melanie_page's review
5.0
omg, the end of this book WRECKED ME. I highly recommend the audiobook, read by Jackson Galaxy.
kathriner's review against another edition
5.0
For more than just a cat lover
This is not only the story of a cat, or a man overcoming addiction, or the bond between the two. This is a story of love, loss, despair, and changing perspective. I picked up this book after watching "My cat from hell" and dealing within own share of kitty issues. I was prepared to hear Jackson's story and pick up some kitty tips, but I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of this book. Unlike many other personal stories, this book is wonderfully written, which just makes the story that much better and easier to feel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Although it will probably resonate stronger with fellow cat and animal lovers, it would be a great book for all.
This is not only the story of a cat, or a man overcoming addiction, or the bond between the two. This is a story of love, loss, despair, and changing perspective. I picked up this book after watching "My cat from hell" and dealing within own share of kitty issues. I was prepared to hear Jackson's story and pick up some kitty tips, but I was not prepared for the sheer beauty of this book. Unlike many other personal stories, this book is wonderfully written, which just makes the story that much better and easier to feel. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. Although it will probably resonate stronger with fellow cat and animal lovers, it would be a great book for all.
felinity's review against another edition
4.0
This was more of a memoir than a cat book: how Benny - with other feline assistants - helped Jackson to see his life more clearly, to interact more honestly, and to admit when you just can't handle something alone.
If you pick it up expecting a "Cat whisperer" book filled with tips and how-tos you'll be disappointed, but there were a few useful tips scattered amongst the pages, even for a veteran cat owners.
The writing was incredibly good, brutally honest, and painfully reminiscent in places.
If you pick it up expecting a "Cat whisperer" book filled with tips and how-tos you'll be disappointed, but there were a few useful tips scattered amongst the pages, even for a veteran cat owners.
The writing was incredibly good, brutally honest, and painfully reminiscent in places.
Spoiler
Jackson's final moments with Benny left me in tears, as I relived the pain of making the "when" choice with my own cats.bergema's review
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
slow-paced
4.0
A memoir of a man's journey through the lens of his struggles with a cat.
pleasereadittome's review against another edition
3.0
[2.5 stars] This book holds a special place in my heart because my mother gave it to me when I became a "cat daddy" in 2013. While it has sat on the shelf for a few years, I've grown to appreciate what Jackson Galaxy has done for countless cat guardians and animal advocates across the world.
But goodwill doesn't make a great book. As a memoir, parts of it are painful to read and not because of the sometimes heavy subject matter. Many passages are drab attempts at humor, random characters with no narrative purpose and middle fingers to various people and entities. It honestly becomes tiresome.
When Galaxy strips away the entertainer facade and leans into a real discussion about his addictions to alcohol, drugs and food, you really begin to see the vulnerability he brought to sharing his story.
While felines are a connective thread, this "Cat" isn't about our four-legged companions. It is, however, about the redemption, love and forgiveness you can find in loving something more than yourself.
But goodwill doesn't make a great book. As a memoir, parts of it are painful to read and not because of the sometimes heavy subject matter. Many passages are drab attempts at humor, random characters with no narrative purpose and middle fingers to various people and entities. It honestly becomes tiresome.
When Galaxy strips away the entertainer facade and leans into a real discussion about his addictions to alcohol, drugs and food, you really begin to see the vulnerability he brought to sharing his story.
While felines are a connective thread, this "Cat" isn't about our four-legged companions. It is, however, about the redemption, love and forgiveness you can find in loving something more than yourself.
dweebaline's review against another edition
4.0
Before reading this book I never would have imagined what Jackson Galaxy's journey that ultimately led to his career as a car behaviorist was like but it was more than I expected. But through reading about his journey to recovery from his various addictions, his career/job experiences , and the more general ups and downs throughout his life, it's easy (yet amazing nonetheless) to see how Jackson Galaxy gravitated to improving the lives of cats and their caregivers (be it cat owners or shelter workers).
Some of the writing style (mainly the creative metaphors for certain situations) threw me off, but it did give the sense of reading the story through Galaxy's own voice. All in all this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone. We all would benefit from learning a lesson in surrendering to the message the universe and, those we share this universe with, are trying to get us to receive.
