Hooked on Cat Daddy: Review & Giveaway
What do you get when you mix sex, drugs, rock ‘n roll with cats? The gutsy, new memoir Cat Daddy:What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy, cat behaviorist and star of Animal Planet’s My Cat From Hell. It’s Mother’s Day, a day when we honor and celebrate women who nurture their loved ones; whether they have two legs or four. Cat moms have big hearts, and then there is the cat daddy, Jackson Galaxy, who healed his wounded heart and soul thanks to one special cat named Benny. This is a story of broken dreams, reinvention, and triumph over multiple addictions and dark despair. By saving the life of one cat, he inadvertently saved his own life.
They say, we don’t choose cats but they choose us. Cats are our secret allies, teachers and healers, if we let them. Benny came into his life sixteen years ago at a time when no one wanted either of them. Jackson, a down on his luck musician and full blown addict, had a hole in his soul the size of a Buick. He found work at a shelter where one of his jobs was performing euthanasia on perfectly healthy pets. By a twist of fate, Jackson’s work with animals led him unwittingly toward his life purpose: making a change in the lives of animals. Slowly and after countless adventures, Benny taught Jackson about life, death, acceptance and love. Once you begin reading, you’ll be hooked by Jackson’s roller coaster ride thanks to Joel Derfer’s co-writing wizardry. Derfer captures Jackson’s voice and turns it into an alchemy of ink on paper.
This memoir, while gritty, grim and at times shocking is ultimately about love and self-acceptance. When we love ourselves, healing happens and anything is possible, and when we share that love with our four-legged friends, real change is possible. The book is chock-full of over thirty nuggets of cat behavior tips including his mentor Anitra Frazier’s now famous “slow blink-I-love-you”. Jackson is a man on mission: to end kill shelters everywhere and teach his cat mojo, his tips for better understanding cats.
There have always been cat whisperers and people who speak “cat” but every generation brings new knowledge and wisdom. Jackson Galaxy speaks to a new generation of cat lovers of every age, race and gender, beyond stereotypes, leading hopefully towards a kinder, more humane world where everyone eventually will understand and speak “cat”.
Because every cat mom deserves a cat daddy, we are offering a special Mother’s Day giveaway. We have not one but two autographed copies signed by the cat daddy himself for two lucky readers to win!
To enter for a chance to win, simply leave a comment at this post (with a valid email address) and click the Facebook “like” button any time until 11:59 pm ET, May 19, 2012. This giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. or Canada. Two winners will chosen by randomizer.org and announced next Sunday, May, 20, 2012. For extra chances to win, subscribe to Cat Wisdom or our sister blog the Boomer Muse and/or like our Facebook page
If you simply must have a copy right now, click on the Amazon link in our sidebar or visit the cat daddy at Jackson Galaxy
The publisher Tarcher/Penguin sent me an unedited manuscript of Cat Daddy which I reviewed and several copies of the bound edition. Visit us at the Boomer Muse for an expanded Mother’s Day post. Cat moms, you rock!
68 Comments
fortnite cheat
I must say, as a lot as I enjoyed reading what you had to say, I couldnt help but lose interest after a while.
Marivel Angles
i was just thinking what a wonderful page this is seo service in fairfield ca
Debbie
I have to admit I am a real Jackson Galaxy groupie and would love to meet him one day. Until then, I guess I’ll have to make due with his autobiography. I actually have a copy on the way to me in the mail, but autographed copies would make a fabulous raffle prize for our next LAPCATS fundraiser.
Kris B.
I would love to win this. I’m a huge Jackson fan, and my 5 rescue cats and I watch his show each week. Thanks for the giveaway.
Terry
Great review, can’t wait to read it!
monica
Great book review.
Karen Pauli
Love his show!
Debbie Schow
Jackson is the Cat’s Meow, looks like a great book. However, no cat is from Hell, but I don’t hold that against him. 🙂
Kathryn
Such a great, great giveaway!
Pudgebutters
I’m a huge fan of the show and will read this book whether I win it or not…but I hope I win 🙂
Shadow Dance Ranch Kitehs
Our Momma really needs this book. That way she can help us be the best kittehs, that we can be. We don’t get to watch his show on TV because we don’t have that channel, but hopefully we can get it on DVD sometime. Thanks for the chance to win Jackson Galaxy’s book.
