Cat Fight is the new novel from author Kit Conway which centres around big cat encounters in Kent, published in the UK in May and the US in June 2025. We speak to Kit about how Big Cat Conversations helped shape her ideas for the big cat aspects of the plot. The book has already been optioned as a future TV screenplay, and Kit discusses how she weaved big cat sightings into a novel about the developing frictions across a close community in south-east England. It is a rollercoaster of a story which explores people’s switch to wild behaviour on different levels.

Our second guest Gary describes some big cat incidents in Surrey, just 50 miles west of where Cat Fight is set. He himself has twice observed a black panther in a neighbouring agricultural field, viewed from the same spot in his parents’ house. Believed by Gary to be a black leopard on each occasion, the sightings were 20 years apart in 2003 and 2023.

Word of the week: rosette

Cat Fight book availability in UK:

https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/463613/cat-fight-by-conway-kit/9780857506597

Cat Fight book availability in North America:

https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Cat-Fight/Kit-Conway/9781668066348

Copies of Cat Fight are available for UK and for North America listeners to win by emailing ‘word of the week’ suggestions – details in the podcast.

Kit Conway, Cat Fight author’s website: https://www.kitconway.com/

1st June 2025

John explores the wild forests and farmland of his local Scottish borders area.

It’s a sparsely populated region where black panthers and lynx are quietly discussed by some of the locals. John takes us through various lynx encounters, including two of his own, and describes his three experiences with large black cats – one seen nearby from a slow moving train, and one unnervingly close at night.

John starts the episode by explaining how his military background helps his observation and tracking skills. He also discusses lynx reintroduction proposals which have been considered for his part of Britain.

John is a musician and with his wife & friends created his own outro track for this edition… Eyes Burning Bright.

Words of the week: orienting response

9 May 2025

John met a “black panther” during his evening dog walks four times in 1996 in Staffordshire. On the first occasion he was confronted directly by the cat at close range. As the predator was poised, there seemed no easy way out. John explains his thoughts and the subliminal messages he received at that moment, as he reached in his pocket and unlatched his Swiss army knife…

‘Big Cat Mystery’ outro track courtesy of Lancashire band DRIVE.

Words of the Week: beauty in the beast

17 April 2025