Ever wondered why your cat doesn’t share your love for classical music or get aren’t enthusiastic of dance music? It turns out; it’s not their style. Research has done into what kind of music cats like.
Cats do like music, but they don’t enjoy human music. Music is species-specific—cats like music catering to cats’ senses and how they communicate. Cats display demonstrable enjoyment when playing the music with the appropriate cat tone, pitch, and tempo.
As humans, we love music, but do our cats feel the same? Find out how your cat thinks about music. In this blog post, you can read how it is with your cat’s hearing, what kinds of music there are, the research done, and whether cats love music. I also give examples of music for cats.
Cats like Music
Cats enjoy music, but they don’t enjoy human music. Cats have perfect and tuned senses. These senses are much more sensitive to smell and sound than humans. Cats have sensitive whiskers and excellent hearing. Because of this, it may be that your cat thinks the music you listen to is too loud or the bass is too loud — the senses and way of communicating change the music experience of a cat. Cats love music that has a pitch, appropriate feline tone, and tempo. Musical pieces are, especially for cats. The music is adapting to the cat’s hearing: it is full of sounds, frequencies, and tones that cats use in their communication.
The pace is determined by, among other things, the spinning of a cat and the rhythm of a nursing kitten. Because cats’ vocalizations are on average an octave higher than that of humans, the unique ‘cat compositions’ also compose in this area. The researchers state emphatically that they have not tried to copycat sounds.
Forty-seven cats received two specially composed and two classic pieces. The cats did not react to these classic pieces, while in the cat compositions, they turned to the loudspeaker or even rubbed against it. Do cats not like classical music? That is not said; maybe they do not like Bach or Fauré!
The researchers played their compositions for 47 cats and studied how they responded to them. For comparison, they also let the cats hear the classic pieces Air on the String by Johann Sebastian Bach and Elegie by Gabriel Fauré.
The animals did not respond to people’s music. However, with the cat music, they started to touch the speaker, according to the researchers, a sign of their appreciation.
Research
Three scientists have made use of these properties. They believe that music for animals can only be compelling if it fits within the range and pace of the regular communication between these animals. That is why they have made unique compositions for cats and tested them in scientific research.
Cats and Classical Music
Classical music has a calming effect on cats. There is even special calming music available for cats. Some cats make their music, such as the piano-playing cat Nora. The American male Kodi dares to take a piano with his owner. Do you want to make your cat happy with good music? Do not come with Bach or other people’s music. According to researchers at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, cats mostly love sounds they know from their communication repertoire and not from human sounds. For example, a cat’s voice frequency is an octave higher than that of a human being.
Cats and Their Hearing
Cats have excellent hearing, which is many times better than that of people. Already at birth, the kitten uses his ears. However, only after nine days will it open the eyes. After 12 days, the kitten turns his head in the direction of the sound, and already after another week, their acute hearing almost entirely developed. Kittens hear more clearly than humans and even better than a dog.
Cats have their ears open 24 hours a day. The funnel-shaped ears of the always pointed ears catch the smallest vibrations. Soft rustling or rustling automatically initiates the movement because the recognition of sounds of prey is innate. They learn all the other sounds. Cats have an excellent hearing; for example, they can distinguish the differences in slamming car doors.
High Tones and Low Tones
A cat hears higher sounds than a dog. A cat hears above 45,000 hertz (the tone of bats). For people, all the music higher than 20,000 hertz can no longer hear. As with humans, they were observing highs decreases when you get older. If a cat is three years old, it starts already. If it is 4.5 years, it is already clear to see. Deafness also occurs in old cats due to the loss of mobility of the ossicles and the degeneration of the nerves of the inner ear. Deaf cats compensate for this defect with a sharper vision, a better smell, and an extra sensitivity to vibrations.
Cats have excellent hearing, which is much better than people. It is logical because they have to absorb the soft rustling of mice through the grass. Hard sounds sound much harder for cats than for people (like fireworks, for example)
Cats can hear sounds that are two octaves higher than people can perceive, also called ultrasound. In this range are also the frequencies on which mice (boy) squeal, which is of great importance for a cat.
