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lilliangretsinger's review against another edition
5.0
this book was amazing!! i highly recommend it to anyone who loves cats or animals! it had me crying in the first chapter. amazing story with great insights into cat and human behaviour. I want to watch his show now!
micottergirl's review against another edition
5.0
I really liked this book. I like the self analysis and how it related to the cats. It made me realise that it's (mainly) the animals who are strong, and how weak (physically and mentally) humans are, how fragile we are, and how little we understand about the human psyche.
I also appreciate how volunteering/working with abandoned animals can make a difference (I volunteer at a sanctuary), how much a cat (or any other animal) can improve life, and how little sometimes we understand.
Even though a lot of it is about Jackson's addictions (drugs, alcohol, food) it is also about the relatinship with cats and an awakening on how to see things from the cat's perspective.
And I admit to sobbing at the end. Just bought up memories of my cats.
I also appreciate how volunteering/working with abandoned animals can make a difference (I volunteer at a sanctuary), how much a cat (or any other animal) can improve life, and how little sometimes we understand.
Even though a lot of it is about Jackson's addictions (drugs, alcohol, food) it is also about the relatinship with cats and an awakening on how to see things from the cat's perspective.
And I admit to sobbing at the end. Just bought up memories of my cats.
meredithmc's review against another edition
4.0
a (surprisingly) touching memoir about the cat behaviorist from my cat from hell (which i love!). it's incredible to read all he's been through and his honesty about his addicitions; it only proves his point that animals can be more than just pets but friends and a very important part of a human's life. as someone who feels her cat helps her with her mental issues, it was refreshing to read.
k_b00kish's review against another edition
3.0
Jackson Galaxy shares his story of overcoming addiction and learning about cats while working at a rescue shelter in CO.
moominbit's review against another edition
5.0
I thought this was going to be an easy, relaxing read and I was so so wrong.
But in the best possible way.
Aside from offering great practical advice about how to deal with a challenging cat's behavior, the book tells the story of how Jackson Galaxy became the Cat Daddy that we know him as today and how all he learned along the way was thrown right back at him ... by his very own cat!
But in the best possible way.
Aside from offering great practical advice about how to deal with a challenging cat's behavior, the book tells the story of how Jackson Galaxy became the Cat Daddy that we know him as today and how all he learned along the way was thrown right back at him ... by his very own cat!
heykellyjensen's review against another edition
Take the love you feel for one and love all. The process is terrifying. Loving the world is not like the trust fall exercise you did in EST, summer camp, or your last corporate retreat; loving the world is far bigger than that and far more impossible.
I'll say this much: you won't read the book if you don't love animals, but if you love animals, whether or not you know who this guy is, this is one to read. Not because it's brilliant but because sometimes you like hearing how much other people love being a pet owner as much as you do.
It was sort of a fluke finding Galaxy's show "My Cat From Hell," to be honest. But the minute I started watching I really fell in love with him. He's a big dude with tattoos, piercings, and he carries himself like one of those too-cool-for-life guys. But the second he opens his mouth and steps into the homes of people who are desperate for help with their cats, he is one of the most down to earth, humble people to watch. I'd go as far as to say he has a gift, but he'd probably hate that sort of term for what he can do.
See, the thing about Galaxy's attitude that makes me appreciate him so much is that he doesn't look at problems as things that can't be fixed. But anyone who watches the show (and reads the book) will learn pretty quickly that the "problems" people have with their pets are never about the pets. It's about the people. I'd venture to guess the bulk of the people dealing with cat problems on the show and in the book have them not because they're bad people or bad pet owners; for the most part, it's because they're struggling with something personally that they don't want to face. And that's where I think Galaxy's approach is one I can't stop watching or thinking about. He doesn't just "treat" and animal. He "treats" the people too. The idea that nothing is unfixable is something that's hard to grapple with, but it's true. There's no problem that can't be solved or adapted to. You just have to be willing to put in the work.
The book itself follows Galaxy's story from being a drug-addicted, goal-less guy just getting by. He admits to living a life that's just about survival, as long as he got to play his music at night. He was happy about it. But the chance opportunity to work in a shelter really caused him to reevaluate what it was that made him happy, and he realized that just connecting with the animals there -- both the four-legged kind and the two-legged kind -- brought him the kind of satisfaction he didn't know he could have. And he was GOOD at it, too.
He never portrays himself as a hero or even, really, as a likeable guy. But he doesn't play the pity card at all, either. Throughout the book, Galaxy talks about how being the caretaker for Benny, a notoriously hard-to-please cat, ultimately caused him to think about his own life and choices. Being forced to learn how to communicate with a difficult creature made him better able to be a communicator with himself.
But you see what he does here -- Galaxy gives you an impression of who he is, but he forces you to reevaluate your own biases because he is not at all what you'd expect of "someone like him." Just like a difficult cat isn't that, either.
The writing here isn't very good, to be honest, and the book itself meanders a lot. But I think for what it was, it was enjoyable. Galaxy lays out what a lot of people who love animals know, so it's much less about him and much more about reminding readers that animals can be a huge part of what makes life enjoyable. And yes, yes, yes, there is death in this book and there is more than one chapter about euthanasia, and yes, yes, yes, I cried my eyes out more than once. But the thing is, Galaxy's approach to it is really sort of empowering, rather than painful. He just has a damn good attitude, period.
