Research overview: auditory enrichment and music for shelter and clinic cats

Sound is an often-overlooked feature of the captive environment, and research has examined whether auditory enrichment can calm cats in shelters and veterinary settings. This overview surveys studies of classical music, species-specific 'cat music' composed around feline vocal frequencies, audiobooks and silence, measuring effects on behaviour, stress scores and physiological signs during stays, examinations and anaesthesia. It discusses evidence that certain music reduces stress relative to noisy or silent conditions, the importance of controlling overall noise levels, and individual variation in response. It also considers the broader role of noise as a chronic stressor. The synthesis frames managing the acoustic environment, by reducing aversive noise and adding calming sound, as a low-cost contributor to feline welfare.