If you have an anxious kitty, sound therapy can help. This relaxation method has been scientifically proven to be effective in cats, humans, and many other animals that live with us. When considering a sound therapy system for your cat, why not look at one of the leading sleep and sound therapy companies in the world?

Sound Oasis has dozens of products to help people relax and find their way to better sleep. But their solutions don’t stop at two-leggers. The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System is a quality sound machine with some impressive features and is made just for pets.

I had a chance to try out this sound therapy system for my hyperactive and trouble-making one-year-old Domestic Shorthair, Makoa, and have seen some impressive results. Find out how it has helped and why I recommend it in my full Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System review below.

Overview

Our Experience

My first experience using noise therapy with animals was when I was in college and working at a boarding kennel. For the first few years I was there, we would leave the radio on overnight for the dogs. Then, one day, someone sent us a CD of songs composed specifically to help dogs relax.

From that point on, we would play the CD on repeat every night. It had a clear effect on the dogs. The second we turned it on, the barkers would settle down and, in the morning, the building was always quiet when we talked in.

So, when I heard the same noise therapy benefits were available in a compact, portable Bluetooth speaker, I jumped at the opportunity to get it for my cat, Makoa.

Makoa is an adolescent Domestic Shorthair. He isn’t an anxious cat, exactly, but he is hyperactive and will eat non-edible objects, which can be a sign of anxiety. I wanted to try Sound Oasis’ Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System on him to see if it could help calm him down a bit.

When I got it out of the package and turned it on, he about jumped out of the skin at the sound. It wasn’t so much that the speaker was loud, but more that it manages a deep bass tone that travels straight to the chest.

Once Makoa realized that this sound was nothing to fear, he was excited to investigate. I scrolled to one of the classical music songs and let it play. After about ten minutes, Makoa was curled up on the couch snoozing beside my two dogs.

Since then, I’ve used it overnight in his sleeping room, trying out a different tune each time. So far, the Heartbeat with Purring and Woodlands tracks seem to be his favorites, though all have a noticeable effect. He settles down quicker in the evening after I shut him in his room and is less likely to wake up in the middle of the night when I use the Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System.

Features-wise, there is a lot to love about this thing. My favorite is the rechargeable battery.

As with most cats, Makoa loves to knock things off of things. With limited plugs in his sleeping room, there is no safe place to put it while it’s plugged in. So instead, I charge it all day and then set it high out of his reach at night, which works well.

The manual says the battery lasts for 4 to 5 hours, but mine routinely lasts through the night. In fact, I’ve let it run for over 14 hours without it dying.

I’m also a big fan of the app. I like how the tracks on it all have the heartbeat and purring sounds integrated into them since Makoa seems to react most to those noises. I do wish I could control the unit through the app, but using it as a simple speaker works well enough.

Overall, I am very impressed with the quality of this unit, both in terms of the sound and the build. It is easy to operate, has plenty of tracks to choose from, and the portability is amazing.

Pros & Cons

Key Features

Proven Effectiveness

Research into sound therapy in cats has shown that both cat-specific sounds (purring, cats eating, etc.) and classical music have relaxing effects on felines in stressful situations. Instrumental music that produces sound within the same frequencies as common cat communication seems to have the most profound effect on cats’ stress levels (1, 2).

The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System was created with these findings in mind. The track list, which includes 20 tracks, each 8 hours long, features multiple classical music-inspired instrumentals. Some of these are tailored to dogs and include low-frequency music, while others have tones and rhythms to mimic cat communication.

The tracklist also includes a heartbeat sound and a heartbeat-plus-purring sound. Both of these have been proven to appeal to cats and lower their stress levels.

Pet-Friendly Features

The ST-80-20P Pet Sound Therapy System includes many useful features that make it a great option for cats.

For one, this sound machine is rechargeable, which makes it highly portable and easy to use in many situations. Once fully charged, it will run for over four hours on battery. This makes it easy to bring sound therapy to your cat, whether they’re in their favorite bed or hiding in the crawlspace.

This machine is also Bluetooth-compatible. This means that you can stream your cat’s favorite Spotify playlist for them or connect to the Sound Oasis app for added features.

Through this app, you can play 15 pet-specific tracks and mix each of these tracks by adjusting sound levels for different frequencies. Each of these pet tracks includes a purring and heartbeat overlay that can be adjusted or silenced as desired. It’s worth noting, though, that the speaker does not connect directly to the app, but can be used to play the noise from the app.

The 20 tracks included on the Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System are:

Each purchase of a Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System comes with a free informational booklet with educational info on pet sound therapy, pet noise phobia, and more.

Well-Built for Lasting Quality

The quality of this little sound machine is apparent from the moment you pick it up. It is heavier than similar sound machines I have purchased for myself and is made predominantly of powder-coated aluminum, not plastic, making it more durable.

It also features a simplified control panel with just three buttons to control the mode, volume, and track being played. This means fewer components that can break.

The battery is also very impressive. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to charge and will run over 4 hours on a single charge. My unit has always lasted through the night and well into the morning.

Alternatively, you can use the machine while plugged in for uninterrupted sound.

The speaker itself is also very impressive. It produces clear sounds and has a notable ability to project bass frequencies.

Even at a lower volume, you can “feel” many of the noises it puts out. I imagine the ability to feel the heartbeat and other low-frequency noises probably has much to do with this product’s effectiveness in calming people and animals.

Like most Sound Oasis products, this one comes with a 1-year limited warranty for peace of mind.

About Sound Oasis

Sound Oasis has been manufacturing quality, effective sleep and relaxation products since 1993.

Is the Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System a Good Value?

Pet sound therapy machines range from around $30 to well over $100. The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System from Sound Oasis sits surprisingly close to that lower end.

I say “surprisingly” because this is a well-made machine with many useful functions. Considering it can double as a sound machine for people and a wireless Bluetooth speaker, I say it is more than worth the money.

How We Tested

To test this sound machine, I enlisted the help of my cat Makoa.

I used it both around the house during the day and in Makoa’s sleeping room overnight.

During the day, I took notes on how Makoa responded to the sound machine and the different tracks on it. Overnight, I relied on my catbox camera and sounds registering through the shared wall to track his sleeping patterns and restlessness to determine changes in his behavior and routine when the sound machine was in use.

I also tracked Makoa’s stress levels and restfulness during the week I tested this machine and compared those to his baselines when not using this product.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How loud does this speaker get?

With the adjustable volume, the speaker puts out up to 80dB of sound.

Can I play my own sounds through this pet speaker?

Yes! You can play your own sounds and music for your cat using the Bluetooth function or by purchasing a Sound Oasis Custom Sound Card.

Can the speaker be controlled by the Sound Oasis Pet App?

No, the speaker does not connect directly to the Sound Oasis Pet App. Rather, the customizable tracks from the app can be played through the speaker using the Bluetooth function.

Does the speaker have a timer function?

No, but if you use the app, you can set the tracks to go off after a specified amount of time.

Conclusion

If you’re considering getting a sound therapy system for your pet, why not get one of the best available?

The Sound Oasis Pet Sound Therapy System from Sound Oasis is a well-built, compact, portable speaker with a multitude of features for pets. It comes with 20 preloaded pet sound tracks including Heartbeat with Purring, which has been proven to soothe anxious kittens and cats. It also has a long battery life and a powerful speaker and can connect via Bluetooth to your phone and to the Sound Oasis Pet app.

The best part? This useful little speaker won’t cost you nearly as much as the competition while offering better quality and more versatility.