Does Music Help My Cat Stay Calm?
September 4, 2026
Cecilia Marnero
Keçi is a disabled cat that was adopted in Turkey by Pınar Göktaş, a musician and rescuer.1 Due to an unfortunate household accident, Keçi suffered a brain injury that caused her to have frequent seizures, mobility issues, and anxiety.4 At first, Keçi wouldn’t move by herself – when she was left in a room, she’d stay there until Pınar picked her up again. But one day, something amazing happened. Pınar started to play the saz (a kind of lute that makes a warm and beautiful sound), and Keçi came all by herself to listen to Pınar playing. She stayed by Pınar’s feet, closed her eyes, and relaxed completely for the first time since she was adopted.
In Pınar’s music and voice, Keçi found peace and relief, and since then, both have had a happier life.
Like with Keçi, could we use music to calm other cats the same way? Would any kind of music have the same effect? Could they love the music we love? Would they prefer Taylor Swift or are they more of a Beethoven kind of species? Let’s explore this further.
How Music Affects Us
It is known that for we humans, music can have a huge impact on our mood. Science has extensively studied how classical music affects us, and has proven it can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, increase neuron connections, and has many other benefits.5 And since humans and cats have similar brains,2 we can assume music helps them, too. Right? Well, the answer is yes – but also no.
When we listen to music, our heart rate, breathing, and brain waves sync to the tempo of that music. So, when the tempo is slow (as in John Lennon’s “Imagine”), our heart rate slows as well, taking us to a state of relaxation5 that feels safe.
Another factor is frequency. Sounds are vibrations that our ears translate into signals to the brain, influencing its state. When frequencies are low (such as those in Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy”), the brain is induced to a state like one we reach through meditation, as opposed to high frequencies that increase focus and problem resolution.5
The good news is: feline and human brains are similar. So yes, cats could listen to music and react to tempos and frequencies as we do. But here’s where our differences come into play.
How Music Affects Cats
Cats can hear higher frequencies than we do. Also, their heart rate is significantly faster. So the same music that calms us down might not be the right tempo for them or could even provoke the opposite reaction.7
Fortunately, scientists love cats too and did some research. First, they understood that the best music for cats aligns their favorite tempos and frequencies, and includes the sounds that are familiar and pleasant to them, but what are they?
Researchers found that the best frequency for cats is the one they use in their vocalizations. As for tempos, cats like those they remember, like suckling as kittens or other experiences they find familiar and enjoyable that remind them of times of calmness and safety. Sounds could also help in the same way: a heartbeat may remind them of mom when she was nursing them, or sounds present in the environments they love, like nature. Cats love predictability and smooth transitions, so they’d probably prefer sounds such as the warm, resonant tones of a cello instead of strong piano strokes. Vibrations are a source of information for them, so music that vibrates too much could be confusing.7 Even though there is music that both cats and humans like, the best music for cats is made with their particular tastes in mind.
Cat-Specific Music
Musician David Teie teamed up with scientists to create and produce “cat-specific music” to help them calm down and relax.7 They used cat vocalization frequencies and tempos that mimic the sounds of purrs and birds. Next, they mixed in some additional sounds: meowing, purring, suckling, and birds chirping – avoiding harsh or sudden changes of rhythm as well as bass or other sounds that could create deep vibrations.
After a careful composition, they proceeded to test their cat-specific songs in a shelter, and the results were amazing. First, cats showed that they were much more interested in David’s music than in any other music catered to humans. Also, some cats fell asleep or relaxed immediately, while others were curious to find the source of those sounds.
As a result of these findings, other scientists expanded the research to include cats on visits to a veterinary clinic, and results were also promising: cat-specific music proved to be better than classical music, or not listening to music at all.3 All great news, now knowing what they love. It just might not be Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood.”
My Cat-Specific Music
Even though scientific theories have now been tested with many different cats, how your fluffy kitten will react remains the question: you might need to run your own tests to find out.
Be open to playing a musical instrument yourself: your cats will be your biggest fans, so give them your best. Sing using different intonations and tempos. If making music is not your thing, play what you can find online, and don’t miss the list we share in the last section. Try different genres, bands, and volumes. As Pınar did with Keçi, observe how they react: do they sleep, purr, look for where the music is coming from, or rub themselves against the speakers? Is there some other response you can recognize – perhaps a sign of joy or calmness? You could record videos to compare later, or show the world in a brag on social media what incredible taste in music your cat has! But, be aware of an unwanted reaction: don’t leave your kitty alone for long periods of time with music you haven’t tried yet. Make sure they like it and are comfortable with it first.
When Is It Best to Play Music to Help Our Furry Friends?
Now that we know what kind of music is better for cats (while keeping in mind that every cat is different and has its own taste and preferences), we can use cat-specific music when our cat needs it. This could be especially helpful when they’re alone during the day, or in any other potentially stressful situations like visitors in your home, noisy celebrations, changes in their environment, moving to a new place, or other situations you know your cat dislikes.6
Where to Find Cat-Specific Music
Here are some names and playlists that you can use with your feline friends. Even though they all have great reviews, some might not work with your cat as well as they did for others. Try different options, and then create your own playlists with your kitty’s favorite tunes.
- YouTube: there are many options for hours-long tracks, playlists, and channels to try. Two favorites are RelaxMyCat and CatsOnlyChannel.
- Spotify: try David Teie at Spotify – The musician who made scientifically-proven good songs for cats has his music on streaming services.
- Human and cat-friendly music: search human genres such as Ambient New Age, Soft Solo Classical Instrumental. Claude Debussy’s “Clair de lune” and Erik Satie’s “Gymnopédie” series are good examples. Instruments to look for are lutes, harp, acoustic guitar, or piano as long as they’re slow and soft.
(Note: we are not affiliated with any of these creators in any way, but wanted to save you some time and give you a few popular suggestions to start with).
Takeaways
Like Keçi, our beloved feline friends sometimes need help to cope with stress. Whether at home or in difficult moments in their life, music can be a cheap, easy, and beautiful resource to find relief and comfort. This is our invitation for you to find the best tunes for your kitties; to discover together the melodies that you both love, becoming the soundtrack of your life together.
References
- References
1. Aydın, T. (2024, January 18). Kedilerle eksik olan parçasını tamamladı! Pınar Göktaş ve Keçi’nin hikayesi. Aydın Haberleri | Sokak Röportajları. https://www.aydinhaberleri.com/kedilerle-eksik-olan-parcasini-tamamladi-pinar-goktas-ve-kecinin-hikayesi
2. FirstVet Inc. (2022, April 18). 10 Things You Might Not Know About Your Cat’s Brain. https://firstvet.com/us/articles/10-facts-about-your-cats-brain
3. Hampton, A., Ford, A., Cox, R. E., Liu, C., & Koh, R. (2019). Effects of music on behavior and physiological stress response of domestic cats in a veterinary clinic. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 22(2), 1098612X1982813. https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612×19828131
4. Keçi – A Goat-like Cat Surviving via a Song. (2024, August 29). https://www.catswoppr.io/post/ke%C3%A7i-a-goat-like-cat-surviving-via-a-song
5. Latala, J. (2025, December 3). Classical Music & Brain Health: Mozart Effect Explained. https://interlude.hk/why-do-we-feel-good-listening-to-classical-music/
6. Paz, J. E., da Costa, F. V., Nunes, L. N., Monteiro, E. R., & Jung, J. (2021). Evaluation of music therapy to reduce stress in hospitalized cats. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, https://doi.org/10.1177/1098612×211066484
7. Snowdon, C. T., Teie, D., & Savage, M. (2015). Cats prefer species-appropriate music. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2015.02.012