Do you want your cat to dance with you to your favorite song? Have you tried seeking the attention of your cat by turning on loud music? Do you think he/she can groove to the music as much as you? If yes, then you must have noticed that he/she shows some interest and accompany you. However, do cats actually like music?
Well, according to the research conducted by the experts in Applied Animal Behavior Science, though cats do enjoy music, not all of them like the same type of music. They have their own style, and your cat may or may not like the music of your choice.
Some cats respond better to different frequencies and modes, and it’s called “Species-specific music.” Broadly it is explained as the order of music, which is useful in the range for every species. Additionally, your cat is not the only creature who doesn’t like every music style, but also every other animal is picky about it. In this article, we will be profoundly studying how music works with your feline friends.
The Cat’s Music – Research
In 2015, three universities Wisconsin, Madison, and Maryland, combined to compose ‘cat-centric music.’ Depending upon how the cats respond to different music, they developed new music for them. The logic was simple. Based on the natural vocalizations of cats, they found music that matched the frequency range. Usually, the octave of the music they like is different, higher than the human voices.
While calling the owner or playing with them, you can see that the cats follow a sliding voice. This frequency of the sliding sound was naturally implied as sliding notes while creating the music. The journal published at the end by Applied Animal Behavior Science reveals that most human music has drum beats that reflect the heartbeat. However, to replicate, this composer was asked to use the purring and suckling sounds of cats as the tempo.
Initially, the research was conducted with 47 domestic cats to see how they react to the classic musical beats – Johann Sebastian Bach’s Air and Gabriel Gaure’s Elegie. It turned out that none of the cats responded to the music. However, the cat’s music is found to be successful because when it was played to the same cats, they became very approaching and excited. Some of the cats even tried grabbing the speakers and staying close to the music area.
Why is the research significant?
The music composed back then is still found to be one of the proven methods of therapeutic sessions in vets. In 2019, the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine found that cat-specific music can lower stress and change behaviors in cats. Many shelters for cats, boarding homes, and vets found that this was the right channel to ease them and keep them calm. This music research led to the framework of creating music for different species by analyzing and studying their biological response to frequency. Hence, the research became an integral part of the music for cats.
Facts about cats listening to music
Cats have superior senses:
Cats have the highest range and sensitivity when it comes to senses. Naturally, they respond to music because of the whiskers, and also, they are furry. They could even find when there is the slightest movement in the air. Check the below table to find out how they possess superior senses.
Senses |
What’s significant? |
How does it impact behavior? |
Smell |
200 million odor senses while humans possess only 5 million |
Cats can smell 14 times better than humans. They can easily differentiate the smell, and unfamiliar odors upset them more. |
Taste |
473 taste buds |
Usually, cats are powerful respondents to food through smell, not taste. Thus, you can always provide them with nutritious food that they are fond of the smell of. |
Sight |
Movement Detectors in Retina |
The retina movement detectors help them to calculate the distance by increasing the amount of light that passes through the retina. It allows cats to see even in low lights. |
Hearing |
27-muscles in the ears. It can rotate 180 degrees to scan the environment |
Cats have a range of higher frequency than dogs. It can determine the sounds and easily identify if something is unfamiliar. They even can sense where the sound is coming from. |
Touch |
Whiskers help in the change in the environment. Also, they are embedded with three-layer fur. |
Cats get easily attached to the place or humans because of the deep-rooted sensory cells under their fur. They stimulate easily with the touch. |
Now, it becomes apparent that they will be able to trace the difference in the frequency and range of electromagnetic fields while the music is played. They know the harmonies, sounds, and rhythms pretty well as humans. Thus, they are strongly picky about it.
Cats stick to the music they love: When we love a particular song, we get certain about it, and it’s already in our heads all the time. Similarly, cats are also attached to certain music and sounds. Also, cats are animals with great memory; hence, they get fixated on this music just like how they form an attachment to certain toys and household objects. So for this birthday, gift your cat friend with the DVDs of David Teie’s Music for Cats and Bradley Joesph’s while you are gone. They are dedicatedly composed for the cats.
Cats’ happy music: It is quite evident that they react happily to the songs that they love. But, it is also observed that seeing their owners happy, they try to pick the happy vibes with them. At that time, they don’t react because of music, but they really enjoy dancing and responding to their owners.
Final Words
All the evidence proves that cats do like music, and they respond well, but just not like humans. The research in the field of animal music is still continuing. One day we may find a whole new range of music on Spotify that is pet-friendly. Just as with humans, music is stimulating, and it can change your pet’s behavior. It enriches the experience of mental stimulation that they can enjoy. Give them the taste of music that they like, and you can easily spot the difference. Especially to cats, since they are highly sensitive, emotional stimulation is the most significant part of their life.
