Do cats like music? Understanding cat behaviours

Wondering, ‘Do cats like music?’ You might be feeling a little sceptical about whether our favourite felines might enjoy a bit of Abba or Harry Styles, but scientists have actually been researching the effects that music has on cats for a long time. 

In this blog from Burgess Pet Care, we’ll dive into whether cats do enjoy music or not, as well as whether they prefer different types, playlists, & more! Be sure to check out our premium dry cat food before we begin, which we’re sure your cat will love to munch on alongside listening to their favourite tunes. 

But for now, let’s find out whether our cats really dig our taste in music… 

Can cats hear music?

Yes, scientific studies do show that in certain contexts, cats behave in a way that suggests they do like music. Just like humans having different tastes in music, all cats are different and might even have their own preferences, according to Daniel Warren-Cummings, a clinical animal behaviourist and Cat Behaviour Officer at Cats Protection.  

However, despite their much cherished presence in our lives, independently spirited felines are renowned for marching to the beat of their own drum. 

Do cats enjoy music? 

That leads us to understanding whether cats actually enjoy the music we’re subjecting them to. Well, cats do like music, but not in the traditional sense that humans do. Cats actually have much more sensitive hearing than humans, meaning they can hear sounds of much higher and lower frequencies. This, unfortunately, means that many popular genres of music, like pop or rock, might be quite harsh on a cat’s ears. 

If it is down to our cats, they actually would much rather it be quiet, especially when they are sleeping or hiding. However, sounds and music that cats are naturally drawn to include: 

• Classical music - Soft, slow tempos are generally well received
• Instruments with high pitches - Like pianos, harps, violins, & flutes
• Nature sounds - Gentle noises like birds chirping, soft rustling, or running water

To put this into context, music that humans listen to typically features a tempo that’s similar to the beat of a human heart. It also has a frequency range that human ears have the capacity to process, whereas highly tuned cat ears hear on a whole different sound spectrum. This has spurred scientists to develop their own special cat music, with some interesting results! 

What is cat-specific music? 

One particular study tested the response of cats to two types of music: music made for humans and music made specifically for cats. By studying cats’ behaviour and responses, scientists found that cats showed a significant preference for and interest in species-appropriate music compared with human music! 

The music that was made specifically for cats was created by David Teie, a cat-loving cellist and composer. And, when played out loud, the cats headed straight to the speakers, rubbing up against them, purring and turning their heads towards where the sound was coming from, suggesting that the cats were far more interested in the cat music than the human variety! 

>>> David’s music is now a hit with our female friends - you could say it’s cat-ching on! His album, Music for Cats, has had over 25,000 sales!  <<< 

Introduce music to your cat with a few easy steps… 

If you want to play music for, or around, your adult cat, follow these steps to ensure it’s striking the right chord! 

1. Make sure your cat feels happy and relaxed. If they are already stressed, the music might make them more stressed. Find out how to read your cat's body language to tell if they are happy or relaxed. 

2. Provide an escape route. Make sure your cat will be able to get away from the noise of the music if they want to. Keep the door to the room open and provide them with some safe, quiet hiding places in other rooms of your home, as hiding helps to reduce their stress! 

3. Start on a low volume. Keep your music very quiet at first, and avoid any sudden, loud bursts of noise that could startle your cat. Heavy metal probably isn’t the best music to start them off on. 

4. Gradually increase the volume. If your cat remains happy and relaxed around the music, you can slowly turn the volume up to a comfortable level. Avoid turning it up too loud, as this could still scare your cat. 

5. Watch their reaction. If your cat is still happy and relaxed around the music, they might be enjoying it. However, they could also be ignoring it completely! If at any point they appear stressed or want to leave the room, they probably don’t like the music and would prefer some peace and quiet instead. 

Noticing that your cat is growling, yowling, and miaowing? Be sure to read our cat communication guide to discover what their responses say about how they’re feeling. 

Help your cat love life with Burgess Pet Care!

And there you have it… Do cats like music? Yes! However, research has shown that they might prefer their own species' appropriate music instead. If you are insistent on playing your favourite tunes around your cat, make sure that it sounds calming and avoid heavy bass! 

Here at Burgess Pet Care, all of our adult cat food recipes contain all the right nutrition that your cat needs to live a happy, healthy life. Read plenty of our five-star reviews and find out for yourself how delicious and nutritious our recipes are. 

You can even explore our cat diet and nutrition guide to ensure they’re getting a well-balanced diet. Or, get in touch with our expert team for more advice and information!