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You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Talking Cat With Jackson Galaxy

Talking Cat With Jackson Galaxy

May 14, 2012 By: Sparkle Cat35 Comments

I was quite pleased to pose with Jackson Galaxy. Too bad it only happened in Photoshop.

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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Comments

  1. sue brandes says

    May 29, 2012 at 2:20 pm

    Wonderful interview. Loved the book and his show.

    Reply
  2. Erin and Fiona says

    May 16, 2012 at 12:18 am

    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.

    Reply
  3. Clooney says

    May 15, 2012 at 9:36 pm

    LOVED your interview Sparkle! Awesome post. Very cool!

    Reply
  4. Fraidy Cats says

    May 15, 2012 at 5:20 pm

    great interview, Sparkle! we loved Benny’s lesson 🙂 we could all teach our human’s that 🙂

    Pip, Smidgen, Minnie, Hollie

    Reply
  5. Lori Jackson says

    May 15, 2012 at 9:08 am

    I loved the interview. So cute. I almost cried. I just love cats so much. Thanks Sparkles and Jackson.:-):-)

    Reply
  6. Nadbugs says

    May 15, 2012 at 9:03 am

    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).

    Reply
  7. Kozmo at the Cat From Hell says

    May 14, 2012 at 9:07 pm

    What a great interview with Jackson! Yous is one lucky cat! Me thinks me would LOVES to meets him!
    Kisses
    Nellie

    Reply
  8. Spitty the Kitty says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:24 pm

    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.

    Reply
  9. The Island Cats says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:39 pm

    Great interview, Sparkle! Our mom needs to start thinking more like us cats!

    Reply
  10. Small Town Mommy says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:38 pm

    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.

    Reply
  11. Abby says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:17 pm

    Sparkle
    You are a Human Whisperer!!!

    purrs
    >^,,^<
    ♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

    Reply
  12. BeadedTail says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:03 pm

    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!

    Reply
  13. Cathy Keisha says

    May 14, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    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.

    Reply
  14. Emma and Buster says

    May 14, 2012 at 1:58 pm

    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

    Reply
  15. Savannah says

    May 14, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    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!

    Reply
  16. Ryker's Boyz 'n' Allie says

    May 14, 2012 at 12:47 pm

    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.

    Reply
  17. the Cat Street Boyz says

    May 14, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    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^=

    Reply
  18. Brian says

    May 14, 2012 at 10:10 am

    He is just one cool cat dude!

    Reply
  19. Katz tales says

    May 14, 2012 at 9:18 am

    Finally a human who gets it! Now that’s some good mojo!

    Reply
  20. Layla Morgan Wilde (Cat Wisdom 101.com) says

    May 14, 2012 at 8:43 am

    What a fun interview. Thanks for stopping by today.

    Reply
  21. Texas, a cat in New York says

    May 14, 2012 at 8:24 am

    Great interview and right questions, Sparkle! Thanks so much!

    Reply
  22. Cheysuli says

    May 14, 2012 at 8:24 am

    An excellent interview. Now if only I could teach my human to do that…

    Reply
  23. Glogirly & Katie says

    May 14, 2012 at 8:18 am

    Pee S. LOVE your photo with Jackson ; )

    Reply
  24. Glogirly & Katie says

    May 14, 2012 at 8:18 am

    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

    Reply
  25. Little One says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:22 am

    Great interview!!! Sure glad you represented us kitties with speaking to Jackson!!!

    Reply
  26. Random Felines says

    May 14, 2012 at 7:19 am

    we love Jackson….that was a great interview!!

    Reply
  27. Natalie says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:58 am

    Great interview, Sparkle! I’m not familiar with Jackson’s work, but it certainly sounds like he has the right idea!

    Reply
  28. Katie Bella says

    May 14, 2012 at 6:36 am

    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.

    Reply
  29. Cat's Cats says

    May 14, 2012 at 5:44 am

    That was a super interview Sparkle!!! I’m looking forward to reading his book 🙂

    Reply
  30. Diamond says

    May 14, 2012 at 5:23 am

    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.

    Reply
  31. The Florida Furkids says

    May 14, 2012 at 5:20 am

    Excellent interview!!!

    The Florida Furkids and Lexi

    Reply
  32. Hannah and Lucy says

    May 14, 2012 at 4:24 am

    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

    Reply
  33. Spunky Doodle and Manny says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:30 am

    Our human has requested his book from the library and we can’t wait for her to read it!

    Reply
  34. The Kitties of Purring Pines says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:16 am

    Excellent interview! Have a great week!!

    Reply
  35. Marg says

    May 14, 2012 at 3:06 am

    Great interview Sparkle. Sounds like a good book. Take care.

    Reply

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