Calm cat whisperer: Meet the Pinoy behind the viral cat grooming videos in Dubai

Long before Donnie Pagsanjan became comfortable grooming cats, there was a time when even the thought of approaching animals was enough to make him nervous. 

He remembered exactly how he felt: “I was terrified and scared of getting scratched and bitten.”

Behind the calm hands that tend to frightened and anxious cats is a man whose life extends far beyond the grooming table. Known online as the Calm Cat Whisperer, he is also a husband and a father of two daughters.

Pagsanjan grew up in Quezon City with a family that values humility and respect. While he didn’t have much growing up, he was nevertheless proud of his parents who taught him and his siblings how to be independent.

“I also grew up around animals, both dogs and cats. And up to this day, we still have dogs and cats in the household and treat them as family members rather than just a pet,” he said.

Pagsanjan started working as a veterinary assistant in the Philippines in 2005 before moving to Dubai. He shared that he was redirected while looking for a proper job, coming from working part-time as a service crew at a fast food restaurant. 

He immediately said yes when he was invited by a friend to work in a veterinary hospital. 

“My move to Dubai in 2009 was out of curiosity of how it feels to work outside the country. I applied online and luckily, I got the job and was directly hired,” he said.

When asked what was the biggest adjustment working in a different country, Pagsanjan said it was getting used to the weather and learning how to communicate with different nationalities. 

He has a patient and gentle approach when dealing with cats, believing that earning their trust requires staying calm and giving them enough time to adjust. 

For him, every cat presents a different challenge, making each encounter an opportunity to learn how to handle them better.

“When a cat is hissing, trying to scratch and bite, the cat is already in a flight or fight mode. I usually just stay calm and try to understand what makes them go into that state,” he explained.

“I developed that approach when I experienced anxiety and panic disorder. I saw myself with the anxious cats that I met, and I approached them in a manner that would make them feel heard rather than judged. And somehow, it worked.”

For Pagsanjan, the biggest mistake of cat owners is when they try to match their pet’s anxious or aggressive energy by shouting or giving punishment. He said the best approach is to not overstimulate them by approaching the feline slowly, offering some treats, or talking with a gentle voice. 

When asked how important patience is in relation to grooming animals, he answered: “Technical grooming skills are nothing if you don’t have patience. No matter how good you are as a groomer, if you don’t have the patience, you will never be able to handle a cat for grooming.”

Pagsanjan decided to share his work online to inspire other people to have the same calmness and patience toward the animals. For him, all cats are unique, and he has since learned deeper ways to connect with them. 

His videos eventually reached audiences outside Dubai, earning him the recognition online as the Calm Cat Whisperer.

“To be honest, I was not surprised. When I started to make this content, I knew who my target audience was. That’s why I tried to speak in English. Although I’m not that good at it, I still did it to get a wider reach,” he said. 

For Filipinos who hope to pursue a career in animal care or grooming, Pagsanjan emphasized that passion should come before anything else. He believes the work demands not just technical skill, but also respect and empathy toward the animals.

“Please do it because you love animals and are passionate about their well-being,” he added. 

According to Pagsanjan, cats can teach people lessons that extend beyond grooming. Their independent nature, he said, reminds people about the importance of personal space and consent. 

He also views them as spiritual and emotional companions. “Cats cannot speak. We, their humans, have to be their voice. Give your cat a chance to be understood, think of ways to build trust with your cat and always try to be positive and calm around them,” he said.