do in the back yard from building materials first...


04.09.2009 - Showresults from Jyväskylä - Breed presentation show in Pietarsaari

Last weekend me, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira were at a catshow in Jyväskylä. Figaro won his 4th and 5th CAGPIB-certificates on saturday and sunday, Tryffel got his first and second CAP-certificates and Safiira her 1st and 2nd CAC-certificates :) All were very liked and behaved super the whole weekend and Figaro was in the nomination-selection both days, although another cat was nominated but these two were BIS on respective days, which means in the nomination-selection Figaro lost to the best one.. ;) Tryffel wasn't in the nomination-selection saturday or sunday, but this was expected since there were lots of beautiful adult neuters and Tryffel is only 11 months old and therefore has a lot of developing to do before he is ready, grown and old enough to have a chance against the full-grown adults in the nomination-selections ;) The same goes for Safiira, a cutie but far from full grown at 10 months, and of course hard to compete against fullgrown ladies for nomiination, however she actually was in the nomination-selection on sunday...I'll later add a couple of photos from the show...

Next sunday (13.9) me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira are going to a breed presentation show in Pietarsaari. There will also be a match show there. Always fun to show and talk about my cats all day ;) Back with news from that event...and lateron playground-photos when the backyard enclosure is finished (almost! soon!)...


26.08.2009 - Catshow in Jyväskylä - Scanned new stuff! - Some links added! - Rocky's birthday - Tryffel stung by a wasp - "About me" updated + new home-photos on the way

This incoming weekend (29-30.8) me, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira are going to a catshow in Jyväskylä. Tryffel and Safiira are now both over 10 months old so they can start competing for certificates, in other words this will be their first show in neuter respective open class, exciting :) Since Gibson has now achieved the highest title, he's now retired from his show career ;) and will only take part in shows now and then...I'll be back with the results and photos afterwards...

I´ve now scanned some new stuff for reading! The article I wrote this spring for Osikatti-magazine (the finnish ocicat association's member-magazine) about Sylverster and Tryffel. Second,  the same article but only the In memoriam-part about Sylvester, in Pohjan Kissa-magazine this summer (the member-magazine of my local cat association, Pohjanmaan kissayhdistys). Third, I've scanned the front cover of the same issue of Pohjan Kissa, where Figaro is on the cover. Here on this news-page, a bit down on the left, you can take a look at all these :)

Now I've finally also added some links to the Links-page. Perhaps I'll add some more in the future...

Rocky (my first cat, living at my parents' house) celebrated his 13:th birthday 14.08.09! Still going strong, happy, healthy, in excellent shape :)

The cats enjoy time loose outdoors every day in the enclosure on the front yard. When we just had moved here Tryffel (chasing everything, young and wild as he is) got stung in his paw by a bumble bee, but everything went well, the short story is that he didn't get any symptoms or reactions, he didn't even know it had happened, but he got some cortisone medicine to prevent the swelling. After that I am very strict to keep the lawn very short and I cut off any flowers that emerge from plants and bushes! No dangerous creatures have been present since...Until yesterday...This time of year, when autumn is coming, wasps are apparently getting slower, starting to die and seeking warm spaces...The cats were outside for a couple of hours and the front door was of course open during this time. Late in the evening, watching tv, Tryffel suddenly made some noice and when I looked around there was a wasp on the living room floor!! I of course figured out Tryffel had been stung, I killed the wasp, immediately took Tryffel in my lap, gave him cortisone medicine and I saw the sting attached to his lower lip, on the front of his  mouth, above his chin. I got it removed with tweezers and put cortisone on the spot it was. Tryffel was of course scared and chocked of the experience, but otherwise normal, no allergic reaction, normal breathing, no throwing-up or such and gums were normal color, he just wanted to play...His chin/cheek was swelling a bit so just to be safe I phoned the veterinarian on call, to ensure his breathing canal wasn't threatened, although the place of the sting was on his  front part of his face, on the lip, not so near the throat. He said, stings swell fast  and that since it hadn't swollen up more during that time, it wouldn't swell of importance anymore and there was no danger to his breathing. Probably thanx to the place of the sting and since I quickly got the sting out and gave cortisone. It didn't swell much at all and Tryffel, when calmed down, just wanted to play :) Me, on the otherhand was quite shaken afterwards, I couldn't help thinking what if he had swallowed it, what if I wouldn't have been home, or asleep not waking up, and the list goes on...But I can only thank god everything turned out well!! We found a wasp nest in my storage space outdoors, so the wasp probably found its' way inside from there while the door was open when the cats were outside...Wasps have never bothered us earlier this summer, nor outdoors or indoors!! But probably since it's getting colder and they are getting slower they seek warmth...One thing  is certain, we are going to destroy that nest and I'm not keeping the door open until it's done! Additionaly I have to make some kind of net door with an opening for the cats...And then I can only hope no wasps or other creatures find their way into our home again! Outside there will always be animals (and that's one reason why the cats can't be outdoors in the enclosure when I'm not home keeping a small eye on them) but I'm terrified of the thought that our own home inside wouldn't be safe...Fortunately winter is coming ;)

Since we now have moved, I've updated the page "About me", the parts regarding our home...I will soon remove the old-home-photos and add new, up-to-date pics to "Our playground" from our new, lovely home :) The terrace and enclosure on the back yard is not quite finished yet, so I'll wait for that before I add new photos...Also, lateron...when I get to it, I'll add fresh photos of all the cats and new videos, which I've been meaning to do for a long time, hehe...But, thanx to vacation time, I've now got quite a lot of updates done... :) Greetings from all cuties, all doing well and enjoying life :)



30.07.2009 - Gibson's graduation photos - Our new home

I've now got the graduation photos of Gibson which were taken by a professional photographer in Siilinjärvi when he graduated to Supreme Premior 27.06!! They are amazingly beautiful!! :)) Check out Gibson's own page to see them! And PS, Gibson got by mail a superhuuuuge, the biggest, beautiful ribbon from our own cat association Pohkis (and Fife) for his graduation :)

It is now three weeks since we moved to our new home in a terrace house in Vanha Vaasa / Gamla Vasa and we have all settled in nicely! The cats were confused for like five seconds, then curious and investigating and quickly made themselves at home. Now we all really enjoy our new home, seriously, life couldn't be better!! ;) The apartment I bought is big, in good condition, lovely for the cats and we now have a sauna :) It is a peaceful, calm, private, green and wonderful area :) The whole front yard is like an enclosure (walls on both sides (from the storage spaces and the car-roofs) and a high dogfence with a gate on the front) so the cats easily get to go outside (without a leash) every day, which they like very much :) Since there isn't a net-roof over the front yard I don't dare to leave them alone outside, in case someone would attempt to climb over the high fence (no one has tried yet), so every time they are out playing I sit outside keeping an eye on them, just to be safe...But on the back yard we are soon building a terrace with a roof and an outdoor enclosure with a net-roof so I don't have to worry they can get out (or other cats get in) and don't have to be outside with them all the time...At the moment everything is unpacked and  to the eye quite finished, but there is still some organizing and tidying up to do, most of all in the cabinets and closets...And of course, all the show ribbons is yet to be put on the wall... ;) Lateron I will add photos from our new home and the cats' new playground ;)


01.07.2009 - GIBSON - FINLANDS FIRST SUPREME PREMIOR KURILIAN BOBTAIL!!!! :)) and more show results! - My apartment is sold, we are moving! :) - Sylvester's birthday in memoriam

The weekend in Siilinjärvi was quite incredible!! :) On saturday, Gibson won his 11:th and last CAPS-certificate and therefore graduated to SUPREME PREMIOR, AS THE FIRST KURILIAN BOBTAIL IN FINLAND WITH THE HIGHEST TITLE POSSIBLE!! :)) He was also in the nomination-selection. We celebrated his graduation greatly with friends and aquaintancies! :) We had set up a table with champagne, chips, chocolate and candy for everybody ;) On top of the cage I had made a "booklet" and photos. He got lots of presents :) A beautiful assembly of photos in frames, a card and champagne from our friends, his breeders, a blanket and a card, toys and goodies from other friends. The association arranging the show gave as a gift some catfood and a session with the professional photographer at place and our own association will give him a huuuge ribbon :) Gibson spent most of the afternoon sitting on a chair outside the cage, taking it easy, showing himself and recieving everyone's cheers and congratulations :) A wonderful day! :)) I'm so proud of my Gibson!! :)

Tryffel got EX2, he was very liked by the judge, but someone has to be on first place and this day it was another cat ;) Since Tryffel was neutered in a young age, he developes a bit different and more slowly than his non-neutered friends...Figaro won his second CAGPIB-certificate, was chosen to the nomination-selection and was nominated for Best In Show (Tuomarin Paras!)! :)) Safiira got EX1, was in the nomination-selection and was nominated for Best In Show! :)) Superb, Gibson's graduation to Supreme Premior and both father and daughter nominated the same day! :))  What a day!! :)) Proud of my babies ;)

On sunday Gibson got the Honor Prize (Kunnian Maininta) (which they get when they already have the highest title) :) He was also in the nomination-selection. Tryffel got EX2, Safiira EX1 and Figaro won his third CAGPIB-certificate :) Figaro and Safiira both came second in the nomination-selection and they were sooooo close to being nominated ;)

Today would have been Sylvester's fifth birthday! My thoughts have been with him...I love you, darling! I think he spent the day eating goodies in catheaven...

A week ago I finally sold my apartment!! :)) And in two days I'm buying the terrace house (rivitaloasunto/radhuslägenhet) of my dreams!! :)) And from that day I'll start moving stuff and the plan is that we all will spend the first night in our new home the next friday or saturday :)) Our new home is in the old town of Vaasa (Vanha Vaasa/Gamla Vasa), about 7 km from the centre of Vaasa city. It  consists of three rooms, kitchen and sauna, 89m2. It has a wonderful green yard on both sides and a spot for the car, with roof next to the apartment on the front yard :) On the front yard there is already a dog-fence and on the backyard I'll build a real enclosure for the cats :)  Lateron, I'll add new pics from our home...

I've added showpics from Siilinjärvi to showpics page 8, take a look at the party ;) Showcats' pages and rankings updated. Since we are now moving and I will have lots to do many many weeks ahead, it will probably be a while til the next newsreport and the updates and adds I was planning are put on hold...But I'll be back, when we'd settled in ;)


21.06.2009 - Catshow in Siilinjärvi

Next weekend (27-28.6) I am going to a catshow in Siilinjärvi (Kuopio) with Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira. Hopefully Gibson will win his last CAPS-certificate and graduate to Supreme Premior as the first Kurilian Bobtail in Finland with the highest title possible! Let's keep our fingers crossed everything goes as hoped and we'll get to celebrate him! In other news everything is well here. I'll be back with results and photos from the show!


