Animal Planet’s Latest Star Is The Cat’s Meow
NEW updated interview part II and exclusive photos from the Daily Show shoot at our new cat-centric website www.CatWisdom101.com
Animal Planet’s Latest Star Is The Cat’s Meow
Crazy cat ladies, look out; there’s new cat daddy in town by the name of Jackson Galaxy. You can see this L.A.-based cat behaviorist in action on the hotly anticipated reality show “My Cat From Hell” premiering Saturday, May 7 at 9 PM et/pt on Animal Planet. He’s out to prove there are no cats from hell, just misunderstood pussycats. The show debuts hot on the heels of the popular “Must Love Cats” show. Is the pendulum shifting from dogs to cats? Determined to find out how the landscape of cat lovers is changing, I spent a recent afternoon chatting with Jackson Galaxy. We covered so much ground, I’ll be posting part two of the interview at my new cat-centric blog, Cat Wisdom 101 launching soon.
It doesn’t take a psychic to figure out Galaxy is not his real name. Years ago, Galaxy says, a designer came up with a cool galaxy design for his music CD. The name suited him and it stuck.
At first glance, Jackson Galaxy is the quintessential, bearded, tattooed L.A. hipster musician type with a laid back tone and a mellow voice; but scratch the surface and you’ll find a 45-year-old, Jewish New Yorker who happens to love and understand cats like no other. As an intuitive life coach, it didn’t take me long to figure out underneath the tattooed surface is a “mensch” -- a good guy with a good message..
On the My Cat from Hell show, viewers follow Galaxy on the job as he consults with human clients that have cats with issues. Frankly, the title of the show isn’t one I would have chosen. Cats have been unjustly demonized for centuries, but reality television is all about heightened drama and hissy fits, and as a result, demand juicy titles. The three episodes, shot last year, required sensitive pussy-footing. Imagine: not only did the skittish cats have strangers visit their homes but with a camera crew in tow. It’s a testament to Galaxy’s skills that he was able to work his magic under those conditions.
Galaxy believes that making television is a compromise. Stars rarely get final say on most decisions. The upside for him is gaining a larger platform and an audience to spread his message about cats. He believes the by-product of entertainment can be education. His major goal is to create awareness for no-kill shelters.
Sixteen years ago, while living in Boulder Colorado, Galaxy worked at animal shelter where he discovered he had a knack for feline communication. It evolved into a-one-on-one consulting with pet clients. Ten years ago, he partnered with a vet who created a line of homeopathic remedies for pets called Spirit Essences. He bought the company and continues to use the remedies with his feline charges. The wide range of pet remedies address behavioral issues from bullying to feral cat rehab. The re-designed Spirit Essences Web site is launching next week. SpiritEssence.com
Cats are sensitive creatures with an aura of mystery around them. Part of the mystique is how they communicate differently than us mere mortals. Galaxy’s job like all animal behaviorists is to bridge this communication gap. Better communication = happier cats and happier pet parents or guardians.
Galaxy believes that the number one cause of feline behavioral problems is stress; often mirroring human behavior. If their humans are stressed and anxious, the cats will mirror the stress; often with symptoms like peeing outside the litter box, or worse. If you’re yelling at your spouse or kids, it may impact your pet. It brings to mind the expression, “there are no bad dogs, only bad owners.” Does this hold true for cats? Galaxy believes it does; maybe not bad owners, but misinformed ones. We all know how smart cats are. They can devise ingenious and maddening methods of communicating their displeasure. So, on the flip side, I ask, “What’s your number one tip for happier cats? Galaxy responds with an emphatic, “Play.” He doesn’t mean a half-hearted attempt to throw a ball while you’re playing Angry Birds or checking email, but a variety of daily, active engaged play. Most cats don’t have the chance to hunt outdoors and engage in their instinctual behavior. It’s up to us to satisfy their need with play, games and toys that mimic their natural instincts. A bored cat is an unhappy cat.
We joked about all the crazy pet products on the market from silly costumes to those covered strollers and agreed that they simply impose a human structure which does not respect a cat’s natural dignity. Galaxy is an advocate of what he calls the “raw cat” or natural cat. He says, “I don’t believe in making them jump through hoops, making them shit in toilets, making them ride bicycles even if they are trainable. I believe there’s an amazing amount of beauty just as they are. They give so much simply by being in the room with us.”
The more we talked, the less the externals mattered. The boundaries are blurring regarding who are cat lovers. Galaxy is excited about the shifting demographic that includes more men. “Guys need to know it’s okay to love cats and that women dig cat guys. I hope this is the beginning of a trend and I’m incredibly excited and honored to be the face of what a cat guy can be.” It’s clear that cat lovers can come in all stripes. The fact that cats are now hip is bringing in a new generation regardless of gender, age, lifestyles of beliefs. This translates into more cat adoptions and less cats languishing in over-crowded shelters or being euthanized. It’s Galaxy’s dream to see the end to no-kill shelters.
The landscape of cat lover’s is changing, one cat at a time. If enough people tune into “My Cat From Hell,” perhaps it will be renewed for more episodes. More air time translates into more feline awareness, more cat adoptions and lives saved. And isn’t that what all cat lovers want?
