Cats v Dogs: Which is Best?

Original version

BBC Two Northern Ireland

BBC Two Scotland

Until 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales (analogue) was known simply as BBC Two Wales. BBC Two Wales (digital) was BBC 2W. From 03/01/2009 BBC Two Wales schedules on both analogue and digital became identical

BBC Two Wales

BBC Two England

England

Simulcast of network BBC Two in high definition.

BBC Two HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Wales in high definition

BBC Two Wales HD

Simulcast of BBC Two Northern Ireland in high definition

BBC Two Northern Ireland HD

Chris Packham

Liz Bonnin

Dale Templar

Fiona Caldwell

Davina Bristow

Boundless Productions

Cats v Dogs: Which Is Best?: Episode 1

Documentaries

Factual: Pets & Animals

cats-vs-dogs_040816_ep1_sg.jpg

Episode 1

Cats v Dogs: Which Is Best?

BBC Two - Cats v Dogs: Which Is Best?, Episode 1

Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin battle it out to find an answer to the burning question.

Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin battle it out to find out whether cats or dogs are the better animal. Round one tests whether either species can understand numbers.

Based at one of Britain's largest cat and dog veterinary centres, Chris and Liz go head to head to test different aspects of each animal. A specially commissioned nationwide pet census also reveals exactly how the public feel about our canine chums and feline friends. Round one begins with intelligence as Chris and Liz find out whether either species can understand numbers. In Vienna, Chris is astonished to discover that dogs can discriminate between higher and lower numbers of dots and in a UK first, Liz tries out the test on cats with surprising results.

Round two tests their sensory powers to work out which animal has the better vision, sense of smell and hearing. Our cats and dogs have to negotiate a maze in the dark, but which one will find their way through in the fastest time? Chris challenges top sniffer dog Boris to find him in a distracting busy city and discover which species has the widest range of hearing. The final round looks at whether cats or dogs are the most physically agile by testing which can jump the highest, which is the fastest sprinter and which the best endurance runner. With so many groundbreaking tests, who will be in the lead at the end of episode one?

On their search for answers, Chris comes face to face with a pack of wolves, whilst Liz confronts an Arabian wild cat to discover how the relationships between cats and dogs and humans have evolved. Together, they put our favourite pets under the microscope to see what really makes them tick and crucially, how they compare with each other.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Armed with the latest global scientific research, Chris Packham and Liz Bonnin battle it out to find the definitive answer to the burning question - which are best, cats or dogs?

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Cats v Dogs: Which Is Best?

Episode 1

Contributors

Genres

Formats

Series

BBC Two Northern Ireland

About BBC Two