Pet owners adore their pets and oftentimes want to express their love for their fur babies through song. They can sing a pop song with a great hook, or a made-up song with the pet’s name included in the lyrics.
Cat owners have shared that they get different reactions from their cats when they sing, especially when they sing different songs to them.
The reactions cats have can range from the cat purring and looking contented and amused, or they just meow and remain indifferent. At other times they will literally come up to you and physically try to get you to stop singing. They do this by pawing at your mouth as if to say, “Please shut up.”
You need to understand that there are several factors involved in your singing that may trigger your cat to react a certain way. It could be the volume of your singing, or the pitch of your voice when you sing, or even just the mood your cat is currently in. Maybe your cat just wants to be left alone and needs personal space, so your presence and noise is rubbing them the wrong way.
If it seems like your cat appreciates your singing, keep doing it. But if it looks like they want nothing else but for you to stop, maybe you should take the hint.
In this article, we will discuss the different reactions cats have when they hear us sing and what these reactions mean.
How do cats feel about listening to a person sing?
- Each cat will react differently to a person’s singing voice. Like us, cats have unique reactions to unique situations. Do not expect all cats to love your singing just because your cat does. It goes on a case to case basis.
- Try singing a gentle song to your cat and note its reaction. If you have two cats, note their reactions individually. They will most likely have different reactions.
- Some cats will enjoy the experience of you singing to them and come closer and purr along with you.
- Some cats will run away.
- Some cats will hate it so much, they will do whatever it takes to let you know that they want you to stop.
- In some cases, cats will try to imitate the sounds of singing and “duet” with their owners.
How do I start singing to my cat?
- When you have never sung to your cat before, try doing so by singing in a lower tone of voice.
- Do not sing in a high pitch right out of the gate because the cat will hate that.
- Try to sing different songs with different melodies, taking note of the ones your cat responds the most positively to. If they stay and listen, that means you are doing well. If they get up and walk away, that means they don’t really care.
- Experiment with the tempo, tone, pitch, and melodies of the songs you sing to your cat.
Cat’s Sensitivity to Sound
A cat’s sense of hearing is a lot more sensitive than a human’s. They have evolved and adapted enough to hear octaves that the human ear cannot hear. They use these abilities in hunting for prey as well as in evading capture by predators.
Despite the advantages their acute hearing offers them, the downside is that their ears have also become very sensitive. Any sound that is too high-pitched or too loud for them may cause permanent damage.
This is why our singing, though soothing to us, may cause discomfort and even pain and actual damage to our cats. They have their own tolerance levels when it comes to the tone and pitch of the sounds around them. Cats have a hearing range of 60 kilohertz, compared to dogs who have a 40 kilohertz range, and humans who have a much more limited 20 hertz to 20 kilohertz range.
When singing to your cat, stay within the lower ranges of both your music and tone to not sound irritating to them.
Do cats enjoy music the same way I do?
Music and our singing voices create a vibration that our cats can sense. The whiskers on a cat’s face serve this very purpose, and can detect tiny vibrations in the air.
This is why, for the most part, your cat is not going to enjoy the music coming from the radio, especially if it is extremely loud. We normally just sing songs that we know and love without considering if the cat will enjoy it.
Cats prefer gentle songs like lullabies and hymns, or songs that have a generally low pitch and tone that will not hurt a cat’s ears. If your cat responds well to these kinds of songs, then you’ll know that songs similar to those are what they would like to hear.
Letting Your Cat Sing Along
Incorporate your cat’s name in a made-up song that has a soft, mild melody and tempo. The cat will recognize their name and wonder why it is being said in a sequence of notes.
Involving your cats in the singing is a great bonding experience for the two of you, especially when you both start vibing to the same song.
Constantly name drop your cat in different songs and see how it reacts.
What if my cat does not enjoy my singing voice?
If you have tried it all and nothing seems to work, there really is nothing you can do. Just accept the fact that singing is not something that stimulates your cat in a positive way. There is nothing wrong with you or your cat, so do not take it personally. Maybe your friend’s cat would love to hear you sing? The good thing is that there are a hundred other activities you can explore with your cat.
Conclusion
If you want to sing to your cat, be sure to choose a song that has a low tone and pitch to not overstimulate your kitty. They prefer a gentle and calm melody akin to a lullaby. Try to include your cat in the process and integrate their name into the lyrics of the song. Control the volume of your voice and make sure to not overwhelm your cat’s sensitive hearing. Once you’ve found you and your cat’s special song, it’ll be part of both of your lives forever.
Image: istockphoto.com / uzhursky