Joanna Lumley: Catwoman - Season 1

Joanna Lumley explores the history of cats and asks the question, why do cats divide us? While there are a great many cat lovers in the world, there are also many that don't like them. She visits a cat show in Milton Keynes and notes that the crowd is made up of women and only a few men. Cats were once a sign of witchcraft which often resulted in both the cat and the owner being put to death. In Ypres, Belgium they threw live cats off tall buildings until 1814 and now at the cat festival throw stuffed cat toys in a reenactment. Cats were first tamed as pets in Egypt 3500 years ago and cats today are to be found everywhere in Cairo. In Thebes, the city of the dead, there are murals of cats shown as part of the family. The Japanese revere cats and demand exceeds supply. You can also buy designer clothes for them. In Mexico, Joanna explores the jungle in search of jaguars

Joanna Lumley asks 'do cats take orders'? Most think cats are far too independent to be trained but the owner of a Chicago circus act says otherwise. Cats can also help those in need, as with children with severe disabilities. But what price have cats paid in becoming the world's favorite pet? There are 100 different breeds of cat but experiments in cat genetics are producing new species such as the munchkin, a cat with short legs. In Los Angeles you can lavish riches on your cat and you will find a 5 star cat hotel, luxury cat grooming and soft paws to cover their claws. There are also those who try to keep big cats as pets. Actress Tippi Hedren runs a rescue center where she cares for 83 big cats that have been abandoned by their owners. In London, Joanna visits a rescue center and a home where 21 cats live in a tiny flat. She then travels to Namibia where she has an up close encounter with cheetahs.