Maybe you’ve seen them out about in London. A man in a black balaclava, with a cat often in a puffer jacket and chain. Meet Mac and his cat Matteo, perhaps the most famous shoulder cat in the Capital.
They’ve built a loyal following both online and in person, from their positive messages to the eye-catching fashion sense. City News reached out to find out more about the man behind the mask.
Mac is an internet personality, recognisable from signature black balclava look, who cycles across London, with his cat, Matteo, perched on his shoulder. Their aim is to make ‘the city smile again’, with their content focusing on this positive message and their close dynamic.
Within minutes of meeting in Covent Garden, they were approached for photos, a stroke of Matteo and conversation. Mac apologised for the interruption, but both remained visibly at ease amid the constant attention.
“Matteo was a gift from God”
Their bond began with a miracle. Matteo was born still, and perhaps even more shockingly grey. Mac had to revive him, and since he already had two black cats, there wasn’t a plan to keep him.
It wasn’t until two months later which Matteo turned black. By the time Mac planned to give him away it was too late, they had already bonded.
It was during taking his daughter to school, that their now famous dynamic came to be. Matteo was a ‘nuisance’ early on, he jokes, unable to give him any space.
Whenever he would leave the house, Matteo couldn’t bear it, leading to Mac bringing him along for the journey. He said since then it’s been ‘history’.
Their relationship is ‘organic’, as Mac states. He didn’t train him and doesn’t leash him (unless for Matteo’s own safety). I saw this for myself, as for most of our interview Matteo sat happily on his owners shoulder, free to roam at his leisure.
Seeing their relationship in person, it was clear how comfortable and at ease they felt in each other’s presence.
Matteo and Mac spreading cheer in Central London
Beyond Social Media
Mac told City News that he ‘didn’t do all of this to get on Instagram’. Although he’s amassed a significant following across social media platforms. He emphasised he doesn’t want to be seen as solely a content creator.
He rejected the ‘influencer’ label, as in his words it ‘puts people on a pedestal’, explaining to me that his previous job was focused on ‘helping people’ and the rewarding aspect is what he’s taken forward to this new venture.
Their work focuses on human connection, natural conversation and everyday interactions with strangers.
Crucially, Mac told me he would have never had done this if Matteo didn’t feel comfortable, as he didn’t want to be someone who used his pet for likes.
He urges to those who would want to follow down a similar path, ‘please make sure your animal wants to do it’. He said you must be careful to not ‘lose focus of your animals care’ to cater to brands and content.
Mac explained how they built up their expeditions, originally only going out cycling for an hour or so to get Matteo comfortable with it.
He said it’s important to get your cats used to loud noises, going to the toilet outside, and strangers.
These are steps forward to make sure they are comfortable. He says that if you start harnessing your pets, and restricting them then it turns into something ‘which now means we are doing this for us, and not the cats anymore’, and this is where he draws the line.
He says the most important thing about animal content creation is ‘how you are going to look after them when the video opportunity is finished’.
Reporter Arwen Jenkins meeting Mac and Matteo
“I’m not hungry for the attention”
I asked Mac about his signature all black and balaclava look, asking the meaning behind the decision to hide his face. He said it was for his daughter, ‘I want to give my time to her,’ without being recognised.
His other inspiration stems from one of his favourite Game of Thrones Character’s ‘The man with no name, no face’ as ‘it was his actions that matter[ed], not what you look like’.
Speaking about masculinity he said his content aims to explore how to be a man in positive way.
He says that men shouldn’t feel the need to be ‘macho’, and a tough guy all the time, ‘some of the strongest men I know… are so humble’.
Mac explains ‘I can be masculine when it’s right, when it’s needed, but it’s not needed 24/7’.
During transitioning from his old career to his present work, he explained how Matteo grounded him, saying ‘he filled that void’, explaining that ‘he does the same for others’ and that’s why he brings him out to London.
Mac elaborated, saying seeing Matteo interact with strangers, taught him how break down ‘prejudices I didn’t even know I had’.
Seeing him freely communicating with so many, you can see the positive effect the duo has in action. Mac says that having Matteo ‘breaks the ice’ and lets people have their guard down, which is exactly what I saw.
‘It’s okay to smile’
This cat’s effect on people can help them deal with much deeper issues. ‘You can make them smile rather than talk about what happened. Sometimes talking just keeps the wound open.’
‘This isn’t about pushing things under the carpet. Have your dedicated therapy bin where you can offload. That’s what Matteo is – he’s great at taking people’s minds off things’.
Through the time spent with Mac and Matteo, it becomes clear their popularity isn’t built on pure spectacle. What draws people in and keeps them coming back for more, is something special, a simple moment of connection.
In a city like London, that’s constantly moving, Mac and Matteo offer a reason to stop, smile and take a breath. And as seen for many, that simple moment makes their day.
