CATIFY TO SATISFY: Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly Home by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin, Enter to Win!

"Design Your Way to Feline Bliss!!"

FROM THE PUBLISHER:Animal Planet host JACKSON GALAXY, and cat design wizard KATE BENJAMIN, of Hauspanther.com, , with their #1 New York Times bestseller Catification, showed cat lovers across the nation that it's possible to create cat-friendly but also chic homes! The DIY projects and design ideas from the book inspired a community-what Galaxy and Benjamin have dubbed the Catification Nation.

Ideas and inspiration

for creating

the ultimate

cat-centric pad!!

Now, melding the inspired ideas from that community together with Galaxy and Benjamin's expertise CATIFY TO SATISFY:Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly Home (Tarcher Perigee paperback; on sale Nov 17, 2015) offers 20+ new projects and more design tricks to help cat guardians address everyday cat care issues.  Whether you have a feline friend who likes to pee everywhere BUT his litter box, a cat who wants to cocoon in the most inconvenient places, or you just want to create an attractive as well as safe outdoor space for your kitty, CATIFY TO SATISFY walks you through the basics with gorgeous full-color photographs, how-tos from Benjamin and the Catification Nation, and insights from Galaxy on decoding your furry friends!

FROM JACKSON GALAXY AND KATE BENJAMIN: One thing that makes us giddy is seeing projects that were directly inspired by ideas in the first book, which you'll find throughout the chapters. 

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY: My initial impression of Catify to Satisfy is that I am LOVING that there is a heavy focus on cat behavior, the "whys" behind what cats do.  "Jackson takes you deeper into the world of thinking, feeling and living like a cat, more than ever before." These tips are in the "Jackson Talks About" sections found in each chapter.

Also in each chapter you will find "Kate's Pro Tips"  that will help you as you start planning your projects, "as well as tips and tricks from cat guardians whose Catification trials, errors and ultimate successes can help get you to the feline promised land with less frustration."

Excerpted from CATIFY TO SATISFY: Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly

Home by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin, with the permission of Tarcher

Perigee/Penguin, a division of Penguin Random House. Copyright Jackson Galaxy

and Kate Benjamin © 2015. Photo credit (Jeff Newton)

For Peter Cohen in the photo above, "animals are family."  In 1995, when he first started catifying his home in Goleta, California, he never imagined that twenty years later he'd still be adding catwalks and passageways-and more cats."

FROM CHAPTER 4:CAT SUPERHIGHWAYS:

NAVIGATING THE VERTICAL WORLD

Excerpted from CATIFY TO SATISFY: Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly

Home by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin, with the permission of Tarcher

Perigee/Penguin, a division of Penguin Random House. Copyright Jackson Galaxy

and Kate Benjamin © 2015. Photo credit (Maggie Swanson)

FROM CHAPTER TWO:SCRATCHING SOLUTIONS

Excerpted from CATIFY TO SATISFY: Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly

Home by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin, with the permission of Tarcher

Perigee/Penguin, a division of Penguin Random House. Copyright Jackson Galaxy

and Kate Benjamin © 2015. Photo credit (Lisanne Bouwman)

This Chapter focuses on topics such as:

• The mark of ownership
• Why Does My Cat Scratch on the Sofa?
• Scratching and YOUR Cat
• Materials for Cat Scratchers
• The Angle YOUR Cat prefers to scratch
• Step-by-step instructions on how to make your own Scratchers

There is even a chapter titled "Let's talk about litter boxes" and in this chapter you will find info such as where to put the litterbox, how many boxes you should have, types of litter boxes and I was thrilled to read that like me, Jackson DOES NOT LIKE AUTOMATIC SELF-CLEANING LITTER BOXES. Why? because "monitoring your cat's waste is a crucial part of parenting." You will not be alerted to a possible health problem with an automatic self-cleaning box. I agree with Jackson when he says "on a more personal, pet peeve level-I don't like them because they are just a symbol of lazy guardianship. Spend a few minutes a day and SCOOP THE BOX."

