Hey, Diddle Diddle, the Cat and the Fiddle

Many songs, rhymes, movies, and stories associate animals (particularly cats) with music or musical instruments. This is funny because, according to Charles Snowdon, Hilldale Professor of Psychology and Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, animals don't enjoy human music.

Sammie doesn't appreciate the iPod music.

Pet owners seems to think that their pets like the same music they do, but this is not the case. Studies show that humans like to hear things within our vocal and acoustic range. Animals are the same way, and they enjoy their "species-specific music."

Natalie Wolchover from Discover News writes that, "To animals, human music falls into that grating, unrecognizable category. With vocal ranges and heart rates very different from ours, they simply aren't wired to enjoy songs that are tailored for our ears. Studies show that animals generally respond to human music with a total lack of interest. With this general rule in mind, Snowdon has worked with cellist and composer David Teie to compose music that is tailored to suit them."

Snowdon and Teie are currently working on composing music specifically for cats. The songs they have composed can be bought online at Music for Cats.

Maybe Finny and Samwise need some cat music to listen to. They certainly don't like our music!

~RL