Listening to music can make us happy. Of course we want to share our favorite pastime with our cats. Perhaps you’ve ever tried to play your favorite song to your cat. But you might have noticed that your cat shows little interest in the music. At this time we can’t help wondering: do cats like music? And if they do, what kind of music do cats like? This article will tell you whether cats enjoy listening to music and which types of music will engage their interest.
Do cats enjoy listening to music?
Cats do like music, but they don’t like human music. According to a study published in the journal Applied Animal Behavior Science, our feline companions prefer cat-specific music to music made for humans. Cat-specific music is made to mimic the natural sounds like purring and suckling, as well as frequency and vibration that are comforting for felines. This cat-specific music is more likely to make cats feel happy and calm.
David Teie, an American cellist, has released his album “Music for Cats” that contains songs made for cats specially. The music was designed to fit in cats’ natural communication and incorporate sounds like cats’ purring and suckling, delivering a calming and soothing effect on cats.
Cats are far more sensitive to sound than we are. Cats can hear frequencies up to 64,000 hertz while humans are only able to hear frequencies between 20 and 20,000 hertz. It makes sense that your cat is indifferent to the music you enjoy for the music may be too loud for them. It is found that cats show great enjoyment when they are played music with feline appropriate tone and pitch. Our feline friends may rub against the speaker, move around, or purr, in response to the music they enjoy.
What kind of music do cats like?
Cats like species-specific the most. This cat-specific music that mimics the cats’ purring and suckling can generate feelings of comfort and calmness in cats.
As for music made for humans, cats tend to appreciate soothing melodies with a slower tempo. It seems that classical music is cats’ favorite. There is not a heavy bass or high pitched instruments that may hurt cats’ ears in the classical music. While classical music may soothe cats, loud and jarring music, such as rock, heavy metal, or techno may agitate or upset our feline friends. These genres with beats getting too loud for cats’ sensitive ears will definitely disturb their peace and tranquility.
Many cats do enjoy white noise. It has even been found that cats can be soothed by white noise, characterized by a continuous sound. This sound can not only drown out some sudden environmental sounds that can be frightening to cats, but also create a calming atmosphere for cats. When there are frightening sounds like fireworks, turning on white noise can help calm cats. And for the calming effect of white noise on cats, we can use white noise to help our cats get through separation anxiety when we are away.
How to Know When Your Cat Likes Music?
Most of time, cats show indifference to the music made for humans. Their music taste is different from ours. They do like cat music. Since cats don’t like the music we enjoy, what their behaviors are when they are played music they appreciate. It is found that cats may rub against or nuzzle the speaker, move around, and even start purring when they enjoy listening to music.
What’s more, cats’ behaviors vary with the different kinds of cat-specific music that is playing. Most often, they will react naturally to the purring of another cat, but respond excitedly to bird calls.
Do Cats Prefer Silence to Music?
Yes, some cats prefer silence to music. Just like humans, cats are independent beings and their preferences vary. While some may like music, others might prefer a tranquil environment. If your cat tends to be anxious when you turn on the music player, it would be better to keep quiet. It is a good choice to put on headphones when listening to music to let your cat be comfortable and happy. Sometimes, staying in a quiet environment with little sound is the best way for your cats to feel relaxed.
Should I leave Music on for My Cat?
The answer depends on your cat’s preferences and behaviors. If you choose to leave music on for your cat when you’re out of the house, remember to choose soothing and soft music. It can soothe your cat to let them feel calm and safe, especially for cats with separation anxiety. However, observing how your cat reacts to this is the key. Cats’ preferences are various. Some cats may need the company of music, others would like to stay alone in silence. If your cat shows signs of anxiety and discomfort when being played, it’s best to turn off the music player.
Actually, you don’t need to leave music on for your cat most of time. Most cats prefer to be in a tranquil environment.
Conclusion
Cats prefer the species-specific music that is made to mimic feline purring or suckling. This cat-specific music can help soothe and calm cats. Cats’ preferences vary as they are independent beings. While some enjoy the company of the soothing melodies, others would just like to stay in tranquility. Whether to leave music on for your cat depends on your cat’s behaviors.
