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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to have evidence that cats are musical??

22 replies

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 11:51

We are a family of 5 semi-Persians who are outnumbered by 6 cats, two of which are actual Persians, the others of the Ragdoll variety.

At Christmas, we noticed a very distinct change in the behaviour of one of the Persians when the song “Walking in The Air” by Alex Jones came on. She literally stops everything when she hears this particular song, closes her eyes and puts her nose in the air. She also purrs “vocally” in a different way. When the song stops she fixes housing a state and miaows as if she wants it on again. The whole family and visitors have witnessed this. I’m not imagining it. Also, normally she hates being brushed, but wil allow it if you play this song.

Her brother also seems to quite like it, but he’s generally in a cat trance, so harder to tell.

We have a male Ragdoll cat who genuinely tries to sing (no I’m not joking) to Disney’s “Whole New World”. Only that song - no other and we’ve tried all the Disney classics. I know it sounds crazy but it’s true. I think it’s because my daughter used to sing it to him when he was a kitten and now he associates it with that.

Does anyone else have musical cats? Thankyou.

OP posts:

Original poster

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 11:52

“Fixes you with a stare” - not “housing” - sorry!

OP posts:

Seeline · 14/08/2019 11:52

I think we need video evidence.

But all my cats loved playing hte piano.

Original poster

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 11:56

My daughter might have video evidence. But I’m not sure I should “out” myself as a mad cat woman, not beyond those who know me anyway.

OP posts:

HeadintheiClouds · 14/08/2019 11:57

Singing cats...

HeadintheiClouds · 14/08/2019 11:59

Ha, the minute I typed that an ad for Feliway appeared and half the screen loaded up with cats!

Seeingadistance · 14/08/2019 12:03

l’m not sure I should “out” myself as a mad cat woman, not beyond those who know me anyway.

As you seem to have 11 cats, I suspect that ship has already sailed!

Video evidence would be welcomed but not required as cats are obviously multi talented and gifted creatures who can excel at whatever they choose to turn their paws to.

Original poster

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 12:05

No six cats and five humans! But yes, the ship probably has sailed.

OP posts:

Seeingadistance · 14/08/2019 12:14

Ah! Six cats. Same ship, yep!

I have three and can see the ship preparing to launch. It would already have disappeared over the horizon if cat number 4 hadn’t decided to move in with next door neighbour.

ModreB · 14/08/2019 12:18

I had a semi feral cat when I was very small who used to stop and put her head in my mouth when I sang "I only have eyes for you" (old gimmer ). I also trained her to run round the garden in a circle like a lion at the circus, sit on a box and beg. She also let me put her in my dolly pram and push her around, as long as I sang to her. She was an amazing cat and I still miss her, nearly 50 years later. She was never restrained and could have stopped at any time she wanted.

I currently have a part persian cat, also semi feral, that loves to sit next to DH and purrs really loudly when he plays the guitar. She's a rescue, and is looking to be as good. We're going to take her camping as her previous human said that she loved it when they took her. (No neglect or anything, just circumstances meant that they couldn't keep her).

Summerunderway · 14/08/2019 12:19

Your household sounds like the cat's whiskers op!!
My ddogs like dancing with me so I believe you!

Jemima232 · 14/08/2019 12:21

It would already have disappeared over the horizon if cat number 4 hadn’t decided to move in with next door neighbour.

NDN must be serving v. delicious cat food in that case.

One of ours keeps buggering off for hours then comes back licking her lips and declining her dinner.

I wonder where she goes? Six-Dinners-Sid springs to mind. Although in this case it would be Two-Dinners-McVicar.

She can't sing though.

GrassAndDaisies · 14/08/2019 12:25

YANBU. Cats are highly intelligent animals 😻

Original poster

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 12:29

Wow Modre. She probably finds the guitar very soothing and enjoys it. Will she not get lost camping though?

Seeing - did your neighbours have any say in the fourth cat moving in?

OP posts:

exWifebeginsat40 · 14/08/2019 12:36

one of mine does a sad miaow, which is exactly like Eliza Doolittle’s exaggerated Cockney ‘Aaohh’ noise in My Fair Lady.

i swear she once said hello to me, but i do take a lot of medication so this may be an unreliable example.

i clicker trained my rescue boy to give me a paw for Dreamies. now, at teatime, he follows me about, tapping my foot with his paw to ask for food.

when they develop opposable thumbs, world domination will be swift, noisy and smell of fish. don’t say you weren’t warned.

Original poster

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 12:48

Indeed exWife.

Yes, one of my cats will put his paw on my foot for Dreamies too. But if I’m not quick enough, a quick bite to the ankle usually does the trick.

OP posts:

GlitterNails · 14/08/2019 12:49

One of mine really likes being sung too. He will relax and purr and is just very obviously listening. The other two couldn’t give a monkeys though!

ScreamingValenta · 14/08/2019 12:52

One of mine will stand up on his hind legs for Dreamies. Alas, I haven't noticed either of mine are musical, although they seem to like the television being on. Most of the time they ignore it, but when it is switched on they will get up and parade round and round the screen!

Spingtrolls · 14/08/2019 12:55

One of mine says hello daily. Usually when we've been in the kitchen and I've left.

But yes they both react to different music.

However, I wouldn't rely on me, I think they are aliens hence all the freedoms they've always had. And look at how the Egyptians revered them.

Original poster

Rethymnon · 14/08/2019 12:58

Yes the cat who listens to Alex Jones will also watch TV quite often. She loved Wimbledon and was jumping up tapping the screen. If there’s a wildlife programme on she either hides or tries to peep round the back of the screen, but she gets very alarmed indeed. Her brother is totally different and only really opens his eyes for a few hours per day. Amazing how they’re so different.

OP posts:

Seeingadistance · 14/08/2019 19:31

Oh oh oh!

Someone from Radio 2 has been reading this thread! You’ve to contact them now to tell them how your pets react to music!

ScreamingValenta · 14/08/2019 19:39

Well, it's nice that a happy AIBU thread has been taken by the press for a change.

ModreB · 15/08/2019 08:58

@Rethymnon, the plan is that we set up the camper over the winter, so she can come and go inside as much as she wants. The caravan will be in the same place for the season, so 10 months. Then, her scent is all over it, so it smells like home. But, as she currently sleeps on my head every night, I suppose that I smell of home to her.

DH can play his guitar, the cat gets to experience another place, so all will be right with the world

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