Paw-fect companions: Meet Kiwi celebs and their furry best friends

Most people carry fond memories of their childhood pets, but for Chris, Mambo the cat almost scared him off from having furry companions forever.

“We had a cat that terrorised our family and I don’t use that word lightly,” the Double Parked creator tells.

“He would find areas of our house to scratch us at any given opportunity. My brother got stitches on his head and I fell down a flight of stairs. It was honestly traumatic.”

But ever since Chris and his husband Michael McCabe decided to grow their family and adopt Margot from their local SPCA, he has learned that the right pet can make a positive impact.

“I’m so much happier,” the 35-year-old beams.

“I always have company, I’m always walking outside and she’s introduced me to a big community of people who also are totally mad about their dogs.”

That doesn’t mean that becoming a pet owner hasn’t come without its challenges. On a recent trip to the park with Margot – who Chris describes as “a regular Carrie Bradshaw” – he learned the hard way about dogs’ love of rolling in muck.

“If you see your dog rolling in the grass, it’s not out of joy, it’s because they’ve found a decomposing rat and are bringing that smell back into your house. Horrific!”

Busy touring the world with his award-winning stand-up shows, Chris says the highlight is the welcome home he receives.

“I wasn’t prepared for the amount of love Margot has to give. I travel a lot for work, and it almost makes me emotional when I come home and she is so excited to see me. Even with all the dead rat rolling, I still would never change a thing.”

Margot has her say…

My owner’s most annoying habit is …
When they try to have any time away from me.

My favourite spot to sleep is…
On my new sheepskin rug. So flash!

The best thing to eat is…
Anything I’m not actually allowed.

If I had a job, I’d be…
A model, obviously.

After growing up on a farm in rural Queensland, surrounded by animals, Bree knew she would always have pets in her life. While she was prepared for the cuddles and love, she admits she was a bit naive about the responsibilities involved in being a pet owner before bringing Meryl and Whitney home.

“The biggest learning curve was the realisation that you now have this huge responsibility of looking after these two living creatures,” the Celebrity Treasure Island host says.

“You feed them, walk them, entertain them and love them. It’s an incredible experience, but it also does change your life as you know it.”

Never was this sense of duty more evident than when Bree, 36, had to deal with the fallout of Meryl’s foraging efforts. After she ate all the chillies from the garden plants, the aftermath was catastrophic.

“She proceeded to have explosive diarrhoea around the entire house. It somehow even made it to the ceiling!”

Like many, Bree and her partner Sophia Gould took the step into dog parenthood after the 2020 Covid lockdown. She found Whitney Houston on TradeMe and a few years later adopted Meryl Streep after being matched on the rescue TV series The Dog House.

While it was “touch and go” at first, Bree says they now live in a harmonious house, once they accepted the world according to Whitney.

“There were a few bad bust-ups over food, but eventually they figured it out. Meryl became the submissive and, of course, Whitney took the role of boss of everyone.”

Her greatest joy is seeing her dogs’ individual personalities shine through.

“Whitney is the most confident, independent dog in the world and Meryl is the most emotional, cuddly dog ever to exist,” she grins.

Whitney and Meryl have their say…

My favourite spot to sleep is…
Whitney: Any nooks or tight spaces. Behind the couch is my current favourite.
Meryl: My mumma’s bed, duh!

My fave activity is…
Meryl: Eating or sleeping
Whitney: Anything with a ball or wiping my grubby food beard on the clean carpet.

My pet peeve is…
Whitney: Having the hair cut short around my butthole.
Meryl: Having a bath.

It’s the age-old dispute: cats versus dogs. But in Karen’s house, her pooch Stevie and kitten Wonder have managed to buck trends of the animal kingdom by becoming the best of friends.

“They’re completely besotted with each other,” the 47-year-old smiles.

“They sleep together, run outside together, eat together and annoy us together.”

In fact, when Karen and her partner, saxophonist Eilish Wilson, decided they should find a companion for Stevie earlier this year, they knew a feline friend would be the perfect fit.

Then the universe took matters into its own hands when the early childhood teacher ran into a parent of a former student at one of Eilish’s gigs in Wellington.

“Very randomly, the parent of a child whom I’d taught at my ECC about 16 years ago happened to ask me if we wanted a kitten, so we said yes and we got wonderful Wonder.”

Though Karen was surrounded by animals her whole childhood, Eilish had never had a pet. So when Eilish moved back to New Zealand in 2023 after two years studying in the US, they decided to take the leap.

While the Wellington Paranormal star had intended to be there to help navigate the crazy months of puppyhood, the life of a busy actor meant she had to leave to film a new project.

“We went to the SPCA and found the best dog in the universe,” she enthuses.

“She came home as a lovely but untrained puppy, which was a bit stressful for a first-time dog parent.”

They survived, and now Karen, her son Melvyn and Eilish are reaping the benefits.

“Having a pet makes me better and happier,” says Karen. “You learn empathy and generosity, and how to do things that will make others happy. Those are pretty powerful lessons.”

Stevie and Wonder have their say…

My favourite spot to sleep is…
Stevie: Between Karen and Eilish on their bed.
Wonder: On Stevie’s empty bed.

My favourite activity is…
Stevie: Running at the local dog reserve and chasing my ball.
Wonder: Doing parkour in the hallway, trying to use Stevie as a platform, then trying to attack the hanging clothes rack.

My pet peeve is…
Stevie: When Eilish and Karen leave the house and forget to take me with them.
Wonder: When Eilish, Karen and Melvyn take Stevie out, but forget to take me with them.

As Simon knows well, there is no greater debate in a pet-loving household than who is the favourite. And while he admits his family constantly discusses who Toto the Sydney silky loves best, the former leader of the National Party admits deep down they all know the truth.

“This is a subject of much debate, but the objective answer is [youngest daughter] Jemima. They spend hours together playing, cuddling and
just hanging out.”

Though the 48-year-old has had almost every pet under the sun – from rabbits and budgies to frogs, and even an axolotl – his dad never allowed cats or dogs.

So it wasn’t until he married Natalie, 42, that he discovered the joys of having a furry friend. With Simon often away for work, they decided it would be nice for Natalie to have some company, so they adopted Tibetan spaniel Tilly, and soon after, Bruce the Pomeranian.

It showed Simon a new kind of love and helped shape his political drive.

“The first law I took through Parliament as an MP was one which significantly increased the criminal penalties for animal cruelty so that offenders of sadistic crimes against animals now go to jail when they didn’t before.”

Life has changed a lot for Simon since leaving Parliament in 2022. Now the best part of his week is spending time with Natalie and their kids, Emlyn, 13, Harry, 11, and Jemima, seven, and enjoying a walk with Toto by his side.

“At the risk of sounding smug, Toto is pretty much a perfect chap. He helps me chill and relax, and I wouldn’t go on as many walks if it weren’t for him. I appreciate his eagerness for them, which gets me out and about.”

Toto has his say…

My owner’s most annoying habit is…
Ignoring me. I deserve a lot of attention and if I don’t get it, I will lick and lick and lick.

My favourite activity is…
Being free from a lead on a walk, running helter-skelter everywhere.

The best thing to eat is…
Dad’s My Raw Pet raw meat – beef or fish are real favourites.