Different Types of Music
Music is a form of art made by people by playing or singing instruments. Music can arrange in different ways. You can see which instruments are playing; for example, classical music uses many different types of devices, such as a piano, which is performing by pressing keys, or a violin that is playing by ironing a bow along the violin strings. Rock music uses many more instruments that are often electronic; this means that the sound of a rock instrument is made louder using sound boxes.
You can also classify music based on a specific goal. It is how choral music is meant in the church. You can best listen to classical music when you sit and want to feel emotions. Jazz and trance music are especially to dance. Opera music tells a story, and marching music is often used by the military but also by marching bands.
Tempo
In music, there are different names for hard and soft; below, there are a few from slow to fast:
- Largo: slowly
- Andante: quietly going
- Moderato: moderate
- Allegro: quick and lively
- Presto: very fast
Relax Music
Music helps people relax and unwind after a long day. The same is true for cats because slow and soft music can keep a cat calm and lower stress levels. Classical music or even music that is specially designed for cats makes your cat happy and satisfied. By playing regular music, it does not mean that the stress of your cat is reduced. Especially when the music is loud, loud sounds or loud music can even increase the stress level if that music is soothing. Because the music is too loud and your cat does not relax. The music sounds harder in the cat’s ear.
Classical music and yoga meditation music have stress-relieving qualities for people. If you listen to this music, you can also feel less stressed. If you are going to listen to relaxing music together with your cat, the chances are that the stress level of both will decrease. Dogs and cats can be affected by your mood. They feel this, especially when you are stressed. By lowering your stress level, you also actually reduce the stress of the other pets like your cat. If you choose soothing music, this is positive for both. You both can relax and listen to music.
Considerations
At animals, anxiety can cause a variety of health and behavioral issues. So it’s important to keep it to a minimum. You can play meditation or classical music to help your cat relax. If you play an instrument yourself, you can make music that has specially designed for your cat. Special music for cats is available online perhaps for sale in some pet stores. The classical music composed for cats and usually consists of simplified traditional melodies. By using the music often it can help with behavioral problems or with stress. For example, when moving or a new pet. Because your cat is applied to the music and quiet, the music can support your cat during stressful times. Before you use the music for such situations, you must be sure that your cat will benefit. Try out some soft tunes to see if it can help to relieve stress.
What Is the Best Sleep Music?
Sleep music must consist of soothing sounds of, for example, a guitar or piano. Many people benefit from rain or other nature sounds. Listening to fast rap music has the opposite effect and therefore ensures that you stay alert. It is because of the rapidly changing tempo, which keeps you alert and does not fall into a deep sleep.
Sleep music for your cat. Instead of reading a story, you can play sleep music. Maybe your cat will become more relaxed and go to bed sooner. This music is especially easy if your cat is very busy or takes other pets out of their sleep. My cat likes to tease people or tease the dog when resting or sleeping in the basket. I have not tried it yet when I wrote this blogpost, but I will play sleep music for my cat.
Sleep Music
Sleep music must consist of soothing sounds of, for example, a guitar or piano. Many people benefit from rain or other nature sounds. Listening to fast rap music has the opposite effect and therefore ensures that you stay alert. It is because of the rapidly changing tempo, which keeps you alert and does not fall into a deep sleep.
Sleep music for your cat. Instead of reading a story, you can play sleep music. Maybe your cat will become more relaxed and go to bed sooner. This music is especially easy if your cat is very busy or takes other pets out of their sleep. My cat likes to tease people or tease the dog when resting or sleeping in the basket. I have not tried it yet when I wrote this blog post, but I will play sleep music for my cat.
Examples of Music for Cats
Dance Music for Cats
Conclusion
I tested the cat music with my cat, which reacts alternately. Sometimes when she is playing busy, and I put the music on, she just sits down on the floor and listens to the tones. But there are also times when she is playing, and when the music starts, she runs away. In any case, I know that I do not have to play busy music in the living room because she reacts a lot to that. She becomes even busier and flies through the house.
Above I posted a few videos with music for cats. On Youtube, you can find many different types of music for your cat. Each cat has its preference. Now you can try if your cat likes the music and whether there is a response.
I hope your cat likes music. Also, when you know someone who has cats who love music, feel free to share this post.
