Aussie cats are happily lapping up attention

CATS were once worshipped as gods. Now a survey of feline influence over each Australian state reveals things haven’t really changed all that much.

The fresh look at Australian attitudes reveals the subtle differences in attitude and behaviour human staff have towards their furry overlords.

The survey was part of a marketing campaign by Fancy Feast to coincide with the launch of a new collection of premium cat accessories designed by Australian fashion designer Leona Edmiston.

And it seems they’re actually on to something.

It’s men who spend the most on their furry friends. But women are by far the most affectionate, with more than one in three admitting to spending considerable time stroking a cat every day.

And cat carers in four mainland states admit to being totally under the power of their feline masters, seeking to please them in just about every way possible.

But it’s New South Wales that leads the way in dressing them up… No doubt driving the doyenne of Australian fashion design to shift her focus from the catwalk to the cat’s coat.

South Australian cats are the country’s most pampered, with 59% of respondents admitting they’re regarded an integral part of their family.

New South Wales carers are a bit more pragmatic. Only 16% admit they love their cat as much as their children (though this figure is suspect, as another 16% actually admit to dressing up their pet).

Meanwhile, Victorian cats are fussy diners, managing to convince 25% of their carers to spend up big on gourmet food and tasty treats.

Queensland cats are among the harshest rulers, with 20% of survey respondents admitting they were coerced into cancelling planned holidays to ensure their pampered pets remained happy.