Kate's Pro Tip in this chapter :Easy Litter Catcher----she suggests using perforated decking tiles that can be bought from flooring supply stores or online, and they come in a wide variety of colors. All you have to do is vacuum up the litter that falls under the tiles, and if necessary wash in the sink or with a hose. Brilliant!!

Catify to Satisfy is Superb!!!

I didn't think it would be possible but Catify To Satisfy has surpassed by leaps and cat superhighways the first book, Catification. Catify to Satisfy has information that is beneficial to every type of cat owner from the owner who just acquired his/her first cat, to the life-long cat owner who has had multiple cats for years. It is 240-something pages long and is printed on high quality paper. It is just gorgeous!

The photos are incredible, there is so much information that I must sit down and read it again and again. It is the kind of resource that won't be left on a shelf collecting dust, this should be kept out so that you can make periodic checks of your environment and make adjustments when necessary/needed or just to be creative!

IMPORTANT!  Cody and I want to make sure everyone knows that they need BOTH books!

The second book doesn't replace the first. All of the important concepts are introduced in the first book, and then are expanded and built upon in the second!! Think of it as your own "Catification" resource center!! Right at the tip of your paws!!

FROM JACKSON AND KATE: We've been honored to help guide you deeper into your home to uncover the treasures that were waiting for both you and your cats. Keep checking back at www.catificationnation.com for what comes next. As for the larger world of cats, and making that world better for all of them, go to www.jacksongalaxyfoundation.org. Compassion begins at home; it should never end there. 

Until we catify again, here's to you and your cats!

Jackson and Kate

THE HOLIDAYS ARE COMING!!!!

Catify to Satisfy would make the purrfect gift for your cat loving friends and family who are looking to design their way to feline bliss!! "Catify to Satisfy shows how a little creativity can go a long way in keeping your home stylish and your cats happy and healthy!!"

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Jackson Galaxy is a cat behaviorist and the host of Animal Planet's hit show My Cat from Hell. He is also the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller, Catification, and another of Jackson's books that we had the honor of reviewing: Cat Daddy:What the World's Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean.

Recently, Jackson established The Jackson Galaxy Foundation. The Foundation focuses on programs that drive innovation in care and housing of sheltered animals, promotes improved shelter design and construction, and provides "Elevation through Education"-increased knowledge that inspires and empowers animal advocates to effect real change and raise the status of rescued animals.

Kate Benjamin is the founder of the popular cat design website Hauspanther.com and the co-author of Catification. She makes frequent guest appearances on My Cat from Hell, helping Jackson Galaxy create stylish cat-friendly environments.

GIVE-AWAY!!! The publisher has generously agreed to a give-away!! If you are 18 and over and reside in the U.S., you can enter to win a copy of Catify to Satisfy:Simple Solutions for Creating a Cat-Friendly Home by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin. (A $21,95 value!!) THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS! Entering is easy, simply enter on the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not compensated for this review/give-away. I was sent a copy of Catify to Satisfy in exchange for my always honest review. I have also admired many of my blogging friends who weren't tongue-tied like me, when presented with a chance to interview Jackson Galaxy. I was afforded that chance a few years ago, along with a number of other bloggers. I am the ONLY one who didn't grab the opportunity because to me, Jackson has "rock star status", and for once, I was actually too shy! I HAVE had the pleasure numerous times of being in the company of the fabulous Kate Benjamin whom I also hold in high esteem. I consider Kate to be a friend, and her support of me numerous times in my blogging career has touched me more than she will ever know.

Get "CATIFIED!" Enter to win Catification, Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!!) by Jackson Galaxy and Kate Benjamin

On the heels of yesterday's blog post,  where I discussed the importance of keeping cats INDOORS, it is appropriate that I present to you THE ONLY book you will EVER need to help you create an indoor utopia that will not only provide hours of entertainment for your cat(s), but it will enable you to design that utopia based on YOUR cat's needs (after all, they ARE ALL DIFFERENT!). You will learn how to do this  by using design choices and ideas that are unique and personal to YOUR home decor!

