10 Best Pet Podcasts in 2024: Reviews & Top Picks

Podcasts have been around for a long time and are popular because they are short and relevant, and there are many to choose from. Episodes can range from just a few minutes to an hour or more, so you’re sure to find something that fits your schedule. And, if you’re a cat or dog parent, there are plenty of excellent podcasts to explore.

We’ve listed our favorite pet podcasts below. There are a few about dogs, a few about cats, and even a few from experienced pet practitioners, so you can learn all there is to know about keeping your pet healthy.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites

The 10 Best Pet Podcasts

Podcasts About Dogs

1. Can I Pet Your Dog?

Can I Pet Your Dog? has been retired as of August 2022, but with over 350 episodes to keep you laughing, there’s plenty to catch up on. Some episodes cover events within the canine world that Renee Colvert and Alexic Preston personally attended to give you all the on-the-spot details, but many are funny stories about their pups.

Some of these dogs become regulars on the show, along with their human counterparts, so they become just as much a part of the podcast as the creators themselves! Get to know all the dogs these crazy creators meet on the street, even if you don’t have dogs yourself.

Pros

• Great fun and always worth a laugh
• Perfect for listening to while walking the dogs
• Get to know the regulars, plus meet new pups each week

Cons

• Some episodes can be up to an hour long
• No new episodes after August 2022

2. The Dogist: Talking to Dogs

The Dogist: Talking to Dogs was founded in 2013 with a simple premise but has grown into much more. After being laid off from a corporate marketing position, Elias Weiss Friedman created a new opportunity with The Dogist. He set out on the streets of New York, photographing the dogs he met. Today, he works with his CEO, Kate Speer, and a team of dedicated Dogists to create a podcast dedicated to pups, a bestselling book, and a thriving social media platform.

We love their podcast the most, and you’ll find episodes ranging from heart-melting stories about marathon runners being guided by their service pups to how you can get through the heartbreak of losing a beloved pet.

Pros

• Regular episodes every week or so
• Unique and wide-ranging topics
• An entire brand behind the podcast

Cons

• Episodes can be up to an hour long
• Not available on Google Podcasts

3. Shaped by Dog

Ever wonder what your dog thinks? Susan Garrett has a degree specializing in animal science and years of experience training dogs for agility competitions worldwide. Her dogs have won gold medals in national and global events, and she truly understands how dogs behave and think. Now, she shares that experience with you through her podcast, Shaped by Dog.

When you have more insight into how your dog interacts with the world, especially with you, you can change your behavior to build a better relationship with them. You’ll learn everything from training your pup to run through an agility course to bringing them along to a dog-friendly café.

Pros

• Short episodes that are easy to listen to on the go
• Dog trainer with established experience
• Available on many social media platforms

Cons

• Not available on Google Podcasts
• Episodes are published frequently

4. DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training

Through their long-running podcast, Nikki Ivey and her wife, Brittney, aim to help dog owners understand why their dogs act the way they do so unwanted behaviors can be corrected much easier. You can also encourage good behaviors and build a strong bond with your dog once you understand just how your dog perceives the world around them, including your actions.

DogSpeak: Redefining Dog Training is the ideal podcast for new dog owners and those who have had dogs for a while but are struggling with an out-of-control dog who just doesn’t seem to listen. Episodes can go much farther than just training, however. You’ll learn about keeping your dog healthy with nutritional guidance and even dog DNA.

Pros

• Nikki Ivey is a trained Canine Behavior Specialist
• Guests regularly welcomed to the show
• Understand dog behavior at a scientific level

Cons

• Available on limited platforms
• Some episodes can run well over an hour

Podcasts About Cats

5. Cattitude

If you find yourself fascinated by cats, Cattitude is the podcast for you. Because who can ever really explain the sometimes off behavior of cats? Michelle Fern and Tom Dock explore new cat breeds and how they are unique in appearance, personality, and more. They also explain the science behind cat behavior, whether instinctually or learned, and give tips for training if your kitty has developed some unwanted ones.

You may even learn about some excellent new cat products that will be hard to resist. These weekly episodes are just 30 minutes long; they’re the ideal length for listening as you finish a chore or spend time with a favorite hobby as you curl up with your kitty companion.

Pros

• Easy to listen to, 30-minute episodes
• Fascinating info for every cat lover
• Weekly episodes

Cons

• Not available on Google Podcasts
• Hard to catch up on past episodes

6. The Catexplorer Podcast

While the Catexplorer Podcast is another one that’s been retired for a while, there are 65 episodes with plenty of tips and tricks for those who would love to travel with their feline companion. You’ll hear from travelers who’ve toured various locations with their cats and learn from their experiences, whether they’ve spent a month in Asia, lived for a year in Europe, or just spent a week at a tropical beach.

Sharing your cat’s adventures through social media is a fantastic way to make traveling even more exciting, and there are plenty of ideas for taking the best videos, where and how to share pictures, and how to build your pet’s social platforms. If you’ve always wanted to travel but leaving your best friend behind was holding you back, why not learn how to take them with you?

