Jackson Galaxy
Jackson Galaxy (born c. 1966 as Richard Kirschner) is a cat behaviorist and host of the television show My Cat from Hell.
Born on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, he legally changed his name when he was in his twenties. He has a Master of Fine Arts in acting. Galaxy learned cat behavior through his work with rescue cats, originally with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Colorado.
Galaxy went into private practice in Boulder, Colorado in 2002, co-founding Little Big Cat, Inc., with Dr. Jean Hofve, a holistic veterinarian. Together they provided consultations to cat owners, focusing on the connection between physical and behavioral health.
In 2007, Galaxy moved to Los Angeles, where he re-established, and continues to maintain, a private consulting practice. Working one-on-one with cats in their homes, he works with clients to improve their cats’ behavioral issues.
Galaxy also works closely with animal shelters and rescue organizations, teaching his "Cat Mojo" approach to feline behavior to volunteers, staff and adopters, and helping with both behavioral and environmental enrichment programs for their feline residents.
He currently serves on the board of directors for Stray Cat Alliance and Fix Nation in Los Angeles, as well as the Board of Advisors for Neighborhood Cats in New York City.
Galaxy has appeared as the official cat behaviorist for Game Show Network’s Think Like a Cat, and as the cat behavior expert on Animal Planet’s Cats 101. He has also been featured by such media outlets as 20/20, EXTRA, The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, the New York Post, and AOL.
Since May 2011, Jackson has starred in a reality TV series produced by Animal Planet titled My Cat From Hell, in which he helps couples resolve conflict and behavioral issues between them and their cats. Since December 2013, he has been host of the web series Cat Mojo on the Animalist Network, where he shares his thoughts on everything from cat-related issues like declawing and use of squirt guns to his craziest behind-the-scenes stories as a cat behaviorist.
Jackson Galaxy married Minoo Rahbar at the no-kill pet sanctuary of Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, on June 29, 2014. Fittingly, their dog, Mooshka, served as ringbearer.
After topping 400 pounds and suffering several health problems, Galaxy underwent a gastric-bypass surgery to overcome his food addiction. Although he never talked about his drastic weight loss, he reported that now is eating healthier, doing exercise and stopped smoking.
References:
Friedlander, Whitney (June 14, 2012). "Jackson Galaxy, the 'Cat Whisperer' of Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell". LA Weekly. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Cat Daddy Jackson Galaxy talks about his new book". Miami Herald. Retrieved June 5, 2014.
Jump up ^ "Cat Mojo With Jackson Galaxy". Animalist.com. Retrieved June 6, 2014.
Jump up ^ "'Cat from Hell' star Jackson Galaxy weds at pet sanctuary". Today.com. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
Jump up ^ "'Jackson Galaxy weight loss: Did gastric-bypass surgery save My Cat From Hell host?". Bellenews. Retrieved October 16, 2014.
“Let me explain before another word is written: I have never once asked a cat, "So tell me what's up, Charlie?" and Charlie says, "Jeez Jackson, thanks for asking. A little annoyed by the fluorescent lights, and will you please check out this tiny piece-of-junk pan I have to crap in but, hey, I still got my legs, you know? Can't complain, pal.”
“When all great movements are in their infancy, they are nourished basically on the mother's milk of righteous indignation. It is a time of red-faced screaming and finger pointing. That's a good thing - we need to be angry to move toward any systemic change. But ultimately the fingers have to stop pointing and the hand has got to get down to work - and the work is always messy.”
“If you've ever rubbed shoulders with insanity, he is a sweaty, foul-breathed cab driver who locks the door and takes you wherever he wants. The more you squirm to get out, the happier he seems to get. Insanity loves- no, needs-company.”