While discussing the merits of keeping cats inside, one of my insightful readers left this comment that I couldn't agree with more:

From Fuzzytales:when the cat is indoor-only and doesn't have access to a catio or something similar, I think it's hugely important to make the living environment as enriching as possible. It's not just about having a cat live into its teens or even to 20, it's about *quality* of life as well.

So True!

Want to make YOUR cat's environment "as enriching as possible?"


Are You Ready To ROCK?

I proudly present:

What is "Catification?"

From JacksonGalaxy.com:

Catification is about creating feline-friendly environments that cater to a cat’s natural instincts to climb, perch, rest, play, and own their space. We’re here to tell you that you can accommodate your indoor cat’s need to climb, perch, play and relax — in a way that makes you both happy.

            According to JACKSON GALAXY, the star and executive producer of Animal Planet’s My Cat from Hell and author of Cat Daddy, you don’t have to choose.  In CATIFICATION: Designing a Happy and Stylish Home for Your Cat (and You!) (Tarcher/Penguin paperback;  on sale 10/14/14), Galaxy joins one of my favorite "Cat Women",  Kate Benjamin, of the popular cat website Hauspanther.com to help cat owners everywhere design a happy feline home that is both functional and chic. 

Kate Benjamin the reigning "Queen of Cats"
at her "Cat Style Lounge" at BlogPaws 2014
Read Kate's "Pro Tips" in Catification!!

 Drawing on their extensive human/feline relationship expertise, Galaxy and Benjamin here offer an indispensible guide packed with more than fifteen fun DIY projects and countless design tips and tricks. 

More than just a design book, CATIFICATION also teaches readers:

•           The instinctual hard-wiring  behind your cat’s indoor needs

•           What your kitty’s behavior is trying to tell you-Catification provides the meanings of ear and tail and whisker positions, as well as body language.

•           How to determine your cat’s specific personality and desires-Catification comes with a worksheet with questions to help determine the needs for EVERY cat in your household!

•           Small changes you can make to improve your relationship with your pet

This beautifully designed, full-color book includes practical and attractive projects—from kitty hammocks and “catios” (cat patios) to cat towers and superhighways—that will make both human and kitty happy. Catification is FAR from just being a "picture book." I was completely blown away by not only the AMOUNT of information in this book, but there is everything from finding the perfect cat bed, to creating the purrfect space for your cats while keeping an eye on your BUDGET!

 By designing an optimal living space for our feline friends, owners can minimize cats’ negative behavior and promote a healthy lifestyle for their pets, all while maintaining a beautiful home.

Catification is 304 INFORMATION PACKED PAGES that should be a part of EVERY cat owner's reference library. It would make a great "new kitten" gift, a gift for a shelter, or for any cat lover in your life!

ISBN 978-0-399-16601-3

 Enter to Win!!!

A special thank you to Jackson, Kate and Tarcher/Penguin for allowing me to have a give-away for my readers!!!! The give-away includes a "proof" copy of Catification, AND an adorable LUNCH BAG that looks like, who else? CODY!!!!!

THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS!!!! OPEN WORLD-WIDE!! YEP! WORLD-WIDE!

 I will mail the International winner their copy of Catification and the lunch bag and Tarcher/Penguin will mail the same prizes to my winner in the U.S.!!!!!!

Entering is "Easy-Peasy!" there is only ONE requirement on the rafflecopter at the END of this post!

Pre-order to Support Cats!

For every copy of Catification pre-ordered, the publisher Tarcher/Penguin will donate $1 to organizations supporting cat welfare. We will be sure to update you once the organizations have been chosen. In order for your pre-order to count toward the donation, please email a copy of your receipt to catificationbook@gmail.com.More details at www.tarcherbooks.com/catification. Pre-order your copy now on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, from any major bookseller, or visit Indiebound to find a local bookstore in your area.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I was not compensated for this review. I was sent  two "proof copies" of Catification and 2 lunch bags in exchange for my honest review.

Jackson Galaxy, star of Animal Planet’s ‘My Cat From Hell’ supports Best Friends Animal Society ‘Save Them All’ campaign

Cat behaviorist by day and rock n’ roller by night, author, and star of “My Cat From Hell” on Animal Planet, Jackson Galaxy is the latest celebrity to show his support for  national animal welfare organization Best Friends Animal Society’s efforts to end the killing of dogs and cats in our nation’s shelters.

