Saturday, August 18, 2012

Jackson Galaxy Cat Behaviorist: Cat Daddy on Sale Now (videos)










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

Product Description


“Mr. Galaxy—shaved head, arms full of tattoos—seems physically at odds with his gentle voice and gentle approach to animals. . . . But though he may be dealing with humans who have been terrorized and even bloodied by their out-of-control pets, he’s a model of consistency. The cats, not the people, are his No. 1 priority.”—The New York Times

“Galaxy is not your average animal behaviorist. He speaks Cat. And cats listen. He works miracles in saving death-row cats in shelters by helping them get over their fears and increase their self-esteem, and coaching them to ‘work it’ with potential adopters.”—mousebreath.com

“He’s the kind of magic man who can lull a shelter’s roomful of ferocious felines to sleep.”—Yahoo!

“Each of us sheds light on our subject from our own particular point of view. Fortunately for us all Jackson Galaxy’s light is very bright. His success at resolving behavioral difficulties in cats stems from his ability to slide his mind into the cat’s point of view and proceed from there. His insights into both human and cat behavior are right on.”—Anitra Frazier, author of The Natural Cat

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 Hells 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 thirteen-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 Mojo” advice for understanding what cats need most from us humans in order to live happier, healthier lives. 

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #10011 in Books
  • Published on: 2012-05-10
  • Released on: 2012-05-10
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 1.00 pounds
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 304 pages

Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Jackson Galaxy has been called everything from a cat trainer to a cat shrink. Drawing on his years of experience in animal shelters and as a consultant working one-on-one with thousands of cats in their homes, his unique “Cat Mojo” approach offers people a deeper understanding of why their cats act out in the ways they do. Galaxy maintains a private consulting practice in Los Angeles. Visit the author’s website at: Jacksongalaxy.com

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews
122 of 124 people found the following review helpful.
5An extraordinary and inspirational memoir
By Ingrid King
This book is no ordinary cat memoir, nor is it an ordinary cat advice book. It is an inspirational tour de force that offers an intimate glimpse at Jackson, the man, and Jackson, the Cat Daddy. This is one of the most unconventional memoirs I've ever read, but then, I didn't expect anything less from Jackson Galaxy.

Jackson Galaxy defies convention. Bald, bearded and tattooed, he's anything but what you would imagine a cat behaviorist to look like, let alone one who has an almost uncanny ability to connect with cats in ways that few others can. Rock musician? Maybe. Biker dude? Possibly. But cat guy? No way.

Cat Daddy chronicles Jackson's journey from down-and-out drug-addicted musician to cat behaviorist of last resort to countless cats, from his early work with cats at an animal shelter in Boulder to his partnership with Jean Hofve, DVM and their joint ventures, Little Big Cat and Spirit Essences, which Jackson eventually bought from Hofve, to his own successful behavior consulting practice.

But the real star of this book is Benny, a small grey and white cat who was brought to the shelter where Jackson had begun to build a reputation as a "cat whisperer." Benny had been hit by a car and had a broken pelvis, his owner couldn't afford the vet bills, and she also "just didn't like him." Benny was only supposed to be a foster cat, but as Jackson watched Benny's remarkable recovery from his physical injuries, something shifted for Jackson. He began to feel a kinship with this broken cat, and realized that "Benny wasn't my foster cat anymore. He was my family." That moment may have saved not only Benny's life, but Jackson's as well. And this was only the first of many lessons Benny would teach Jackson about not being in control of the universe. "The teacher arrived when the student was ready to learn."

In addition to his physical injuries, Benny had his share of emotional problems. It soon became obvious that Benny didn't just come into Jackson's life so Jackson could fix him; Jackson needed some serious fixing himself. By the time Benny arrived, Jackson's life was spiraling out of control at an alarming rate. As Jackson began to work with this emotionally damaged cat, Benny did what noone else in Jackson's life had been able to do: he forced Jackson to begin to peel away the layers of denial, and helped him discover his true physical, spiritual and emotional self beneath his multiple addictions.

There are many deeply moving moments in this book. For me, one of the most most touching passages was the moment Jackson surrenders control. His "hit the knees" moment was reinforced when he realized that "Benny is not just a cat who I take care of but a confused, frustrated being who is exactly the same as me." At that moment, Jackson not only found the process he's since used and still uses today with every cat he works with, he also learned he could be "present in the moment for an animal who needed me to be present in the moment." Being present and living life one moment at a time is one of the cornerstones of recovery. Benny had shown Jackson the way.

