How Cats Respond to Music: Does Olga Have a Favorite Tune?
Hi, I’m Christopher! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my silly Russian Blue cat, Olga.
Some musicians produce songs and videos for cats, but do the cats appreciate them or secretly wish their owners would stop subjecting them to the noise? Pet owners probably hope their cats have similar tastes in music, but unless they can manipulate the stereo or phone controls, their cats don’t have a choice. Our music is also our cat’s; a polka fan’s pet listens to polka music, and a DJ’s feline is subjected to dance music and probably hard of hearing.
Your tastes change as you mature, and I’m glad my cat wasn’t around when I was an eighth grader who blasted Bad Brains or the Dead Kennedys at full volume in my room. If you examine studies or articles about which genres of music annoy cats, you’ll notice that heavy metal is more despised by cats than the others.
It’s disappointing for heavy metal fans, but it’s likely due to the music’s volume rather than composition. Most metal songs aren’t played at a low volume, and my mom never said, “Will you turn that up, son? You're not playing Iron Maiden loud enough!
Music She’s Unlikely to Hear
I don’t think Olga has a favorite song or genre of music, and like most cats, I don’t think she cares about the music as long as it isn’t too loud. However, she hasn’t heard EDM, modern country music, or today’s pop music unless it came from the television. Since I don’t allow guests to play songs I despise, Olga’s exposure to some genres is limited.
I haven’t experimented on her and don’t plan to since I would have to endure songs I dislike. Olga has listened to classic rock, jazz, blues, classical, heavy metal, punk (or new wave?), and accordion tunes from Hungary, and it all sounds the same to her.
Although she looked surprised the first time the MGM lion roared before a film, she isn’t very interested in wildlife programs, even the ones on birds.
Keeping the Volume Low
Cats have sensitive hearing, but I didn’t consider that when I was younger and held parties with loud music. My Siamese cat usually hid in my room to escape the music, and Olga would probably do the same if I turned the volume to the max on my stereo.
I’ll always play music at home, but I don’t play it loud enough to rattle the walls or damage the cat’s hearing. I know cat owners my age who haven’t lost their love for blasting their music, and some think it’s amusing when their cats run to escape the noise. If they hide in another room away from the speakers, their hearing is probably safe, depending on the decibel level.
Olga only runs and hides when she hears fireworks and doesn’t react much to sounds from the television or stereo. She may like my music more than the silence, but until she objects to it, I’ll continue to entertain her with good tunes.
This article is a part of Christopher and Olga's series.
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Christopher Bays is a writer and editor with a soft spot for cats of all shapes and sizes. He enjoys researching and caring for Olga, an adopted Russian Blue mix who is always by his side while working. In his free time, Christopher enjoys gardening, writing short stories, listening to music, and hiking.
