Are pets drawn to low frequencies?

[MrBoat]

The reason I ask is, ever since I hooked up my subwoofer, the cat has been seemingly drawn to it. He stands right in front of it, looking into the cone just inches away while it's playing, and now, while it's on, he is laying on top of it. Is this just the opportunist in him taking a ride with the free massage the cabinet offers? You would think they would instead, run from it.

 

[Diesel57]

I don't know the answer to the question but it must be a really nice sub with character.

 

[shadyJ]

There are a bunch of youtube videos that show cats being fixated by subwoofer drivers, like this one. I can't imagine what the behavorial explanation would be, aside from curiosity. I would have thought most animals would have a natural aversion to powerful low frequencies, like how thunder scares some dogs. In nature, powerful low frequencies usually means something bad. That might explain part of the appeal to us bass junkies; there is a primal adrenaline response to strong deep bass, so it is a thrill.

 

[lovinthehd]

I think that there may be some luck of the draw here, seems most pets I've encountered with audio and most of the times I've seen it mentioned in the audio forums, is more of the runaway reaction especially as the volume goes up. Like wives.

 

[Bucknekked]

I think that there may be some luck of the draw here, seems most pets I've encountered with audio and most of the times I've seen it mentioned in the audio forums, is more of the runaway reaction especially as the volume goes up. Like wives.

That's my only personal experience too: runaway. I have a labrador retriever that is afraid of fireworks and loud noises like thunder. If I crank up the volume, I make sure she is somewhere comfortable because the subwoofer spooks her just like a thunderstorm.

As for why cats do something: is there anyone that really knows anything about why cats do what they do?

 

[TLS Guy]

The reason I ask is, ever since I hooked up my subwoofer, the cat has been seemingly drawn to it. He stands right in front of it, looking into the cone just inches away while it's playing, and now, while it's on, he is laying on top of it. Is this just the opportunist in him taking a ride with the free massage the cabinet offers? You would think they would instead, run from it.

I don't know about cats. But dogs are certainly attracted to music. I sometimes take care of my son's dog Fred at the Lake.

He likes music of the Baroque, especially Bach.

He will put his head on the arm rest between the two front chairs, right in the sweet spot and listens intently.

If it is 20th century music he wants out.

 

[MrBoat]

I don't know about cats. But dogs are certainly attracted to music. I sometimes take care of my son's dog Fred at the Lake.

He likes music of the Baroque, especially Bach.

He will put his head on the arm rest between the two front chairs, right in the sweet spot and listens intently.

If it is 20th century music he wants out.

This cat likes music too and he's on the verge of being a nuisance with it. Always trying to ninja up in my lap or always under foot.

If I didn't know better, I'd swear he was woofer drunk.

 

[MrBoat]

That's my only personal experience too: runaway. I have a labrador retriever that is afraid of fireworks and loud noises like thunder. If I crank up the volume, I make sure she is somewhere comfortable because the subwoofer spooks her just like a thunderstorm.

As for why cats do something: is there anyone that really knows anything about why cats do what they do?

To the contrary, whenever it's fireworks season, I always turn the stereo up and the animals, and even my dog would snooze right thru it.

 

[herbu]

To the contrary, whenever it's fireworks season, I always turn the stereo up and the animals, and even my dog would snooze right thru it.

I also use that strategy. When a thunderstorm is approaching, I can turn up a movie and the dog sleeps thru it. As soon as the movie stops and the dog can hear the thunder, she gets scared.

 

[slipperybidness]

The reason I ask is, ever since I hooked up my subwoofer, the cat has been seemingly drawn to it. He stands right in front of it, looking into the cone just inches away while it's playing, and now, while it's on, he is laying on top of it. Is this just the opportunist in him taking a ride with the free massage the cabinet offers? You would think they would instead, run from it.

You seem to have a bass-head cat. Next thing you know he will be throwing neighborhood raves while you are at work.

 

[lovinthehd]

Saw this Fallon monologue the other night and during the dog/cat part (just after the Super Bowl reporter bit) was thinking of this thread http://www.nbc.com/the-tonight-show/video/110m-expected-to-watch-super-bowl-li-cats-and-dogs-have-equal-intelligence-monologue/3463601

 

[3db]

My 2 dogs and 3 cats care less about low frequency or music for that matter showing no preference to a particular genre of music. Animals liking bass or music is as individual to the animal as it is to humans... This is coming from a person who grew up on a farm with all sorts of dogs, cats, cows, pigs, horses, sheep, goats, and farmyard fowl. Now the weirdest thing I saw was exhibited by two pet hamsters that started freaking out 5 seconds before the earthquake hit.

 

[j_garcia]

It is the cone movement, not the sound. My cat and dog don't care about it either.

 

[MrBoat]

It is the cone movement, not the sound. My cat and dog don't care about it either.

The cat gets on top of the speaker and has no apparent interest in it when it's not playing. He usually never goes over that end of the room otherwise. At this moment I have it jamming and he is laying on the floor in front of it facing away from it. Before that, he would park himself in front of the ports on the Tempests. The other cat, hauls ass as soon as I turn the stereo on.

When he's on it and it's thumping, you can see his body twitch. I swear he's using it for a full body massage.

 

[j_garcia]

lol. Basshead cat. My dog doesn't care. The cat seems to like music but doesn't go near the sub.

 

[Dan Madden]

My dog used to howl in obvious pain when I played my stereo but would not volunteer to leave the room. Instead, he would crawl under something and just continue to howl. I had to dig him out and dispatch him outta' the room. He really did not like it. The worse case being a harmonica! One toot of a harmonica would send the poor guy into fits of pain and howling.

Interestingly, in his later years he was totally deaf as a door knob. Fascinating !