30.05.2009 - Catshow results - Säde's birthday - Catshow pics - Rankings

The catshows in Tampere and Tallinn went great! :) In Tampere, Tryffel got EX2 both days (had two competitors). Figaro won his first and second CAPIB-certificates this weekend, was in the nomination-selection both days, came close on saturday and on sunday he was nominated for Best in Show (Tuomarin Paras)!! :) Safiira was EX1 both days and was in the nomination-selection both days and on saturday she was nominated for Best In Show (Tuomarin Paras)!! :)  The cuties behaved super and was complimented both on their temperament and very well-groomed coats :)) Great weekend with father and daughter nominated for Best In Show! ;)

In Tallinn, Tryffel got EX1 on saturday and was in the nomination-selection where another kitten was nominated. On sunday he got EX2 when he lost to his brother... ;) Gibson got his CAPS-certificates both days and was in the nomination-selection both days! :) Now he only needs one more certificate to be the first Kurilian bobtail in Finland with the highest title possible!! :)) Figaro got his third and last CAPIB-certificate on saturday, which means he now has the title International Premior!! :) On sunday he got his first CAGPIB-certificate! :) He also was in the nomination-selection both days. The boys handled the trip very well and behaved super, but we were all very tired afterwards...

I've added some showpics from Tampere and Tallinn (see showpics page 7 and 8). I've also updated the showcats' rankings, take a look at Gibson's, Figaro's, Tryffel's and Safiira's pages to see them! ;)

The other day, 26.5 was Säde's birthday! :)

The issue of Osikatti-lehti, where I wrote the story about Sylvester + Tryffel, is out and if I succeed, I'll scan it later... Other pics, adds and updates also awaiting... ;)


09.05.2009 - Coming catshows and other stuff

Next weekend I'm going to the catshow in Tampere (16-17.5) with Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira. The weekend after that I'm going to the catshow in Tallinn, Estonia (23-24.5) with Gibson, Figaro and Tryffel. Exciting! :) 

Everybody is doing well and enjoying life here. Some weeks ago I renewed some vaccinations and took care of other stuff for the trip abroad for some of the cats and at the same time removed some tartar (hammaskiveä / tandsten) from Säde's teeth. Safiiras sensitive stomach has been a bit upside down again, due to eating raw meat, but is now with a little help back to normal, hopefully for good! :) She eats special diet food, at least still for some time. She might grow out of her sensitive stomach, but at least for now her stomach can't handle any raw meat (or perhaps never will), but most likely she'll be able to eat the same "normal" dry food and canned food as the others in a while...Chewie has lost quite a lot of weight thanx to her diet and she could lose more, but we've put her diet a bit on hold for the moment, since also Safiira is eating different food...one thing at a time...Rocky (who lives at my parents' house) has had a deep wound in his eye (probably caused by getting a treebranch or something in his eye) and has gotten different types of eyedroppes many times a day, but it is healing well and doesn't bother him. Summer is on its' way and you can tell due to the huge amounts of hair the cats have been shedding...Figaro's coat is really light colored now (which began when he was neutered). We've also begun the outdoor-season again. The weather is getting warm and nice, in the cats' favour so Gibson, Figaro and Evita has been in a leash outside, the small ones I'm waiting to introduce and Chewie and Säde aren't interested, as always ;) Tryffel and Safiira are growing and neuter Tryffel is now a really really big (but not fat) boy! ;)

I'll be back with the results from the shows and pictures. Then I'll start doing something about the updates that are waiting (more new pics, videos, links-page...)...


10.04.2009 - Catday in petshop - Lots of photos added!! and Safiira's page finish
ed - Evita's health check-up - Ranking updates & Ocicats of the year 2008 competition - Figaro's birthday - Thyra's birthday - Chewie's diet - Apartment still for sale - Article in Osikatti-magazine

Two weeks ago me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira went to Pietarsaari for the catday Royal Canin arranged in the local petshop Musti & Mirri. It was lots of fun, people came and adored the cats and Gibson and Figaro ran around in a leash :)

Now I've added plenty of photos! I've taken portrait-photos for Safiira's page and new ones for Figaro's and Tryffel's pages (who has grown a lot since the last ones), check them out! :) I've added a photo of  Sylvester's place of memory and the teddybear to his page. I've also added lots of showpics from Jyväskylä, Laihia + the petshop catdays, take a look at Pictures / Showpics page 6 and 7. Also check out Safiira's page, which is now finished! I've added a few photos of her to Pictures / The cats / Safiira and a couple of new photos of Tryffel (Pictures / The cats / Tryffel). I'll soon add new photos of the rest of the cats aswell. There are also a few new cuties-photos on Pictures / Cuties, take a look! I've finally also altered the picture of everybody on the front page.

A couple of weeks ago I did a health check-up on Evita. She's getting older (now over 12 years old) and I want to do check-ups now and then. Last time we took bloodsamples was two years ago and they were perfect :) I was going to bring her later this spring for the check-up, bloodsamples and removal of tartar (hammaskiveä / tandsten) but she temporarily for one day behaved somewhat strange so I brought her already.  The tartar was removed and surprisingly revealed a little abscess of pus underneath a tooth. Evita has always had bad teeth, but this wasn't visible nor had she given any signs when handling her mouth. Evita is as normal as always, perhaps the temporary one day she was a bit odd, was because of this or the fact that she later had a bit of a cold, sneezing a little. But however, antibiotics took care of both. The bloodsamples were perfect also this time! Kidneys, liver, pancreas, muscle, bloodcell-levels, glucose, sodium, potassium and so on...great! (Calcium was the only thing a bit lower) Evita is a strong, healthy old lady! :)

I've now updated the show-rankings for the showcats. The final rankings for 2008: Sylvester 14:th place among all neuter Ocicats in Finland! (unsure, but probably final ranking), Gibson 2:nd place among all longhaired Kurilian Bobtails in Finland!! :) Figaro 2:nd place among adult longhaired American Curls in Finland!! :) Super results! :) The rankings for this year so far, I haven't got, except for Tryffel, who is in 2:nd place among kitten Ocicats (3-6 months) in Finland at the moment!! :)

Sylvester participated with his show-results in the Ocicats of the year 2008-competition arranged by the ocicat-association in Finland. His results: Neuter male of the year: 6th place, Dilute of the year: 8th place, Silver of the year: 4th place. :))

The day after tomorrow (12.4) is Figaro's birthday!! :)
15.4 is Thyra's birthday!! :)

Chewie's still on a diet (see earlier news), since almost three months ago. It's still going according to plans, she's well and losing weight in a suitable rate. We'll continue the diet for at least a couple of months.

Our home is still up for sale, we have public showings every other sunday and hopefully it'll be sold soon, so we can look for a house...

I've written a long article / story for Osikatti-magazine (the member-magazine of the finnish ocicat-association). It's mostly a memoriam of Sylvester, writing about him and his illness, but also about Tryffel as the new ocicat in the family. It brought tears writing the article, but it was therapy at the same time with a heartbreaking but beautiful story as a result. It's a tribute to Sylvester, in honor of his memory :) And at the same time information of this rare disease spreads...The magazine will probably be out in the end of this month.

When I get the time, I'll finish the links-page and also add some new (soon old ;) ) videos which are waiting...


15.03.2009 - Laihia catshow results - Catday in petshop - Evita's birthday - Safiira's page

The catshow in Laihia last weekend went well. Gibson won his 7th CAPS-certificate on saturday (this year the name has changed from CAPE to CAPS) and his 8th CAPS-certificate on sunday :) He was a charmer the whole weekend ;) Figaro won his 2nd CAP-certificate on saturday and his third and last CAP-certificate on sunday, which means he now has got his first title as a neuter, which is Premior! :) Also Figaro was charming this weekend and was chosen to the nomination-selection both days, but there were many neuter males, hard competition and another got nominated. Tryffel won over two other male kittens on saturday and got EX1 and was also Best In Variety (Värin Paras)!! :) He was chosen to the nomination-selection and it came close, but another cat got nominated. On sunday the judge had an "interesting" view of things and practically judged the ocis the opposite of what the judge on saturday did, which means Tryffel was EX3. He behaved well the whole weekend, he had like a thousand feet, being a bit insecure as a beginner, but he's getting used to the shows and is really sweet :) This was the first show for Safiira and she did really well :) She was there on saturday and got EX1 :) Safiira would have been nominated, but wasn't due to a "poop-accident" when she was waiting in the judge's cages, leaving traces in the behind...I left her at home on sunday just to be safe, but it turned out to be just temporary, perhaps she was a bit nervous, being her first show and all...but she was a real cutie ;)

Yesterday, me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira were in a petshop in Kokkola showing and talking about their breeds. Royal Canin arranged a catday in the local petshop Musti & Mirri and we were there on behalf of them. It was lots of fun, they raised attention and people were interested, looked at them and asked questions. Especially Figaro walked around in a leash and they all showed themselves on the table and children played with them :) They all got so much attention so at the end of the day, they were all tired, especially the kittens and slept the whole way home...I'm so proud of my little mascots! ;) In two weeks we're doing the same thing in Pietarsaari :)

Three days ago, 12.3 was Evita's birthday! :)

I've now made and added an own page for Safiira, but it isn't finished yet...You'll have to wait for photos...I'll later also add showpics and more...


01.03.2009 - Jyväskylä catshow results - Safiira had diarrhea - Chewie is on a diet and had an  infection - Catshow in Laihia - Catday in petshop in Kokkola -Sylvester's memory-book - My apartment is up for sale

It's been quite chaotic here and there's still a lot going on, so I haven't had the time to write any news...I haven't either had the time to make an own page for Safiira (Figaro's daughter), but I will do that later...

The catshow in Jyväskylä 14.2 was a success!! It was Tryffel's first show and he was both Best in Variety (Värin Paras) (even competing and winning over adults!!) and Nominated for Best in Show (Tuomarin Paras)!! :)) Incredible!! This was Figaro's first show as a neuter and he won his first CAP-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection, where another cat was nominated and later BIS, so Figaro lost to the best one. Both boys behaved well and Tryffel, although a bit shaky his first time on the judge's table was kind and brave :) I'll be back with showpics later!

