Cats Got Your Tongue?

In this episode, Adam is joined by cat behaviourist Daniel Warren-Cummings to ask: how do you keep your home clean without making it uncomfortable for your cat? They discuss cleaning products, strong scents, candles and diffusers, litter trays and why suddenly toileting outside the litter tray could be a sign that something else is going on.

Later, BBC Sort Your Life Out star, YouTuber and author Iwan Carrington joins Adam to talk about life with his cats Pumpkin and Mittens – and the reality of keeping a clean and tidy home when you live with cats. Iwan shares his favourite cleaning hacks, tips for tackling cat hair and litter tray smells, how he makes his home work for both himself and his cats, and why sometimes you simply have to accept that the house belongs to them too.

Iwan also talks about Cleaning 15, his new book Tidy in 10, the next series of Sort Your Life Out and why a home doesn’t need to look perfect to feel calm, organised and welcoming.

Find out more about caring for cats, adopting, volunteering and supporting Cats Protection at www.cats.org.uk

00:00 – How do you keep your home clean with cats?01:55 – Are cleaning products safe around cats?03:16 – Should you clean your cat’s favourite sleeping spots?06:38 – Essential oils and aromatherapy diffusers11:25 – Why cats might toilet on clothes, beds and sofas13:58 – Can changes to your routine affect your cat?16:57 – Sort Your Life Out’s Iwan Carrington joins Adam22:14 – Keeping a stylish home when you have cats25:29 – Iwan’s tips for making your home work for your cats29:06 – How do you stop your house smelling of cats?32:04 – Choosing and cleaning litter trays39:34 – Why perfect homes on social media aren’t real42:43 – How to remove cat hair from your home and clothes45:53 – Choosing a vacuum cleaner for pet hair
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In this episode, Adam explores how to make your home work better for your cats, from creating spaces for climbing and play to choosing cat-friendly plants and making room for litter trays, scratching posts and everything else that comes with sharing your home with a cat.

Later, interiors influencer, author and creator of The Shoestring Home Rachel Verney joins Adam to reveal how she went from not being a cat person at all to becoming completely obsessed with her cats, Olive and Pickle. Rachel talks about how her sons convinced her to get cats, how they’ve changed the way she thinks about her home, the cat wall replacing her plants, planning their first birthday celebrations and why the rules she originally set for them quickly disappeared.

Plus, we meet some of Cats Protection’s kitten socialisation volunteers and find out how they help kittens become more confident and prepare them for their future homes.

Find out more about caring for cats, adopting, volunteering and supporting Cats Protection at www.cats.org.uk

00:00 – Welcome to Cats Got Your Tongue?01:56 – Rachel Verney joins Adam03:05 – How Rachel became an interiors creator05:11 – From not being a cat person to becoming obsessed07:44 – Meet Olive and Pickle08:19 – Designing a home around your cats09:40 – Turning a plant wall into a cat wall11:02 – How cats brought Rachel’s family closer together12:16 – Living with fussy cats13:31 – Why cats are taking over Rachel’s social media14:53 – Rachel’s interiors career and imposter syndrome19:00 – How Olive and Pickle got their names20:30 – The strange nicknames we give our cats21:26 – Why cats feel like part of the family24:26 – Planning Olive and Pickle’s first birthday27:11 – Rachel takes on the cat quiz
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In this episode, Adam is joined by cat behaviourist Daniel Warren-Cummings to ask: do cats actually like music? They explore the research around classical and cat-specific music, how cats respond to different sounds, and whether leaving the radio or TV on really helps when your cat is home alone.

Later, Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Laura White joins Adam to share her lifelong love of cats, from volunteering with Cats Protection as a child to rescuing cats of her own. Laura reflects on how her cats have supported her throughout her music career, the heartbreak of losing a much-loved pet, and her dream of one day opening her own animal sanctuary.

Find out more about caring for cats, adopting, volunteering and supporting Cats Protection at www.cats.org.uk

00:00 – Do cats actually like music?

01:04 – Daniel Warren-Cummings on cats and classical music

05:40 – Volume, different genres and getting cats used to sound

08:27 – How to tell if your cat likes the music you play

10:01 – Can music help cats during fireworks?

12:20 – Should you leave the radio or TV on for your cat?

15:09 – What would the perfect song for a cat sound like?

16:55 – Grammy-nominated songwriter Laura White joins Adam

18:30 – Laura’s lifelong love of cats and volunteering with Cats Protection

19:36 – Rescuing a kitten from a dual carriageway

20:45 – Laura’s dream of opening an animal sanctuary

23:57 – The story of Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin

28:33 – How cats helped ground Laura during her music career

30:30 – Cats, routines and leaving them when you go away

32:35 – Why Cats Protection means so much to Laura

34:01 – Can cats help with creativity and songwriting?

38:00 – Laura’s music career and what she’s working on next

42:45 – Remembering Aretha and dealing with pet loss

49:40 – Laura takes on the cats and music quiz

54:37 – What cats have brought to Laura’s life
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In this episode, Adam is joined by cat behaviourist Daniel Warren-Cummings to discuss the growing influence celebrities and social media have on cat ownership. They explore why some pedigree breeds are becoming more popular, the importance of making informed choices, and how we can better protect cat welfare. Later, Becky from Becky's Bazaar and Alex Gray (The Traitors) share stories of their rescue cats, the emotional journey of fostering, and why they're passionate about encouraging more people to adopt rather than shop.

Find out more about responsible cat ownership, adopting, fostering and supporting Cats Protection at www.cats.org.uk
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In this episode, Adam welcomes TV presenter and devoted cat fan Roo Irvine, who shares tales of her three cats, Mango, Kimchi, and Miso, and their hilarious etiquette school backstories. The pair dive into why cats are often overlooked in government animal welfare strategies and discuss the impactful campaigns and open letter led by Cats Protection to demand better protections for cats.

Roo shares her experiences chairing Scottish political hustings for animal welfare, her passion for advocacy, and the unique joys (and heartbreaks) of loving cats. Together with MP Ruth Jones, the conversation covers the frustrating gap between good intentions and real change, highlights the essential role that compassion for animals plays in society.

Find out more about getting involved and supporting cat welfare campaigns: www.cats.org.uk/
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