One theory on reincarnation is that before animal souls may become humans they must evolve to not fear humans. Consequently, most newly arrived human souls have recently been cats, dogs or horses – so the theory goes.

I think often about our “civilised” traits compared with our primal nature. I love civilisation and I also love my primal nature that wants to poo on the earth, among other things.

So my cat poos in the bathtub during the night when I have failed to read her earlier signs and let her outside. Is she consciously pleasing me by behaving to my civilised standards, or is she following some “100th monkey” instinct that we are breeding into domesticated cats to head for the porcelain?