Pros

• Fun and entertaining banter
• Great stories of travel experiences
• Unique and fun podcasts for new and experienced travelers

Cons

• The podcast is retired and may not return with new episodes
• Some episodes are well over an hour long

7. The Purrcast

Why did Sara Iyer and Steven Ray Morris start the long-running podcast, The Purrcast? According to them, they only talk to cat people weekly because they can’t talk to their cats. That sounds like a good enough reason to us, so why not tune in to hear what all these cat people have to say? For an hour each week, you’ll get to know other cat owners and their feline friends about the trouble they get into, learn interesting facts and events in the cat world, hear commentary on YouTube videos, and much more. You don’t know what each episode might sound like, which has made it so popular for nearly 400 episodes (and counting).

Pros

• Nearly 400 episodes
• Always good for laughs when you need one
• Learn something new, trivial, or profound

Cons

• Not available on Google Podcasts
• Some episodes can run long

8. Nine Lives with Dr. Kat

Dr. Kathryn Primm, or Dr. Kat for short, is an expert in all things cats, from what they need to eat (and why) to why they do quirky things like follow you to the bathroom. With Nine Lives with Dr. Kat, she proves or debunks myths about these tiny but fierce predators, such as the one about cats having nine lives. Is it true? Where did the myth start?

If you have questions about cats, from the simple to the complex, the doctor is in. You might even want to submit a question for Dr. Kat to answer in a future podcast. Chances are that if you are curious, other cat owners are, too, so don’t be shy!

Pros

• 30-minute episodes for easy listening
• Scientific info everyone can understand
• Experienced guest speakers bring new insight

Cons

• Podcast episodes aren’t regularly scheduled
• Episode lengths can vary widely

Podcasts About Taking Care of Your Pets

9. The Call the Vet Show

Dr. Alex Avery is here to help you understand more about your pet’s health and how to keep them looking and feeling their best. You’ll learn about cats, dogs, and even other types of animals. From signs it’s time to take your pet to the vet to all the ways you should keep your home safe for your cat or dog, Dr. Avery offers sound advice on his podcast, The Call the Vet Show. Each episode can vary in length depending on the topic. Tune in every other week to keep learning, or scroll through each episode to find one that fits your needs. Either way, you’ll feel more confident caring for your furry family.

Pros

• Regularly scheduled episodes every two weeks
• Topics from routine care to the unexpected
• Advice from an experienced veterinarian

Cons

• Episode lengths can vary widely
• Some episodes may not apply to you or your pet

10. Pets Who Thrive!

As a certified animal naturopath, Tammy Doak has a passion for animals and a more holistic approach to veterinary medicine. You may be surprised at the unique treatments available for your pets, from herbal remedies to chiropractic adjustments. Of course, there are ways you can prevent the need for medical care by avoiding dangers like toxic foods and physical injuries. Tammy covers all this and more in her podcast, Pets Who Thrive! Learn from surprise guest appearances on this weekly podcast and see if you and your cat or dog may benefit from an alternative path to healthier living. You might learn something new and unexpected.

Pros

• Learn from an experienced naturopath
• Regular guest appearances
• Keep your pet safe as well as healthy

Cons

• Reruns are common
• Holistic medicine may not be for everyone

Listener’s Guide: How to Select the Best Pet Podcasts

Getting Started

Check out the podcasts we’ve listed above and subscribe on your favorite listening app! Whether you are a lover of cats, dogs, or both, we know you’ll enjoy them. We have a walkthrough guide below if you are new to podcasts and haven’t experienced them yet. It’s pretty simple and works similarly to streaming music, shows, and movies.

Podcast Apps

There are many ways to listen to podcasts, from Spotify to Apple Podcasts to Prime Music. The first step is to choose which platform works best for you. If you regularly use Apple products, then listening through Apple Podcasts will probably be easiest for you, but if you already have a Spotify Premium membership, that might make more sense. Some podcasts are unavailable on Google Podcasts or Amazon Music.

Browsing

Finding podcasts, if you don’t have a direct link, is as easy as searching for your desired topic. You may use the search function, but many podcast platforms have a browse feature that allows you to narrow down the results by category. You might first choose Kids & Family and then Pets, for example. Some will also allow you to choose a rating to filter out podcasts with explicit content or adult language.

Subscribing/Notifications

Simply subscribe if you’d like to be notified when your favorite podcasts release a new episode. You can change your subscription settings within the listening platform so you are notified immediately or receive fewer notifications with a list of all new episodes.

Downloading/Streaming

Podcasts are unique in that you can stream an episode through the listening app or download them to your device. This can be great if you want something to listen to while traveling, especially on planes. You can automatically download new podcast episodes when they are released or only download the ones you need through the app’s settings. You may also set up auto-delete, so the episode is deleted once you’ve finished listening to it.

Related Content

Once you listen to a few podcasts, the platform will usually show you others with similar topics that you may find interesting. Try a few! You might find great content on your favorite subjects that you’d like to subscribe to and maybe even recommend to friends.

Final Thoughts

Our overall top pick for dog-related content is Can I Pet Your Dog? It’s since been retired, but there are 350 episodes to keep you busy. Do you want to listen to stories about cats instead? We highly recommend Cattitude. There’s so much to learn about cats, and they have a lot more to cover, even with nearly 400 episodes. If you need the guidance of an experienced pet practitioner, turn to Dr. Alex Avery over at the Call the Vet Show. His expertise is top-notch. Happy listening!

Featured Image Credit: Lazy_Bear, Shutterstock

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