Jackson Galaxy - Total Cat Mojo: The Ultimate Guide to Life with Your Cat

I CLEARLY REMEMBER APPROACHING Mikel Delgado, a very busy person in her own right (working both as a private consultant and on completing her PhD), to help on my new book by saying that it was simply about curating and editingjust gather together all of what Ive said, filmed, recorded, written, etc., about cats and their world through the years and put it in one placereally, how hard could that be? I spend my free time these days on a new hobby, finding new and novel ways to beg her forgiveness. Total Cat Mojo became a true labor of love and an all-consuming affair that spanned nearly eighteen monthsand that affair was happening at the same time I was working on two different TV shows, getting the Jackson Galaxy Foundation through its nail-biting first year, and surviving a year of profound personal tragedies.

Clearly, wrangling the Catzilla could never have been done alone. Id like to acknowledge the following people, some of whom worked on the book, some who actively supported it, and some who just gave me the space to go stark-raving cat for a spell. As individuals, they remind me that devotion to animals is something worth working for, above and beyond what might be expected. And the sum of the parts became the glue in the binding and the ink on the page. Thank you will never be enoughbut, hey, its a start:

F IRST AND FOREMOST , to Team Cat MojoMikel Delgado, Bobby Rock, and Jessica Marttila: One of the many lessons learned during this epic journey is that a vision takes you only to the foot of the mountain; belief, sheer will, and surrender to said mountain takes you the rest of the way. Together, we pushed our base camp slowly upward on the daily. Whether pulling all-nighters like college freshmen (while being rudely reminded physically and mentally that we are definitely not college freshmen anymore), poring over every word, every image, crafting an arc and refusing to let it crumble under the weight of time, the doubts of others, and my lofty ambitions (and sometimes logic)no task was spared.

Your unflinching willingness to go the distance trumped the quit that was ever the monster under my bed. Its safe to say that you are the reason this ever saw the light of day. Your talents are formidable, your dedication to this vision humbling, and your passion for the animals we serve will stand the test of time.

To Joy Tutela, from the beginning, you saw me not as crazy cat guy/musician/TV personality, but as a writer who you believed in, first and foremost. Four books later, Im glad you (and David Black) still believeespecially after this doozy. For every moment you had to put out fires, prop up my depleted spirit, and offer reassurances that these are words that will help cats and their humans, I will keep my solemn promise: the next time I say, Ive got a book for you, you can first take a Louisville Slugger to my kneecaps. And then well do it again... right?

To the team at TarcherPerigee and Penguin Random HouseJoanna Ng, Brianna Yamashita, Sabrina Bowers, and Katy Riegel: from introduction to conclusion, the amazing design work and the way in which the world learns about Cat MojoIm always honored to put my words in your hands. To Sara CarderI know this was a nail-biter and a true test for us both. Thank you for standing by me, as youve always done.

To our wonderful team of artists spread around the globeOsnat Feitelson, Emi Lenox, Franzi Paetzold, Sayako Itoh, Omaka Schultz, Brandon Page, Kyle Puttkammer, and Scott Bradley. Thank you for taking the plunge and putting your individual gifts on display to create a coherent, collective portrait of our cat Mojo and his Mojo-fied world.

To Lori Fusaro, your photos have always captured our lives at their most vulnerable and our relationships with our animals at their most precious. No matter how many times I see it, your photo of Velouria and me will remain a testament to a lasting love long after we both are gone. I havent the words to thank you enough.

To Minoo, for what you always have been, the love of this and many lives, the guardian of my heart and sanity, believer and partner in a shared mission and for standing by me even when Im not there. Also... the bat Im giving Joy? The next time I say I want to write a book, you get a few swings, too.

To my brother Marc, for coming onboard in a time of unimaginable loss to steer the Good Ship Mojojust in time to survive some thirty-odd rogue waves. My gratitude for lashing yourself to the deck while continuing to chart a course, and my love for believing in me and protecting me from the storm.

To my animal familyMooshka, Audrey, Pasha, Velouria, Caroline, Pishi, Lily, Gabby, Sammy, Eddie, Ernie, Oliver, Sophie (not in any order, kids!), for a daily reminder of why we do it and for the daily dose of pure love that fills my tank.

To my father and my entire extended human family, thank you for loving me in my seemingly never-ending absence. The light you never fail to send is the soft landing I always feel.