A Feline Forest - Our Story
A Feline Forest began with two lifelong interests: woodworking and cats.
What started as a creative hobby gradually evolved into a small artisan workshop dedicated to handcrafted hardwood cat figures — pieces designed to capture the quiet presence, personality, and companionship that make cats such a meaningful part of our lives.
Each figure is individually shaped, refined, and hand-finished from carefully selected hardwoods chosen for their natural beauty, grain, and character. No two pieces are ever exactly alike, and that uniqueness is part of what makes working with real wood so rewarding.
Bill and Sandy
Where it Began
Our journey started many years ago with a simple gift — a bandsaw from my wife. At the time, I was looking for a creative outlet and began experimenting with small woodworking projects. Before long, I discovered a book of cat-themed woodworking patterns that immediately caught my attention.
Not long after, a visit to a local lumber yard changed everything.
Walking through stacks of rough hardwoods, I became fascinated by the rich colors, dramatic grain patterns, and individuality of each board. Walnut, cherry, maple, zebrawood, wenge — every species had its own personality and character. I quickly realized that the wood itself could become part of the artistic expression.
What began as curiosity soon became a passion.
Countless hours were spent cutting, shaping, sanding, and refining each figure by hand while experimenting with different hardwoods and finishing techniques to bring out the natural warmth and beauty hidden within the grain.
Rediscovering the Craft
As life grew busier, woodworking gradually took a back seat for quite some time. Years later, retirement created the opportunity to return to the workshop and rediscover the joy of creating again.
Cats, however, had always been part of our lives. Sharing photos of our original creations online unexpectedly resonated with fellow cat lovers, and what began as a personal creative pursuit slowly started growing into something larger.
It became clear that many cat lovers were searching for décor and keepsakes that felt more timeless, artistic, and meaningful than mass-produced novelty items. Truly refined cat-centric pieces seemed surprisingly difficult to find — especially for those seeking thoughtful gifts or meaningful memorial keepsakes honoring beloved companions.
That realization became the foundation for A Feline Forest.