He can tame the feistiest of felines with just a stare, and now the internet’s self-proclaimed ‘Cat Whisperer’ is revealing what your pet is really thinking.
Donnie Pagsanjan, 41, never set out to become a feline guru but over the past year, the soft-spoken groomer has gone viral under the name @thecalmcatwhisperer, mesmerizing millions with his soothing energy, unshakable patience, and uncanny ability to tame even the feistiest of ‘spicy cats.’
‘I wasn’t that good with cats at the time,’ Donnie admitted to Daily Mail, recalling his early days in a bustling veterinary hospital back in 2005.
‘Having a lot of spicy cats in the beginning kind of overwhelmed me. But as I gained more experience, the confidence picked up, and I realized I’ve always had a calming effect on these animals, I just wasn’t aware of it.’
It wasn’t until friends, colleagues, and clients repeatedly dubbed him ‘The Cat Whisperer’ that Donnie decided to adopt the title officially.
‘That’s not really what my social handles used to be,’ he explained. ‘It used to be The Calm Cat Groomer. But people kept calling me The Cat Whisperer every time they saw me handle aggressive cats. I think I live up to the name.’
Donnie’s approach is far from conventional. There are no treats, no gadgets, and definitely no force. Instead, it begins with silence.
‘When I first meet an aggressive cat, I just stare at the cat – no words, no movements, no sounds,’ he says. ‘With full calm and peaceful intentions, I keep silent. By doing so, I can see and feel the cat’s aura and energy. Then I know what my first move should be.’
Donnie, known online as @thecalmcatwhisperer, gently soothes an anxious feline during one of his viral grooming sessions
Donnie specializes in calming aggressive cats – many of whom have been banned from other vets and groomers
He describes reading feline body language like a sixth sense.
‘A cat with dilated pupils, ears flattened backwards, and drooling is a giveaway that I should be very careful,’ he said.
‘Hissing and growling can mean a lot of things – but a silent cat that is full of fear can be the most violent ones.’
And his calmness? It wasn’t something he learned in a textbook. It was born out of suffering.
‘I developed severe anxiety and panic disorder before the pandemic, and I couldn’t afford a psychiatrist or medication,’ he shared.
‘One day, while having an extreme panic attack, I noticed something with my cats and other cats that helped me relax.
‘I felt I could suddenly see through a cat’s mind. I became obsessed with understanding their behavior – it was calming and healing, even from the most aggressive ones.
‘The energy they give me when I finally get them calm – it gives me so much relief and calmness in return.’
Donnie insists on grooming cats solo, in a scent-free, silent space because ‘cats get overwhelmed with a lot of people and scents around them’
The soft-spoken groomer begins every session with a silent stare – his unique method for reading a cat’s energy before making a move
Donnie, who is originally from Manila in the Philippines and now lives in Dubai, has now become a last resort for cats who’ve been kicked out of other groomers or clinics.
‘People message me saying their cats were banned from other places. They ask me to take care of them because they can’t be handled by other vets or groomers,’ he said.
His solo grooming sessions take place in a scent-controlled, silent environment, where no one is allowed to raise their voice or bring in chaotic energy.
‘I groom all cats solo. I believe cats get overwhelmed with a lot of people and hands and scents around them.’
Every cat is different, and Donnie always factors in age, health conditions, and owner history before deciding whether a cat can handle the stress of grooming.
‘Stress can be very bad for these cats and can be fatal,’ he warned. ‘As a veterinary assistant myself, I can tell what level of challenge and stress a cat can handle.’
He also weighs in on the ongoing debates in the grooming world.
‘There are always arguments: Cats don’t need baths, their nails shouldn’t be clipped, their fur shouldn’t be shaved. I agree and disagree depending on the scenario and the cat’s condition,’ he said.
Donnie’s first step with an aggressive cat? Total silence – no words, no movement, just peaceful energy and presence
Donnie said, ‘The energy they give me when I finally get them calm gives me so much relief and calmness in return’
Cats communicate in subtle but powerful ways – and Donnie believes too many people miss the signs that their pets are suffering.
‘The biggest mistake people make is assuming their cat is just being ‘mean’ when it’s actually stressed or terrified,’ he explained.
‘Start grooming early if you can, or at least get your cat used to being touched – paws, ears, brushing – while maintaining a calm, confident, and reassuring approach. Build a relationship based on trust and love.’
He now has 346,000 followers on Instagram and the response to his videos sharing tips about caring for your cats has been overwhelming.
‘People say my videos are so soothing, healing, and relaxing,’ he said. ‘One person even told me that I cured her depression by watching my videos. I don’t know how, but that’s what that person said.’
Donnie’s soothing videos have been called ‘healing’ by fans – one viewer even told him his clips helped cure her depression
The Cat Whisperer credits his bond with cats for helping him cope with severe anxiety and panic disorder during the pandemic
He is still and employee but hopes with a growing presence online it will take him to the next level. ‘I hope people get to support what I do – especially on my YouTube channel.
‘If people can subscribe and watch all of my videos, that would help me ease up my struggles and possibly be able to go to the next level that I’m aiming for – for the love of these wonderful creatures. Cats.’
For now, he’ll keep showing up to work every day with patience, presence, and a little bit of magic.
‘I think people can see and feel the genuine love and care I have for these animals,’ he said.
