Do Cats Enjoy Music?

Do you ever wonder if your cat enjoys the same music as you do?

Do you think that your tabby might like some punk rock? Or maybe you have a ragdoll that might be a classical fan? Perhaps you have a Maine coon you might suspect loves drum and bass.

In this post, we’ll go over whether or not your furry friend might like music, and which types of music they might be more of a fan of than others.

Can cats hear music?

Yes! Cats can hear music, and because their hearing is very sensitive, they can be more affected by loud music and music with a high pitch or heavy bass than we are. So even if your furry friend seems indifferent to the music that you’re playing, they can hear it, and it can even affect their mood.

Different types of music have the potential to impact cats’ stress levels in different ways. The primary type of music that people ask about is classical. We might find classical music calming, but do cats?

Do cats like classical music?

There are some studies that have shown that classical music may lower cats’ blood pressure and stress levels somewhat. The gentle tones can have a soothing effect.

However, even more effective is species-specific music. Yes, you read that correctly, there is music out there specifically made for your cat!
Cellist David Teie from America’s National Symphony Orchestra used classical music layered with noises that mimic cat-specific sounds such as purring and suckling to develop music specifically for cats. This music has been proven to be enjoyable to cats and to lower their stress levels.

Especially when trying to keep your cats calm for a stressful situation, cat-specific music could be beneficial. Playing it before a trip to the vet or on the way there could help reduce their stress levels.

The best music for cats

If you don’t have access to cat-specific music and you’re wondering what you can play for your cat, there are still lots of options they might enjoy.

Nature sounds like birds and wind rustling through the trees could be calming for your kitty as these sounds will be more familiar to them than music. As mentioned above, while not quite as calming as cat-specific music, classical music could also work a treat.

One thing that would be best to avoid is music that is too loud, or extreme in pitch, no matter the genre. Since cats have a very sensitive sense of hearing, loud music may bother and upset them. Also, music with heavy bass has been shown to make cats more stressed. So maybe avoid the drum and bass after all!