Safiira arrived here over three weeks ago and made herself at home immediately! :) The only problem was that she got a terrible diarrhea the day after her arrival. She was just fine, but the diarrhea wouldn't stop despite treatment with first tehobakt, then promax (from the vet) and then antibiotics, attapect and diet food from the vet. Safiira has licked her bottom so intensely the skin is irritated, so she has had a collar for almost a week now, so she can't lick the irritated skin. I've washed her bottom several times a day and put on creme...Finally, two days ago, with the help of a stool sample, she got the right antibiotics and the diarrhea immediately stopped.  Now, when the diarrhea and gases has stopped, she plays like crazy, being able to enjoy the real kitten-life she deserves! :)

Chewie is on a diet, since about 1,5 months ago. She has always been a round woman, but the last six months she's become too fat. Probably because I changed the food when Sylvester started to lose weight in combination with her being a complete couch-potatoe...At her health check-up in december all blood values and everything were good. I knew she will lose weight when we sometime in the near future move to a two-story home and will run up and down the stairs, but she has had some tartar (tandsten/hammaskiveä) and a bit red gums for a while and since I didn't want to take the (perhaps little) risk and sedate her when she's overweight and didn't have any problems at all with her mouth, I decided to put her on a diet so I sooner can remove the tartar and use mouthrinse until that. After some research about appropriate food and weightloss-speed we began. Chewie is in the bedroom while I'm at work, so she can't eat the others' food when I'm not able to keep an eye on her (since the other cats need their food available all the time, especially the kittens). This doesn't bother her at all, the opposite, Chewie likes being by herself and taking it easy. This far, the diet has been successful, she's losing weight at a suitable rate. 1,5 weeks ago, when I was on my way to work, Chewie suddenly this morning didn't have a voice and she sort of tried to vomit. She otherwise was all normal, but I knew something was wrong and thought maybe she had got something stuck in her throat. I had to go to work, but my mom who had the day off, was kind enough to bring her to the vet. The vet talked to me and said she wanted to sedate her, so she properly could take a look, and didn't think she was so fat...I agreed, since it was necessary and it showed she had an infection in the throat and mouth, due to a loose tooth with infection under it, that had spread, probably partly due to the earlier detected mouth issues...The vet removed the tartar at the same time and put Chewie on antibiotics for the infection. Everything went well, Chewie was immediately back to normal :) Typical...knowing about the mouth issues, but trying to avoid sedation at the moment and temporarily handling it differently, insted caused this and still sedation...

Next weekend me, Gibson, Figaro, Tryffel and Safiira (if her bottom is ok) are going to the catshow in Laihia (Vaasa) both days. Exciting! This will be Safiira's first show and Tryffel's second :) Lot of stuff and cats to prepare this week...

The saturday after that, me and the same four are going to a petshop (Musti & Mirri) in Kokkola, for a catday arranged by Royal Canin. We are there on behalf of them, presenting and talking about breeds + food ;) The same event will take place in Pietarsaari two weeks after that :) Fun!

I recently got home the memory-book I've made of Sylvester for me and Marjo & Merja (his breeders and my friends). It is filled with photos and text, really beautiful! It was real therapy and grief handling, a lot of tears but a wonderful memory :) I'll add a photo of it and his place later...

A few weeks ago I put my apartment up for sale, which I've planned for a while. I'm looking for something bigger with a kitten-room and sauna and something with a lawn, so I can make an enclosure for the cats outdoors. No offers yet, we'll see how it goes...This far, the apartment has been showed practically every sunday, which has meant lots of cleaning and tidying up and taking all the cats for a drive during the open house...lots of work... :( so, from now on, the apartment will only be shown on demand and agreement...

You can see I've been busy and still alot of extra stuff ahead...most of it fun things and some just tiring...I'll make an own page for Safiira as soon as I have the time! I'll be back with the results from the Laihia-show and pics from that and Jyväskylä. I'll later also update the show-cats' rankings.


01.02.2009 - Lots of pics added! - Figaro´s daughter - The next catshow - Feelings...

At the moment I have so many things on my plate, so much to do, but now I've finally had the time to add some pics. I've added lots of cuties-pics and pics of Tryffel! I've also added the last photos of Sylvester, photos of Figaro´s kittens + a photo of Figaro.

On thursday (5.2) I´m going to Tampere and bringing home Figaro's daughter!! :) I can't wait! She's then about 15 weeks old. If everything goes according to plans I am myself going to use her in breeding my first litter curls in the (near) future! :)

In two weeks I'm going to the catshow in Jyväskylä on saturday 14.2 with Figaro and Tryffel. I leave Gibson at home this time, because he has quite many finnish CAPEs and Figaro's daughter hadn't gotten her papers yet when I signed them up. This will be Tryffel's first show and Figaro's first show in neuter-class, exciting! ;)

When it comes to Sylvester, it has gotten better...Some days or some moments something can trigger the tears and the sorrow again overwhelms me, but overall I'm doing well. I focuse on the others and of course little Tryffel and now Figaro's daughter and other good things...Fortunately I have so much stuff to do, so I haven't got the time to think...The home-knitted lila-silver (as Sylvester!)  comfort-bear "Sylvester-nallen" which I earlier got from my friends, Sylvester's breeders  really gives comfort, it means much to me and I truly appreciate the beautiful gift and thought! It warms my heart! The same goes for all the kittenphotos and the card I got from Sylvester's dad's owner! I'm soo very grateful for the tremendous support I've gotten from friends, family and aquaintences!!

The other cats are all doing well. Since Sylvester was the leader, hierarcy has changed. Sylvester was Figaro's best friend, but Figaro has the kind of nature that he has bounced back well and also taken the role of a leader. Gibson is a sensitive, emotional cat and he was always like glued to Sylvester, Gibson lost his best friend who was like a father to him, so he has taken it the hardest...Tryffel's arrival also affected him, but they are very good friends. Gibson is ok, but he isn't really himself yet (marking the bed sometimes), it takes some time for him to find himself, selfcomfidence and his place in the family again...He gets lots of love, praise and support from mommy and his friends!

Tryffel is living his kitten-life ;) He's a little tough guy, playing rough with Figaro and always running around the house and always trying to steal my food ;) Inbetween he snuggles up with his friends and me :) Tryffel is best friends with everyone ;)


25.01.2009 - Sylvester had multiple myeloma!!!

I got Sylvester's autopsy report two weeks ago, but I haven't had the time to write about it...

The autopsy showed that Sylvester had multiple myeloma, cancer. You can say that it is a type of blood cell cancer (malign plasma cell tumor) (from the bone marrow). Multiple myeloma is EXTREMELY rare in cats! The veterinary pathologist performing the autopsy had never had a case of it in cats. It's so rare, so at the ward's pathologists' meeting Sylvester's case was on their table!

Sylvester had the cancer in the bonemarrow, liver, spleen and lymph nodes. His spleen was over 10 times enlarged. One of the walls in his heart was somewhat thickened (probably due to its' hard wotk because of the anemia). All other organs were completely without remarks!

Sylvester passed away due to the severe anemia caused by the cancer, but even if he would have survived the anemia, the cancer would of course still have been there. The cancer would lateron have spread to the bones of the body, causing extremely terrible bone-pains, so under these circumstances it was better it ended as it did, before Sylvester got any terrible bone-pains and suffering! That would have been so terrible for him and also for me, trying to figure out if and when he is in pain and having to take difficult decisions, finally about putting to sleep...Now, he instead got to die quickly and unexpectedly at home with his loving family with him, without any longterm terrible pains!

I will always carry with me the tremendous sorrow and longing for Sylvester, but I felt a relief when I got the report. Now I know what it was and that I couldn't have done anything else...I hadn't realized how tense and unease I had been waiting for the results, but now I feel I've gotten some peace...

In other news, I've got lots of new, cute photos of Tryffel which I will add later. Figaro's daughter is moving into our family in barely two weeks! Our next catshow is coming up in the middle of february. I'll be back in a week with more detailed news and photos...


04.01.2009 - We have a new family member!! :)) - Gibson's birthday - Different updates

After Sylvester died (one month ago today!) I knew I wanted a new ocicat male rather sooner than later, for emotional reasons. Of course no one can or should replace him nor can any one take away the pain I feel of losing Sylvester, but the family isn't complete without an oci and not only I need this but I knew it would do the boys good to get a new male friend, since Sylvester isn't here anymore and this affected them deeply. After I got my dear Sylvester home again in the urn I found some peace and I felt ready to start looking. The short story is that I found a chocolate spotted adorable cutie and immediately was struck by the feeling that this boy belongs in our family! It just clicked! :) He happened to be just about 12 weeks old and on Christmas day I brought him home :) The other cats were very kind. The girls didn't really care and the boys were very curious and interested but friendly. After a few days Tryffel was totally at home in our family and now he is a friend to all the cats. He especially hangs with the boys and loves to play with Figaro. Full speed ahead all the time!! And a nap in mommy's lap in between ;) I believe angel Sylvester is happy, proud and appreciates that there's another oci running around the house, since he can't be here himself....

I've made an own page for Tryffel, check it out! I've also added a few pictures of him (Pictures / The cats / Tryffel). I've changed the photo of Figaro on his page and altered the photo of Sylvester to a "memory-photo" on his page. I've also added a Links-page, but it's still under contruction. As soon as I get the time, I'll also add new pics of the other cats, "cuties-pics" and new videos!

Tomorrow is Gibson's birthday!! :)


21.12.2008 - I got my darling Sylvester home again - Pics added

17.12 I got my sweetheart Sylvester home again in a beautiful urn. Of course I cried alot first holding the urn in my hands, but at the same time I got a feeling of relief, calmness and peace seeing my darling home again with his family, where he belongs. It felt like a bit of a closure. The only piece missing is the autopsy results. The urn is a beautiful steel metallic urn on a marble stone foot with a gold plate with his name and date of birth and death on it. I will later add a photo of it and Sylvester's own special place in our home.

I've now finally added some pics from the catshows in Turku and Kuopio (see Pictures / Showpics page 6 ). I've also added new supercute photos of Figaro's babies taken when I visited there 13.12 (Pictures / Figaro's children).


14.12.2008 - My dearly beloved Sylvester has gone to catheaven!! ;;((
Other news below

I have some very terrible and sad news which I haven't had the strenght to write about earlier...On the morning of the 4th of December 2008 my endlessly beloved darling Sylvester went to catheaven ;;((

Last time I wrote, we were going to the vet 1.12 to check the blood values again and check the blood types of Chewie, Säde and Gibson (for a possible blood donation). Everything went well. On the evening of 3.12 I got the results and all the blood values had all gone up!! Plus he had lots of reticulocytes in his blood. The cortisone seemed to be working and therefore the idea of blood donation was kept as an emergency-solution due to its' risks. Sylvester still behaved normally, eating, drinking and his pee and stool was still normal. He still didn't have a fever and everything seemed to be getting better. We decided to do a check-up one week later and continue with the cortisone and nutriplus. I was starting to relax. All the bloodvalues were better and on the rise, I thought yes, we're going to make it! My Sylvester is a real litttle fighter and I believed that everything was slowly going to be ok...

