YouTube is full of 'cat-calming music' — but does it really help? A vet explains
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Hello, I’m Dr. Lee Woo-jang, head of Hi Animal Behavior Clinic, where we provide science-based behavioral care for companion animals. Today’s question is simple, but surprisingly fascinating: Is there scientific evidence behind music that calms cats? The short answer? Yes — there absolutely is.
Since the person who submitted this question asked for evidence, let’s explore some published studies. You may be surprised to learn that music specifically designed for cats — based on their unique hearing range and physiological responses — can indeed reduce feline stress. Cat parents, take note!
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Cats hear a much wider range of sound than humans do. Cats can hear from approximately 48Hz to 85,000Hz — about four times wider than the human hearing range. They’re especially sensitive to high frequencies. Additionally, music with consistent tempo, soft melodies and repetitive patterns can influence a cat’s autonomic nervous system and induce a calming effect.
One landmark study supports this. In 2015, American psychologist and behavioral biologist Charles Snowdon teamed up with composer David Teie to investigate whether species-specific music could affect cats’ emotions and behaviors.
Teie composed music tailored to cats’ sensory and physiological traits — incorporating high-pitched tones that fall within feline hearing range, and rhythms mimicking the tempo of a cat’s purr. To ensure the music was tolerable for humans, low-frequency sounds were added as well. As a control group, the researchers also used classical music composed with tempos similar to the human heartbeat.
The findings were remarkable: Cats responded more positively to music composed specifically for them than to classical music designed for humans.
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But how can we tell if a cat is “calm” or responding positively? Researchers defined positive responses as behaviors like approaching the speaker, sniffing it, rubbing against it or purring.
On the other hand, a 2012 study tested the effects of classical, pop and heavy metal music in veterinary settings and recorded stress-related behaviors. Cats were calmest when listening to classical music and most stressed by heavy metal, often hiding or vocalizing more.
Still, genre alone doesn’t tell the whole story. In fact, a 2020 study found that music composed specifically for cats significantly reduced stress, while classical music showed little difference from silence. So while classical music may help some cats relax, cat-specific compositions appear to be consistently more effective.
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These findings tell us that not all music is equally beneficial. What matters most is whether it’s designed for the species and the intended purpose. If your goal is to help your cat relax, music should include frequencies and sounds that mirror feline communication — like purring — and stay within their sensitive hearing range.
So, what about the calming cat music you’ve been playing from YouTube? Based on your description, it blends gentle classical tones with the sound of purring — much like the research-backed formula. The creator of that video may have even referred to the same studies mentioned above.
That said, not every piece of calming music will work for every cat. Individual cats may react differently based on temperament and emotional state. Also, unless the track you’re using is exactly the same as the ones tested in the studies, we can’t guarantee the same effect. Still, if your cat seems soothed by the music, it’s certainly worth continuing to use it regularly as a stress-relief tool.
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As a veterinary behaviorist, I found the science behind cat-calming music just as intriguing as you did. I hope future research continues to unlock more ways we can help our feline companions feel safe and at ease.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.