Sophie
Excellent review and thanks for the chance to win a copy. Loved seeing the extra interviews and pics of you with Jackson!
Ginger Buck
Jackson Galaxy has been chosen by the Cat Angels to be their Ambassador of Cat Love. They had many, many humans from which to chose but Jackson got the honor. If he hadn’t had a previous difficult life, he wouldn’t be able to share his experiences. Benny helped Jackson “start over.”
You see how this works? Yes, I DO believe in Cat angels! My six cats and I (including one named “Dady Cat”!!) look forward to reading Jackson’s book, whether we win one or purchase it.
Thank you VERY MUCH, Jackson, for helping cats! Thank MEW!!!!
Barb
Love MCFH! Jackson is truly the Cat Daddy!
Regina R. Davis
I’m a cat mom who loves to read (and it’s especially enjoyable when my little whiskered & swishing tailed fur babes snuggle with me when I do)and, having read a synopsis of what this book is about, I would love to have this book to read his story. It sounds very inspiring. I wholeheartedly support his mission of “no-kill” shelters society.
Barbara
This sounds like such a wonderful book. I’ve read great reviews on it.
Kathy
Everyone at the Cat Adoption Team thinks what he is doing is great. As a no-kill cat only shelter we deal with the same questions he answers for his clients. We love the way he gets them to think of solutions from the cat’s perspective. We would LOVE to get our paws on one of his books to find out more about him……. Thanks
Cathy Keisha
Being a cat from hell myself, my human would look an opportunity to read Cat Daddies book. I think we already like you on FB but I’ll do it again.
Cairey
Would love to win a copy of his book, his story is so inspirational!
Lisa
Jackson is amazing. It’s so refreshing to see a cat expert helping families with troubles kitties on TV. Our cat wisperer. 🙂 I would love to read this new book.
Beth Emmons
I would love to win an autographed copy, Jackson is amazing! I love his show and have just begun using Spirit Essences to try and calm Ms. Phoebe’s competitiveness with her siblings when it comes to me giving them any individual attention. I’m hoping it will be an answer to a problem where nothing else seems to work. Thanks for the giveaway!
Jaime B.
Can’t wait to read it!
Danielle
Thank you Jackson for giving us the tools to be better Cat parents!
Karen
I have 5 cats and would love to win this!
Kim
thank you Jackson for all you do for our amazing cats.
Bissy Eddy
I’ve learned so much from watching Jackson’s show. Can’t wait to read his book!
Steph C
It’s already fun to watch and learn from Jackson, but to read about him…who could ask for more? Alright, yes, actually meeting him would be the BEST, but…reading his book, second to none. Thanks much!
Heidie Gay
Jackson, I am in awe at your way with cats. You rejoice right along with the cats and their people. I love that! You are my hero!! If only I had known about you 3 years ago. And you weren’t so far away. My cats needed you.
Claire E
Love Jackson and his mojo!
Abby
Excellent review!!!
purrs
Abby
Valerie Long
This is just such an awesome giveaway! Thank you so much for the opportunity to enter!! =) I hope I get a chance to read the book!!!
Erica McNally
=^.^=
Ronnie
I have been learning many useful tips regarding making the life of my cats less stressful. I enjoy the show.
Andrea Dorn
I don’t have cable so I’ve never seen the show but I’ve heard such great things about it. He must be a great cat and human communicator. I’d love to read his book to find out how he got to where he is today.
Diane Lau
Just a wonderful story of cat love triumphing over hardship! Jackson is the best.
Alli
Thanks so much for the website and your blog. I enjoy all of it very much and can’t wait to get emails from you. I am, indeed, a kitty whisperer of my own and love connecting to others who speak the language of “pusskins”. 🙂
Sue
Thank you for everything you do! Love you, Love your show, Love your book, & most of all…Love Love Love Cats!
Alexa
I love his show and would love his book too! He is his own person and that is so rare these days [email protected]
Stephanie Silber
Layla, great review. Incisive, discerning, and compassionate. I look forward to reading the book!
