Cats were once worshipped as gods and they’ve never forgotten it! But why did the Egyptians love cats so much and what part did they play in their domestication? Vanessa and Maggie delve into the history of how cats came to be such a widespread form of rodent control and then much-loved pets. They were already excellent hunters and clean, affectionate pets that didn’t need to be modified for human use so why did the Victorians want to develop different cat breeds? We chat about these moggie mysteries and discuss the growing number of cat breeds.

As animal lovers, there is nothing better than seeing animals in their natural habitats. Sadly, we don’t always get the opportunities to do this but there are other ways of interacting with wild animals including visiting zoos, aquaria, conservation projects or even getting a mobile animal exhibitor to visit your school or party. But what is the animal’s experience? Maggie and Vanessa discuss their views on which types of activities should be avoided, how to choose more animal-friendly ones and share some of their own experiences, both good and bad.

With summer holidays on the horizon, many people will be looking for activities to engage in. Animal lovers may be tempted by the array of animal-related activities available but how can we be sure that the animals’ welfare is put first? In this episode Vanessa and Maggie discuss activities involving domestic species such as bulls, horses, donkeys and camels. Is it OK to ride an elephant or trek with llamas? What about cat cafes and goat yoga? We will give you our views and some tips to check if your chosen activity is OK from the animal’s perspective.