New Whiskas program aims to ‘convert’ Aussie cat haters into cat lovers

A large group of Aussies aren’t fans of furry felines – though one behavioural psychologist says there’s an unexpected reason why.

New research shows a significant proportion of Australians admit to hating cats, despite having never owned or lived with one, as a new fostering program aims to bridge the large divide.

A survey commissioned by cat food brand Whiskas revealed 15 per cent of Australians said they disliked cats.

Truck driver Peter “Hoges” Hogarth was a part of this cohort for most of his life.

“I’ve always been a dog bloke through and through – nothing beats a dog. They’re loyal, they’ll fetch a stick, and they’re always up for a run.

“Cats though, they just sit there looking’ at you like you owe ‘em something. No tail wagging, no fetching, nothing,” he said.

Mr Hogarth admitted he didn’t think he’d feel the same affection for cats as he did dogs. Picture: Supplied

A six-month-old silver tabby named Bob initially joined Mr Hogarth’s family in February 2025. much to the 49-year-old’s reluctance.

The cat was fostered through Whiskas’ cat “conversion” system. It is a program designed to “convert” cat haters to cat lovers by giving them the chance to own a cat for two weeks.

“I wasn’t too keen at first,” Mr Hogarth admitted. “I didn’t think I’d get much joy out of it.”

Mr Hogarth’s initial aversion to felines came from a misunderstanding of their nature.

“Honestly, it was how much of a little troublemaker Bob can be, and I didn’t expect it to be

so doglike. I thought cats were just lazy creatures who sat around all day, but Bob’s got

this playful side I didn’t see comin’.

“I thought cats were all about their space, doing their own thing, but Bob, he’ll jump up on the couch, crawl up beside me, and give me that look like, ’Hey, it’s cuddle time, mate.’ I didn’t expect a cat to act like that, especially not from a creature that’s supposed to be all “I’ll come to you when I’m good and ready.”

Behavioural scientist Juliette Tobias-Webb said the nature of cats align with most Australians' desire for what they want in a pet. Picture: Supplied

Data shows NSW has the highest proportion of “cat haters”, with one in five disliking the furry creatures, while South Australia and Western Australian clocked in at 16 per cent, followed by Queensland and Victoria at 14 per cent.

All states saw more than 30 per cent of respondents reporting no close exposure to cats, except for South Australia at 29 per cent.

Behavioural psychologist Juliette Tobias-Webb said the phenomenon is linked to stereotypes about cats conveyed through cultural stereotypes, media portrayals and second hand stories of friends and family.

Dr Tobias-Webb said these perceptions are often accompanied by a lack of experience with cats.

Bob is a welcome surprise to the perception Mr Hogarth had of cats being “lazy.” Picture: Supplied

“The research shows 64 per cent of Australians say they’d prefer a pet that’s independent and doesn’t require constant attention – traits that cats naturally embody. So for those who think they don’t like cats, they might actually be the perfect pet for them,” she said.

Whiskas has partnered with rescue charities 9 Lives Project Rescue and Hills Cat Rescue for their “conversion” program.

“The conversion system is playing on the psychological principle of mere exposure, which suggests the more we’re exposed to something unfamiliar, the more we are likely to develop positive attitudes towards it,” behavioural psychologist Dr Juliette Tobias-Webb said.

“And because cats are aligned with people’s desires for pets that are independent, plus they’ve got a really strong kind of unique personality and affectionate by nature, fostering them can help shift people’s perception.”

Originally published as New Whiskas program aims to ‘convert’ Aussie cat haters into cat lovers