On the morning of the 4th of December I got out of bed before 6 o'clock and gave Sylvester his medicine. He behaved normally. But later I noticed he wasn't so keen to eat. At 7 o'clock I heard someone making noice and when I checked on Sylvester iying on the bed, his eyes were like glass and he was breathing very fast. I lifted him to the kitchen floor and then his legs didn't work any more. He threw up and so on...I could tell this would go fast. The other cats mostly sat around him, watching in fear. The minutes seemed like ages. I tried to keep myself strong and comforted him and talked to him. At 8 o'clock Sylvester's heart gave up. Lying in my arms, with his friends around him, my little darling became an angel.

The sorrow I feel cannot be described in words!!!! I miss him so tremendously and the void is overwhelming!! I have so many feelings, also anger for him being taken from me so young (4,5 years old). Especially Gibson and Figaro are clearly mourning their friend, who was like a father to them. I haven't slept, had headaces, only thought about him and his sound and where he is and what he used to do and so on but things are getting better, back in everyday activities and work. I'm trying to focuse on the other babies and keep strong for their sake. I am at least very grateful that I was at home when this happened and that it happened suddenly and fast!

I put Sylvester into one of their blankets along with his favourite toys and a flower and sent him for autopsy and cremation. Hopefully the autopsy will give a proper diagnosis and show the reason for the anemia. This would give some peace. Maybe it will show that there was no way back, that I couldn't have done anything else, because at the moment I can't help blaming myself, thinking if he would be alive if I had done something different, although everybody says I did everything like they would have and even more...Now I am waiting to get my darling home! I light a candle for him every night! Take a look at his memoriam-page.

My dear Sylvester is now an angel watching over us! I will always love you and remember you, my sweet, amazing, endlessly beloved darling Sylvester!!!!!!!!!!!


Catday in petshop - Chewie's birthday - Kuopio catshow results - Figaro neuter - Visit to Figaro's kittens

Now I'm going to focuse on good news. Things that has helped me get my mind off of things...

29.11 was the Royal Canin catday in the local petshop Vaasan Eläinkeskus / Vasa Djurcentrum. I went there with Säde, Gibson and Figaro in their own showcage. It was lots of fun! Lots and lots of people came and looked at the cats and asked questions. All were very interested and I told them about the cats. Unfortunately I forgot to take any photos...

1.12 was Chewie's birthday! :) Although I haven't written about it, I of course didn't forget it!

6.12 Gibson and Figaro was at the catshow in Kuopio. Gibson won his 6th CAPE-certificate and got chosen to the nomination-selection, where he came close, but another cat got nominated. There were many fine neuter males and the competition was tough. Figaro won his 8th and last CAGCIB-certificate and therfore now bears the fine title Grand International Champion!! :)) He also was chosen to the nomination-selection and finished 3rd.

Last wednesday (10.12) Figaro joined the neuter-gang! ;) Hopefully and probably now, since he's castrated, the peeing will stop and I can thoroughly wash all furniture and fabrics!

Yesterday (13.12) I went to Tampere to visit Figaro's and Hertta's babies. They are now 8 weeks old and sooooo cute!! :) They are all playful and curious. My girl  to be (if she'll be of breeding-quality, looks good at the moment) UmaCurl is like a little princess (of course, when her mother thinks she's a queen ;) ), sooo adorable, with the sweetest eyes! ;) She is very feminine, you can tell the girl from the boys. The blue boy is exactly like Figaro, his facial expression is the same and he is the same cute, wild little monster ;) The two other boys are also sooo cute and playful, like a combination of mother and father. I didn't want to leave, they are soo cute, funny and adorable! I took lots of photos, I'll add some later!

Due to the tragedy here, I haven't yet added any photos from the catshow in Turku and Kuopio, but I will add some soon...


28.11.2008 - Turku catshow results - Catshow in Kuopio - Catday in local petshop - Sylvester has severe anemia!!

The catshow in Turku went well! On saturday, Gibson won his 4th CAPE-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection, but another cat got nominated. Sylvester got Ex1 but no cert due to his low weight (see more below). Figaro won his 6th CAGCIB-certificate, was chosen to the nomination-selection and was nominated for Best in show (Tuomarin Paras)! :) In the panel competed 11 adult males for Best in show (best adult (male) in cat II), another cat won but only four cats got votes and Figaro was one of them (1 vote)! :) On sunday, Sylvester won his 4th CAPE-certificate, Gibson won his 5th CAPE-certificate and Figaro won his 7th CAGCIB-certificate! :) Gibson and Figaro was chosen to the nomination-selection and Gibson was 3rd of 6 and Figaro 3rd of 10. :)

In one week, me, Gibson and Figaro are going to a catshow in Kuopio (just saturday). Hopefully Figaro will get his last CAGCIB and become GIC and after that be castrated 10.12.

Tomorrow, Royal Canin is arranging a catday in a local petshop (Vaasan Eläinkeskus/ Vasa Djurcentrum) and I'm going there with Säde, Gibson and Figaro presenting and talking about catbreeds! :)

Now to something terrible...During the last month Sylvester has lost a lot of weight. First I thought it just was a period and also because he is so active and they have eaten light food. He also behaved totally normally, eating, drinking, playing and his pee and stool was normal. I began giving extra nutrition gel to see if he would gain some weight and planned to take some bloodsamples just to be safe, at the same time as I bring Figaro to the vet for castration (10.12).

Since he didn't show any signs of illness, I brought him to the catshow in Turku. He behaved totally normally there aswell, but I had started to notice that he looked pale in his face and his gums were pale, so I took him to the vet 25.11. He had a fever. She took an x-ray (that didn't show anything) and ordered lots and lots and lots of blood samples and gave him a cortisone shot. The next day I got the results: Sylvester has a very severe, possibly lifethreatining anemia!! I can't tell you in words how devastated I was and how much I cried..... ;;(( The positive thing at least was that he doesn't have FIP, FIV or FeLV and the other testresults were normal, no organ abnormalities.

Now, the question remains, what is the reason for the anemia...The suspicions are PK-deficiancy (pyruvate kinase) or AIHA / IMHA (autoimmune haemolytic anemia/ immunomediated haemolytic anemia). These  are treated with cortisone and the prognosis depends on if/how the cat responds to the cortisone treatment. Some cats die and some achieves a normal life again (with or without continous cortisone treatment). Sylvester is eating cortisone and hopefully it is working because he hasn't had a fever for two days! :) Strangely, but fortunately enough he still behaves quite normally, he has a good apetite and his urine and stool is still normal. He gets huge amounts of nutrition gel.

On monday we are going to check the blood values again and also check the reticulocytes to find out if the bone marrow produces new red blood cells or not (the results so far indicate that the bone marrow do produce new red blood cells, but that the body destroys them, which of course is the better alternative). I'm also bringing Gibson, Säde and Chewie to check their blood types, so that one of them can donate blood to Sylvester if his blood values hasn't changed. Sylvester's blood type is A and Gibson's, Säde's and Chewie's parents' blood types are all A so there is a 75% change in each of them that they are A and additionally mentioned almost all cats are of blood type A. Figaro is of blood type B so he cannot donate and Evita is the oldest and so thin so I will not test her.

Then we just have to wait and see what the results say and continue from there...There isn't any specific test for AIHA/IMHA but PK-deficiency can be gene-tested in USA (not sure yet if the test suits ocicats). Now I am more hopeful since he continues to behave quite normally and doesn't have a fever. Hopefully the cortisone helps!!

I'll be back with more news about Sylvester. I'll also later add some photos from the catshow in Turku and from the catday in the petshop tomorrow.


11.11.2008 - Kittenphotos added - Next catshow

I've added new kitten-pictures of each cutie (Pictures / Figaro's children). They are soo cute! :) Figaro's babies are now three weeks old, they opened their eyes a while ago and are growing rapidly. I definitely have to take a trip and visit them soon :)

The next catshow me and the boys are going to is in Turku 22-23.11. So in one and a half weeks, me, Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro are heading there. Figaro only has three certificates left to his GIC-title, so let's hope all goes well in Turku (and lateron Kuopio) and he'll be GIC before christmas and then I'll make him a neuter and the peeing finally and hopefully will get an end... ;)


29.10.2008 - Pictures added

I've added new photos of Evita, Chewie, Säde, Thyra and Rocky (under Pictures / The cats....) plus a new kittenphoto of the babies one week old :) This time I didn't add any new photos of the boys, since there are plenty such under showpics... :)


20.10.2008 - Figaro is a dad!! :))

This (monday) morning Hertta gave birth to four healthy longhaired American Curl-kittens!! :)) Figaro is now the proud father of three boys and one girl (probably a girl)! :) Everything and everyone is well! :) The colors are bluespotted (male), browntabby bicolor (female? and male) and brownmackerel tabby bicolor (male). Hertta (EC & CFA GC & TICA SGC & RW DBCats Heartbreaker of Siriuksen, DM) with the babies, is at home in Tampere with her owners and Figaro's breeders Satu Hämäläinen & Marika Nyström (Siriuksen cattery) and this litter is Siriuksen U-Curls. I've made an own picture-page for Figaro's babies and added som photos there, check it out! (Pictures/Figaro's children)


11.10.2008 - Tampere catshow results - Hertta's move and pregnancy - Updates!

The catshow in Tampere last weekend was a success! :) On saturday Figaro won his 4th CAGCIB-certificate, Gibson won his 2nd CAPE-certificate and Sylvester won his 2nd CAPE-certificate! :) Figaro was chosen to the nomination-selection but a maine coon got the nomination. Sylvester and Gibson had the same judge and were both chosen to the nomination-selection as the only ones. This was quite a funny situation, since I knew one of them were going to be nominated and both cats were mine, but I didn't know which one the judge would choose... ;) They both did very well, the judge thought long and hard and  he perferred Gibson over Sylvester, so Gibson was nominated for Best in show (Tuomarin Paras) and Sylvester came 2nd!! :)) In the panel (competing for Best in show (best neuter (male) in cathegory 3)) an ocicat won, Gibson didn't get any votes but did well! :)

On sunday, Figaro won his 5th CAGCIB, Gibson won his 3rd CAPE and Sylvester his 3rd CAPE! :) All three of them were chosen to the nomination-selection and did well, but other cats got the nominations this day. In other words the whole weekend was great! :) I've added a few photos from the catshow (showpics page 5).

