Whelan blasted Bruce following their 9-1 defeat to Spurs and claimed current boss Roberto Martinez had been left with ‘dodgy signings’, following Bruce’s time in charge at the club.
Cattermole left Wigan to join Bruce at Sunderland.
“I like Dave Whelan. I think he’s a good chairman – a footballing chairman,” said Cattermole.
“But I don’t understand where he is coming from with this.
“When you look at the guys Steve bought for Wigan, you just can’t argue with his record – Wilson Palacios, Antonio Valencia – they were sold for big, big money.
“Not everyone’s going to be a big hit but I can’t understand Dave Whelan attacking the gaffer.
“I think he is just trying to take the heat off the new manager.
“You look at the signings the gaffer made at Wigan and, to be honest, I thought they were all good.”
