A day at the Edinburgh Fringe for... Animal Lovers
Enjoy an animal-packed day at the Edinburgh Fringe with our guide, featuring the chance to get up close and personal with a host of real, fictional and former animals
Maison de Moggy
Start your day with a coffee and a side of cat at the Maison de Moggy cat cafe at the end of the Grassmarket. Scotland's only such cafe, its stars are a wide range of felines, from Fabian the baby Norwegian Forest Cat to Guillame the Chinchilla Persian. Book a timeslot on the MdM website to guarantee an audience with the cats, and watch your Fringe stress melt away. 17 West Port; open daily 10.45am-6.30pm, maisondemoggy.com
Juliet Myers: This Flipping Rescue Dog Has Ruined My Life
Moving on from cats to dogs, and the new show from stand-up comedian Juliet Myers. Clue's in the title for this one, with the titular mutt – Homer, a dog taken to peeing on everything in sight – the topic of much hilarity. Laughing Horse @ Southside Social (Upstairs Bar), 4-14 Aug, 2.30pm, free.
Royal Botanic Gardens
Before you all rush to the comments to point it out, we know there's a zoo in Edinburgh, with pandas and hippos and the like. However, it's a bus ride out of town and will seriously eat into your Fringe budget – for a low-key alternative, we recommend a stroll to the Royal Botanic Gardens in Inverleith. Squirrels running around like they own the place, insouciant ducks who refuse to acknowledge you no matter how wildly you gesture; it's a green oasis just minutes from the mayhem of the Fringe. Arboretum Place; open daily 10am-6pm, free, rbge.org.uk
The Blue Bear
On your way back to the Old Town, stop off at The Blue Bear round the corner on Brandon Terrace. Delicious cakes, brunches, lunches, coffee from North Berwick's own Steampunk roasters, and a chilled-out atmosphere; what more could you want? OK, there are no actual bears, but you can't win 'em all. 9 Brandon Tce; open Mon-Fri 7.30am-6pm, Sat 8.30am-5pm, Sun 9am-5pm, facebook.com/cafebluebear
Will Duggan: A Man Gathering Fish
From a cafe with no bears to a show by a man who used to be a dog. Manchester stand-up and Skinny favourite Will Duggan brings his debut solo hour to the Edinburgh Fringe following a successful tour of duty as Bonzo the Dog in the Panel Prize-winning faux-gameshow Funz and Gamez. Pleasance Courtyard (Bunker Two), 3-28 Aug (not 15), 6.45pm, £6-9.50.
The Piff the Magic Dragon Show
Finish your day off with a genuine animal, alongside a man dressed as a mythical one. Sardonic magician Piff – dragon costume and all – returns to the Fringe with a fresh hour of deadpan gags and stunning feats of trickery, with able assistance from Mr Piffles the performing chihuahua. Assembly George Square Theatre, 3-13 Aug, 8.30 pm, £10-13.50.