Teach your cat to meditate

This is a very interesting story!

But, there was a study done recently in the UK on kitties. A student veterinary nurse studied cats when they were in a vet's surgery. She found that cats who were played yoga meditation music and Om Shanti tunes were calmer than those who weren't. Their breathing also slowed.

The student doing the study, Miss Barr, said, "It [stress] will have a negative effect, such as in a veterinary practice. This is because a cat is in a cage and isn't able to do what it would like to do, so stress levels will increase and it will become wound up and angry."

She found in her study that those who got played the yoga music had a dramatic effect on helping the cats to calm more quickly.

I wonder if yoga music might have helped our little Miss Girl in calming down. We would have had to play it 24/7 for her though as her anxiety levels were high much of the time! Have you ever tried playing calming music for your pets? We actually have CDs in our store that are relaxation music for pets (and for owners). Would you ever try out this idea for your pets?

--Tammy

Comments

[Laurel]

I notice different affects with my dogs...when I play loud rock music, they are agitated and can't seem to find a spot to settle into. But, when it's classical or jazz, they're snoring in the living room. Haven't played any around my cats, though. I'll try it!

[Dana]

At out pet hospital, we have a cat boarding facility called, "The Cat's Pajamas." The cat condos are kept far away from any medical patients and any dog boarders that we have. We have a radio tuned into our local classical music station and it plays 24/7 for our cat boarders. We also have "live entertainment" (a large fishtank with dozens of fish set across from their condos). They are also able to watch the birds outside from the glass windows installed in each cat condo. I don't know if it's just the music, or all these other things combined, but I think it does make the cats more relaxed and less anxious.

[Chris Davis]

My dear cat, Dickens, spent two days in an emergency vet hospital recently. He was very sick, but also very agitated, so he was lovingly taken to the "zen" area of the hospital. A little fountain was bubbling and soft music played in the background. I really believe the soothing atmosphere, along with the calm and compassionate care he received, help to comfort Dickens...and me..in the last hours of my sweet boy's life.