Jackson answers your questions via video.
“What led you to your career as a feline behaviorist?”
Jackson explains why becoming a cat behavior consultant wasn’t really a “career choice” per se.
We regret that Jackson does not answer questions posted in the comments. This is due to his demanding schedule and the high volume of requests he receives. But most importantly, since he has not met your cat, it would be contrary to his approach for him to give specific personalized advice for your specific situation. That being said, general questions and issues are addressed throughout this blog, in his book CAT DADDY and of course, the show My Cat From Hell.
I work for a rescue group that does spay and neuter. We had a little of kittens born in our “cat house” once they were big we let them out with the adults as the cages were small. One kitten would poop and pee on the couch, even though there are several litter boxes. We would clean it, use ferbreeze and even soaked them in nature miracle and air dry and she still went on it. When we took the couch out she was pooping in the corners, so we cleaned it and put big square boxes in the corners. Now she and another kitten are in a cage, as the other kitten was having intestinal upset. They both used the box but every time we put clean kitty bed in it, someone poops on it. We never had this problem before and I’ve been working for this for a few years now and never have a kitten do this, especially older kittens.
It would be very considerate to have a transcript of the video. I don’t have the bandwidth to watch the video and would just like to read the answer.
I believe I became an animal behaviorist as a small child back in the 1950′s which back then parents were allowed to bring their children to the tavern’s in Chicago & I was put in a back room to supposley sleep while my parents drank & it was a small closet type room where the bar tender had slept on a cot along with a big german shepard type dog that he kept in that room. I was very frightened of this dog & quickly just layed on this cot. Then this dog approached me & layed his head onto of me & I strongly sensed that he was telling me not to be afraid. From then on it was all down hill for me with all kinds of animals. I was always bringing home animals, dogs, cats, raccoon, & even a spider monkey! As I have gotten older I some times have even had some people bring over a dog they rescued from a shelter & tell me that it doesn’t respond to the name that it was given at the shelter & I can tell them the animals true name in which it immediatly responds to. So, I have always felt a really strong bond with all animals & feel their feelings? So, whenever I hear of any animal abuse I feel as if it has taken a piece of my heart with them. I actually become physically ill.
I loved the show when you made the child into a cat teacher….with his own cat-eyed guitar case full of appropriate toys for his blind cat with PTSD. He was so cute. He shaved his head out of admiration for you after the first visit, I think. You’re a wonderful human being, Mr. Galaxy! You understand people as well as cats.
Someone taught me the language of cat when I was young. You are the only one I have ever seen that understands cats. Your show is absolutely wonderful. I hope to see you on television for a while!
Dear Mr. Galaxy,
I admire u!!!!!
It’s really inspiring to watch you work.
As the spouse of a human therapist (and friend of several others), I admire the characteristics you bring to the task: knowledge, intelligence, intuition, tact, warmth, and the ability to see the moment from each individual cat’s and human’s point of view and to keep them open to your persuasion. Even when you must deal with a bit of “teh crazy,” you approach it with patience and insight and the intuitive recognition that you can only succeed by connecting with the human or the cat on their own terms and evolving them from their starting point. You’re such a natural at that!
It appears you’ve already found your own calling in life, but I really wish that more people seeking to become credentialed human therapists had even half of your aptitude for it.
I have 4 cats. 2 boys and 2 girls. My oldest female, has decided to poo on my bedroom floor, and my oldest male has decided not to pee in the letterbox. This is very frustrating. I have 5 litter boxes, and keep them clean. I put a puppy pad down where my male was peeing and he will use it, but I would rather him use the litter box. How do I fix this?