What music do cats enjoy?
Posted by Warren Smith on
Have you ever had your cat glance over at you while you were listening to Taylor Swift? Have they purred along to Beethoven? Or give you a snarl when putting on that heavy metal record? There’s been a lot of research suggesting what audio your cat appreciates and is not so keen on.
Classical music to purr along to
Multiple studies indicate that cats are generally in a good mood when listening to classical music. Pieces with harmonious and gentle melodies can appeal to feline ears, as the music lowers stress and allows them to relax. As such, classical music is familiar in vet clinics and cat shelters.
If you’d like to play classical music for your cat, then why not consider the works of Claude Debussy, Johannes Brahms, and Gabriel Fauré? These three composers are well-known for their gentle melodies, which should balance any cat’s mood.
One note is that our feline friends can be averse to the sounds of violins. Therefore, it might not be wise to start learning to play that particular instrument to keep your ginger cats happy!
Soft jazz is cool for cats
If you’re not enamoured at the thought of classical music, then you can consider jazz. Specifically soft jazz. Not the abrupt free jazz with weird sounds, the calm and collected jazz. The works of musicians like Bill Evans, Stan Getz and Chet Baker are all considered to be relaxing jazz, meaning that your cat could enjoy listening to it a great deal.
Specifically made ‘cat music’
Multiple sources state that cats prefer their tailor-made music genre. What is cat-specific music, and why does cat music work to please our feline friends? Can’t grey cats and ginger cats appreciate the audiological delights of the Beatles, like us?
Cat music is classical music engineered for cats. The frequencies and tempos have been precisely orchestrated to mimic the qualities of purrs, meows, and other sounds that cats find appealing. Thus, harp overtures are mixed with gentle cat noises or the sound of trickling water. Fun for cats, right?
Heavy metal? No thank you
Suppose your playlists read like the following: Vile Creature, Slayer, AC/DC, etc. You’re a fan of heavy metal. Unfortunately, your cat is objectively not a fan of this genre. A few amateur studies have suggested that this type of music increases cat stress levels, meaning that your ginger cats will not be headbanging to Iron Maiden with you. They dislike heavy metal like a dirty cat's litter box.
Associated sounds can be appreciated
Cats can become accustomed to specific sounds and learn to love them. The Pavlovian conditioning experiment showed that animals are intelligent enough to associate instances and actions. When Ivan Pavlov rang a bell and fed his dog, the dog would get excited to eat anytime he heard the bell ring.
Your cat could be already exhibiting the same behaviour. They hear you going down the stairs and associate that sound with being fed their food! Or if you have Paramore as your morning alarm clock and you feed them straight away, they could become very fond of the opening riff of Misery Business, as they associate it with getting fed good cat food from the Innocent Cat!
Not too loud, please
Cats have been known to be startled by loud sounds. The sounds from fireworks, thunderstorms and vacuum cleaners can cause them to become stressed. This is because they are abrupt and invasive sounds. These qualities in music are also not welcome to a cat’s ears, so anything excessively loud (irrespective of genre) or sudden changes could upset your cat. That essentially rules out metal, dance music and experimental.
More than melodies
Treat your cat to more than just soothing melodies—give them a meal that truly delights their senses. At The Innocent Cat, we handcraft our grain-free, single-protein recipes using only the finest ingredients in our bespoke Yorkshire factory. From rich Salmon & Tuna to indulgent Duck & Venison, our carefully curated flavours are designed to satisfy even the most discerning feline. Explore our range and discover the perfect dish to complement your cat’s refined tastes—they deserve the best.