Cats have a remarkable sense of hearing. Cats and people have around the same range of hearing when it comes to lower-pitched sounds. But it may surprise you that cats can hear a greater range of higher pitched sounds than dogs. Humans can hear up to 18,000 Hz, and dogs up to 65,000 Hz. But cats’ extraordinary range extends from 48 Hz to 85,000 Hz. Like dogs they also pick up sounds 4 or 5 times farther away than humans.
“Usually, larger animals are better able to hear low frequency sounds due to larger sound-receiving structures like outer ears and inner ear components. However, unlike other mammals whose middle ear has a single chamber, the cat’s middle ear has two. This increases the range of frequencies over which the eardrum can vibrate, giving the cat one of the widest frequency ranges of hearing.
The nooks and crannies (corrugations) in your cat’s pinnae also are used to obtain information. Incoming sounds reflect off these structures, intensifying the frequencies. The cat can gauge the elevation of the sound source and whether it is coming from in front or behind.
The distance between the ears allows the cat to further pinpoint the location of a sound. Sounds reach one ear before the other, allowing the cat to compare time and intensity of the signal. The cat turns his head to orient toward the sound and his ears then move up and down to further fix on the location.
Being able to hear in the ultrasonic range (greater than 20,000 Hz) is a great benefit and is necessary in helping cats hunt prey. Mice, for example, communicate using ultrasonic vocalizations at frequencies exceeding 19–20,000 Hz.
HEALTH CONCERNS – PROTECTING OUR CATS FROM NOISE
Like humans, cats can suffer damage to their ears and hearing loss from illness, toxic drugs, and exposure to loud noises. An upper limit of 70-80 dB is considered safe for humans. At that level cats may already be experiencing hearing damage or pain.
Current regulations only address sounds human can hear, not inaudible ultrasonic sounds. Many engineered devices produce sound in the ultrasonic range, including cells phones, smart TVs, and security cameras. It may be important to monitor the effects of these ultrasonic sounds in our homes.
Since cats can hear ultrasonic frequencies, their health may be at risk. “Inaudible sounds” have been found to affect endocrine and cardiovascular function, sleep-wake cycles, seizure susceptibility, and behavior in laboratory animals. Ultrasonic noise has been linked to Feline Audiogenic Reflex Seizures. Cats may develop these seizures around 15 years of age. Protecting our cats’ hearing may decrease the risk of developing this syndrome.
Loud, sustained noise of any frequency can damage the structures in cats’ ears. I provided a list of common decibel levels in our environment in the blog “Safe Sound Thresholds for Dogs.” Because of their sensitivity, experts recommend keeping noise levels below 70 decibels.
Although there are hoods that cover cats’ ears on the market, it is wiser to set aside a quiet room for your cat to alleviate the stress of loud noises; the room should be free of electronic devices. Professional-grade sound dampening curtains or blankets in the room can be effective at blocking noise and relieving stress. If the cat prefers spending time in this “noise refuge,” you may want to take extra steps to reduce electronic noise in your house.
- Switch off devices at the plug when practical (and save on phantom power draw).
- Locate home media equipment in a closet or garage to isolate ultrasound as well as whine and fan noises you can hear.”
I offer soothing sound healing sessions for pets to reduce anxiety and stress. Book a session today tailored to your pet’s unique needs at wholeharmonichealing@gmail.com.
For additional information please refer to these websites:
https://www.royalcaninfoundation.org/en/cats-and-dogs/cats-have-an-exceptionnal-sense-of-hearing
https://thevetdesk.com/pet-health-wellness/cats/what-noise-levels-are-healthy-for-cats
https://citiquiet.com/pet-sensitivity-to-sound-why-soundproofing-can-help-your-pets/
https://www.felinepurrspective.com/your-cat-lives-in-a-noisy-world-what-do-cats-hear/
