A conference being held in NZ from 17-19 September features the topic of human behaviour change, to help improve outcomes for animals. The inaugural Companion Animal Conference is being run by the NZ Companion Animal Council. The idea behind it is that if we don't understand why humans do the things they do, and what drives them to change, we will never be effective at making the world a better place for animals. Lynette McLeod is a postdoctoral fellow at the School of Psychology and Behavioural Science, at the University of New England, NSW, who is interested in why humans are reluctant to consider containing their cats.