Galaxy joins Danny Trejo, Carrie Ann Inaba,  Denise Richards, Nils Lofgren, and other celebrities who are featured in Best Friends’ photo campaign featuring celebrities posed with their personal rescued dogs and/or cats in support of the Save Them All®  call to action.

The new season of “My Cat from Hell” premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday, April 26 on Animal Planet.

  In addition to starring in ‘My Cat From Hell’, Galaxy is the show’s executive producer, author of “Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life, Love, and Coming Clean” and the upcoming book, “Catification.” Galaxy also has deep roots in animal welfare. He worked in an animal shelter for almost 10 years and specializes in environmental and behavioral enrichment in a rescue setting. He recently launched a ‘Team Cat Mojo’ campaign to attract those who want to build a community focused on making life better for all animals.

Galaxy said: “With more than 9,000 dogs and cats killed in our nation's shelters each day, we find ourselves at a crossroads, a place where our choices can change things in a profound way. I’m extremely proud to stand side-by-side with Best Friends to help raise awareness about the importance of adopting shelter animals and spaying and neutering to control population. Each time this positive choice is made, not only is a life is saved, but we move one step closer to Saving Them All."

According to national statistics, each day more than 9,000 dogs and cats die in the nation’s shelters. Best Friends has brought increased awareness to how people can get involved in the solution by adopting, and spaying/neutering their pets, donating, volunteering and sharing this message with their friends.

About Best Friends Animal Society^®

Best Friends Animal Society is the only national animal welfare organization focused exclusively on ending the killing of dogs and cats in America's shelters.  An authority and leader in the no-kill movement since its founding in 1984, Best Friends runs the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for companion animals, as well as life-saving programs in partnership with rescue groups and shelters across the country. Since its founding, Best Friends has helped reduce the number of animals killed in shelters from 17 million per year to about 4 million. Best Friends has the knowledge, technical expertise and on-the-ground network to end the killing and Save Them All^®.

To like Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook go to: http://www.facebook.com/bestfriendsanimalsociety

Follow Best Friends on Twitter: http://twitter.com/bestfriends 

DECLAWING CATS: just DON'T do it!Join Jackson Galaxy LIVE in his SECOND CAT MOJO Lecture Series on Google+ Hangout !

If ever there was a reason to join Google+  this is it!

When Cody and I were contacted yesterday asking us if we would help spread this info we were more than happy to do it!

We are long-time fans of Jackson Galaxy, who is a  "cat behaviorist by day, and rock 'n roller by night" as well as the host of the hit TV Show on The Animal Planet, "My Cat From Hell."

Jackson knew long ago that he had a deep understanding of animal behavior and a gift for enlightening people on how to identify with their pet’s actions. With his repertoire of holistic remedies and techniques like the “Cat I Love You,” Jackson can connect with even the most out of control feline and help strengthen the bond between pet and owner.. His first book, which we had the honor of reviewing, Cat Daddy: What the World’s Most Incorrigible Cat Taught Me About Life,Love, and Coming Clean  tells the story of how his work with animals helped him overcome drug addiction and personal hardships, and his second book Catification is due to publish in early 2015.

About Cat Mojo: Cat Mojo is an outlet for feline expert, Jackson Galaxy, to share his thoughts on all things cat related- from declawing, the essence of 'cat mojo', to squirt gun diplomacy, and of course Jackson's craziest behind the scene stories as a cat behaviorist. Join the feline frenzy at http://animalist.com/catmojo#about-show and share Jackson’s love of cats and expertise. #TeamCatMojo

STOPPING THE DECLAWING OF CATS is a cause that is super important to us. Declawing leaves cats defenseless, it can cause a bevy of behavior problems, as well as physical problems and is CRUEL.  We are grateful that Jackson will be addressing this issue and will education people about what they CAN DO INSTEAD. 