Last friday, when I went to Tampere, I brought Hertta home. Of course I was a bit sad since she has lived here for five months and become a part of the family...but now she's home with her friends and family...It is now only 1,5 weeks to the expected date of birth for Hertta's and Figaro's babies! :) I've heard she has gotten even bigger during the last week... :) I'll be back with kitten-news! :)

I've done some updates to the cats' own pages. I've added the breed presentation shows they've been to and I've added the showcats' rankings in their breeds and groups in Finland. At the moment, Sylvester is in 14th place and both Gibson and Figaro are in 1st place in their breed-ranking in Finland 2008!! :))


27.09.2008 - Breed presentation show, me and Figaro in the local daily newspaper - Catshow in Tampere - Hertta moving home

The breed presentation show in Kokkola last sunday was lots of fun! :) A lot of people came there and were very interested, asked a lot, photographed aaaa lot and admired my cats :)  Chewie, who normally doesn't go to any shows wasn't really  outgoing but at ease and calm :) The only thing was that Figaro tried to mate with her...she didn't mind it so much, but who knows what those of the visitors who saw it, think...heh... ;) The cage was perhaps a bit too crowded this time...The local daily newspaper Keskipohjanmaa was there doing an article and noticed how popular especially Figaro was with his curled ears. They wanted to do an interview and take a photo and here is the result (scanned article, in finnish)! :)) I´ve added a photo from the show.

Next  weekend (4-5.10) I'm going to a catshow In Tampere with Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro. At the same time I'll bring Hertta home (to her owners and Figaro's breeders, Siriuksen in Tampere). Hertta is now quite round around her belly and as earlier mentioned the calculated date of birth for Herttas and Figaro's kittens is 21.10. Everything has gone smoothly so far and let's hope everything will continue to go well. I also of course hope that she will give birth to a female kitten for me :)

All cuties here at home are just fine, enjoying lazy days and playtimes :) Rocky and Thyra (at my parents' home) are also fine. Rocky recently hunted and ate a rabbit (poor thing :( and not the first time) and Thyra is cuddly and jealous, trying to steal all attention from Rocky... ;) When I get the time (sometime this century) I'll add new photos of all the cats + videos...I'll be back with news about Hertta and news and photos from the show.


13.09.2008 - Seinäjoki showpics - Figaro & Hertta - Breed presentation show  in Kokkola

I've added some pics from the catshow in Seinäjoki (showpics page 4 & 5).

It is tomorrow 4 weeks since Figaro and Hertta mated. I believe she's showing some small signs of pregnancy, but I'm not certain yet, so I will wait and see before I say something more...

Next sunday (21.9) me, Sylvester, Gibson, Figaro and Chewie are going to a breed presentation show (esittelynäyttely) in Kokkola. They didn't have any of these breeds in the show, so an aquaintence asked me if I would like to come. In other words my four cuties will be the only ones of their respective breeds at this show :) I'm not bringing Evita and Säde since they already have many persians and ragdolls coming...Chewie doesn't normally go to any catshows since she doesn't enjoy it and also is too round, but this time I'll bring her since they didn't have any cornish rex and it is just a breed presentation show (nevermind her weight)  and she has her pals with her and it's just for short day, so she'll be just fine...Maybe it's good to get the couch potatoe moving  a bit... ;)

I'll be back with news and photos from the breed presentation show + news about Hertta...


10.09.2008 - Seinäjoki catshow results

The catshow in Seinäjoki went super!! They all behaved so well and got so good judgements! :) Among other things, Sylvester was commended on his excellent condition, Gibson on his perfectly done coat and Figaro on his superlovely show temperament :) That's just a couple of the compliments they often get to hear ;)

On saturday, Gibson won his 8:th and last CAGPIB-certificate and now bears the fine title Grand International Premior!! :)) Gibson ought to be the first Kurilian Bobtail in Finland with this title!! :) He was also chosen to the nomination-selection among three others out of six neuter males at this judge in cat. III but a cornish rex got the nomination. Sylvester also won his 8:th and final CAGPIB-certificate and now bears the fine titel Grand International Premior!! :)) Figaro won his 2:nd CAGCIB-certificate! :)

On sunday, Gibson won his first CAPE-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection among three others out of eight neuter males! :) An ocicat got the nomination, but both days in the nomination-selection and he was liked, well done :) Sylvester also won his first CAPE-certificate! :) He wasn't chosen to the nomination-selection on saturday or sunday, but I didn't expect that either since he has got a bit dry summercoat...Figaro won his third CAGCIB-certificate! :) Although he still has summercoat, he was chosen to the nomination-selection (Tuomarin Paras-valinta) among three others out of five adult males in cat.II at this judge and finished second! :)

I'll soon add some photos from the catshow. In other news all is well with everybody here at home...


31.08.2008 - Tallinn showpics - Showpics rearranged - Hertta & Figaro - Catshow in Seinäjoki

I´ve added a couple of pics from the catshow in Tallinn + a couple of summerpics to the playground. The showpics are now rearranged into several pages so it doesn't take so long to load them.

It is now two weeks since Figaro and Hertta mated. There were action here many times that day and hopefully it will give results! :) After that day the heat eventually weared off and the lovebirds weren't interested in each other after that intensive day. After a few weeks we should be able to tell if Hertta is pregnant. Hopefully she is, in that case the expected date of birth for Figaro's children is 21.10.08! :) After four months here, eventually Hertta (EC & CFA GC & TICA SGC & RW DBCats Heartbreaker of Siriuksen) will move back home (FIN*Siriuksen, Satu Hämäläinen & Marika Nyström (Figaro's breeders)) before the kittens are born. But since Figaro is calmer with the peeing when she's here, we'll wait a while. After the kittens are born, Figaro will become a neuter...Hertta has of course become like one in the family, so it will be sad when she leaves... :(

Next weekend, me, Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro are going to a catshow in Seinäjoki (6-7.9). I'll be back with news, results and photos from the show! No furhter news at the moment, all the cuties here at home aswell as Thyra & Rocky at my parents' house are all doing fine, just enjoying life... :)


17.08.08 - Tallinn catshow results - The move home - Hertta is in heat and has mated with Figaro!

The whole trip to Tallinn went very well! :) Figaro was adorable and behaved like an angel all the way! On saturday Figaro won his third CACIB-certificate and is therefore now an International Champion! :) There were ten adult males in cathegory II at his judge and four were chosen to the nomination-selection, but Figaro wasn't one of them. Probably because he still has his summercoat so the coat is not in top condition, but he got an excellent judgement!

On sunday, Figaro got his first CAGCIB-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection (Tuomarin Paras valinta)! :) The judge said he liked him veery much, adored his excellent temperament, he really fancied him and Figaro once again got an excellent judgement ;) but he didn't get nominated due to his summercoat.

When me and Figaro got home from Tallinn, the drain-pipe renovation was finished and after 2,5 months in the cottage in the country we packed our bags and all moved home!! The cats were a bit confused at first, but quickly realized that, yeah! we are home again, jippii! :) After lots of cleaning and unpacking and unwrapping we are now settled in :) It's good to be home again!!

Yesterday I noticed that Hertta seemed to be getting in heat and today she's been flirting loudly with Figaro. Figaro was a bit insecure at first, since he's used to get smacked in the face by her when he tries something ;) but after some help on the way, the lovebirds have made lots of action here today... ;) Hopefully Figaro will be a dad in October!! :))


14.08.2008 - Birthdayboy

Today is Rocky's birthday!! :)


02.08.2008 - Sylvester's paw has healed perfectly and completely!! Catshow-trip to Tallinn next weekend.

Eleven days ago, 22.7 I removed the stitches from the surgery-wound on Sylvester's paw. It had then healed enough and was closed up enough for the stitches to be removed. I just continued putting Bacibact-powder on it for a few days and a week later the last little piece of scab (sårskorpa/rupi) fell off. :) Now, the only traces of this horrifying story are a very little, goodlooking scar and short fur on his leg... :)) I am so tremendously proud of Sylvester!! Every time I changed the bandages and when I removed the stitches he sat still and was so patient! He knew I was helping him ;) Through this whole ordeal he has been sooo calm, kind and extremely patient!! :)) Poor Sylvester hasn't been able to go outside (in a leash) for about a month, due to his wound. But today, since his paw is back to normal, I took him outside and it didn't take long before he had killed a dragonfly (slända/sudenkorento)... ;)

Next weekend I am going to a catshow in Tallinn, Estonia with Figaro (only him, since he's the only one that needs a certificate from abroad at the moment). We leave (bus-trip) 4.a.m. on friday (8.8) and return 4.a.m. on monday. This is the first time Figaro goes to a catshow alone, without his friends and he drewls quite a bit in the car-trips, and this one is long, but I´m sure he'll be just fine, he has mommy... ;)

I´ve bought a new transport cage (one more!) for this trip. Last time I went to Tallinn, I used the large cage I always use for both transportation and as showcage, but that is unnecessarily large and heavy to bring for just one cat. I have 4 small boxes, but in my opinion they are too small for this long trip. I also have two net-cages in fabric, but they can only be used as showcages, they are too soft for transportation + I also have a cute pink bag (which says "My pet") with net on the ends, that I bought last time in Tallinn, but that is of course only for short trips like between the venue and the hotel. So, I bought one more... ;) This time a mediumsize (quite big, smaller than the largest but much bigger than the smallest) nylon (fabric) net cage with a metal frame. It is black and pink :) Since it is quite open, it has some net on all sides (which the cats don't like), mom is making a glossy silver-colored ;) cover/bag for it, so it'll be calmer. The good thing about this cage is that is is light, it doesn't weigh much! You can also fold it when you don't use it, so it doesn't take much space.

When we come home, I have three days off from work so we can move back home (since the drain-pipe renovation finished 8.8)!! :)) I'll be back with news and  showresults from Tallinn + news from back home! ;)


20.07.2008 - Sylvester had surgery of a benign tumor under his leg!!

