Do you like cats? Yeah, those furry four-legged feline creatures that mewed and had the proverbial nine lives? There’s one who not only loves them, but apparently built his world around them, Jackson Galaxy. Popularly known as America’s Official Cat Daddy and host of the Animal Planet series My Cat From Hell, he can best be described as a cat’s best friend.
He is a behaviorist and television personality with his show focusing on the relationship between behavioral and physical health in cats. Jackson is also involved in animal rescue and works with several animal rescue and shelter organizations to help him achieve his goal of helping save the 4 million animals that die in shelters each year.
Meet Jackson Galaxy, cat rights advocate and advisor.
Jackson Galaxy bio.
Richard Kirschner, the cat dad was born on April 28, 1966 in Manhattan, New York. When he was twenty, his name was changed to Jackson Galaxy. For his studies, he has a master’s degree in fine arts.
Career
Jackson moved to Boulder, Colorado in 1992 as a rock artist and worked in animal shelters with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. While working, he was fascinated by animals and learned all he could about cat behavior through his interaction with rescued cats.
In 2002, he partnered with Dr. Jean Hofve, a veterinarian, and entered private practice. The two co-founders of the Little Big Cat, Inc. cat counseling center, which provided counseling for cat owners.
Five years later, in 2007, Jackson Galaxy moved to Los Angeles and continued to practice private counseling. He has worked one-on-one with cats in their homes and with clients to improve their cats’ behavior.
Additionally, he continues to work with animal shelters and rescue organizations where he teaches Cat Mojo (learning to walk in the world, like a cat, with a full understanding of what motivates them) to volunteers, staff and adopters. He also helped them with behavioral and environmental enrichment programs.
His popularity increased in 2011, however, when he began hosting the reality show, My Cat From Hell on Animal Planet. In 2013, he became the host of the web series on Animalist Network, Cat mojo where he lets in on cat-related issues.
Additionally, he has also appeared in a series of TV shows that advocate for the interests of cats. He was the Official Cat Behaviorist on Think Like a Cat, Animal Planet’s Cats 101, and has been featured on outlets including 20/20, EXTRA, The New York Times, USA Today, The Washington Post, New York Post, and AOL.
Jackson Galaxy also has a YouTube channel where he teaches how to better care for and manage cats. It has a range of holistic animal remedies, Spirit Essences, designed to help cats and their owners, based on over twenty years of experience.
In addition to being involved in cat rescue missions and seminars, Jackson has also written several bestselling cat books. They include a 2012 memoir, Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love and Cleanliness. He has co-authored two books with cat style expert Kate Benjamin: Catification: Designing a Happy, Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) and Catify to Satisfy: Simple Solutions to Creating a Cat-Friendly Home. Total Cat Mojo: Everything You Need to Know to Care for Your Favorite Feline Friend became her fourth book.
Jackson sits on the boards of Stray Cat Alliance and Fix Nation in Los Angeles, as well as the board of Neighbor Cats in New York and Rescue Me Magazine.
Is Jackson Galaxy gay? Married, Wife, Girlfriend
The cat dad married pet enthusiast and rescuer, Minoo Rabar in 2014. The pair met while fundraising for a kitten rescue. Minoo started and then gathered for coffee. Their relationship has been a very roller coaster ride and a lot of fun for a couple who clearly have a common interest and do what they love most – bringing rescued pets to life.
The pair bonded at a rather strange place, a death-free pet shelter in Kanab, Utah called Best Friends Animal. Company on June 29, 2014. But all for the love of animals, it’s only normal for the couple. Their dog, Mooshka, was the ring bearer at the private ceremony, which was attended only by family members and close friends.
Jackson uploads photos of his wife to Instagram and shares with his followers what activities they do. It’s been said to be gay but being in a loving, sweet relationship with a lucky lady puts all the gay rumors to rest, huh?
As a dog and cat owner, he’s often seen as strictly bi-animal-sual. Reasons such as her love for cats which often attract strange looks due to the stereotypical belief that men should own dogs may have given credence to the rumor. Nevertheless, it is clear that he is not gay as there is no credible source for the rumor or what could have started it.
Los Jackson’s weight
The cat enthusiast had this lifestyle of spending every other night as a rock musician, he embarks on a self-destructive process of drugs and alcohol. It was then that he applied and started working at the Humane Society of Boulder Valley. This job saved his life in more ways than one.
In his memoir, he detailed how his interactions with cats, in particular an injured cat named Benny, helped him overcome drug addiction and physical difficulties. He also stated that he doesn’t really care about letting humans down as much as he does with these cats. He felt this responsibility to them that he quit smoking, saying he did it for the animals. Such love.
However, aside from his addiction to drugs and alcohol, he was also addicted to food. He became overweight with over 400 pounds that he nearly died. This became his turning point and he had to undergo gastric bypass surgery to remove excess fat from his body. Although he doesn’t like to talk about the process, Jackson now leads a healthier life thanks to regular workouts.