The book is interspersed with plenty of Jackson's Cat Mojo 101. He introduces his famous "Cat-I-Love-You" technique (also known as the "slow blink") with the remarkable story of the "forty-five cat kisses"at the Boulder shelter. His "Three-Step Handshake" was born when he first met Benny. In "Don't Be a Litter Box Baby," Jackson provides easy to implement steps to address litter box problems. As with so many of his techniques, Benny proved to be a hard core test case for this one as well.

All of Jackson's advice takes the cat's perspective into account, and comes from the premise that once you understand why something makes sense to a cat and respond from that same place, you will see changes in the cat's behavior. Jackson understands that cats are energetically sensitive, and he focuses as much on training the cat as he does on training the cat's human, always stressing the importance of the cat's guardian managing his own energy and emotions when around the cat.

Jackson's writing style is emotionally raw, candid, and sometimes shocking in its honesty. The one constant throughout his story, even during his darkest days of battling his own personal demons, is his connection with cats in general, and with Benny in particular.

In true cat like fashion, Benny taught Jackson about living in the moment, about surrendering control, and ultimately, about love. The cats of the world, and those of us who love them, owe a debt of gratitude to Benny for saving Jackson's life and for being his teacher - and to Jackson, for the courage to share his story with the world, and for honoring Benny's legacy each and every day through his work.
61 of 64 people found the following review helpful.
5I'd Give it 10 Stars if I Could...
By Gwen R. Cooper
Not everybody is fortunate enough to experience the extraordinary, life-changing bond that can develop between two different species, but those of us who are know what a miraculous thing it is. To see it in our own lives is a gift. To become intimately acquainted with somebody else's experience, however, is a rare privilege indeed.

This is one of many things that make reading "Cat Daddy" such a joy. By the time you finish this remarkable book, you'll have lived somebody else's love of a cat in ways that make you love and appreciate your own just a bit more. And, because this is Jackson Galaxy, you'll understand the felines in your life a bit more, too. Watching Galaxy on his show "My Cat From Hell" can feel a bit like watching a magician--how does he do it? How does he consistently reach even the most troubled feline souls with so much compassion and to such amazing effect? Galaxy, among other things in this book, takes us inside that process in a way that on the one hand makes it seem completely common-sense, yet on the other hand makes you realize what a unique gift he has.

But this book is so much more than that. I hesitate to call it an amazing "animal story" because it's just an amazing story, period. It must have been painful at times for Galaxy to reveal so much of what was "broken" in his own life when he and Benny first began to form the bond that would redeem them. He does what the best writers do: He bleeds on these pages, but this is blood straight from his heart. In the end, this is one of the most uplifting tales I've ever encountered, and the "Cat Mojo" tips sprinkled throughout--which are admittedly what I expected to enjoy the most--become the cherry on the sundae rather than the sundae itself.

If you love cats, you will love this book. If you don't love cats, I think you'll still love this book. Sometimes it seems as though only epics and sagas that sprawl over many books receive much attention these days. So it comes as heartening revelation to remember that, occasionally, the biggest stories are actually the smallest ones--one man, one cat, and a quiet love that was large enough to save them both.
56 of 60 people found the following review helpful.
5more than a memoir
By a reader from Brooklyn
I tore through most of the book in one sitting last night. I stopped at the beginning of Benny's death because I want to give it its own time and space, but this is one fun book! Jackson is a real character, and I found myself looking at my cat through different eyes last night (I tried the "I" 'Love" "You" blink, but he just said, "I know that," so I'll have to try it on someone else's cat) and also feeling very lucky that my cats have all been so easy and tractable. If the next one isn't, at least now I will know what to do.

I think cat people will go wild for this. Actually, I think anyone with a heart will go wild for this.





My Cat From Hell Wikipedia

My Cat from Hell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

My Cat from Hell
GenreReality television
Country of originUnited States
Language(s)English
No. of seasons3
No. of episodes11
Production
Running time43 minutes
Broadcast
Original channelAnimal Planet
Original runMay 14, 2011 – present
My Cat from Hell is a reality television program produced by 3 Ball Productions for Animal Planet that premiered in May 2011 and is currently running. It stars Jackson Galaxy, a cat behavior specialist who visits the homes of cat owners—usually couples—in order to resolve conflicts between either the human owners and their cats or between multiple animals.

Contents

  [hide

[edit]Philosophy

Jackson Galaxy believes that he can help any problem cat. Jackson teaches that cats are territorial and need spaces of their own. Cats send signals when they no longer desire petting, a condition he refers to as "overstimulation". Cats do not like being cornered, and lash out when overstimulated. He teaches that there are correct and incorrect ways to pick up a cat. Certain cats (whom he calls "tree-dwelling cats") behave better when they have access to above-ground perches, and he often instructs owners of such cats to install an above-the-floor walkway with no dead ends. Some cats need exercise to release excess energy in a positive way; toys and play with owners are outlets Jackson encourages.
In multi-animal situations, Jackson creates barriers in homes to divide space into areas which the animals can claim as places of their own. He slowly introduces the cat to the other animals in positive situations (such as a feeding).

