The new, improved, bloggerated, Wordpressified Paws and Effect website is now online! Go check it out.

We're very proud of Mama for working so hard to put this all together. As time goes on, she'll be making improvements and cosmetic changes, and adding more content. The old HTML pages are still available as archives, but she'll be re-posting them in PHP format over the winter, too.

Mama also just opened a Paws and Effect merch gallery at Zazzle. Right now there's only one product line posted in my gallery -- our latest words of wisdom, PURR MORE, HISS LESS -- but there are about 8 designs available. We're really impressed with the array of products they offer, and Mama says the quality is a lot higher than Cafepress. As an extra added bonus, the gallery is free no matter how many designs you have. So, also as time moves on, Mama will be moving all our merchandise sales over to Zazzle as well. It's a kludgey interface, and you have to add one type of product at a time. But Mama says people can take the designs and put them on whatever product they want, too...and she'd still earn a commission.

I got a mouse! I got a mouse! Oh wow, I got a mouse! I'm so excited, I just don't even know what to do with it!

Mama's so proud of me, and I ran inside with it, and it got away once or twice, but I got it again, and then Mama put me and the mousie outside and said that mousies go outside, but she said she's proud of me.

I've got it now. It's in my mouth. And I'm growling at it! But what do I do now!?!?!?!?

Thomas said he'd help me, but now he's gone away!

I'm so excited! It's my first mouse!

Stop the counterfeiting of the Pozies

Fake items of Pocket full of Pozies are turning up and they must be stopped. Artist queeniex, creator of Pocket full, is asking for your help.

Embroidered patches, purses and bags with embroidered patches of her characters are popping up. These are fakes and are not her items. She is getting ripped off. She does not make embroidered patches or bags with the patches on them.

If you see these items please report them to fakepozie@batsday.net & queenie@pocketfullofposiez.com.

Please to be sure to include any info about the store where you saw these fake items. Name of store, address and phone #.

You can see what the items look like on the Stop the counterfeiting of the Pozies banner below.

Let's stop the production of these fake items. Do not buy them.

I almost forgave Mama this afternoon. I even came down from off my shelf in the office and allowed her to hold me in her arms while she did work. But then she shoved me back in the Box again, and we had to go in the car again, and I cried half the way home again.

But at least, now I'm home. And I don't have to go back to the vet for a long time.

And Mama gave me food.

But then I had to go outside and roll around in the dust to get that awful Vet smell off me. Siouxsie wouldn't stop hissing at me. The minute I stepped out of the box, she was all *hssss, hssss, grrr, hsssss* and stuff.

Let me tell you, internets! It's a daily struggle being a cat!

But I'm really big and strong now. I weigh SIX POUNDS! Doctor Sarah said she was very impressed at how healthy I am. And Doctor Sarah had a girl with her, a sixth grader who wants to be a vet someday, and the girl was hanging out with Doctor Sarah as she did her work. The girl was really nice, even though she didn't say much. But at least she didn't poke me with needles or hold me down--she just watched the tortures that Doctor Sarah and Mama inflicted on me.

I had to go to the vet today.

Nothing serious: Just a checkup and shots. But I hated it! I cried all the way there, and I cried in the office, and I cried when we left.

That darn vet, she always pokes me in places that only need petting. And I thought she was nice! Humph!

Mama laughed because I was so nervous my paw pads were sweating, so I left little wet footprints all over the exam table. Then she laughed some more because I made myself all flat against the table when she took me out of my carrier. And now...she eats shrimp and doesn't give me even a taste!

Oh yeah, she said it was too spicy for me, but I think it's just because she wanted it all for herself.

So I'm going to stay up here on my shelf in the office and hide (with my back turned toward Mama) for as long as it takes for her to know just how bad I feel!

How could you do this to me, Mama? After all the love and headbonks and gentle wake-ups? I feel so betrayed! *sniffle*

And my butt hurts from the shot. And my shoulder hurts from the other shot!

While we were writing Paws and Effect today, Thomas decided he wanted to visit the website of the Humane Society of Knox County in Thomaston, Maine, the animal shelter that took my siblings in and found wonderful forever-homes for us. It seems they recently received 43 cats seized from a hoarder in Rockland, a neighboring town, and they need help in getting all these cats the care they need. Here's the information from their website:

Forty-three cats were taken from a home in Rockland and relinquished to us. These poor cats were living in filthy, feces and urine soaked conditions. All were infested with fleas and infected with ear mites. Some had open wounds on their bodies. They are now receiving the proper attention and care that they deserve. We can't do it without your help.

We are over capacity and our resources are being stretched thin. Not one of these poor creatures was spayed or neutered so our next challenge is to "fix" them all. Your financial contributions are greatly needed and appreciated.

The Humane Society of Knox County is a no-kill shelter. It is also a very small shelter by urban American standards; its typical capacity is maybe 60-70 cats, and they were pretty much full when these cats came into their care.

If you would like to make a contribution to support HSKC in their mission to care for and find good homes for these and other cats, I'd be delighted if you'd make a contribution to them. You can go to their Sponsorships page and either donate through PayPal or print one of their donation forms and send it with a check or money order. In either case, if you do decide to make a contribution in my honor, please list your contribution as "In honor of Blackie/Dahlia, adopted from HSKC Sept. 19, 2006."

