The Christmas season, often heralded as the “most wonderful time of the year,” truly lives up to its name for many. It’s a time for gift-giving, family gatherings, and sumptuous meals. However, one aspect consistently sparks debate: Christmas music.
Whether adored or loathed, it’s inescapable during the festive period. This was humorously highlighted on December 3rd, when a cat owner’s attempt to spread holiday cheer met with an unexpected reaction.
While dogs are often seen enjoying being serenaded, many videos on the internet show cats less than thrilled with their humans’ musical efforts, whether sung in human language or mimicked meows. The enjoyment cats derive from music largely depends on the context and tone used.
In a recent video, Danielle, the cat’s owner, sings quite loudly, which might not be the best approach for cats who typically prefer softer sounds. Loud singing can be misinterpreted by cats as a sign of playfulness or even aggression.
@daniellev98 She is literally the grinch 😭 #catsoftiktok #siamese #catlover ♬ original sound – Danielle
In this video, Danielle sings Christmas carols to her cat in ‘meow,’ a humorous attempt for humans but not necessarily perceived as genuine communication by cats. Cats are astute and can distinguish between actual cat sounds and humans imitating them.
If the ‘meowing’ is high-pitched or squeaky, it might quickly annoy a cat, who are sensitive to such tones. Signs of annoyance in cats include hissing, growling, flattened ears, bushy tails, or a hunched posture.
In this particular instance, Danielle’s loud and persistent meowing, coupled with her hand movements, likely conveyed a play signal to her cat, leading to the feline pouncing on her hands. Danielle’s reactions might have reinforced the cat’s perception of the situation as playtime.
Fortunately, the cat in the video doesn’t seem stressed by the interaction. There’s no hissing or growling, just a playful attempt to catch Danielle’s moving hands. Perhaps next time, a softer, more soothing song might be more appreciated by her feline companion.