Vanessa Stoner
OK – I pre-ordered the book, got it Thursday & finished reading it on Friday night – and, yes, it is a WONDERFUL book on many levels and I cried at the dedication page and at the end. But on Saturday, I gave a dear friend the book … this book is such a “keeper” I really would love at have an autographed copy.
Heather
I love Jackson’s show. So much good advice. I would have never known about him or his show if not for you and Ingrid King and your blogs! 🙂
Angie Bailey, Catladyland
Love the Mother’s Day tie-in! Great Review! After our winners are chosen tomorrow, I’ll post your link, letting readers know they have more opportunities to win! Hope you had a wonderful Mother’s Day, Layla. 🙂
edie
I love your blog, and always look forward to new e-mails in my in-box.
Lisa F.
I would love to get an autographed copy! Thanks! 🙂
destinylaf at americaonline dot com
Beverly
Thanks for the review (like I wasn’t going to read it anyway. Anybody who likes cats is a friend of mine.
Christina
I am so thankful for Jackson! I deeply admire and respect the wonderful work he does for cats and the people who love them – and even for the people who don’t start out loving them. I recommend his show, his blog, and his website to all of my cat-loving clients.
AnnaZed
It would be hard to calculate how much I love this guy. I really wanna read his book!
Mary Jane Behning
I can’t wait to read the book!
Tinch
Way to go, Cat Daddy!
Vicky
It is about time the world got a Cat Whisperer!
We love Jackson at our house.
Trudy Jewell
Would love to win!! I love My Cat from Hell!! And I think Jackson really is a cat whisperer.
Caren Gittleman
wonderful review Layla!! Just wonderful! Don’t enter us though because as you know we have the book!
libramoon
Wonderful review Layla! And what an offer. No need to enter us, we already have a copy, but we’ll make sure others know they can win one.
Karen Warren
I just downloaded this on my iPad, but would LOVE to have an actual copy of the book! Jackson is my hero! Thanks!
Brian
We love that Cat Daddy too! Happy Mother’s Day to you and to Moms everywhere!
Nadbugs
I would love to win the book. You may know, Layla, that we owe Jackson bigtime for the peace in this multicat household — we love him therefore! I’m in financial lock-down at the moment & dying to read it — so it’s either win here, or wait for the library. Not good at patience! Going over the FB and “liking” as Afrique Aya. Paws crossed.
Deb Barnes - Zee and Zoey
Wonderful review Layla – quite insightful with the ultimate message we all can learn from – self acceptance. Enjoy your day with your beautiful kitties and no need to enter us in the giveaway, as we already have this great book!
Jerri Carol Compton
My daughter and I almost never miss My Cat From Hell and are HUGE Jackson Galaxy fans. Between the two of us, we have seven fur-babies and he has offered some really good advice on his show. I can’t wait to read his book!
Carolyn
Thanks to Jackson (and Benny) for a story that let’s us all believe in the better parts of ourselves !
Kathy Thompson
Jackson is so brave for baring his soul to the world! I am so very glad that he found his heart in a feline. I would love to win the book but if that isn’t the case I still plan on reading it. Luvs Skeeter and Izzy (2 more Cat Daddy fans) >^@@^<
Leslie Stockdale
I am a cat mommy. My cat daughters thought it would be nice to be able to give a copy of this book to their own cat daddy… and Father’s Day IS just around the corner!
Jill D Hubbard
You are an inspiration to all of us who own purrfect pets!
Susie
Would love to win. 🙂 I clicked like on your facebook page,
Susie
[email protected]
Katie Isabella
I love that book. Just started it yesterday and about 1/3 of the way thru..or my mom is that is. MOL. To have an autographed copy would be AWESOME. She would give this one away to her friend if she were that lucky to win it. xoxoxox
sue brandes
Love his show and really looking forward to reading his book. I am amazed at how he works with and helps all those kitties. Thanks for the giveaway.
katsrus(at)gmail(dot)com
Celena U.
Love, Love, Love Jackon – Finally, a CAT whisperer!!!
Sparkle
My human and I also loved Jackson’s book! My human really identified with it.
Deb N Cats
I like books and cats so a book with cats in it is twice as good.