When a piece of music falls into our acoustic and vocal range, and has recognizable tones and a tempo similar to the rhythm of a human heartbeat, we tend to prefer it. Music that falls outside those general parameters feels unfamiliar and tends to grate. We usually want to avoid it.
To animals, music created by humans for humans is foreign. Your dog’s vocal range is very different from yours. A cat’s heartbeat is also very different from a human’s. So it makes sense that pets don’t appreciate human music. In fact, studies show animals have a total lack of interest in it.
Snowdon worked with composer and cellist David Teie to try to create music that would appeal to dogs and cats.
Based on cats' reactions to their compositions, Teie has started selling cat songs through a company called MusicForCats.com.
Currently there are three styles of songs for cats:
- Playful and quick “Kitty Ditties” to arouse a cat’s interest and curiosity (this one got a definite reaction from one of my own kitties)
- “Cat Ballads” with sounds of suckling that are restful and pleasant
- “Feline Airs” based on the pulses of a kitty’s purr
I listened to the sample clips and I was not impressed. I'll take a good play session or episode of Bird TV over listening to music, kitty or otherwise, any day.
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