[edit]Reviews

Neil Genzlinger of the New York Times wrote, "Mr. Galaxy—yes, it feels ridiculous writing that—looks like a Hells Angel, but his love and respect for cats seems genuine, and his advice appears actually to help the clients, most of whom are couples whose crazed pets are affecting their relationships."[1] Brad Wete of Entertainment Weekly commented, "Galaxy offers useful tips, even if your animal’s not nuts."[2]

[edit]Episodes

[edit]Season one

1.1"He Hates My Boyfriend"May 7, 2011
An aggressive and unpredictable cat aptly named Bear takes his toll on owner Hannah's love life. Will Hannah chose to keep her boyfriend or her cat? Recently engaged Matt loves fiancee Amanda but hates her cats and has reached his breaking point. 
1.2"Fifi's Ruining My Love Life"May 14, 2011
Sean cozies up to pet scorpions, snakes, tarantulas and fiance Lindsey at home but can't deal with Avery the rambunctious sphynx cat.; From the moment Leslie moved into her boyfriend David's home, Fifi the cat has made it clear she's not welcome. 
1.3"Wildcat!"May 21, 2011

[edit]Season two

2.1"Terrorizing my clients"January 7, 2012
A female cat named Larry with disturbing bouts of aggression threatens to keep Josh and Tara from getting married. Heather and Alan's cat Ruby ruins their in-home Pilates studio and threatens their livelihood with her sudden fits of aggression. 
2.2"Mad Max"January 14, 2012
A Bengal cat named City with jungle energy is disrupting the peace between girlfriends Shanna and Lori. Ned and Kellee's cat, Mad Max, sneaks into their neighbor's apartment, and is too dangerous to be around their soon-to-be-born baby. 
2.3"On the War Path"January 21, 2012
A vicious cat named Kleo attacks Tim's cats, keeping him from proposing to his girlfriend, Brooklyn. War veteran Bobby and his girlfriend In-Hae deal with Marco, a cat that reacts violently towards their tiny dog, Yuki. 
2.4"Pissed Off!"January 28, 2012
A vicious cat named Stella prevents Rob and Stephanie from adding a baby to their family. Jessica's cat, Mr. Fluff, chases her and her boyfriend Cameron around the house, scratching up everything in sight. 
2.5"Cat Fight!"February 4, 2012
A cat named Penny Lane hates her owner's roommate; Roxy and Max are two cats that begin to attack each other after they move into a new home. 
2.6"Spitting Mad"February 18, 2012
Two warring Sphynxes, Mathilde and Black Rose are constantly keeping their owners, Steve and Dierdre up at night. Travis and Dorothy fear that their temperamental cat Polly may and could attack toddler son Rex. 

[edit]Season three

3.1"Cat Fight! (2)"June 30, 2012
Jackson heads across the U.S. to help two NYC couples with their agressive cats: Mufasa, a silver Bengal has been constantly jumping and attacking Susanne, while boyfriend Justin takes it lightly. A uber-cramped apartment for engaged couple Mike and Emilie have become wargrounds for Olive who constantly attacks Pepper daily, forcing the couple instead of enjoying what will be their life together, to sleep in separate rooms at any sign of a fight between the two cats. 
3.2"My Cat or My Family"July 7, 2012
Xena has been on a tear with Jen's family and house for the last several months, going into random screaming and hissing fits which have also left Jen, dad Mike and five-year-old son Chris scratched up and the latter even scared to go in his room. Gigi has taken such an adversion to new kitten Suki so much that Brit journalists Julie and Nick fear that her aggression may lead to the latter getting killed. 
3.3"Kitty Dearest"July 14, 2012
Best friends Travis and Diane are struggling to co-parent Oscar the Sphynx peacefully together, as he lashes out at Diane whenever she picks him up, urinates everywhere but his litterbox and disturbs Travis in his at-home office by constantly yowling at night. Vet Tech Esther and musician hubby Vincent are at ends with rescue tabby Riley who repeatedly lashes out whenever hands are outstretched. 
3.4"Kitty Jail"July 21, 2012
3.5"Roscoe The Menace"July 28, 2012
3.6"Cat Escape!"August 4, 2012
Michael and Khrys have an escape artist in their home in unneutered Russian Blue Kitty, who also marks all over the house. Addie, a 8 year old Tabby, repeatedly swaps and scratches whoever comes near her, specifically in her cat tree, be it either owners Don and Joy or anyone else entering the house. Behavior, Joy drectly fingers blame on more canine-centric hubby Don,who roughhouses while playing with her, as like with a dog 

[edit]See also

[edit]Footnotes

  1. ^ Neil Genzlinger (May 6, 2011). "And You Used to Think Hairballs Were Bad"The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  2. ^ Brad Wete (May 8, 2011). "'My Cat From Hell' debuts on Animal Planet: Who knew cats were this bonkers?"Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2012-01-21.

