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oliainchina's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed by the book because I expected it to be about a cat, but as the title suggests, it is about the Cat Daddy. My mistake, should have paid attention to the title.
Another thing that I disliked was the author’s tedious writing. Sometimes, when it was about cat customers, it made sense, it was gripping, but most of the time it was unbearable.
The good thing is that there are some nice tips on cat behavior here, and, if you are interested, a story of a former addict going clean.
Another thing that I disliked was the author’s tedious writing. Sometimes, when it was about cat customers, it made sense, it was gripping, but most of the time it was unbearable.
The good thing is that there are some nice tips on cat behavior here, and, if you are interested, a story of a former addict going clean.
uberbutter's review against another edition
4.0
Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean by Jackson Galaxy
285 pages
★★★ ½
Jackson Galaxy is the cat behaviorist on the popular Animal Planet show – My Cat From Hell!. But it wasn’t an easy ride there. The man was addicted to drugs and alcohol, taking anything he could get his hands on and ODing more than once, he’d also gain an addiction to food that would nearly cost him his life. But through it all he’d find his gift with animals, more so with cats. He’d learn he could “talk” to them and over time learned how to “train” cats, doing everything he could to hopefully make sure cats stayed in loving homes and not toss to the streets.
I really enjoyed this book. It doesn’t delve into his time on the show. It’s about his earlier life - his start working in animal shelters, his struggle to get clean, his life with his cats and his business. He is very raw and honest. He doesn’t hold back. He throws out his feelings and it’s fairly obvious he doesn’t care if you agree or not. Since I have worked with animals in many environments (rescues, kennels, training facilities, Humane societies, vets, my own pet-sitting and dog walking business), I felt a connection to his thoughts, especially in his time working in an animal shelter. Up until this point my exposure of Jackson Galaxy was his wildly popular show; I had no idea the troubles he had before. I love how open and honest he was about his addictions and his struggles to overcome them (and as anyone who has ever been addicted to anything ever knows – they will forever struggle to overcome). He also puts tips and hints throughout the book on how to handle certain cat situations. He’s the kind of guy I’d want to be friends with. Thumbs up.
285 pages
★★★ ½
Jackson Galaxy is the cat behaviorist on the popular Animal Planet show – My Cat From Hell!. But it wasn’t an easy ride there. The man was addicted to drugs and alcohol, taking anything he could get his hands on and ODing more than once, he’d also gain an addiction to food that would nearly cost him his life. But through it all he’d find his gift with animals, more so with cats. He’d learn he could “talk” to them and over time learned how to “train” cats, doing everything he could to hopefully make sure cats stayed in loving homes and not toss to the streets.
I really enjoyed this book. It doesn’t delve into his time on the show. It’s about his earlier life - his start working in animal shelters, his struggle to get clean, his life with his cats and his business. He is very raw and honest. He doesn’t hold back. He throws out his feelings and it’s fairly obvious he doesn’t care if you agree or not. Since I have worked with animals in many environments (rescues, kennels, training facilities, Humane societies, vets, my own pet-sitting and dog walking business), I felt a connection to his thoughts, especially in his time working in an animal shelter. Up until this point my exposure of Jackson Galaxy was his wildly popular show; I had no idea the troubles he had before. I love how open and honest he was about his addictions and his struggles to overcome them (and as anyone who has ever been addicted to anything ever knows – they will forever struggle to overcome). He also puts tips and hints throughout the book on how to handle certain cat situations. He’s the kind of guy I’d want to be friends with. Thumbs up.
8little_paws's review against another edition
4.0
If you like memoirs and you like cats you should really pick this book up. It is not just about cats, though there are a lot of cat behavior sections and useful tips (I learned a lot). It is very much about his personal life, his addictions and time in AA and the lessons learned there. The audiobook is narrated by him, and was very enjoyable to listen to over the weekend.
annarella's review
5.0
It was a nice biography til the last two chapter even if a bit over the top. Then I read the last two chapters and cried my eyes out.
Like the advices on cat behaviour
Like the advices on cat behaviour
missingchapter8's review against another edition
5.0
I picked this book up because I have recently adopted a new kitty and I really liked Jackson's show and his YouTube channel. His voice really shines through in this memoir and I found his words very inspiring. I cried like a baby when he described his final weeks with Benny but it still left me feeling positive and hopeful. Very enjoyable memoir!
canadianbookworm's review
3.0
This memoir is by Jackson Galaxy, known for his show My Cat from Hell on Animal Planet. I haven't watched the show, but I was attracted by the title and finding out he earns his living as a cat behaviorist. Galaxy talks about his special relationship with cats and the very special cat, Benny, that influenced his life in a big way. The two first met when Galaxy was working at an animal shelter, trying to make it as a rock musician and spending most of his earnings on drugs and alcohol. Benny showed up with a shattered pelvis from a bad encounter with a car, and Galaxy was pressed to foster him. But he ending up bonding with Benny and through his work with cats and love for Benny, he eventually came clean, getting the drugs and alcohol out of his life. He then developed a weight problem, eventually weighing over 400 pounds. But Benny helped him through that as well. There is a lot about his work with cats, but also a lot about his struggles with addiction, denial, and finding his calling. A very inspiring memoir.
danarbot300's review
4.0
This is a quick and interesting read for people who are interested in cats and/or addiction. I'm interested in both so the melodrama and writing shortcomings were worth it.
bookishheather's review
3.0
Television isn't really my thing these days, but at one point I caught Jackson Galaxy's show on Animal Planet and I really dug it, and him. The last six months I've been making some kitty friends, and I thought to watch a couple of his YouTube videos which led me to this book (admittedly in a roundabout manner).
The first two-thirds of the book were great! It was super interesting to hear about this man's career and his past struggles (which I found really compelling). The last third of the book was slightly less interesting, although I do have similar recent experience with needing to euthanize a special friend. It just seemed a little more truncated or fragmented than the fairly straightforward earlier chapters.
It was clear about one-third through that JG probably hadn't written this himself, and I looked again at the cover to see that Joel Derfner was actually credited as a ghostwriter. This is great! It feels so much more honest when ghostwriters are credited.
The first two-thirds of the book were great! It was super interesting to hear about this man's career and his past struggles (which I found really compelling). The last third of the book was slightly less interesting, although I do have similar recent experience with needing to euthanize a special friend. It just seemed a little more truncated or fragmented than the fairly straightforward earlier chapters.
It was clear about one-third through that JG probably hadn't written this himself, and I looked again at the cover to see that Joel Derfner was actually credited as a ghostwriter. This is great! It feels so much more honest when ghostwriters are credited.
paulieg's review
4.0
Loved it! Jackson Galaxy is unapologetically flawed & endearing, and provides an unsparing look at the realities of animal shelters in this country. Completely bawled at the end. Recommended!