Cats become stressed easily. Their sense of hearing is roughly five times stronger than ours so imagine how they must feel. Going to the vet is not high on your cat’s list of favorite things. This is usually a highly stressful time for your cats. Many will react out of fear and it’s no fun for all parties involved to see cats stressed out. A new study on cat behavior out of Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, La., took a closer look at the way cats behave at vet visits, and tested out a theory that certain kinds of music could be played to help put a cat’s mind at ease.
The study was conducted at LSU’s School of Veterinary Medicine, and I found the results to be rather interesting. I figured I’d share them with other cat lovers in hopes that you will, too!
Originally published in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, it examined whether playing certain types of music at a veterinary clinic could help calm a cat’s mind.
The study’s methods involved exposing the cats to silence, classical music, and cat-specific music during physical examinations at the vet office. Two weeks later, each cat was tested to a different type of music the same way.
The study’s main objective was to “determine if feline-specific music played in a veterinary clinical setting would promote lower cat stress scores (CSSs).”
And the results? When the cats examined were exposed to cat-specific music, their CSSs significantly decreased.
You might wonder, “what exactly is cat music?”
Well, I’ve gathered a sample for your listening pleasure. And if your cat is in the room while you’re reading this, feel free to let them get a listen, too. Studies show that they’re fans of it! Thanks to this study, the world will soon know that there’s music just for cats.
Smithsonian Magazine tells us that domestic cats prefer “species-specific” music, so don’t bother trying to entertain your feline friend at home with the latest Top 40 hits.
A few years ago, David Teie, a soloist with the National Symphony Orchestra, teamed up with animal scientists to develop Music for Cats. This music compilation caters to cats and features species-specific sounds that are alluring to them. It’s an interesting symphonic blend of purrs, bird chirps, and trills, but to your cat, it’s music to their highly-sensitive ears!
Wondering what music dogs like? Well, studies took a closer look at that, too. Turns out, your dog likes reggae music. Who knew?!
Maybe this means more vet offices will play cat-specific music for their feline patients to put their minds at ease. Perhaps if they did, cats would lessen their disapproval of trips to the vet. And I’m sure that would make for fewer cat scratches and fur flying.
If you’d like to read the entire study, you can do so here.
Did you know that studies have shown that cats practice selective deafness when it comes to us? Yep, that’s right. A study recently confirmed that your cat can hear you, they don’t care!