[edit]External links




Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Walmart sells premium dogfood: Ol' Roy Pure Balance



Press Release

BENTONVILLE, Ark.Aug. 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dog owners now have another way to save money at Walmart, so their companions can live better. Available exclusively in more than 2,900 Walmart stores, Pure Balance is the retailer's first ultra premium dry dog food which includes no soy, wheat or corn additives, no artificial colors, no preservatives and no chicken by-products.


Pure Balance's first and primary ingredient is either real lamb meat or poultry, and contains a blend of omega 6 and 3 fatty acids good for a healthy coat and skin. Additionally, the product supports vision health, as well as heart health and immunity.

"Walmart customers, including me, consider our dogs family members so when it comes to their food we want the very best for them," said Jody Pinson, vice president of pets at Walmart. "Our customers told us they wanted to be able to feed their dogs a dry food made with pure ingredients without having to make a special trip to the pet store. We listened and are excited to offer Pure Balance, an ultra premium dog food, at a price our customers can afford."

Walmart's new Pure Balance brand dog food offers key benefits found in top pet specialty brands, and is already gaining notice from veterinarians who understand the benefits of a high-quality dry food.

"As a veterinarian, I am repeatedly asked to recommend diets for peoples' pets, and I see a lot of benefits in switching to Pure Balance," said Dr. Chip Lang, a veterinarian at the Cochranton Veterinary Hospital in Pennsylvania. "Pure Balance is formulated to contain a simple and well-balanced base of quality nutrients, while avoiding unnecessary additives. The combination of these benefits means that the diet could be recommended for healthy animals and pets with skin, intestinal or other allergies."

Pure Balance rounds out Walmart's broad assortment of pet food available at everyday low prices. For more information on Pure Balance please visit: http://www.walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/10984.aspx

About Walmart

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) serves customers and members more than 200 million times per week at more than 10,300 retail units under 69 different banners in 27 countries. With fiscal year 2012 sales of approximately $444 billion, Walmart employs more than 2 million associates worldwide. Walmart continues to be a leader in sustainability, corporate philanthropy and employment opportunity. Additional information about Walmart can be found by visiting http://walmartstores.com, and on Facebook athttp://facebook.com/walmart and on Twitter at http://twitter.com/walmart. Online merchandise sales are available at http://www.walmart.com and http://www.samsclub.com.

PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1kNW9)

Check out the Pure Balance pet food available at Walmart in 5 lb, 15 lb, and 30 lb sizes. Flavors include Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe and Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe.



Ol' Roy Pure Balance Dog Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 5 lb

Pure Balance believes in one pure and simple thought--the best nutrition for your dog starts with the best ingredients. That's why each one of their super premium recipes contains no corn, wheat or soy and is made with carefully selected ingredients to ensure your dog gets all the nutrition he needs without any of the extra stuff he doesn't. Real chicken helps build lean muscle mass in your dog so he can run, jump and play. Peas, carrots and cranberries combined with vitamins and minerals help to support a healthy immune and other vital systems. Natural omega 6 and 3 fatty acids from flaxseed and poultry fat, which is high in linoleic acid, help keep your dog's coat shiny and his skin healthy. Healthy whole grains like brown rice and oatmeal deliver natural fiber that aids in digestion and proper elimination.


Ol' Roy Pure Balance Dog Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 15 lb




Ol' Roy Pure Balance Dog Food, Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe, 30 lb



Ol' Roy Pure Balance Dog Food, Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe, 5 lb

Pure Balance believes in one pure and simple thought--the best nutrition for your dog starts with the best ingredients. That's why each one of their super premium recipes contains no corn, wheat or soy and is made with carefully selected ingredients to ensure your dog gets all the nutrition he needs without any of the extra stuff he doesn't. Quality protein sources like lamb combined with easily digestible rice help to build lean muscle mass while protecting your dog from digestive upset. Peas, carrots and cranberries, combined with vitamins and minerals, help to support a healthy immune and other vital systems. Natural omega 6 and 3 fatty acids from flaxseed and poultry fat help keep your dog's coat shiny and his skin healthy. Healthy whole grains like brown rice deliver natural fiber that aids in digestion and proper elimination.



Ol' Roy Pure Balance Dog Food, Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe, 15 lb



Ol' Roy Pure Balance Dog Food, Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe, 30 lb