Exclusive: Cat Wrangler for Kate McKinnon's Hellmann's Super Bowl Ad Shares Secrets of the Trade

If you caught the big game yesterday you probably saw the absolutely hilarious commercials starring Kate McKinnon and a gorgeous talking cat for Hellmann's Mayonnaise.  In the ad McKinnon is digging through her refrigerator trying to figure out what she can make with the leftovers she finds when suddenly the cat says “may-ow!” Kate realizes that Hellmann’s “may-ow” can help turn boring leftovers into delicious meals and suddenly everyone wants Hellmann's!

We spoke with Mayo Cat's owner and trainer, Molly O'Neill, and she gave us the inside scoop on the commercial, animal training, and Mayo Cat, who is actually O'Neill's own 9-month-old cat named Chipmunk.

PetHelpful: What made you decide you wanted to be an animal trainer to begin with? Have you always loved animals? Did you grow up with animals? How does a person get into this field?

Molly O'Neill: I have always loved animals so much. Specifically, I am fascinated by the relationship we share with animals. As a kid, I spent hours teaching my dogs tricks, learning to horseback ride, and spent summers on my cousin Debby’s cattle ranch where I learned so much about nature and animal behavior. I had no idea teaching animals to learn scripts for film and television could be a job. When I moved to Los Angeles, I knew I wanted to work with animals and I loved movies, so I thought surely someone rides horses in movies… I searched the internet and called a number I found and the cowboy told me it was only men who do this work and to give up because I didn’t have a shot making it. Cut to 15 years later, he was absolutely wrong and some of the best trainers I know are women!

Pet Helpful: What does a typical work day for you usually look like?

Molly O'Neill: It quite literally changes every day, but typically I’m woken up at 5 or 5:30 am but my beloved 15 year old Jack Russell named Auto. All of the dogs go straight outside except for the chihuahua mix Indy who must be gently coerced from bed to start the day (honestly I get it). After everyone does their morning business, I feed the 5 dogs at my house and the 6 cats. Then it’s time for catching up on emails about work as things can change very last minute and I’ve been called to a movie set the same day. Once the dogs stomachs settle (you always want to wait 30min at least before or after feeding to exercise dogs) we then head out for exercise, usually a hike or games of fetch, frisbee, or agility. I do some cleaning. Then it’s training time. Sometimes that means working and going to set, sometimes that means training sessions at home, or sometimes several trainers get together to help each other train. Then more exercise before dinner at 5pm for the dogs and cats. The cats get some toy time (it’s very important to play with your indoor cats and give them exercise too!) I do more cleaning. Then, my husband and I get some time for dinner. He’s an amazing cook and Ioves our animal menagerie. We unwind with the animals and turn on a show to watch together before bed, surrounded by our pack.

Pet Helpful: For The Hellman's ad, working with Mayo Cat can you tell me about that experience? Was Mayo Cat, er, Chipmunk a professional?

Molly O'Neill: This was such an exciting job to work on! Production reached out to Hollywood Animals and asked if we had any cats that would be up to the task and we sent in Squirrel (O'Neill's other cat) and Chipmunk. They really liked Chipmunk but he was only 9 months old at the time and I had been building his confidence and traveling him to new places, but hadn’t really started his official studio training yet. We thought they would want to use Squirrel, his older more experienced brother, but they were set on Chip. So, we immediately started working on his sit stays, wearing a hat, and his meows. We were over the moon when we saw Kate McKinnon was starring in the commercial, because she is a true cultural treasure and cat lady. In addition, Hellman’s mayo has been a staple in my fridge for as long as I can remember, so how fun to work with such a trusted brand on making taste not waste*! Chipmunk was a total professional and nailed everything he had to do. To say I’m proud of him is an understatement. He really was a rockstar in every way on this and had a blast doing it. I felt like at one point Kate and Chipmunk might run off into the sunset together, they were in love.

*The Monday after the Big Game is known for being a major “sick” day, with 16+ million people estimated to call in “sick” from work this year. So, this Monday, Feb. 12, Hellmann’s is inviting everyone, including those not going to work, to work at fighting food waste by closing their laptop and opening the fridge. Simply put, Hellmann’s is sick… of food waste. The #1 selling mayonnaise brand is declaring a new holiday the day after the Big Game: Sick of Food Waste Day. Every fan who posts to TikTok or Instagram Reels tagging @hellmannsmayonnaise, #SickOfFoodWasteDay and #Sweepstakes on Sick of Food Waste Day has the chance to win a trip to New Orleans this time next year*. The lucky winner will also help next year’s Big Game food recovery efforts alongside Hellmann’s partner, Food Recovery Network (FRN), one of the largest student-led movements fighting food waste to end hunger in America. The rules for the sweepstakes can be found here.

Related: SNL's Kate McKinnon Stars in Super Bowl Spot Alongside Gorgeous Cat

Pet Helpful: What do you wish more pet owners knew when it comes to training their own animals?

Molly O'Neill: One of the main things I see that I wish more pet parents really understood is that many, if not most of the behavioral problems people experience from their pets are coming from a lack of exercise and mental stimulation. Cats need play time with their owners. Feather toys or whatever they like… just set aside time everyday to play with them when you can. The same goes for dogs. Dogs need walks and mental stimulation. Otherwise, that pent up energy has to go somewhere and it might very well just go to tearing up your couch cushions or signs of aggressive behavior. Walk your dogs and play with your cats!

View the original article to see embedded media.

PetHelpful: Can you give us your top three tips for people training their own pets?

Molly O'Neill: 

1: Exercise is crucial for dogs and cats. Walking your dog is a great way to start you and your dog’s day. With proper leash work you can become relevant to your dog and build an amazing relationship. I do walk my cats, but walking cats needs to be a little more thoughtful in terms of safety. I always carry a cat backpack with me so I can put them in it for safety if needed and I always walk them on a harness that they can’t slip out of.

2: Everyday from the moment you get your pet, you are training. If you put the dog in the backyard and ignore it and it starts barking, you are training it to bark at the door. As Samantha at Pack Life LA says, what we allow, we agree with. So, if you don’t feel like you have the time to train just know you already are training if you own a pet. Everyday that animal is learning from you, and by shifting your intentions, you have the power to shape the relationship you want to have with your pet.

3.Patience. The best way to train an animal to do a trick or discover a new behavior is to break it down into shorter pieces and take your time. The more that your pet can use their brain to process through what you are asking, they better they will learn. Being a good trainer is not barking orders at an animal and that animal robotically doing your every command. Being a good trainer is teaching your pet to think and giving them space to process. For example, let’s say you ask your dog or cat to sit and he/she doesn’t. Just wait. Don’t repeat the word 8 times and get frustrated. Wait. Let them think about it. If they still don’t sit, reengage their nose with a treat or something positive and ask them again. So many people don’t give that space and are quick to an emotional reaction, but try giving that extra space and you will feel the relationship build. It’s a beautiful thing!

Molly O’Neill has been an animal trainer/coordinator for almost 15 years. She has worked on several projects including Game of Thrones, Avatar, Star Wars (obi wan and Ashoka), and most recently The Mother on Netflix with Jennifer Lopez. You can follow Molly here.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.