Submitted Article
Headline
Short Headline
Standfirst
Published Article
HeadlineMac and Matteo: What Londoners can learn from a cat on a shoulder
Short HeadlineMac and Matteo: London's famous shoulder cat
StandfirstMac and Matteo: What Londoners can learn from a cat on a shoulder
Maybe you’ve seen them out about in London. A man in a black balaclava, with a cat often in a puffer jacket and chain. Meet Mac and his cat Matteo, perhaps the most famous shoulder cat in the Capital.
They’ve built a loyal following both online and in person, from their positive messages to the eye-catching fashion sense. City News reached out to find out more about the man behind the mask.
Mac is an internet personality, recognisable from signature black balclava look, who cycles across London, with his cat, Matteo, perched on his shoulder. Their aim is to make ‘the city smile again’, with their content focusing on this positive message and their close dynamic.
Within minutes of meeting in Covent Garden, they were approached for photos, a stroke of Matteo and conversation. Mac apologised for the interruption, but both remained visibly at ease amid the constant attention.
“Matteo was a gift from God”
Their bond began with a miracle. Matteo was born still, and perhaps even more shockingly grey. Mac had to revive him, and since he already had two black cats, there wasn’t a plan to keep him.
It wasn’t until two months later which Matteo turned black. By the time Mac planned to give him away it was too late, they had already bonded.
It was during taking his daughter to school, that their now famous dynamic came to be. Matteo was a ‘nuisance’ early on, he jokes, unable to give him any space.
Whenever he would leave the house, Matteo couldn’t bear it, leading to Mac bringing him along for the journey. He said since then it’s been ‘history’.
Their relationship is ‘organic’, as Mac states. He didn’t train him and doesn’t leash him (unless for Matteo’s own safety). I saw this for myself, as for most of our interview Matteo sat happily on his owners shoulder, free to roam at his leisure.
Seeing their relationship in person, it was clear how comfortable and at ease they felt in each other’s presence.
Matteo and Mac spreading cheer in Central London
Beyond Social Media
Mac told City News that he ‘didn’t do all of this to get on Instagram’. Although he’s amassed a significant following across social media platforms. He emphasised he doesn’t want to be seen as solely a content creator.
He rejected the ‘influencer’ label, as in his words it ‘puts people on a pedestal’, explaining to me that his previous job was focused on ‘helping people’ and the rewarding aspect is what he’s taken forward to this new venture.
Their work focuses on human connection, natural conversation and everyday interactions with strangers.
Crucially, Mac told me he would have never had done this if Matteo didn’t feel comfortable, as he didn’t want to be someone who used his pet for likes.
He urges to those who would want to follow down a similar path, ‘please make sure your animal wants to do it’. He said you must be careful to not ‘lose focus of your animals care’ to cater to brands and content.
Mac explained how they built up their expeditions, originally only going out cycling for an hour or so to get Matteo comfortable with it.
He said it’s important to get your cats used to loud noises, going to the toilet outside, and strangers.
These are steps forward to make sure they are comfortable. He says that if you start harnessing your pets, and restricting them then it turns into something ‘which now means we are doing this for us, and not the cats anymore’, and this is where he draws the line.
He says the most important thing about animal content creation is ‘how you are going to look after them when the video opportunity is finished’.
Reporter Arwen Jenkins meeting Mac and Matteo
“I’m not hungry for the attention”
I asked Mac about his signature all black and balaclava look, asking the meaning behind the decision to hide his face. He said it was for his daughter, ‘I want to give my time to her,’ without being recognised.
His other inspiration stems from one of his favourite Game of Thrones Character’s ‘The man with no name, no face’ as ‘it was his actions that matter[ed], not what you look like’.
Speaking about masculinity he said his content aims to explore how to be a man in positive way.
He says that men shouldn’t feel the need to be ‘macho’, and a tough guy all the time, ‘some of the strongest men I know… are so humble’.
Mac explains ‘I can be masculine when it’s right, when it’s needed, but it’s not needed 24/7’.
During transitioning from his old career to his present work, he explained how Matteo grounded him, saying ‘he filled that void’, explaining that ‘he does the same for others’ and that’s why he brings him out to London.
Mac elaborated, saying seeing Matteo interact with strangers, taught him how break down ‘prejudices I didn’t even know I had’.
Seeing him freely communicating with so many, you can see the positive effect the duo has in action. Mac says that having Matteo ‘breaks the ice’ and lets people have their guard down, which is exactly what I saw.
‘It’s okay to smile’
This cat’s effect on people can help them deal with much deeper issues. ‘You can make them smile rather than talk about what happened. Sometimes talking just keeps the wound open.’
‘This isn’t about pushing things under the carpet. Have your dedicated therapy bin where you can offload. That’s what Matteo is – he’s great at taking people’s minds off things’.
Through the time spent with Mac and Matteo, it becomes clear their popularity isn’t built on pure spectacle. What draws people in and keeps them coming back for more, is something special, a simple moment of connection.
In a city like London, that’s constantly moving, Mac and Matteo offer a reason to stop, smile and take a breath. And as seen for many, that simple moment makes their day.
Nigel Farage's old party has had a radical makeover, aiming to put 'muscular Christianity' into the 'heart of government'. But what's behind this shift?