The original story as it appeared in Rockland's Courier-Gazette newspaper can be found here.
( full text below for those who don't want to make with the clicky )

And here is a more recent update from the Humane Society.

Thank you so much.

I'm feeling a lot better today. But I got Mama pretty worried 'cause I didn't come home at breakfast time and she started begging Dahlia and Thomas to go find me and bring me back. So just as she finished putting Dahlia and Thomas's breakfast down, I ran up the stairs and called in my most urgent and pathetic voice for my opposable-thumbed minion to open the $#@@damn door. Mama was so happy to see me, and even happier that I gobbled up all my breakfast.

We're sorry we've been away for so long. Summer is just such a great time to be Outdoors when you're a country kitty. But we've been trying to keep up with what's going on with our kitty friends. Now that we have High Speed Intarwebz out here in the boonies, that'll be a lot easier, 'cause that means we can get on the computer while Mama's at work.

Dahlia's A-day is coming up soon. Mama signed the adoption papers on September 19, 2006, and Dahlia became the newest member of the Paws and Effect Gang. Even though Thomas and I still miss Sinéad, we're glad to have that little Dahlia here.

Mama tried to adopt another kitty that needed a home and veterinary care because of Stupid, Irresponsible Humans (I think we wrote about Miss Katrina this spring, at least in Paws and Effect), but even after months, she still wasn't happy being here. So Mama put up a sign at the Vet's office, and a while later a nice lady called up and asked if Katrina was still around. It turned out to be a match made in heaven: Katrina can be the Only Cat, and she has a dog friend again, which she loves, and we're all much happier too.

It's really hot here, and we just want to sleep with our tummies up. Except for me. I'm not feeling too good today. I've got a tummy ache. I didn't want to eat much of my breakfast, and I only had two bites of dinner. But I decided to go out hunting tonight. I know I've got Mama all worried, but really, it's just because I ate three shrews for breakfast this morning (I couldn't stop myself; they were so yummy!) before I came in. I guess I might have overdone it. Rodent hangover ... *burp*

On behalf of all the Paws and Effect Gang, I want to send get-well wishes for a speedy and full recovery to Lucie de Nicolet, the coolest dog in North America! Mama told us all about your back surgery and having to walk around in a harness. Poor thing...we sure hope you're getting lots of treats to take the pain away.

And of course, to the Tubbs family, our condolences on the loss of Mister Sam and Mr. Tubbs. It's never easy to lose a beloved cat friend. My tail still hangs low sometimes when I think of my beautiful little sister, Sin&eaucte;ad, who died just over a year ago today.

Anyway, we're all here, and Mama says she's going to renovate the Paws and Effect website for us. How cool is that?

Wow! It's been forever since we posted anything here. We just want to let you know we're still alive and doing really REALLY well. Summer is here, so we spend our days sleeping in cool places and our nights out hunting.

Dahlia: I don't spend my nights out hunting. I spend them next to Mama! And then in the morning I wake her up by bumping her hand with my head until she pets me. Katrina and I are getting along better, too. Usually we both sleep on Mama's bed. I sleep on one side and she sleeps on the other.

Siouxsie: I've been doing a lot of hunting this summer. I even brought Mama a shrew last night. She called me a good kitty and told me I was a mighty hunter. But then she didn't even eat it! What a food waster. :-(

Thomas: I've been defending my Most Puissant Rat Slayer title and keeping the farm free of large rodent vermin. That's because I'm the man of the house. I just wish there weren't so many ticks in the grass. Even though Mama put Frontline on me, I come home with a tick two or three times a week, and Mama has to use the Tick Twister to get it out. Annoying little ticks!

Katrina: I like my forever home. But Thomas keeps picking fights with me.

Dahlia: You big liar! You're the one who runs after everybody else growling and screaming!

Siouxsie: I've been exploring inside people's cars and trucks. Now that it's summer, everybody has their windows open. So when people come over to visit, Mama asks them to make sure I'm not in the car before they drive away. Tee hee hee.

Thomas: Man, I'm tired. I think I'm going to sleep for a while now.

Dahlia: Mama says she's going to redesign our website later this summer. She's trying to get high-speed internet out here in the boonies. There are a few companies that offer it, but she's got to find one that will get a signal to our house (which is in the bottom of a valley). It's hard to update a website over a dialup connection. At least, that's what Mama says.

Oh, happy day! Yesterday was my birthday, and all these kitties and people sent me happy birthday wishes and virtual yummies! Thanks to all of you LJ friends who sent me birthday greetings, too! My Catster friends sent me lots of rosettes and stars, too. And Mama gave me lots of love and petties and a really cool necklace with sparkly ladybugs on it.

I forgave her for misplacing the catnip, because she was just so wonderful and warm and cuddly and good to me.

Mama took some pictures of me yesterday, and she says she's going to update my Catster profile with some better pictures now. *purrrrrrrrrrrrr* Anyway, those pictures are under the cut (along with a few photos of Miss Katrina and Dahlia). Thomas wouldn't let Mama take any pictures of him last night. Sour puss. :-(

( Seven photos below the cut. People on dialup connections might want to go out for a sandwich as they load. You can click on the photos for larger versions. )