This month so far has been very chaotic! 2nd of July I brought Sylvester to the vet to show a bump on his foot. About 10 months ago Sylvester got a wound under his paw (due to a splint? or for some unknown reason) which healed by itself with a little antiseptic and powder treatment adviced by the vet nurses. The wound left behind a very little, little bump in the skin which I thought was scar tissue that would go away in time. This didn't bother Sylvester in any way, he didn't even notice it. About 1-2 months ago I noticed that the little bit of what I thought was scar tissue started to grow and became a little bit red instead of fading away. Sylvester still didn't care about it, he behaved like normal, but I of course realized this isn't normal so I booked an appointment to the vet for the same time as I renewed some of the cats' vaccinations.

The vet believed the bump to be a benign growth and recommended we should remove it in the fall, when it isn't so hot and not so many bacterias flourishing, especially since the wound after the surgery could be quite large or complicated due to the small amount of skin on paws. But of course remove it before it becomes bigger and is harder to remove and starts bothering the cat. However, I asked if we could take a biopsy, which I could bring to work and have a pathologist to take a look at it. We did that and Sylvester also got some antibiotics.

Two days later the histological sample was ready and I looked at it with a pathologist at work. I got a real chock when he said it looked like cancer. The tumor cells were so infiltrative that if it was a human sample he would almost with a 100% certainty define it as cancer. He couldn't say what type, because the cells looked different from a human sample. Fortunately, he only saw little mitotic activity, which means it wasn't aggressive, but slow growing and unlikely to have spread. The pathologist of course judged the sample using human criterias and thank god, it later reveals that the humanly defined malignant behavior of the tumor cells is NOT considered malignant in my cat!! :)) But at that time I was crushed, I instantly booked an appointment  for surgery four days later and cried the rest of the day and walked around with a lump in my stomach until the surgery. I was also worried about the removal; would the vet get the whole thing removed with margins since it was in a difficult place, and how large would the wound be due to the lack of skin under the paw, and how would it heal....

The surgery went very well, better than we had hoped!! :) The tumor was in-capsulated, wasn't attached to underlying tissue and was easily removed. Sylvester got quite a few stitches and the vet had to make two incisions next to the wound, to releave the pressure, so that the skin wouldn't be too tight and the paw start swelling. He got more antibiotics and pain releaves. We cut the tumor in half and sent one half to Germany for a real diagnosis from a vet.pathologist and the other half I brought to work. The wound was covered in paraffin- and normal compresses and a gause + tape which I changed every second day. Sylvester hates the "collars" so I put cutted baby-pants on him so he wouldn't get to the wound.

At work, the pathologist saw that the tumor cells infiltrated the wall around the tumor, but there still was a little margin of healthy tissue around it, so probably everything got removed. From Germany we got the result that it was a cutaneous benign mast cell tumor. Guess if I was happy and releaved!! :)) And the vet told me that IF the tumor would come back, it is local and would reoccur in the same place in the skin and it doesn't methastisize, so I don't have to worry that it could spread to the inner organs!! :))

The wound heals very well! The healing has gone according to hope and excpectations, the paw didn't swell at any point, it hasn't got infected and Sylvester hasn't been in pain at all! :) Now, almost two weeks later, the two incisions next to the wound have healed totally and the wound itself is healing well, but I'm not going to remove the stitches yet, since it isn't totally closed up to the suface yet and still emitting some "woundfluid". The baby-pants have worked very well. Two days ago it was meant the I would remove the baby-pants and the bandages, but Sylvester immediately started to pull the stitches so a had to put a compress with tape back there and put a "protective collar" on him. At this point, Sylvester was so happy to get his body free of clothes so he accepted the collar. And since the wound now itches when it's healing, Sylvester was biting the pants wet so it was better that both the paw and the cat got some air. I now, every day change paraffin- and normal compress with tape.

In summary, we have a happy ending and everything is soon back to normal :) In other news the other cats are just fine and they (the boys) have caught and eaten several mice here! Yuk! They have been very supportive of Sylvester :) In three weeks I'm going to a catshow in Tallinn with Figaro and when we get home the drain-pipe renovation is finished and we get to move home!! :)) I'll be back with more news about Sylvester and how his paw is doing later....


01.07.2008 - Birthdayboy

Today is Sylvester's birthday!! :)


24.06.2008 - Showpics and summerphotos + home-happenings

Added a few pics from the catshow in Jämsä.

Also added beautiful outside-summer-pics of all the cats (except Thyra & Rocky). (Pictures/The cats...) Check them out :)

Everything is well here, everybody is enjoying the summer :) And there is still no action between Figaro and Hertta...just friends... ;)

Since we are now temporarily living in a cottage in the country (due to the drain-pipe-renovation in our house), different bugs and creatures for some reason seem to manage to get into the house (probably through the outer door, when it's open...), which the cats find very amusing... ;) Mostly they just watch, follow and perhaps play with spiders and bugs and chase flies, but the other day I had to help a (huge) lizard (!?!) outside when the boys got so rough with it, so it lost it's tail...!! Yuck :P Poor thing...Hopefully that was the only one that got lost into the house...Another morning I found a dragged-out bloodstain and a part of something (??), so who knows what they've been up to when I was sleeping...My cats...that are supposed to be sofisticated and neat... ;P

The cats are now somewhat familiar with the sea, but they don't particularly find it interesting to go into it... ;) Another thing, which is new, is high and tall grass. At home, in the park outside the grass is of course always cut very short, so tall grass is odd for them...They've just started to realize that you cannot walk on top of it... ;) Especially Gibson, who loves to run and climbe, has made a few unplanned dives into the grass, before he understood that you can't jump on to it... ;)


20.06.2008 - Jämsä catshow results

Last weekend we were at the catshow in Jämsä and all three cats won certificates both days :) Both Sylvester and Gibson won their 6th CAGPIBs on saturday and were both chosen to the nomination-selection (at the same judge) among about five other neuter males, but a rex got nominated for best in show. Figaro won his first CACIB.

On sunday, Sylvester and Gibson won their 7th CAGPIBs (one left to GIP!) and Gibson was chosen to the nomination-selection among others out of many neuter males. Figaro won his second CACIB and was chosen to the nomination-selection, came close but a ragdoll won the nomination for best in show.

It was a fun weekend and the cats behaved excellently. :) The next show we are going to is in Tallinn in the middle of August. I'm bringing (at least) Figaro (since he needs his last CACIB from abroad). I'll soon add a few pics from the catshow in Jämsä.


08.06.2008 - Renovation-move, Jämsä catshow

It is now a week ago we moved out to the country, due to the drain-pipe-renovation in our home. The cats were of course a bit confused at first but quickly acclimatized themselves, felt at ease and made the little cottage their home :) They've already been out in a leash a couple of times, which they are used to, but the sea is something new and strange... ;)

Next weekend I'm going to the catshow in Jämsä with Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro. We leave on friday afternoon and return late on sunday evening. I'll be back with news and results from the catshow...

PS. Figaro and Hertta are still JUST friends... ;)


28.05.2008 - Pictures added, Säde's birthday

Lots of showpics from Tampere added and from the Royal Canin Road Show. Also changed the photo of Figaro on his page, since he has grown quite alot since it was taken. Added a new photo of his wife Hertta, taken here.

When I get the time, I'll add new pictures of all the cats + new videos...

The day before yesterday was Säde's birthday!! :)


25.05.2008 - Royal Canin Road Show, Cat-visit to work, Renovation-move, Hertta & Figaro, Evita

The Royal Canin Road Show (presenting their food-products) was in Vaasa yesterday and today and I was there, representing cat breeds with Säde, Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro. I stayed several hours longer than required both days because it was so much fun!! :) Lots of people visited the truck and were very interested in my cats and their breeds, asking about them and taking photos :) And the cats behaved very well :)

In the last news I forgot to tell that on my two days off from work after the catshow in Tampere, one of the days, I brought Säde, Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro to my workplace for a visit... ;) My work-buddies have for a long time wanted me to bring some of the cats to work so they get to see them, and since I live just a couple of blocks away from my place of work I then took them for a visit :) Everybody thought they were cute and the cats ran all across the ward, investigating everything ;) They weren't afraid at all, but very curious and thought it was exciting... :)

The drain-pipes and ventilation in our house is being changed this year and a week from now the renovation reaches our stair. This means we have to move out for 2,5 months... :/  We are moving to my grandma's old cottage in the country next to the sea, so in other words the summer is going to be beautiful ;) Fortunately, the cottage has all the necesseties such as furniture and kitchen equipment (of course also power and water!), so we don't have to bring anything. But before the move there is still lots to do, everything has to be put in corners out of the way of their work and covered in plastic to protect our stuff from loads of dust...In the middle of August the renovation should be finished in our stair and we can move back...

Hertta is still here and doing just fine, but no heat is still not in sight, so me and Figaro just have to wait...Evita got some antibiotics because she got a bit of a cold with a stopped-up nose and sneezing, but nothing serious, she's doing just fine :) Evita is over 11 years old and this is the very first time she is even a little ill, so I guess sometime something has to come...

I haven't yet added any show-photos from Tampere or others because I can't find the computercable to my camera... ;) I'll add them later....


20.05.2008 - Tampere catshow results, My cats in Royal Canin-truck

The catshow in Tampere this last weekend went well! :) The cats behaved like little angels :) and got superb judgements :) Mommy also this time got credits for all the cats being well presented, in excellent show condition, well groomed and furnished and in outstanding condition! :))

On saturday, Sylvester won his 4th CAGPIB-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection, came close but lost to a burma. Gibson also won his 4th CAGPIB-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection among several other cats, but a russian blue got nominated. Figaro had tight competition from a beautiful curl for the CAC-certificate and lost it to him, so Figaro got EX2 but he behaved perfectly :)

On sunday, Sylvester and Gibson both won their 5th CAGPIB-certificates and both were chosen to the nomination-selection and since they this day had the same judge they competed against each other for the nomination, along with 5 other cats. The judge loved both of them, but chose a burma. Figaro won his third CAC-certificate, which means he now bears the titel Champion! :)

I will soon add some showpics!

In other news, Royal Canin is doing a truck-tour in Finland, where they present their products. This weekend they arrive in Vaasa and want to have cats present in the morning and dogs in the afternoon (do that in every city). They got a hold of me and now I am going with four of my cats to be shown in the truck both saturday and sunday between 10am and 13pm. They didn't have room for all cats so Evita and Chewie stay home. More about that afterwards ;)


14.05.2008 - The lovebirds (not), Tampere catshow, changes


Nothing has yet happened between Figaro and Hertta (at least how it seems). She is not in heat and shows no signs of it beginning either. We just have to wait...But a good thing is that she is so at home here now and the other cats doesn't bother her and she doesn't bother them, so she can be loose with the other cats in the whole home. It goes very well, they all get along fine and she's practically one in the family ;) Another plus is that Figaro hasn't peed in the wrong place a single time since he got home with his wife! :) Now we just have to wait for Hertta to get in heat...

