Shelters can be a scary and overwhelming place for all animals. One enrichment option I see often is playing music. While some music, like soft classical music, does help with creating a more calm environment, there actually is music out there designed specifically for cats! David Teie found that because of the short time that kittens spend in the womb, calming music has different requirements for what will soothe the cat. He composes music that mimics calming sounds a cat would hear while it's brain is finishing development, including suckling, soft meows, bird noises, and even supersonic sounds that mimic purring. His music has been shown to calm cats down significantly. I have been using it in our shelter a lot recently and when I play it for fearful cats, almost always their body posture immediately relaxes, their pupils no longer dilate, their ears perk up instead of airplaned back, and the cats are much more welcoming to my interactions. Below are links to his website, and a youtube chanel that plays his music. You can also buy the cds on amazon. Shop | Music for Cats | David Teie
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www.youtube.com/channel/UCexE_buPudSvs09YuaanyMQ
#Behavior,TrainingandEnrichment------------------------------
Laurel Nelson
Cat Welfare Supervisor
Nebraska Humane Society
NE
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