How Music and Television Affect Animals: Are They Actually Having Fun?

How Music and Television Affect Animals: Are They Actually Having Fun?

If you have pets, you probably wonder if they enjoy the same forms of entertainment as you, like music or TV shows."Even though it seems that your dog bobs along to your favorite playlist or your cat lounges while the TV is on, do they actually enjoy it?" A recent spate of studies indicates that pets do respond to these stimuli, but in very different ways. In this post, I look at how both music and TV affects pets and if they actually enjoy this kind of experience.

Do Pets Respond to Music and TV?

Pets really do respond to the media, but they do react in different ways and those responses depend on a few things such as species, personality and the type of media. For instance, dogs and not cats are more prone to respond to sounds and music on TV.

Dogs and Music

Music can have a major effect on our dog’s behavior as they already are sensitive to sounds. Studies have found that classical music helps dogs to relax, especially in stressful environments such as at shelters and in veterinarians offices. Studies that reveal slower tempos and softer melodies help reduce anxiety and louder, more aggressive music like heavy metal, might actually increase the stress level in a pet.(Neater Pets)​(MDPI).

Curiously, dogs in shelters have also been found to calm down to the songs of reggae and soft rock, as it turns out, the right type of music might shake a pet out of a depression mood. (Neater Pets)

Even though dogs don't seem to 'like' music in the same way we do, it doesn't imply that certain music isn't actually influencing their emotions and actions.

Cats and Music

But cats are a little different. Most cats don’t pay all that much attention to human music. It turns out that cats have a better response to music that has been specifically designed for them, with sounds having a frequency and rhythm that mimics natural feline communication. Feline specific music is composed using pitches that are more in line with the cats voices and sounds they make making them more prone to focusing on it than normal human music.(NeaterPets)​(American Kennel Club)

TV and Pets

Another form of entertainment to which many pet owners provide their pets are television, as a means of stimulating them or keeping them company while they are alone. Motion and sounds on TV can visually stimulate dogs and cats. Dogs who overhear the shows have reacted according to many dog owners, reporting that their pets show signs of reacting to shows with animals or fast moving visuals. Since cats are natural hunters you might think they would be extra lured in by images of birds or small creatures hopping around the screen. (CambridgeUniversity Press & Assessment).

That's not to say that pets won't follow the TV plots; pets aren't likely to carry TV plot lines in the same way humans do. What they’re really doing is more likely responding to what they can see and hear than the context of what’s happening on the screen.

What Pets Like: Music and TV Shows?

What your pet’s favorite type of music or shows is is absolutely up to individual personality and species.

Music Preferences

But as far as music is concerned, as mentioned, dogs seem to love playing classical music, soft rock and reggae, with shelter dogs showing a reduction in stress while these genres played. But on the other side of the spectrum, playing heavy metal—or any other heavy music, for that matter—can make dogs become more anxious and unease, like shaking and excessive barking​. (Neater Pets).

But other than that, cats enjoy music made for them, while music for dogs has little appeal to cats. You’re more likely to get their attention if you compose with natural sounds they communicate with if their interest and comfort are more of a match. (Neater Pets).

TV Preferences

Dogs, on television, may be interested in shows with other animals or fast moving pictures like wildlife documentary. For some dogs, the screen will attract barking, others will just be able to relax in front of the TV, finding the motion and sounds soothing.

Visuals of birds, rodents or fish might get that cat’s attention and triggers their natural predatory instincts. It shows that feature quick moving visuals or smaller animals could be more likely to entertain your feline friend. (Cambridge University Press & Assessment).

What Effects Does Music or TV Have on a Pets Mood or Stress?

Music and TV can really make a significant dent in a pet’s emotional state. There's been many studies over the years on the stress relieving properties of music. Animal shelters as well as veterinary clinics are stress environments in which soft music is shown to help reduce anxiety for dogs. Of particular usefulness is classical music, which is slower, in highly stressed environments. (MDPI) ​(AmericanKennel Club).

There's another benefit from television, though less direct: it can provide. If dogs (and other pets) are separated from their people, human voices and visual distraction of moving images can alter their sense of isolation or boredom. Since cats are normally such independent creatures, they might not right feel the need for TV for their comfort, but might find the entertainment side useful when bored.

The Benefits and Downsides on Music and TV for Pets.

Benefits

• Reduced Anxiety: For pets who are stressed or anxious and create separation anxiety, calming music or a soothing TV can create an easier to deal with environment.

• Entertainment: Pets must be entertained, especially when you’re not around, and music and TV can be sources of entertainment for your pets.

• Environmental Enrichment: Pet's can enjoy the empathy in the background sounds of music or TV can feel soothing and provide a stimulating environment especially for indoor animals.

Downsides

Overstimulation: If pets are overwhelmed by music or TV playing too loud or with too fast a pace, it can do more harm than good. However, pets, especially dogs and cats, have more sensitive hearing than we humans​. (American Kennel Club).

Disinterest: But admittedly, some pets aren't going to respond to music or TV at all, and if you're relying on these as your only way of entertaining your pet, it may not be all that helpful. ​(Neater Pets).

How Incorporating Music or TV into the Environment Aids Owners in Enhancing their Pet's Environment?

If you want to incorporate music or TV into your pet’s daily routine, there are some best practices to consider:

Choose the Right Music: Classical, reggae, soft rock to start with for dogs. If you’re looking for feline specific music for cats, then pop them up on your laptop or ipad, pull up a YouTube search for feline specific music, and hit play!

Mind the Volume: Turn the music or TV as low as you can.

So try not to go that crazy and instead, keep the music or TV at a moderate volume while Cycling. Keep in mind that all pets’ hearing is much more sensitive than that of people, so a noise that could cause me distress could be really painful for a pet.

Observe and Adjust: Pay attention to your pet’s reaction if you watch playing music or turn on the TV. If they are relaxing, go; if they are anxious or uncomfortable, move on or stop it. (American Kennel Club).

Conclusion

Pets don’t necessarily respond to music or TV the way humans do, but they can nonetheless take advantage of these stimuli. That makes music a good option for picking tunes for dogs, in particular, and feline friendly ones for cats. Although both species can be entertained by the visual and audio stimulation received through television, it’s important to be aware of what is being showed and at what volume to keep them calm.

All in all, whether you don’t know your pet would like these kinds of entertainment or not, it’s definitely worth experimenting to figure out what suits your pet best!