The invention relates to the preparation of hydrophobic modified diquaternary cationic monomers and their copolymer as well as the use such monomers and copolymers as thickening agents/rheology modifiers for acidic compositions. The hydrophobic modified diquaternary cationic monomer having the general formula: ##STR00001## wherein X is selected from O, NH, or NR; Y is any alkyl, alkylene with or without heteroatoms, and R.sup.0, R.sup.1, R.sup.2 R.sup.3, R.sup.4, which are identical or different, are selected from C1 C4 alkyl groups, R is selected from any alkyl group with or without heteroatoms, and R.sup.5 is a hydrphobe having an alkyl chain of more than 4 atoms.