Introducing My New Kitten To My Cat- A Guest Blog By Lisa Illman of Kritter Kondo

Finn

Several months ago, I decided to adopt a kitten for the very first time.  Having only had adult cats in the past, I did quite a bit of research on introducing kittens to cats in advance as my current cat Abigail is nine years old and had recently lost her adult brother to stomach cancer.   I knew no matter how old the new cat, a transitional, step-by-step introduction with my current feline would be the way to go.  Thankfully I am very plugged into the Pet Blogosphere and have quite a few experienced cat focused contacts to call upon.  With the help of the social petworking community, I began the journey of adopting and introducing another feline into my home.  Below are the steps I took, in a not so rigid fashion, to provide the most harmonious transition for me, my cat Abigail and my new kitten Finnegan. 

Research and Set-Up

Researching the experience and advise from others in the petworking community was so extremely helpful to prepare me for what was to come.   By reading the articles others had written, I was able to plan in advance for the arrival of my new kitten and set the stage for the new feline landscape.  Articles that I found especially helpful include:

 Are Two Cats Better Than One?  – Ingrid King

Introducing a New Cat into your Home – Vicki Stringfellow Cook

Both articles were helpful in that Ingrid expresses her own personal journey and her instincts that guided her through each introduction, while Vicki uses a step-by-step procedure that is helpful in planning and preparing. 

Creating a separate cat playpen area for my kitten (as Vicki encourages) was key in the first few weeks of the feline introduction.  This separate play area for kitten continues to be a wonderful way to give my adult cat a break from the energy of a spunky little kitten.  Using my intuition and following my gut, as pointed out in Ingrid’s article, has been the perfect way to know how much alone time the new feline friends should have, when to separate them, and when to allow them to ‘work’ things out amongst themselves.   By creating a separate space for the new kitten to enjoy and supervising the initial interactions with the cats, I have been able to leave them alone together with no negative consequences.

Abigail and Finn

Another resource I found very helpful in my research and set-up stage was through the new television show “My Cat From Hell”.   Jackson Galaxy stars as the professional Cat Behaviorlist who assists people and their problem cats.  Frequently he is met with the introduction of two cats that is not going well.  In a few episodes, I had seen Jackson teach play therapy to kitty cats that were not the best of friends.  This notion leads me to one of the best tactics I use to create a peaceful co-existence since I brought my kitten home. 

Scheduled Play Sessions

A wonderful way to create a friendly and harmonious existence between pets that I have found is through scheduled play sessions.  Please note that this step comes after a slow transitional introduction between the felines.  This step is not only good during the early stages of co existing together, it is a wonderful way to maintain and strengthen the bond between pets, as well as the bond you have with them too.

Scheduled and timed play sessions are so beneficial while helping felines become friendly; it is a weekly, even daily routine in my home.   An article I recently wrote about play sessions outlines the benefits for both you and your kitties.  Scheduling keeps cats on a routine so that they can begin to look forward to the sessions and time spent together. Timing the sessions keeps you on track with the amount of time you spend with the kitties during these sessions.  Playing during the session provides the good karma the cats will start to associate with each other and provide as the normal environment overtime.  Playing will also help your kitten exhaust some of his energy while re introducing your mature cat to new, fun toys. 

Staying Connected in a Petworking Community

Probably the last and most important part of my transitional kitty cat journey has been the support of a strong, solid petworking community.  This is the same community that helped me when my cats have been sick, when I am looking for advise on new toys or pet health related topics.  This petworking community helped me dry my tears when Madison crossed over the rainbow bridge.  It is the Pet Bloggers, the Facebook Furry Friends, the Twitter Pet Gang and the pet purrs and wags forums on the Internet.  The best wisdom I can offer about any pet related topic always comes back to the community that will help you raise them.  As I have leaned on so many over the years, I can now share some of my experiences, challenges and tips with the Blogosphere.   Continuing to stay connected offers me a wonderful pool of support, advise, and help, tips, and much, much more.  It takes a village.