The catshow in Tampere is this weekend (17-18.5). I'm going there both days with Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro. The preparations has begun...I'll be back with the results after the show.

In other news I changed the guestbook a week ago, due to enormous neverending amounts of spam. This new guestbook with better spam-protection will also be integrated in my site as the last one, but for now it has a different look...I have now also added headlines to all news, so it will be easier read since the amount is constantly growing... ;) When I find the time I'll take some new photos and videos...


01.05.2008 - Figaro and his wife

Figaro is now here at home and has his wife Hertta with him. I went and got them 28.4. Figaro was as happy to see me as I was to see him :) He was really undescribebly happy to see me, he has of course been in the real good hands of his breeders/Herttas owners but he's a real big giant mama's boy!! ;) And when we got home, he literally jumped long jumps out of the box and ran around the house several times, glad to be home... ;) The other cats were a bit confused at first, where had Figaro been smelling odd and who was with him...after a "smell-each-other-in-the-butt-marathon" everything was up to date and back to normal... ;) Of course the other cats are a bit curious who is in the other room... ;)

Hertta is a calm, independent, sweet and experienced lady who settled in nicely here in a room in our home. She really takes it easy, cuddles and sleeps and seems to be completely ok with the situation. She's also a bit curious what's behind the door, so when I'm home I open the door and put a net there instead so she can follow what happens outside and at the same time the other cats can settle their curiousity. Figaro and Hertta spend lots and lots of time together, but she isn't in heat anymore so we just have to wait and hope that the presence of the male Figaro makes her go in heat soon again...Figaro is definitely much more brave since he's at home and shows interest towards Hertta, so I can tell that once she's in heat there will be lots of action this time... ;)

A beautiful photo of Hertta from Siriuksen homepage added to Pictures / The Cats / Figaro. I haven't yet taken any photos of the couple here, but I will add such later...


27.04.2008 - Figaro with his wife! & Pictures added

Big news!!
Figaro is with his wife Hertta (EC & CFA GC & TICA SGC & RW DBCats Heartbreaker of Siriuksen) in Tampere! His breeders (FIN*Siriuksen, Satu Hämäläinen & Marika Nyström) called and announced that she is in heat so I brought him there 23.4. At present, nothing has yet happened. Figaro is quite insecure being a young, inexperienced male not in his own territory and is still hissing somewhat at her, though he at the same time is curious. Hertta's heat is also wearing off, so we're doing plan B; tomorrow I will bring Figaro home and take his wife with us here, they'll have a room of their own and hopefully Figaro will be braver once he gets to his home quarters and Hertta will stay in heat or soon get in heat again and there will be some action in their honeymoon suite! ;)

I am of course thrilled to get little Figaro home again! :) Although he hasn't been gone long, only a few days, I miss him like crazy! The five other cuties here at home of course comfort me, but there is immediately a huge void if one is missing! I can also tell that the other cats miss him, especiallty the boys behave in a way that shows they know he's gone and feel a void...But tomorrow he's home!! And brings his wife aswell! :))

Lots of pictures added!
Showpics from Vaasa 12-13.4
New pics of Thyra and Rocky (living at my parents' house) (pictures / the cats...)
Pictures of the new places of fun in "our playground"
A picture of Figaro and Hertta (pictures / the cats / figaro)

You can also take a look at the beautiful Hertta (longhaired browntabby bicolor (white) American curl) and read about her many and huge achievements at Siriuksen homepage (under American curls, Females and scroll down a bit to find Hertta aka EC & CFA GC & TICA SGC & RW DBCats Heartbreaker of Siriuksen. (Only a few cats in the world bear as many titels as this fine lady ;) )

More news about Figaro and Hertta soon! ;)


19.04.2008 - ByaNytt article & Vasabladet article scanned, New places of fun, Thyra-Rocky-news, Evita's long time visitor, Chewie's apetite & plastic couches

I have had the Byanytt-article and the Vasabladet-article (see earlier news) scanned and they are available for reading (in swedish) here. It is one pdf-document in five pages, page 1-2 is from Vasabladet (in the paper-layout page 1 is above page 2) and page 3-5 is from Byanytt (the layout isn't the same as in the paper, where the pictures were somewhat baked into the text, but the article couldn't be scanned in it's original form and size) (A small photo from the front page of the paper, of me and Gibson standing by the "ribbon-wall", hasn't been scanned). The article in Vasabladet is also available on the net (in a shorter version with another picture), see earlier news).

Today I have buildt yet another climbing space for the cats (as they didn't have enough already...haha ;) ). It is a long shelf under the roof at the window in the kitchen with a climbing pole attatched to it. Tomorrow I'm going to build the same komplex in the livingroom aswell ;) I've also removed the door from a small cabinet above the bathroom door and made it a cozy hideout ;) The cats reach to jump to it from one of their climbing trees.

Pictures of their new places of fun will soon be added aswell as the showpics from the catshow last weekend! New pictures of Thyra and Rocky will also be added soon, since I'm visiting my parents house tomorrow and will bring the camera! The cats there are doing just fine, Thyra apparently is a jealous little lady, she tries to be bossy over Rocky and steal all attention ;) but Rocky takes it easy since he knows he's the boss and lets her fuss... ;) They are great pals! :)

In other news, I last time forgot to tell you that Evita's breeder, Jaana saw Evita last weekend for the first time in ten years! :)) The breeders of the cats that I bring to catshows see them there, but since Evita isn't a showcat (because of her bitefault) and Jaana and me live far far apart, she only sees me now and then in catshows, but not Evita...Well, now she was at the catshow here in Vaasa with some of her persians and before she headed home on sunday, she stopped by for a quick visit! :) So...they met...first time in ten years! :) That was real fun!! :))

What else.....Chewie is getting quite fat!! I give the cats high quality light "dry food" + meat and the other cats, though they are castrated (except Figaro of course) have splendid bodies (also in judges' opinions ;) ) but Chewie seems to have an apetite larger than life...! ;) And she is also the world's most laziest cat!! ;) I believe the 10-years-health control (which I give the cats in addition to normal vet-visits) will take place sooner than her 10th birthday (she's 6,5 years old now)... ;) Well, I'll just have to see how her belly evolves... ;) Otherwise, she's in great condition and a happy cat enjoying life... ;)

Yes...and our couches are covered in plastic...guess why....Figaro's peeing...and that is only one thing mentioned that needs protection...I will stop there... ;) Säde is as always following mommy around, sleeping on my pillow and just enjoying life... ;)

Well, as I said, showpics, playgroundpics and new pics of the cuties not living here, are all on their way! :)


15.04.2008 - Thyra's birthday, Figaro's birthday, Vaasa catshow results + Vasabladet interview & Radio Vaasa interview

Plenty of news!

First of all, today is Thyra's birthday!! :) And Figaro celebrated his first birthday 12.4 at the catshow in Vaasa!! :)

The catshow here in Vaasa went very well! :) Soon I won't have room for any more ribbons on the wall... ;) On saturday, Sylvester won his second CAGPIB-certificate! :) He was also chosen to the nomination-selection but a cornish rex got the nomination. Gibson also won his second CAGPIB-certificate! :) Figaro competed for the first time in open class since he is now over 10 months old and won his first CAC-certificate! He was chosen to the nomination-selection together with six other cats (out of a total of 10 adult males). The competition was hard, a maine coon got the nomination, but Figaro was announced third place out of seven! :) On saturday I also got the huge two ribbons Suomen Kissaliitto had sent for Sylvester and Gibson achieving their IP-titels in Tallinn :)

On sunday, Sylvester won his third CAGPIB-certificate! :) Gibson also won his third CAGPIB-certificate! :) Figaro won his second CAC-certificate! :) I am very proud of the boys! Figaro just has the most wonderful show-temperament! He is so cute, when he's on the judge's table he flirts, he plays, he rolls on the table, he is simply always adorable :) It isn't just one time he has gotten hearts drawn on his judgement-sheets ;) Sylvester, as the oldest of the boys, is always so amazingly calm and stabile! :) He's never in a bad mood, he's always friendly and he just takes it easy on the judge's table, he could sit there for ages, just looking around... ;) Gibson's behaviour is a rollercouster mostly between neutral and very charming :) Most of the time he is a real cutie on the table, that charms the judges, but this weekend he actually wasn't in such a good mood...He was crancky, hissed and didn't show the best side of himself. Usually he behaves like an angel, but I guess we all have our bad days... ;) I'm so proud of all of them :)

By the way, the weekend began on friday with an interview with me in both swedish and finnish on behalf of POH-KIS (Pohjanmaan kissayhdistys / Österbottens kattförening) in Radio Vaasa! :) I was asked if I wanted to do the interview and it aired on friday and saturday. I was asked about the upcoming show, about my cats and my interest in cats among other things... :) It was a lot of fun! ;)

In addition to that, Figaro and me also got in the daily local newspaper, Vasabladet!! :) Vasabladet was at the show on sunday and they happened to walk past me when I was sitting with Figaro in my lap and they asked if they could take a photo and ask some questions :) A shorter version of the article (in swedish, with another smaller photo) is available at Vasabladet's homepage. The article in the real paper was a bit longer and the photo was another big big photo of me holding up Figaro, who's looking stright into the camera, real cute! ;) The headline is also another in the real paper; "Snyggt jobbat, Figaro!" :)

I will soon add lots of showpics from Vaasa!

The other cats here at home are also doing just fine, nothing special to tell... :)


29.03.2008 - ByaNytt interview, Vaasa catshow & stuff

The local monthly paper ByaNytt (in swedish) got a tip that I have many cats and all of different breeds and therefore wanted to do an article, so last weekend a reporter visited me and did an interview about me and my cats! :)) The issue is out 18.4 and the edition of the paper is 3600 copies.  ByaNytt isn't an online paper, so you can't read the article on the net when it's out, but  the address to their homepage is however:
http://www.kustmedia.fi/main.php?kat=2&toc=123

By the way, only two weeks to go to the catshow here in Vaasa (12-13.4)! I'm (of course!) going there both days with the boys, that is, Sylvester, Gibson and Figaro. I don't think I am going to bring Säde to any shows any more, because, although she can win certificates in Finland the next titel still requires a trip abroad and I don't think she would enjoy a long trip abroad. She's very outgoing and it probably would go just fine, but she's still not as "wild and brave" as the boys, she's a bit more fragile...And on the other hand, from the beginning I just brought her along with the boys because I was curious what kind of judgement  she would get, and since it went very well, I continued to bring her along...now you could say she has finished "on top" since she got nominated for best in show  last show... :)

Sylvester and Gibson continue collecting CAGPIB-certificates and Figaro is now over ten months old (actually turns one year the first day of the show) which means he can now start winning certificates :) We just have to visit the veterinairian before the show to get her signature that his testicles are normal (required of >10 month old males)... Figaro is definitely convinced he's an adult now...his peeing in unsuitable places has gotten quuuite intense...! Let's not mention more about that...hehe...He's waiting for a wife :)


13.03.2008 - Pictures added & Evita's birthday

Ten showpics from Tallinn added! Check them out.