Jackson Galaxy is currently writing a memoir about his beloved cat (and teacher), Benny.
Categories: Baby Boomers, Media, Cats
Tags: animal planets latest star animal planet my cat from hell my cat from hell jackson galaxy cat behaviorist spirit essence cat reality show the cats meow cat lovers raw cat natural cat feline behavior interview with jackson galaxy nokill shelters hip cats cat whisperer cat saturday animal planet catwisdom101jackson galaxy mustlove cats my cat from hellcatwisdom101
Great post. It is great to hear about a guy that is so into cats. Sounds like he had lots of great ideas. I really like the part about playing with the indoor cats. That is one reason I am in favor of cats being able to go outside in one form or another. The ones that are outside are so much happier in my opinion. Yes, it is much more dangerous but their mental health is better.
How is Dom??
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Marg, in the second interview I'll be writing about the indoor/outdoor issue. Dom is better thanks but still walking on three legs and takes meds.
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Yes, I think that all cats should have an indoor/outdoor life, they are definitely so much calmer and happier getting to do 'real' cat things and a happy life is the most important thing. If they must live indoors as apartment cats do for safety reasons, then they have to have good play time and stuff to 'hunt' like interactive toys and even some crickets and plenty of things to climb. I wish more people would do that for their cats.
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The question is finding the balance between safety and adventure. I haven't heard of bringing in live crickets. That would perk up the sleepiest cat!
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Layla: Interesting catman lover, I agree totally with his assessment of problems with cats and owners is stress-so play on I say... Bristish actress Joanna Lumley from ABFAB fame, did a two part series on TVOntario entitled "CATWOMAN", which you or your readers may enjoy. She goes back to the Egyptian roots and travels to Kenya, loved it. You may be able to view online on the TVO website. Hope all your kids are well. I looked at my cats on my bed last night, Pepi, curled up at my side and Ali,reclining on his back, paws up and thought, these are relaxed happy cats, and as Martha would say , that is a good thing. Talk soon, xo Theresa
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Thanks for the interesting tidbit.
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great interview! well done. cannot wait to see the show!
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Tamar, thanks. Let's hope we get enough eyeballs on the TV tonight. As you well know, numbers are everything.
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Great review! Sorry I'll miss the show! I think you made a mistake when you said he wants to end no-kill shelters - quite the opposite!
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You're quite right. I'll change it.
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Jackson is the most awesome person ever, it's about time his message can get out there in a big way and counteract the media's habit of maligning cats and promoting cat abuse.
Congratulations Jackson, you finally made it! The cats of the world finally have a spokesperson, maybe the media world will grow a brain cell and catch on and finally stop bullying cats and the people who have them. A woman who has a dog is a "dog person" while a woman who has one or two cats gets the "cat lady" insult as if cat ownership automatically contaminates the female cat owner with a cootie-filled disease. That alone encourages the IQ-challenged of the world to choose to abuse cats rather than cherish them, and there are so many other negative cat references. Yay for Jackson being out there and changing the perception of cats so people can see them as the beautiful, intelligent creatures they are. WAHOOOOO!!!!!
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Hi, Layla!
Thanks for the tip. I usually find nothing to watch on TV on Saturday night!!! I'll be interested in what he has to say.
My little dog Dickon and my elderly black cat D-2 (12 yrs old)have mock battles in the back yard, although they do get rough. D-2 is pretty good about sheathing his claws, but Dickon gets ahold of his ear and pulls him around. In return, D-2 gets ahold of Dickon's collar with his mouth and/or claws and pulls him around. Hysterical to watch, but that's the time I stop them for the moment! I'll send pictures sometime for you to see. Glad to hear Dom is getting better.
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Hey Tinch. I hope you enjoy the show. Would love to see pics and Domino is better but not out of the woods yet.
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Watching MCFH right now - I have really been looking forward to the premiere. I volunteer with shelter/rescue cats and need all the ideas I can collect. The similarities between Jackson and Cesar (the Dog Whisperer) are many, but both are experts, and if we can learn some good skills from them (especially to save animal lives), that's wonderful.
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Any new knowledge and creating awareness is what it's all about.
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Great interview. I DVR'd the show and will be watching later today, I can't wait! Everything about Jackson's approach to cats make sense to me.
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I hope you like it. The hour long show is divided into two segments with two different clients and cats.
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I absolutely loved it. I still don't like the title of the show, but the show itself - wow. I wish more behaviorists looked at cats the way he does.
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I'm so glad you enjoyed it. I think many cat lover viewers have an issue with the show title.
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I caught some of it, and thought it was great that he was working with the cats' needs & convincing the humans to participate accordingly - a tough task. I dislike the name of the show SO much. I wish the name was more solution or help oriented. ("Happy Cat, Happy Life"?) AP's "It's Me Or The Dog" is also poorly named; makes people think someone in the household is leaving. 'Nanny 911'is well named & well done & has been on the netowrks for years, featuring children who do seem like devil spawn, but there is help, solutions, and positive outcomes. Can you imagine if it were called "Kids From Hell?"
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I agree with you about the name but they test various names based on what creates the most attention.
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