Cat Daddy

What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean

De: Jackson Galaxy, Joel Derfner

Narrado por: Jackson Galaxy

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 Hell's 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 13-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 Whisperer” advice for understanding what cats need most from us in order to live happier, healthier lives.

©2012 Jackson Galaxy (P)2012 Tantor

Extremely insightful,PAINFUL,yet FUNNY life-story!

Would you listen to Cat Daddy again? Why?

Yes I'd love to listen to it again, especially with others (like with my family). Jackson holds nothing back about his painful life, full of intense successes & failure. He is hyper sensitive to life's everyday hardships, & seems to make life choices that challenge his soul in the most heartbreaking areas. His struggles (many which are self-inflicted) apply to painful truths, & his determination to find the answers, then come to peace with them, then pass it on! Most of us can relate to his life in some way. He's bruuuuuuutally honest about his every emotion & opinion, & inspired me to think more of others, & to consider life from a very harsh, different, & more open-minded perspective.

What other book might you compare Cat Daddy to and why?

To me, his story is more in the genre of books dealing with human psychology & addiction.

What about Jackson Galaxy’s performance did you like?

His emotion is so incredibly intense. He grabs your attention immediately & never lets it go...... Jackson exposes his deepest pains & determination to find peace within himself, & his need to pass it on to others, including cats of course! He shares all of this with an AWESOME SENSE OF HUMOR! I also appreciated his risk in using strong language throughout, as it showed me that he is a real person with a great need to express himself with his truths, and desire to share his deep compassion for humans & animals, esp cats!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

YES...... From the start to finish, I can't stress enough the power this audio book had on me: LAUGH, CRY, LAUGH, CRY........

Any additional comments?

I'm not even a cat-person. I bond more with dogs. But his show show "My Cat from Hell" got my family hooked! I'd highly recommend this book to anyone with a truth-seeking nature,love for animals, & appreciation for real humor.

Compelling but Uneven

Would you consider the audio edition of Cat Daddy to be better than the print version?

I haven't read the print version, but I think it would probably be *more* compelling than the audio version. The narration is overwrought; this is one of those rare memoirs that might've been better served with a different narrator. Don't get me wrong--I like Jackson Galaxy, but in places, his intonations were over the top and distracted from the story. It felt like he was telling the listener what to feel, or commenting on his own experience, beyond the words on the page, in a way that felt...annoying.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Cat Daddy?

There were many, but the one that sticks with me is the end of Benny's life. I have a 19-year-old cat I've been with since she was a month old, and (knock wood) I think she's okay, but many of the conversations he had with Benny are ones I've had (and currently have) with her. I was in tears.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Jackson Galaxy?

Probably not, though I would buy the print version :)

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Again, the conversations with Benny towards the end of his life.

Any additional comments?

The story is in there, but the writing is uneven. As another reviewer wrote, this is an addiction/redemption memoir with cats as a throughline. It's not a book about Benny; it's a book about Jackson Galaxy (which is fine--he deserves his own memoir, but the title is misleading). I loved For the Love of a Dog, which is truly a book about canine emotions and behavior, illustrated through the author's real-world experience, and I was hoping this would be the feline version, but it's not even close.

Less Daddy More Cat, Please

Book is more for recovering addict than cat lover. But did pick up a couple of tips.

Tragic, Gut-Wrenching, but Memorable

If you could sum up Cat Daddy in three words, what would they be?

Jackson's Life Cats

What did you like best about this story?

The trials and tribulations of Jackson and his successes (and failures) in the pet industry. Also his tips at the very end I thought were very spot on and informative.

Which scene was your favorite?

Probably when he met Benny

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. Very very few books are like that for me. Quite the contrary. I wanted this to go on and on and on and on and never end.

Any additional comments?

While this book is about animals and love, it is also a very adult story. Totally inappropriate for kids. It's also a real tear-jerker, so be prepared for that. The story is mostly about tragedy (even though Jackson chooses to sometimes spin it differently).

Wow!

This book was outstanding on so many different levels. Jackson Galaxy, in a painfully honest narrative, takes us through his life's struggles with himself, his relationships, and his cat(s). A beautiful story that is both written and read superbly.