About

Paws and Effect is a weekly advice column written by Siouxsie Mew, Thomas T. Bombadil and Dahlia P. Kittenface — with some help from their mama, webmeister and chief cat slave JaneA Kelley. We answer letters from readers about questions related to cat health, cat behavior, relationships between cats and humans or cats and other animal–basically, if it’s about cats, we’ll answer it. We’re not veterinarians, nor do we claim to be. But we all cherish the relationship cats have with their people and we want to help make that relationship a good one for all parties. We’ve been writing Paws and Effect since 2003, and we intend to keep writing Paws and Effect for many years to come!

So, who are we?

Siouxsie Mew

Birthday: May 1
Sign: Taurus
Favorite food: Salmon, chicken, tuna, meat, cheese, plants, ice cream, anything that smells even vaguely edible.
Occupation: Top Cat and Queen of All Eastern Cats
Hobbies: Writing, eating, sitting on Mama’s lap, purring, swatting Dahlia, sleeping.
Pet peeve: Dahlia walking on top of my head when I’m curled up next to Mama under the blankets.
Favorite warm spot: Next to Mama in her bed.
Check out my Catster profile to learn more about me!

Thomas T. Bombadil

Birthday: I don’t remember my birthday, so Mama uses my Adoption Day, which is March 12.
Sign: Pisces
Favorite food: Chicken, cheese, butter, eggs
Occupation: Man Of The House, Most Puissant Rat Slayer
Hobbies: Purring, eating everyone else’s food, snuggling with Dahlia, catching mice, climbing on things, sleeping next to Mama’s head, sitting on Mama’s lap.
Pet peeve: When Siouxsie kicks me out of Mama’s lap.
Favorite warm spot: Mama’s lap.
Check out my Catster profile to learn more about me!

Dahlia P. Kittenface

Birthday: Doctor Sarah says I was born in April. My Adoption Day is Sept. 19.
Sign: Aries
Favorite food: Chicken!
Occupation: Dispenser of wisdom, marketing and PR, napkin chaser
Hobbies: Purring, playing, sleeping, snuggling with Thomas, snuggling with Mama, grooming Thomas, walking back and forth in front of Mama when she’s using the computer.
Pet peeve: Trips in the car and being poked with needles.
Favorite warm spot: Curled up in Mama’s lap.
Check out my Catster profile to learn more about me!

Sinéad O’Kitty (Columnist Emeritus)

Birthday: May 1
Sign: Taurus
Favorite food: Chicken!
Occupation: Philosopher
Hobbies: Writing, sleeping, cuddling with Mama, purring, contemplating the meaning of life.
Pet peeve: When Siouxsie grooms me until I get all nice and relaxed and then bites me.
Favorite warm spot: Under Mama’s blankets.
Check out my Catster profile to learn more about me!

Mama (a.k.a. JaneA)

Birthday: Sept. 22
Sign: Virgo
Favorite food: Sushi or tamarind duck
Occupation: Writer, webmaster, communications associate with a major nonprofit, animal communicator, cat slave.
Hobbies: Writing, blogging, reading, drawing, music collecting, photography, web-geeking, theater, activism, traveling.
Pet peeve: Mean-spirited, self-righteous and ignorant people
Favorite warm spot: Sauna or hot tub.
I don’t have a Catster profile (after all, I’m not a cat).