Yoga meditation music helps cats relax

A study shows that when they are unwell,

cats became less stressed when they listen to relaxing music.

Student veterinary nurse Sian Barr carried out the research on cats being treated at a vet's surgery.

She found that those who were played yoga meditation music and Om Shanti tunes calmed down and began to breathe more slowly while in cages at the practice in Powys, Wales.

Miss Barr, who has just graduated from veterinary school with a first class honours degree thanks to her research, said: "Stress in small doses can be a good thing, such as if a cat is under stress to eat, then it can perform better.

"But otherwise, it will have a negative effect, such as in a veterinary practice.

"This is because a cat is in a cage and isn't able to do what it would like to do, so stress levels will increase and it will become wound up and angry.

"This is bad for not only its behaviour, becoming difficult for staff to handle, but also for its immune system and ability to heal."

Miss Barr, of Waterlooville, Hants, studied cats when they were first admitted by assessing their ear and eye activity, how they were communicating and respiration levels.

The 21 year old then split them into two groups, only one of which was played the relaxation CDs.

She added: "I then repeated the test after 40 minutes and was able to assign each cat a cat stress score.

"By comparing the scores, I found the music had a dramatic effect on respiration rates, with those exposed to the music decreasing to a relaxed rate much quicker than those not exposed."