"Dear Kitten," intones the Friskies' cat food ad star. "I should warn you of the monster known as 'Va-Coomb'." The speaker is a cat with the voice of BuzzFeed's Ze Frank, compiling advice for his new kitten friend in an internet spot that prove cats and cute still reign supreme online.

Nielsen has released an overview of the UK's favourite adverts of 2012, providing insight for advertising agencies in 2013. At the top was VCCP's Meerkats series, exemplifying the viral nature of amusing and likeable recurring characters.

The ad industry has fallen in love with cute animals. McVitie’s offers up 'Sweeet' kittens and puppies, O2 has a cat acting canine, and Three has featured both a moonwalking pony and a hilariously-dressed pug. But why do puppies, ponies and penguins mean such serious business?

With UK consumer confidence increasing, competition among banks is stronger than ever. Austerity has left consumers cautious, while 24/7 banking has given more access and control over personal finance. But what do people want, and how can banks entice them to switch?