Much as it isn't an award winning book nor never will be, it's worth it to read for animal lovers. The little blurb on the cover about there being tips for raising happy and healthy cats is a little misleading. There's very little of that.
I did read this while my three shelter-adopted cats snoozed happily on my lap, thank you very much.
I cannot believe I wrote this long a review about a book titled "Cat Daddy."
I'll say this much: you won't read the book if you don't love animals, but if you love animals, whether or not you know who this guy is, this is one to read. Not because it's brilliant but because sometimes you like hearing how much other people love being a pet owner as much as you do.
It was sort of a fluke finding Galaxy's show "My Cat From Hell," to be honest. But the minute I started watching I really fell in love with him. He's a big dude with tattoos, piercings, and he carries himself like one of those too-cool-for-life guys. But the second he opens his mouth and steps into the homes of people who are desperate for help with their cats, he is one of the most down to earth, humble people to watch. I'd go as far as to say he has a gift, but he'd probably hate that sort of term for what he can do.
See, the thing about Galaxy's attitude that makes me appreciate him so much is that he doesn't look at problems as things that can't be fixed. But anyone who watches the show (and reads the book) will learn pretty quickly that the "problems" people have with their pets are never about the pets. It's about the people. I'd venture to guess the bulk of the people dealing with cat problems on the show and in the book have them not because they're bad people or bad pet owners; for the most part, it's because they're struggling with something personally that they don't want to face. And that's where I think Galaxy's approach is one I can't stop watching or thinking about. He doesn't just "treat" and animal. He "treats" the people too. The idea that nothing is unfixable is something that's hard to grapple with, but it's true. There's no problem that can't be solved or adapted to. You just have to be willing to put in the work.
The book itself follows Galaxy's story from being a drug-addicted, goal-less guy just getting by. He admits to living a life that's just about survival, as long as he got to play his music at night. He was happy about it. But the chance opportunity to work in a shelter really caused him to reevaluate what it was that made him happy, and he realized that just connecting with the animals there -- both the four-legged kind and the two-legged kind -- brought him the kind of satisfaction he didn't know he could have. And he was GOOD at it, too.
He never portrays himself as a hero or even, really, as a likeable guy. But he doesn't play the pity card at all, either. Throughout the book, Galaxy talks about how being the caretaker for Benny, a notoriously hard-to-please cat, ultimately caused him to think about his own life and choices. Being forced to learn how to communicate with a difficult creature made him better able to be a communicator with himself.
But you see what he does here -- Galaxy gives you an impression of who he is, but he forces you to reevaluate your own biases because he is not at all what you'd expect of "someone like him." Just like a difficult cat isn't that, either.
The writing here isn't very good, to be honest, and the book itself meanders a lot. But I think for what it was, it was enjoyable. Galaxy lays out what a lot of people who love animals know, so it's much less about him and much more about reminding readers that animals can be a huge part of what makes life enjoyable. And yes, yes, yes, there is death in this book and there is more than one chapter about euthanasia, and yes, yes, yes, I cried my eyes out more than once. But the thing is, Galaxy's approach to it is really sort of empowering, rather than painful. He just has a damn good attitude, period.
Much as it isn't an award winning book nor never will be, it's worth it to read for animal lovers. The little blurb on the cover about there being tips for raising happy and healthy cats is a little misleading. There's very little of that.
I did read this while my three shelter-adopted cats snoozed happily on my lap, thank you very much.
I cannot believe I wrote this long a review about a book titled "Cat Daddy."
changwinnie's review against another edition
5.0
Love your pets and make sure they don't have babies.
lastaines's review against another edition
4.0
Though the writing isn't the greatest, it was a really good book. At times really hard to get through. Bawled a couple times! I'm amazed at the person he has become today!
sharonbakar's review against another edition
4.0
I'm firmly in the corner of anyone who is an advocate for cats and have long been a fan of Jackson Galaxy's My Cat From Hell series on Animal Planet. From the series I've learned much that I can apply to my own guys.
I picked up the book because I was so curious about this guitar case carrying, tattooed eccentric who seems to have an almost psychic ability to understand how cats think and feel. I did not expect to be so moved by his story of fighting addiction and his inner demons to become a consultant on animal behaviour. His journey is intertwined with that of Bennie, a cat with serious health issues. These are two damaged souls who find kinship and healing.
The writing is searingly honest, but never lapses into easy sentimentality. The writing surprisingly good. I couldn't put it down and wept buckets (in the hairdressers - how embarrassing) at the end.
I picked up the book because I was so curious about this guitar case carrying, tattooed eccentric who seems to have an almost psychic ability to understand how cats think and feel. I did not expect to be so moved by his story of fighting addiction and his inner demons to become a consultant on animal behaviour. His journey is intertwined with that of Bennie, a cat with serious health issues. These are two damaged souls who find kinship and healing.
The writing is searingly honest, but never lapses into easy sentimentality. The writing surprisingly good. I couldn't put it down and wept buckets (in the hairdressers - how embarrassing) at the end.