Book Review
I am an unabashed fan of Jackson Galaxy, as I am certain most of you know. So when I was asked if I wanted to review his new book, Total Cat Mojo, I immediately said, “Yes, please.”n
If your cat had come with a instruction manual, this book would be it. As the book’s subtitle (The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat) suggests, Total Cat Mojo is a must read reference book for all cat guardians and anyone thinking of adopting for the first time.
Let’s start with defining Cat Mojo. According to Galaxy mojo is: “the confidence that cats exhibit when they are at ease in their environment an in touch with their natural instincts—to hunt, catch, kill, eat, groom, and sleep.”
Galaxy says in the book’s introduction, “My primary occupation through these years actually has not been about solving cat issues but about teaching you how to find, cultivate, and hold onto mojo.”
Galaxy’s packed everything he has learned since his first days working at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley (Colorado) in the early nineties to being the star of the Animal Planet television program, My Cat from Hell, into this 365-page book.
He starts by describing what he calls “The Raw Cat.” The Raw Cat is another cat (little changed from ancient times) living inside your cat. This “ancestral twin” of your cat “sends constant transmissions to your companion about the urgency of securing territory, hunting, killing, eating, and staying ever alert, because just as cats hunt, they are also being hunted.” It is in understanding your cat’s instinctual behaviors that you will be able to eliminate the actions that are keeping your cat from attaining total cat mojo.
Territorial issues, litter box problems, aggression, anxiety, new pet/family member introductions…absolutely any question you might have with regard to these and other issues, are addressed in Total Cat Mojo. If you need help with your cat, you cannot find a better authority than Jackson Galaxy. He gives you all the tools you’ll need to have a happy and confident cat…filled with mojo!
Both an extensive table of contents and index will let you easily find the issues with which you might need help. Regardless, I suggest you read the entire book before putting it on the shelf as your go-to cat reference handbook.
Total Cat Mojo was written with Mikel Delgado, co-owner of Feline Minds, a San Francisco Bay area based cat behavior consulting business. It also is sprinkled throughout with delightful illustrations by Bobby Rock.
Book Tour
In conjunction with tomorrow’s release of Total Cat Mojo, Galaxy will be visiting book stores across America from November 1 through 18. Here’s the schedule:
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – Nov. 1, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Rainy Day Books at the Turner Hall Ballroom
ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI – Nov. 2, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Left Bank Books at The Ethical Society of St. Louis
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – Nov. 3, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Rainy Day Books at Unity Temple on The Plaza Sanctuary
TEMPE, ARIZONA – Nov. 5, 2017 • get tickets
• NEW TIME: 3:30pm
• NEW VENUE: Dobson High School auditorium, hosted by Changing Hands Bookstore
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – Nov. 7, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by The Strand at The Strand (3rd floor)
HUNTINGTON (LONG ISLAND), NEW YORK – Nov. 8, 2017 • 7:00pm • more info
hosted by Book Revue
WASHINGTON, DC – Nov. 10, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Politics and Prose at the Wharf
MARIETTA, GEORGIA – Nov. 12, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by A Cappella Books of Atlanta at The Mansour Center
AUSTIN, TEXAS – Nov. 15, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by Book People
SEATTLE, WASHINGTON – Nov. 17, 2017 • 7:00pm • get tickets
hosted by University Bookstore at University Temple Methodist
BEAVERTON, OREGON – Nov. 18, 2017 • 2:00pm • more info at powells.com
hosted by Powell’s Cedar Hills Crossing
Please Note: Some of these venues may
- require that you purchase a book from the venue to attend the event
- not allow previously purchased books, or books purchased elsewhere, at their event
- have limited capacity
- require tickets
- not allow cats or pets in the venue
Giveaway
I have one copy of Total Cat Mojo to give away to a reader. For the opportunity to win, leave a comment here prior to 5 p.m. ET on Saturday, November 4. Random.org will be used to select the winner. We’ll announce the name of that person on next Sunday’s Selfie post. The giveaway is open to all readers worldwide.
Disclaimer: I received from Penguin Random House one uncorrected proof of Total Cat Mojo for the purpose of review and one copy of the published book to give away. This was in exchange for my fair and honest review. I received no additional compensation.
Petcretary also loves watching JG…but mostly she is working when his show comes on…one lady almost always has it on so she can see snatches of it:)
I, Pipo would love for her to have that book…then maybe some things might change around here…like no more doggies…MOL, MOL!!!
Jackson Galaxy has such an amazing understanding of cats, and is such a great ambassador about cat and human relationships. We’d love to read this book!
I just love him and would love to read this book.
I want to win this book
I think the picture/photo is just beautiful. I sure would love to win this book so I can read it and get some tips. I want to win this book.
I would love a chance to read this book. We are huge fans in this house.
I, too, am a fan of Galaxy. I have a wonderful cat with no issues. But I love to learn how to make life better for her.
I always look forward to watching My Cat from Hell, love Jackson Galaxy.
I love Jackson Galaxy and want this book! I want him to do a book tour in Cleveland, OH. I would take off work to go see him!!!
As a cat lover and a book lover, I am all about books about cats! And I love Jackson Galaxy!! I’m going to have to look into the Seattle event to see if I can attend!
This sounds like a great book. I need lots of advice for Sammy, he has turned into a bully.
This book sounds interesting. I would really love to win this book so I can read it and give it a review on my own blog. Once again, I really want to win this book.
This sounds like a great book! We have lots of mojo! 🙂 We enjoyed your review and thanks for the opportunity to win a copy! It’s cool he’s going to be in Oregon next month too!
I have one cat 13 years Cassie, and a new kitty who is 2 years old< Lily. They hiss at each other and otherwise ignore each other. Its only been 8 days so hoping for love buddies soon. I have his first book so i really need this one to help me with ideas for my cats to want to know each other. Hugs , kisses and purrs to you from my 2 girls.
I’m going to keep checking the book tour website, to see if they add any venue that’s within driving distance from home! Jackson Galaxy is doing SO MUCH for cats; we love him!
We really like that Jackson dude, a wise one he is!
We absolutely LOVE the premise of this book and it is definitely going on our purchase list. Great review and we thank you for it!
We will not see any of these venues….we don’t go far when winter is setting in. However, we would love a book. J. Galaxy is our hero.
Jean and Siamese
I have a lot of respect for Jackson as I do Cesar Millan. More often than not I agree with their thoughts and assessments. Is there a Galaxy quote to add to Sparks? Hugs!
Somehow I have yet to read anything Jackson Galaxy has written. I don’t know why that is, as I am a huge fan of his. This review made me all the more eager to read all that he has to say. Thank you for sharing!
Sounds like a good book. The mom still needs to read JG’s first book…it’s still sitting on the book shelf. We wish JG would do a book signing closer to us.
This would be a great addition to our library! I’m always looking for ways to make/keep things pleasant and good for our seven furrbabies!
This is another book I need to put on my reading list. I respect Jackson Galaxy and I’m sure this book will be very informative.
This sounds like a wonderful book and why not – Jackson Galaxy knows more about kitties AND their “mojo” than almost anyone else! Just as humans try hard in their lives to achieve their potential, we kitties want to do the same. I think my Mom and I need to read this book…..so we’d love to win a copy.
Hugs, Teddy
Sounds like a pawsome book!
I am a little bit jealous that so many other bloggers got to review Jackson’s latest book and I didn’t. But then, we don’t really do that many book reviews anymore, really.
We have three cats and three dogs, so you can imagine we always have issues to deal with. This book sounds like it would be great for us!