Because of the recent publication of his awesome new book, Cat Daddy, My Cat From Hell star Jackson Galaxy has been doing lots of interviews with cat bloggers. But you know how it goes: the ones who are interviewing him are humans and they are asking him things from a human’s perspective. That is important — after all, they are the ones who need to know how to better communicate with us cats. But humans don’t always ask the most important questions, which is where I come in. There are things you kitties want to know about Jackson and it is up to me to ask them! Here is what Jackson had to say to me — I think you will find his answers enlightening:
Tell me for real, Jackson — even though you are called a “cat behaviorist,” the truth is you are really a human trainer for us cats. Wouldn’t you say that is closer to what you really do?
That’s right Sparkle, I am a human trainer for cats! Honestly it’s all about what I talk about, which is “cat mojo.” Humans have to understand why cats do what they do, why they need to occupy space, why they need to hunt, and catch and kill and eat, and when they do that, they’ll stop blaming them for all the other things that are going wrong in their lives!
Of course, to be able to translate that to humans, you had to have had the right trainers yourself. From reading your book, it is clear that Benny — your main feline trainer — had a lot to teach you. What would you say was his most valuable lesson?
The most important lesson that Benny taught me was, basically, patience. He taught me how to watch a situation from a detached perspective, to let the situation breathe as opposed to being reactive and getting angry, and taking his behavior as a slight, or taking it personally. Benny wasn’t trying to piss me off, Benny wasn’t trying to aggravate me, Benny was actually trying to communicate with me. But I had to learn his language, and it took me 13 years to do that.
That is so important for humans to understand, Jackson! They take things so personally when really, we are just trying to cope with situations in our own way. Do you think your creative endeavors have enabled you to be a better kitty communicator? I’ve noticed that creative, right-brained humans often have more of an affinity with us non-verbally oriented creatures.
You’re really perceptive Sparkle, because as a musician, as a songwriter, as an actor, as a performance artist, my whole life was based around observation, creating reality in a stranger, and then recreating that reality in myself. Just working with what I had. Cats give you so much and yet they don’t give you English. That to me is an advantage — it allows my imagination to work, and then I get to work with science as well. It’s the best of both worlds.
Why do you think so many humans have issues with their cats? What are they doing wrong?
Sparkle, I think that many humans have trouble with their cats because they try to put them in a box that’s non-cat. They try to define them in human terms or even in dog terms. They try to define cats in terms of a being that wants to do something for them. And Sparkle, you obviously don’t want to do anything for anybody besides yourself (just don’t tell [your human] about that). 🙂
Oh, she already knows! My biggest problem with her is she thinks she is part cat and, well… she is just not that cool! If a human could do just one thing to start having a better relationship with their cat, what would it be?
Again Sparkle, you know this, if you want your human to have a better relationship with you, the number one thing is [for her] to detach emotionally, and watch. Become a better “cat detective”; what do all of your body signals mean? What do you do at certain points of the day? When your cat walks in the room, where is he/she looking? Where does he/she want to get to? What does he/she want from you, and what does he/she want from the other animals in the house? These are the things that just by watching, and not from a human perspective, but using your “cat mojo,” you can have a much better, more fulfilling life with your cat.
Which is why I am so glad you are around, Jackson — you teach humans the gift of observation and forge a line of communication between us and humans. Our behavior is all so much clearer to them once you have explained it! Thanks so much for taking the time for my interview.
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Wonderful interview. Loved the book and his show.
I work at a Library so I have the book on hold but will definately buy a copy when I get the chance. I have a feeling it will be a wonderful reference to keep coming back to. I am a brand new cat mommy and I am constantly astounded by the level of communication we have already and how real a relationship we have. I need to learn more but Jackson is sure getting us on the right track. Regular play and food times from the start and watching her for what she needs and wants really does work. Thank you Jackson.
