About Us - Catster

Who We Are

We are a global team of feline lovers who share a deep appreciation of all things cat.

Our mission is to help cats and their parents live their best lives by sharing the most accurate and up-to-date knowledge about cat health, behavior, and products.

Our writing and editorial team includes experienced and practicing veterinarians, vet technicians, and animal trainers and behaviorists.

Providing reliable and practical guidance, we draw upon research and scientific data, and cite our sources to guarantee the accuracy in the information we present. Our coverage spans a variety of topics, including feline nutrition, safety, accessories, and behavior, catering to the needs of cats of all shapes, colors, ages, and sizes.

Our History

The ameowzing, well-respected, loved and award-winning Cat Fancy magazine started as a voice for all cats back in 1965 by Leslie Slawson Smith and his wife Elizabeth, laying the foundation for pet care magazines.

As the world’s most widely-read cat magazine, Cat Fancy celebrated cats and their human fans with lots of expert cat information and cat entertainment — much of the cat advice ahead of its time. Cat Fancy was also a favorite with late-night television shows, even making appearances on Saturday Night Live.

Catster Goes Digital

Constantly evolving along with its cat-loving readership, in 2015 the Cat Fancy brand joined with the popular cat website Catster. In 2004 Catster and its sister site, dog website Dogster, began as online communities for cats and dogs and the people who love them and then evolved into award-winning sources for all things feline and canine related. (The sites were created by the late Ted Rheingold and his longtime friend Steven Reading.) Cat Fancy and Catster combined to become even stronger.

Catster’s Next Chapter

In 2023, Catster was acquired by Pangolia, a pet-focused digital media and e-commerce company. Catster is the longest-running publication for cat lovers, known for its helpful and hilarious love, care, humor and knowledge of all things feline.

The Catster magazine finished print publication in 2023, but the website continues to be your main trusted resource for real cat owners who passionately argue the merits of catnip at dinner, have very real opinions on vet costs, and are willing to devote their time and financial resources to please the creatures that really run their households.

Dr. Paola Cuevas MVZ

Senior In-House Veterinarian

Dr. Paola Cuevas is our Senior In-House Veterinarian at Dogster and Pangolia. She has over 19 years of experience working with an array of species and loves sharing her knowledge and experience with our readers and aims to provide assistance with any issue presented by your non-human family members. She received her degree from the University of Guadalajara, Mexico.

Dr. Lorna Whittemore MRCVS

Senior Veterinary Editor

Dr. Lorna is a veterinarian based in Cape Town, South Africa. originally from Scotland. Lorna loves to travel and has lived, studied, and worked on three different continents. Lorna has over two decades of experience in small animal medicine and surgery, both in the charity and private sector, plus a further qualification in feline medicine.

Dr. Marta Vidal-Abarca MRCVS

In-House Veterinarian

Dr. Marta has over 16 years of veterinary experience, working across the UK and Spain as a remote veterinary consultant and in the clinic. She graduated from Cardenal Herrera-CEU University in Valencia, Spain and holds two Ophthalmology Certificates, GPCert Ophthal from ESVPS and UAB and is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Marta’s main fields of interest are ophthalmology and critical care medicine, and she loves being able to share the most helpful information with pet parents across the world.

Dr. Karyn Kanowski BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Editor & Writer

Dr. Karyn from Queensland, Australia, has lived in the UK for the past 10 years. She graduated from The University of Queensland School of Veterinary Science in 2010, and also holds a Bachelor’s degree in Zoology. Karyn is passionate about using experience, evidence, and owner collaboration to provide the best solutions for pets.

Dr. Amanda Charles BVSc MRCVS

Veterinary Editor

Dr Amanda Charles graduated as a vet from Liverpool University in 2002 with a BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science) and has been in small animal practice ever since, and has a Postgraduate Certificate in Dermatology. Amanda enjoys educating pet parents by giving them up-to-date and accurate information and loves the variety that being a vet comes with. Outside of office, Amanda has two very joyful young sons and an equally active Cocker Spaniel, and a Ragdoll cat who keep her busy!

Dr. Maja Platiša DVM MRCVS

In-House Veterinarian

Dr. Maja joined our team in March 2023 as one of our in-house veterinarians. She is passionate about animals and their health and loves to help the readers with any issues or questions they have regarding their four-legged friends and other animal companions. Dr. Platisa has 8 years of professional experience working with numerous animal species in the UK and the Channel Islands, from dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, to cows, goats, sheep, pigs, and poultry. She obtained her veterinary training and degree from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia.

Dr. Lauren Demos DVM

Veterinary Editor & Writer

Dr. Lauren has worked in all aspects of the veterinary field throughout her career and has worked in multiple countries, fostered many animals, and volunteered her time to help pets and vets alike. She has two cats and shares her knowledge and adventures with our readers every Wednesday.

Dr. Chyrle Bonk DVM

Veterinary Editor

Dr. Chyrle Bonk received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Oregon State University in 2010 and has practiced in a mixed animal clinic ever since. When she’s not working with animals, she can be found with her husband and two kids somewhere outdoors in her home state of Idaho.

Dr. Ashley Darby BVSc

Veterinary Editor

Dr. Ashley Darby grew up in South Africa and England, and moved to Australia to complete her veterinary education at the University of Sydney, graduating in 2017. Ash lives with her husband Ben, two energetic Springer Spaniels, and one very tolerant black cat.

Dr. Alice Athow-Frost BVM BVS MRCVS

Veterinary Editor

Dr. Alice Athow-Frost comes from London, and has been a small animal vet since she graduated from the University of Nottingham in 2016. Prior to that, Alice studied Zoology at the University of Bristol, so she has a love for and experience with all things animal-related.