Hey Pet Parents & Pet Lovers,
As you may already know, my little one went through two operations last November. While going through recovery, we noticed he was still very agitated and started looking up the different ways we could ensure he stayed calm and got the sleep he desperately needed. Along the way, I found articles about the effect calming music (specifically piano and other softer melodic instruments) have on cats and started to play music for Beau. We noticed almost immediately, that Beau started calming down more, slowing his breathing and getting more hours of sleep in. So, when I got tired of some of the playlists I found, I decided, why not do some research in what makes “cat music” work, and took a crack at writing some of my own.
You may not know this, but I’m actually a musician who primarily writes soundtracks for live theatre and film. So, writing for Beau wasn’t too far out of my reach or comfort zone. I spent a lot of his recovery sitting by him playing my piano and doodling about the instruments I had in my folio, trying to find a perfect match for him. Excited by the progress Beau was making, I continued to write, letting my vet know about Beau’s recovery and asking her if she would be interested in sampling some of the songs I was writing. To my surprise, she said YES and started playing the music to recovering kitties in the hospital, giving me updates on how the cats were doing with the music and letting me know which ones they liked best.
It’s been a few months of me working to perfect the music, but it’s all done now! I’m so excited to be sharing it with you. This music is geared to cats who are going through recovery, are anxiety filled, or have high-stress levels. All the music is very calm, and while geared towards cats, I hope that pet owners also enjoy it. It’s quite calm and uses a variety of instruments including an acoustic guitar, piano, bells, a harp, rodes, a vibraphone and many more.
I did my best to make this album simple, as I didn’t want to make it hectic for the kitties as they do better with simpler and semi-repetitive phrases. Although, my research shows that there are other forms of music that have proven to work for cats, and I’m slowly trying to learn how to create music but that might takes some more time! I’m excited to be learning how to create cat specific music, especially because it hits so close to home, and feel so lucky to have a vet who supports the endeavour.
The album is now FREE to listen to through Spotify! If you absolutely love the album and want to use it while you don’t have internet, or on your journey to work, I have published it to a number of online stores which you can find here.
Furthermore, I would love to know if you try any of the music with your cats and hear how they’ve reacted to it. All feedback is important to this new adventure and I actually can’t wait to see what sounds and music can help my cat and others around the world. I do hope to continue writing music to help cats destress and will collect all of it on a new site I started called Catnip Chorus.
And I’d love to take the time to thank you again for supporting my blog and hope that this helps those of you struggling with stressed out kitties. Let me know if you have any questions, and hope this wasn’t “sales pitchy.” I’m just super happy to have this done and be able to share it with all of you <3
Oooh, I want to try your music out on Angel, who is in her own upstairs apartment. May have to go the CD route, but I’ll discuss with The Hubby and let you know! Thank you!
Ahh! That’s exciting! Let me know and I can see what I can do for you š
Johnny; HOW COOL IS THIS !!!!!!!!!!!!!! When Sauce was going through a very rough time; I played harp music for him { downloaded from ITunes } and granted it did not
cure him, but it helped calm him and sooth him and help him rest and be as comfortable as possible. I’ve listened to these tunes; you have a God given talent that’s amazing. Wishing you all the best in this venture. I will play this tonight when I get home and see how Tuna reacts and let you know. I hope you reach out to shelters, as well as veterinarians, as the animals in both “circumstances” { wording there } could benefit by hearing your music. ā„ā„ Laura
Thank you so much friends! I will definitely be reaching out to both to see if there’s interest to play them for their cats <3 So glad to hear you liked the songs and can't wait to hear if Tuna likes them š
just played the sound bits, he stayed right by the ipad until song 9,, something he rarely does, then went to get a drink. I played the rest
of the bits and he’s in the middle of the room, chillin. when he first
heard the notes, he started to purr and did so again when he came
back from getting a drink..tuna says 984 paws up! ā¤ļøā„ļø
AHH!! That’s so awesome to hear! I’m actually fairly interested in collecting accolades from folks to post on catnip chorus. Would you be interested in continuing to try the music and perhaps write a quote if your little one likes it that much! Let me know! You can also e-mail me through the contact page š
I’d be more than happy to post a favorable comment for you for use on this blog, or one for you to copy and paste on other social media { I’m only on blogger…no facebook, istagram etc } I can email that. I can also comment on catnip chorus if you’d like once it’s good to go !! Let me know, I’m happy to help š ā„
Hey! I would appreciate it via e-mail! Catnip Chorus won’t have any commenting on it, it’ll stay pretty static! <3 Thank you so much in advance
We’re definitely gonna check it out. The mom keeps a radio on in Zoey’s room all the time so she has something to listen to.
If you do let me know! I’d love to know how Zoey does with it š
That is so cool! Here we have almost exclusively classical music going most of the day…internet, radio and sometime the TV music channels. Sometimes a live broadcast from Germany or other venues. We used to have live on the spot music here when the oldest son was here, he played piano and organ. Petcretary used to play violin many, many moons ago…pappwy the French horn. We both dabbled in other instruments, too…and we both used to sing in choirs. Petcretary’s Mother’s furmily was/is quite musical too…that is where she learned to love it.
There used to be pups in her growing up furmily who were not impressed with that violin sound, nor the recorder/melodica, they always sang along…or is that their way of saying hey that;’s great, I want to join you?! MJF and Dalton was/is indifferent.
Sometimes at her work, Petcretary will turn the TV to a classical music channel and it seems to calm restless residents.
I like how you are using the input of your vet to help decide what works. And its great to hear your compositions, too:) You have much talent. Maybe making some for pups? Or babies/young children, or even older adults in nursing homes, like where Petcretary works.
(My parents and their fellow residents would always respond to the hymns and other tunes they knew as young people,)
Hey Friends! So cool to hear your experiences with music!
I would love to branch out to pups, babies/young children and adults in nursing homes! I was actually researching pups a while back and it seems like reggae seems to be the most popular music with them, which is super far out of my comfort zone, but I haven’t really done much more research to see if there are other styles that work well with them. Maybe sometime in the future!
Also, I’d love to work on music for older adults in general since I teach in a Seniors Centre! Would be cool to help aide those I’m surrounded by!