LOVED your interview Sparkle! Awesome post. Very cool!
great interview, Sparkle! we loved Benny’s lesson 🙂 we could all teach our human’s that 🙂
Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie
I loved the interview. So cute. I almost cried. I just love cats so much. Thanks Sparkles and Jackson.:-):-)
Outstanding interview, dear Sparkle, with the very guy who has made interspecies relations at least a possibility in this household (if sometimes only a distant dream).
What a great interview with Jackson! Yous is one lucky cat! Me thinks me would LOVES to meets him!
Kisses
Nellie
Yeah, okay, he might be better than most, but still, when he opens his mouth, all I really hear is blahblahblahblahblah.
I would SO much rather listen to you Sparkle. Purrs.
Great interview, Sparkle! Our mom needs to start thinking more like us cats!
We absolutely adore Jackson around here. We watch his television show all the time. And you are right, it’s the humans that usually need to be trained.
Sparkle
You are a Human Whisperer!!!
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥
We enjoyed your interview Sparkle! We’re glad you asked the questions WE wanted to know about! Our mommy works hard at being creative (she’s got too much left brain) but we think she does a really good job of communicating with animals. We’ve taught her well!
Whoa! The answer to #2 hit home! TW takes it so personally when I take a chunk outta her. If I even LOOK at her the wrong way, I’m banned from the bedroom. She claims that she KNOWS me. Hello?? She doesn’t even know herself.
Sparkle, you have outdone Diane Sawyer and Barbara Walters combine in this interview. We watched him on the tv. He is very good.
Emma and Buster
very god interview…your query style is spot on…all the right questions that we cats want to know…and oh cat! The part about not defining us as tho’ we are peeps or dogs…OMC! that is purrfect! Just what I’ve been sayin’ all along…cats are cats and that is that!
Allie: ooooh SPARKLE! You got that chat with Jackson in purrson! *SQUEE!!* You are so lucky! My human wouldn’t even let me listen in on the conversation, not for one minute, when she talked to him.
Since he’s MY Hero, do you think that’s one bit fair? NO! *sigh* I do wish you could talk some sense into her when she’s out in LA this week.
Really. It’s such a trial living with such a moron– uh, I mean human.
That was a cool interview Sparkle! Our Dad doesn’t like Mommy communicating with us ’cause it usually means building something else for us=^Y^=
He is just one cool cat dude!
Finally a human who gets it! Now that’s some good mojo!
What a fun interview. Thanks for stopping by today.
Great interview and right questions, Sparkle! Thanks so much!
An excellent interview. Now if only I could teach my human to do that…
Pee S. LOVE your photo with Jackson ; )
Sparkle, this is the best interview EVER!!!!! I’m so glad you got to tell us about Jackson in YOUR words. I bet Jackson was super impressed with how smart you are. Glogirly’s book arrives today! I hope she reads it cover to cover right away and starts observing me instead of trying to pick me up. heh heh.
; ) Katie
Great interview!!! Sure glad you represented us kitties with speaking to Jackson!!!
we love Jackson….that was a great interview!!
Great interview, Sparkle! I’m not familiar with Jackson’s work, but it certainly sounds like he has the right idea!
I am almost finished with the book..or mom is I should say..me, I don’t read much. I like that comment Jackson made that people too often put their cats into places where they don’t belong..boxes if you will..treating them like dogs or humans which is ridiculous but people have false expectations about their cats many times and that is the path to trouble and unhappiness for human and cat.
That was a super interview Sparkle!!! I’m looking forward to reading his book 🙂
this is a good interview, Sparkle. I noticed Lynettea looking over my shoulder and i hope she takes some notice. She is very recatricant and takes a long time to pick up anything. I wonder if you have trained your human better than I have managed to do.
Excellent interview!!!
The Florida Furkids and Lexi
That’s a great interview Sparkle and we can see where our human is going wrong. We think we will have to undo her ideas (tactfully of course as she’s easily upset) and gently set her on the road that we think is best for her – making it “her” idea of course.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Our human has requested his book from the library and we can’t wait for her to read it!
Excellent interview! Have a great week!!
Great interview Sparkle. Sounds like a good book. Take care.