THE PERFECT MUSIC FOR CALMING CATS

Taking a cat to the vets can be a stressful experience, but a study published in this month’s issue of the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery has shown that playing cat-specific music during the visit can help.

• Researchers at Louisiana State University lined up 20 pet cats, who were played 20 minutes of cat-specific music (by David Teie), classical music (‘Élégie’ by Fauré) or no music in a random order.
• Cat stress scores, based on the behavior and body posture of the cats, and handling scale scores, based on the cats’ reactions to the handler, were assigned for each of the cats.
• The study found that the cats appeared to be less stressed during the examination when played the cat-specific music, compared with both classical music and no music.

So what does cat specific music sound like?  As an owner of two funny furballs who stalk my socks daily, here is one of the cuts used in the experiment by David Teie.

Click HERE  to learn how a National Symphony Orchestra soloist became the go to guy for cat music. But Mr. Teie isn’t the only one trying to get on the music for cats bandwagon. Here is an 8 hour compilation of cat songs for stress relief.

From YouTube/RelaxMyCat

Relax My Cat’s music will help to calm and soothe your cat or kitten in a variety of situations. Minimise separation anxiety, reduce hyperactivity, minimise fear of thunderstorms or fireworks, stop unwanted whining, comfort sick or injured cats and calm your cat on car journeys – Relax My Cat does it all! Our music is based on feline vocal communication and environmental sounds that pique the interest of cats; it is written in a musical language that is uniquely designed to appeal to the domestic cat. All of the music is recorded on traditional instruments and the human voice. No actual cat, mouse, or bird calls are used (although it may sound like it).

Susan Saunders 2/25/20