Is Your Cat Anxious at the Veterinarian? Listening to This Music Can Relieve Their Mood

If you're taking your beloved kitten to the vet, consider playing music to soothe their anxiety. A recent study by researchers from Louisiana State University found that, compared to pop music and heavy metal, cats tend to remain calm when listening to classical music. This study was published in the April issue of the Feline Medicine and Surgery journal.

Specifically, the music chosen for the study was 'Aria' by Scooter Bere, created and produced by David Teie and sold by Universal Records in the UK. The song was synthesized using the vocalizations of cats, and created at a frequency two octaves higher than the human vocal range (55-200 Hz).

The study notes: 'The underlying idea behind the synthesized music designed specifically for cats, and its musical design, was based on the emotional centers in cats' brains activating during the nursing phase shortly after birth. Because of the widespread and piercing sounds and meows emitted during this developmental stage, these sounds were layered into cats' vocalizations to create the unique rhythm and frequency of cat-specific music.'

The purpose of this study was to confirm whether playing music specifically designed for cats in a veterinary clinical setting could reduce stress scores (CSSs), mean processing load scores (HSs), and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR).

During three audio tests (silence, classical music, and cat-specific music) were administered over two weeks during three veterinary check-ups. Stress scores (CSSs) were recorded during the examination and afterward. Mean processing load scores (HSs) were recorded during the examination. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was assessed through physiological stress.