The presently disclosed claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to a rheology modifier composition and an aqueous protective coating composition containing the rheology modifier composition. More particularly, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates to a rheology modifier composition comprising (a) about 50 to about 99% by weight of a water soluble polymer and about 1 to about 50% by weight of a cationic polymer, wherein the cationic polymer is produced by polymerizing a quaternized monomer or by polymerizing a quaternized monomer and a non-quaternized monomer. Additionally, the presently disclosed and/or claimed inventive concept(s) relates generally to the methods of making the rheology modifier composition and the aqueous protective coating composition.