Lisa & Abigail

Lisa Illman is the Founder of Kritter Kommunity and runs the Blog, Kritters that Twitter.  Her fur babies, Abigail and Madison, inspired her to design an outdoor pet product line called the Kritter Kondo.  When Madison, her 15-year-old Tuxedo passed away from stomach cancer, Lisa adopted a kitten named Finnegan.  You can follow them on Twitter (@KritterKondo, @LisaIllman).

Sneak Preview! "Cat Daddy", By Jackson Galaxy, Star of Animal Planet's " My Cat from Hell"

I love contradictions. I love when  people say "well you don't LOOK" like you would be _____ fill in the blank. I love people who don't fit into someone's preconceived notion of what they SHOULD be based simply on their physical appearance.

Jackson Galaxy, the star of Animal Planet's My Cat from Hell is one of these people.

If one were to look at him and then be asked what it is he does for a living, their first response would probably be a musician, followed by biker dude, possibly even an owner of a tattoo parlor (do they even still call them those?)  the LAST thing on their list would be cat-behaviorist-communicator-extraordinaire.

To learn why Cody
is saying this,
read the book!

When I was given the opportunity of reading an uncorrected manuscript of  Cat Daddy, before the official publication date of May 10th, 2012,   I was quite aware of exactly WHO Jackson Galaxy is.  At least I THOUGHT so.

"Oh yeah, Jackson Galaxy! That biker-looking dude that carries his cat supplies in his guitar case, who has enough body art to cover the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, and can reform a terror inducing feline on the Animal Planet's My Cat From Hell, practically with just one look? Hell yeah! I know him!"

I couldn't have been more wrong.

At first glance Jackson Galaxy IS all of the previously mentioned," preconceived- notions based- on- looks- things,"  he doesn't LOOK like a CAT GUY,  Which is exactly part of Jackson's "plan".  He wants to trash the concept of what a cat guy (or gal) looks like. He wants a country FULL of cat guys and cat girls, he wants everyone in between to be educated about cats in order to keep millions of cats from dying without homes. He IS a Cat Guy and so much more.

Just WHO IS Jackson Galaxy?

Jackson is sensitive yet strong, he has experienced hard-core addiction in almost every imaginable form, he grew up with dogs, yet works magic with cats, he was at one time dirt-poor and now is living quite comfortably, he was morbidly obese teetering on the verge of killing himself and now he is just a husky guy, he can solve the most difficult cat behavior issues but there was a time he could barely manage his own, (Contradictions, contradictions,  remember?), that is, until he met Benny:

From the publisher: Benny, a supposedly "unbondable" cat bearing physical and emotional wounds as raw as Galaxy's own.

Benny tests Galaxy's skills at every turn, challenging and teaching him invaluable lessons not only about how to be better attuned to cat behavior but how to live in the moment (without drugs or crutches), eschew complacency, and accept that you don't always have control.

Jackson's book is insanely descriptive and well-written but he doesn't LOOK like he would be an author.   REMEMBER CONTRADICTIONS.

Cat Daddy  touched me on  many  levels. Jackson's uncanny ability/gift of  being able to RESIDE in the mind of a cat,  (there are numerous bits of cat care advice peppered throughout the pages).  It also gave me a knowledge and understanding of Jackson Galaxy THE PERSON, without the trappings of  the image portrayed on TV. Through some of Jackson's trials and tribulations in facing his outer and inner demons , it made me stop and think of some that I face of my own.

Jackson Galaxy's name is one example of a complete lack of contradiction. His reach, or his magic, if you will, has touched the lives of cats who are living, and those whose souls are peacefully at rest among the stars, planets, gas and dust of the universe.  Jackson Galaxy  will touch cats and their owners whom he has yet to meet, and now with the baring of his soul through the pages of this powerful book, he will be able to help many of us escape our own hell and inner demons, whatever those might be.

For every copy of CAT DADDY pre-ordered before May 10, Tarcher/Penguin will donate $1.00  to the cause of saving shelter cats.  

Charities that benefit:

Best Friends Animal Society

Stray Cat Alliance

Neighborhood Cats

LEARN MORE: www.tarcherbooks.com/CATDADDY

I received no compensation for this review. I received an uncorrected manuscript for review purposes.