Yesterday was Evita's birthday!! :)


05.03.2008 - Tallinn catshow results + trip

The showtrip to Tallinn, Estonia was very successful!  :))

On saturday, Gibson won his third CAPIB-certificate, which means he now has the titel International Premior! :) He was chosen to the nomination-selection, but an ocicat won the nomination. On sunday, Gibson won his first CAGPIB-certificate, was chosen to the nomination-selection and got nominated for best in show!! :)) (Tuomarin Paras / Domarens Bästa). In the panel (competing for best in show (best neuter in the cathegory)) a cornish rex won.

Sylvester, on saturday, won his third CAPIB-certificate and also now bears the titel International Premior! :) On sunday, Sylvester won his first CAGPIB-certificate and was chosen to the nomination-selection. He was very close, but a somali got the nomination.

The cats behaved like little angels the whole weekend, both travelling and at the show! :) I´m so proud of them, they handled the long journey very well! On the way to Tallinn, the weather was terrible and stormy. The boat-trip was awful, the wind blew 25m/s, the waves were seven meters high and "buried" the front of the ship every time they hit. People threw up, the ship swung back and forth so you had to hold on not to fall...I didn't feel so well and had a terrible headace, but although the cats seemed a bit dazed, they weren't nauseous and were doing just fine. :) The boatride home went much better, no storm at all....So, now we are all safely at home and back to normal... It went also well with the other cats at homewith my boyfriend, although Säde first, when we left, ran around the house talking and scratching on the outer door...Figaro, who nowadays thinks he's grownup and pees where he is not supposed to...hrm...used a couple of new places as a wee-wee-toilet...hopefully just due to my absence... ;)

I will soon add some photos from the showtrip to Tallinn!


20.02.2008 - Tallinn showtrip

The two-day catshow in Tallinn, Estonia is this weekend! We leave 4 a.m. the 22:nd and return to Vaasa, Finland about 3 a.m. the 25:th. This week, Sylvester and Gibson have been prepared, by washing, brushing and so on...The rest of the gang will stay at home with my boyfriend. The beautiful cage is ready for takeoff...and...good news! After some help from my dad and a bit of work on one of the back doors of the car (opens wider, handle taken out), the cage now fits in it! :) Which means I can not only use it for bustransportation this time, but in the future, also for normal cartransportation to shows and more importantly, at the same time as an own ready-decorated show cage! :)) Handy! Oh, and now I also have "calling cards" (which I made) for taking / to hand out to those who are interested in checking out my cats or breeds here...Tomorrow it's time to pack the final stuff, not to forget all our passports and papers... :) Well, further news about the trip and the showresults when we get home!


10.02.2008 - Photos added, Showtrip to Tallinn, New superb show / transportationcage & the normal life

Nine new photos added.

The showtrip to Tallinn is approaching! About a week ago I bought a large metal transport cage for the trip. I have several small plastic boxes, which I use for show trips, but long trips (abroad) like this one of course require more space for the cats. This one also has suitable measurements for usage as an own cage in catshows, not only usage for long transportation. This would be great, since I could arrive at the shows with an already decorated cage just to lift on the table, instead of doing it all there. The problem is only that it doesn't fit into my car...! Typical... ;) Well, the main purpose of the cage is however long transportations...

My mom has made a big, thick, red "bag" with one end a bit open, to put on the cage so the cats are protected and have a safe and cozy environment in there during transport. My dad is making a small wagon on wheels to move the cage with. I've always used my red curtains and interior for the cages in catshows and now my mom has also in addition to these, made some supercute matching voilé side-curtains and a red drape for the table to cover it to the floor. Check out a photo of these curtains and the cage on Pictures - Showpics. Soooo cuute!! ;) A big big thanks to my dear mom for making all this and to my dear dad for the wagon! :)

So...barely two weeks to the trip, so in one week I get to start packing and preparing Sylvester and Gibson... :) But at the moment everything is as normal...Evita eats and sleeps...Chewie is glued to my lap...Säde follows me everywhere...Sylvester is playing the boss...Gibson talks and has wild playtime-frenzies along with Sylvester and Figaro, who is growing up fast and starting to flirt with the girls...Thyra and Rocky, at my parents' house, are enjoying life as usual... :)


23.01.2008 - More videos & The flu

Five more videos added! New and fresh!

Nothing special happening in the cats' lives at the moment, alhough I have had the flu for like two weeks and now I'm still at home the whole week because I've got an infection in the airways...It can drive you crazy lying "isolated" at home day after day, fortunately, I have the company of the cats around the clock... :) The only positive thing is that when I ly in bed most of the day, I got a warm, cozy blanket covering me, consisting of at least half of the cat family... :)


19.01.2008 - Videos added!

Five videos added! Cute! Check them out! :) I will continue to add videos little by little...


13.01.2008 - New pics


Some new and fresh photos added to Pictures - The Cats, Cuties and Showpics. Check them out! Still working on the videos...


04.01.2008 - A new year, (show)plans & Gibson's birthday

Happy New Year everyone!

So...a new year has begun, the Christmas holidays are over and things are going back to normal...The cats enjoyed the holidays with lots of ham and goodies and their own christmas stockings... :) And so far the christmas tree is still standing, although they have had lots of fun with it... :)

At the moment, the cats are just hanging out at home, but stuff is already planned for this year. 22-24.2 me, Sylvester and Gibson are doing a trip to a two-day catshow in Tallinn, Estonia. (I'm only bringing these two guys, since they're the ones who need a certificate from abroad) February is approaching, so soon we get to start preparing for the trip. I have to renew my passport but ironically the cats have their affairs in order... :) This year a two-day catshow is arranged in Vaasa 12-13.4, so of course we're going there. In May we'll go to the catshow in Tampere (at least one day). That are the showplans for the coming months, then we'll see from there. Figaro is also going to be a father sometime this year (perhaps in the summer)!! But a wife for him hasn't been chosen yet... :)

Tomorrow is Gibson's birthday!! :)


23.12.2007 - Merry Christmas! & Pictures added

Pictures - The Cats added!
Pictures - Showpics added!

Now the photoalbum is complete! :) In the future I will add new and fresh cute photos now and then...Next I will start working on getting the funny videos online...

Tomorrow is Christmas eve and now it's time to wrap the presents! The cats always enjoy it even more than I do... :) They want to take part in everything, but their view of helping is to rip the paper apart and chew on the straps and ribbons until they are really slimy...tape is also a favourite... :)

Merry Christmas to everybody!


10.12.2007 - Pori catshow results + newspaper interview

Our weekend in Pori was very successful! :))

Gibson won his second CAPIB-certificate! :) He was chosen to the nomination- selection, but a burma got the nomination. Gibson has been chosen to the nomination-selection four out of six shows :)) but has actually never got nominated. The local daily newspaper was at the catshow on saturday, doing an article about it and they interviewed me about Gibson and took a photo of him! :) You can check out this also on Satakunnan Kansa's web pages. (I don't know how long the link will work, how long the article and pictures will be there)

Säde won her third CAP-certificate, which means she now has the titel Premior! :) Säde was also chosen to the nomination-selection and unexpectedly won the nomination!! :)) (Tuomarin Paras! / "Domarens Bästa"!). Lateron, in the panel (competing for best in show (best neuter in the cathegory)) she didn't get any votes, but she behaved very well! :)

Figaro won his EX1 (can't get any certificates since he's under 10 months old) and was chosen to the nomination-selection! :) In Forssa (10.11.07) Figaro got nominated (Tuomarin Paras / "Domarens Bästa") and got 1/5 votes in the panel (competing for best in show (best kitten (6-10months) in the cathegory)) but this time the nomination went to a birma (the judge decided between these two) who lateron became best in show, so you could say that Figaro lost to the best one... :) The exact same thing happened in Tampere in september... :)

So, in other words the weekend was a lot of fun and it practically couldn't have gone any better! :)) But now we are all happy to be back in our cozy home... ;) The next show we are going to is in february in Tallinn, Estonia, with Sylvester and Gibson.


07.12.2007 - Christmas greeting


Check out the christmas-greeting added to videos!! Superfunny! :)


06.12.2007 - Pori catshow & Stuff added

The catshow in Pori is this weekend, to where I'm going with Säde, Gibson and Figaro (Sylvester has 2xCAPIB and the third has to be from abroad, so he can't go to any finnish shows until we've been to Tallinn in february).Since the show is approaching, this week is a special beauty-week for all the cats (not only the ones going to the cat show) which consists of ear-cleaning, nailclipping, washing, brushing and so on... :)  By the way, today is Finland's independence day!

Guestbook added!
Counter added!
Pictures - Cuties added! Check them out, supercute! :) Still more to come...


02.12.2007 - "Little christmas", Chewie's birthday & Pictures added

Today is the first of Advent and yesterday we in Finland celebrated "little christmas" which means we took out the christmas decorations and Advent candlesticks and in our home we also put up the christmas tree. As you can guess the cats have a blast during this event!! There isn't anything more fun than playing with christmas decorations (especially the soft ones)! Figaro is determined to rip a fluffy reigndeer apart and drags it across the house. Sylvester wants to pick all the peppermint rock-sticks (polkagriskäppar / piparminttukaramelli-kepit) out of the christmas tree...The cats have tipped the tree over once every christmas the last few years, so it remains to be seen, how long it will remain standing... :)

Yesterday was also Chewie's birthday!! :)

Pictures - our playground added! Check them out! More on the way....


28.11.2007 -  Info & ranking list

Info about me added.

The Finnish Ocicat Association has a top 20 ranking list of all Finnish Ocicats' showpoints this year (adults, neuters, youngsters and kittens separately).  Sylvester is in 15th place in the neuter top 20 ranking list!! :) (www.ocicat.fi/en/ -> shows -> ranking)


24.11.2007 -  Homepage

The homepage is up and running! :)) Pics, videos, guestbook  and info about me will be added soon.