Scientists Discover What Music Cats Like
Albert Schweitzer once said: There are two means of refuge from the miseries of life: music and cats. But what if we created music for cats that they really liked? Many cat owners play music to stimulate or amuse cats while we’re away from home but research shows cats hear music at a different range and frequency than humans. What would cats prefer? Professor emeritus Dr. Charles Snowden of the University of Wisconsin was determined to find out according to The Huffington Post Snowden and his team of scientists proposed in a study;
- Music is often used for enrichment of animals but results are conflicting.
- We present a theory of species-specific music and test this with domestic cats.
- Cats responded more to species-appropriate music than to human music.
- Species-appropriate music is more likely to benefit animals than human music.
The 47 male and female domestic cat test subjects listened in their individual homes to classical music with and without natural cat sounds from purring, suckling and meowing. The cats showed their preference to the music with the cat sounds by cocking their ears and scent-marking the loudspeakers. The classical music alone elicits little to no response. Playing nature sounds like birds was not part of the study.
The most encouraging news is the potential of playing music cats actually like to reduce stress. The most soothing sounds would be welcome to cats at home, in transit i.e. to the vet or for shelter cats who routinely experience high levels of stress.
How do your cats respond to music, nature sounds or to the samples in the link?
12 Comments
meowmeowmans
Wow, how interesting. !e’ll have to try this out!
Austin Towers
I’m never happier than when I’m plugged in to the iPod!! My tastes are eclectic, but the human says the best sound is my megapurr :))
Skeeter and Izzy
We will most definitely have to test this!!!!
Thank s for sharing!
Luvs
Skeeter and Izzy and the Feral Gang + Twig & Peanut & Romeo >^..^<
Brian Frum
I think we agree, but we are gonna go get the iPod and veryify!!!
Annabelle
My cats don’t respond well to music and they hate it if I sing along. Or even sing period…is that a reflection on how bad my voice is? MOL
Nerissa's Life
PURRsonally, I find instrumental music mixed in with bird and other nature sounds very relaxing. My whole fur-fam does. And I’m very anti-caterwauling ’cause it usually sounds horrific.
That reminds me, did you hear my good news? Peep #1’s caterwaulin’ practices have been cancelled for the spring term. Yoo-hoo! YOO-HOO!!! It’s a miracle, for sure.
Purrs,
Nissy
The Swiss Cats
Interesting ! Mum says that our favorite music is the sound of the food cabinet’s door, but I really loved Spook’s Ditty ! Purrs, Pixie
da tabbies o trout towne
guys…try harp…plane..nothin else added…harp…matterz knot de artist 🙂 ♥♥♥
Kathryn
Wow, that was amazing.
Ched and Mao are in the beginning of their main sleeping hours, but they both perked right up when I played the first one: Spook’s Ditty.
Their ears were straight up and pointed, like owls’ ears.
They slept through the second and third ones.
Then, I played Spook’s Ditty again, and they perked up a bit, but not like before
Now I am playing Northsound Songbird Symphony, which has twittering set to Peer Gynt’s Morning. Usually, they love it, but they’re sleeping now.
The first song really worked. I have the link and will try it again when they are in their prime — afternoon, evening.
easy rider
That was interesting! But I guessed that they like classical music, it totally fits :o) I always howl along when I hear Celine Dion… but my mom has no clue if I howl with joy or with pain :o)
Summer
I honestly don’t know about this – my human played the clips for me but I didn’t respond to them. My own favorite music is the sound of birdies in the outdoors while I’m on my harness and leash.
Layla Morgan Wilde
I thought you would respond well but maybe cats who get more stimulation in the cat show world like you respond differently.