Cats are smart, independent animals with unique characters and a penchant for napping. They tend to bond closely with their owners and are affectionate, although some tend to be aloof and snobbish. But beware of belting out a high-pitched song, as you might just get attacked.
Why do cats hate singing?
It bothers their sound-sensitive ears
Cats have a superior sense of hearing and can detect sounds that are inaudible to humans. This wide hearing range is partly due to their predatory instincts. They can hear sounds between 45 to 64,000 Hertz, while humans can only hear between 64 and 23,000 Hertz. So, it is only natural that they will give a disapproving look when you start belting out a loud tune.
Cats have 32 muscles in each ear, which may also contribute to their high sound-sensitivity. Their ears can rotate up to 180 degrees to help them detect sounds, so if you sing out loud it could be amplified in their ears.
Loud singing is discomforting to cats, so try to keep your voice soft and at a tolerable level if you feel like singing with your cat around.
Cats also hate singing because of its quality; not only the volume. People sing in varying keys and pitches, and the disorganized singing pattern could be too much for felines to bear. If you need to sing out loud, lock yourself in a sound-proof room to spare your cat from ear damage or yourself from being scratched or bitten!
Cats have their own type of music
Cat experts note that felines do love music, but not the kind that humans prefer to listen to. When music was created based on cat vocalizations, researchers discovered that cats loved having it played to them. This is called species-specific music, and the songs are based on the sounds used in a cat’s natural communication. It can therefore be said that, while felines do not love human music, it does not mean they hate or do not appreciate music at all.
Each cat is different
Cats are unique; each one is different, just like other animals. Some cats may hate singing, but not all of them will. Some cats love the sound of singing and may even sing with their owners.
If you want to ascertain how your cat reacts to singing, expose her to music. Observe her reaction and get to know her taste for music as well. Get to know what works best for her and which type of music she prefers you to play when she is around.
Researchers have discovered that cats prefer slow and soft classical music, as well as the sounds of high-pitched instruments like the violin, cello and electric keyboard. Purring and sucking sounds also get the attention of felines, as these are what they are exposed to during kittenhood.
Some cats may also hate singing because it scares them, and sudden singing could startle them. Other felines are bothered by the movement of your lips as you sing. Some may attack their owners’ faces when they see their mouths moving too much while singing. Cats may also associate singing tones with a negative event or experience when they were younger, which should be addressed.
Do cats understand singing?
No, cats do not understand singing or the words you are singing. There is no proof, though, as to whether or not cats can feel the emotion in your voice as you sing. If the lyrics you are singing have some common words that cats may understand, like “no” or “food”, then your cat may be able to recognize those.
Cats tend to associate certain words with your tone of voice and positive associations. They lack the cognitive skills to interpret human language, but they recognize when you talk to them and use certain words repeatedly. It could be said that felines comprehend human language just as humans understand meowing, and how we interpret a cat’s language by “reading” the swish of their tail and the arch of their back.
Conclusion
Cats are unique, just like humans. They each have their preferences and dislikes, and this includes singing. Most hate it because of their sound-sensitive ears. Because they have a superior sense of hearing, loud or sudden singing could hurt their ears.
Felines may also become confused and anxious by singing, and they prefer certain types of music that use species-specific sounds that mimic their vocalizations. As each cat is different, not all cats will hate singing; some adore human music, especially if they were exposed to it during kittenhood.
Image: istockphoto.com / s_derevianko