Some of the writing style (mainly the creative metaphors for certain situations) threw me off, but it did give the sense of reading the story through Galaxy's own voice. All in all this was a great read and I would recommend it to anyone. We all would benefit from learning a lesson in surrendering to the message the universe and, those we share this universe with, are trying to get us to receive.
xxsquigglesxx's review
4.0
MY THOUGHTS: I thought this would be a good book, but I had no idea how good of a book it would actually be. I am a huge fan of the show My Cat From Hell, so when I was at the library and I saw that this was a book, I knew I had to get it. Soon after, audible had a deal on this book, and I scooped it up. I love when writers narrate their own books because they can put emphasis on certain words or phrases that they want to stand out. Jackson does a great job with that in his book. I can hear in his tone of voice when he is angry or excited, etc. and it makes me feel those things right along with him.
I went through quite a lot of emotions in this book. I am an animal lover and have had my fair share of pets in the past, the present and most likely will have in the future. Therefore, I can put myself in Jackson's shoes during some parts of this book. I don't know what it's like to be addicted to drugs, but I do know what it's like to love an animal, and I could feel the love that Jackson has for his cat Benny. There was a chapter of this book that was particularly hard for me to listen to which made me tear up and feel quite emotional (I happened to be driving in the car at the time of course!). But being able to connect to something on that level just makes it better for me.
If you are already a fan of Jackson Galaxy, or you love animals, this is a book for you.
I went through quite a lot of emotions in this book. I am an animal lover and have had my fair share of pets in the past, the present and most likely will have in the future. Therefore, I can put myself in Jackson's shoes during some parts of this book. I don't know what it's like to be addicted to drugs, but I do know what it's like to love an animal, and I could feel the love that Jackson has for his cat Benny. There was a chapter of this book that was particularly hard for me to listen to which made me tear up and feel quite emotional (I happened to be driving in the car at the time of course!). But being able to connect to something on that level just makes it better for me.
If you are already a fan of Jackson Galaxy, or you love animals, this is a book for you.
kristinrob's review against another edition
4.0
Jackson Galaxy is the host of Animal Planet's "My Cat From Hell," and this is Galaxy's autobiography, cat history, and cat behavior book.
He tells us about his life, and his demons, and how he became a cat behaviorist. He also tells us about Benny, the cat he rescued, and how as Galaxy's life ebbed and flowed, so did Benny's.
kitten_nuisance's review against another edition
3.0
Umm, I thought this would be "a quick, light read" to take a break from heavier reads. . .
Not sure why I thought this, as it's obviously about addiction, and animals are an emotional topic for me. . .
This was like a Laura's Greatest Fears book! O____O It would have gone by pretty quickly, but I had to keep putting it down because I was too upset and/or crying.
The one thing it did do that I had anticipated was that it made me like Jackson Galaxy. Something about him on his TV show rubbed me the wrong way (possibly the simple fact that his name is Jackson Galaxy), and I knew that if I learned more about him as a person and his life, I would like him. He's very nice! Maybe not the next Pulitzer winner, but a genuinely good person.
Oh, and I also learned some cat things from this book. It's really not a book that primarily sets out to teach you about cat behavior, but I did get some new "crazy cat person techniques" for my toolbox. ^_^
Not sure why I thought this, as it's obviously about addiction, and animals are an emotional topic for me. . .
This was like a Laura's Greatest Fears book! O____O It would have gone by pretty quickly, but I had to keep putting it down because I was too upset and/or crying.
The one thing it did do that I had anticipated was that it made me like Jackson Galaxy. Something about him on his TV show rubbed me the wrong way (possibly the simple fact that his name is Jackson Galaxy), and I knew that if I learned more about him as a person and his life, I would like him. He's very nice! Maybe not the next Pulitzer winner, but a genuinely good person.
Oh, and I also learned some cat things from this book. It's really not a book that primarily sets out to teach you about cat behavior, but I did get some new "crazy cat person techniques" for my toolbox. ^_^