Cat Daddy
What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean
-
- $13.99
-
- $13.99
Publisher Description
Cat behaviorist and star of Animal Planet's hit television show My Cat from Hell, Jackson Galaxy, a.k.a. "Cat Daddy," isn't what you might expect for a cat expert (as The New York Times noted, with his goatee and tattoos, he "looks like a Hells Angel"). Yet Galaxy's ability to connect with even the most troubled felines -- not to mention the stressed-out humans living in their wake -- is awe-inspiring. In this book, Galaxy tells the poignant story of his thirteen-year relationship with a petite gray-and-white short-haired cat named Benny, and gives singular advice for living with, caring for, and loving the feline in your home.
When Benny arrived in his life, Galaxy was a down-and-out rock musician with not too much more going on than a part-time job at an animal shelter and a drug problem. Benny's previous owner brought the cat to the shelter in a cardboard box to give him up. Benny had seen better days --- his pelvis had just been shattered by the wheels of a car -- and his owner insisted he'd been "unbondable" from day one. Nothing could have been further from the truth. An inspiring account of two broken beings who fixed each other, Cat Daddy is laced throughout with Galaxy's amazing "Cat Mojo" advice for understanding what cats need most from us humans in order to live happier, healthier lives.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The famed "Cat Daddy" from Animal Planet's My Cat from Hell, with coauthor Derfner, has written an unconventional memoir documenting his path to sobriety and unexpected career as a cat behaviorist, with instructions and tricks for training and disciplining cats sprinkled throughout. Inspired by his years fostering, training, and eventually adopting an emotionally and physically broken cat named Benny, Galaxy vows to write a book "about how we cohealed, how we refused to let each other live broken ever after." While Galaxy doesn't deny his addictions to alcohol, drugs, and food, the gritty struggles of addiction are often glossed over. Instead, Galaxy focuses on the story of his career, which includes developing a consulting business called Little Big Cat, which helps cat owners manage problematic pets instead of dumping them at shelters, and thus reducing the number of cats euthanized because of space. Through his work, he finds his purpose as a "cat whisperer." Galaxy's candor earns the reader's trust, without being hackneyed; he seamlessly weaves his relationship with Benny into the larger story of his life and recovery, which will appeal to a readership beyond cat lovers.
Customer Reviews
Remarkable, memorable, astonishing read
I found out about this book and immediately picked it up not knowing a thing about Jackson Galaxy but being very intrigued by the subtitle. It offers a unique glimpse into the day to day life at an animal shelter, but more than that, outlines an amazing personal journey that I'm not sure I'd be willing to reveal to the public myself if it were my story. It's very selfless of Jackson to share such a rich story and there is much to take away from this story which is artfully told. 5 hankie ending - stock up on kleenex!
Cat Daddy Mojo
I have say that this was a journey and experience reading these words. I learned, laughed, cried and held my cat firmly as I read Jackson's journey. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves cats or humans. Thank you Jackson for sharing yourself with the world. I know the cats appreciate it!
It's what I expected, and that's a good thing
It's an easy read and a sweet story about Jackson, his struggles with addiction, his troubles and triumphs with Benny, and the reasons why he is who he is and does what he does today. The story is peppered with useful cat advice, a couple of interesting websites, and a strong undercurrent of Jackson's advocacy for homeless animals. If you love animals, particularly kitties, it's a rewarding read.