Cats and musical instruments

Rosemary7391

Hi folks,


I'm thinking seriously about getting a cat when I'm a bit more settled. However, I do play various musical instruments and I remember my grandma had a dog who really didn't like the noise. Do cats usually mind that? Is there a good way to check beforehand? Wouldn't want to have them stressed out about it!


Thanks in advance
Rosemary

borkid

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Hi folks,


I'm thinking seriously about getting a cat when I'm a bit more settled. However, I do play various musical instruments and I remember my grandma had a dog who really didn't like the noise. Do cats usually mind that? Is there a good way to check beforehand? Wouldn't want to have them stressed out about it!


Thanks in advance
Rosemary

What type of instrument(s)? Over many years and many cats we have had:-
drums
saxophone
piano
clarinet
trumpet
electric and acoustic guitars
various recorders
violin


All levels of expertise as well, a 6 year old learning the violin is not a pretty sound


We've never had a problems with the cats apart from one particular piece one of the cats used to sing along with. I'm not sure if he liked it or hated it.



One point though we've always kept the cats away from the instruments definitely don't want my guitars being used as a scrachting post!

borkid

Another thought, get a rescue cat from a centre who will know the cat's personality. A placid cat who doesn't mind 'noise'.

Rosemary7391

Thanks! At the moment it's flute/clarinet/saxophone that's encouraging! Yeah, I will likely look to get a rescue. I live in a first floor flat so I'm leaning towards an older cat who would be happier inside anyway, but obviously need to double check they'll be okay with the noise as they won't be able to escape it.


I will most certainly keep the cat and instruments separate! Cannot imagine what trouble cat hairs in the mechanism could cause, nevermind knocking things over... They're always tucked safely in their cases when not in use.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Flute might get more of a reaction due to the higher pitch and timbre, but that's about it.

Oh, and if you decide to ever get a cajon, make sure it's always in the case if your cat turns out to be a bit of a porker - you would not believe how long it takes to get a cat out of one of those when they are either concerned about whether they'll fit back through the hole - or is defending its new territory with every pointy bit they possess.

And I'm still not impressed with one for the time when he chased an exceptionally large spider into the soundhole of a guitar, although the sound of his pawhammer playing style was quite nice.

theoretica

Take the flute to the shelter and serenade them? Seems reasonable to me.

phryne

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Thanks! At the moment it's flute/clarinet/saxophone that's encouraging!

If it were a stringed instrument/piano I'd be more concerned about the damage the cat will do to the instrument than the other way round. I would think with those three you should be fine. The cat can always pop upstairs/outside while you're playing if it doesn't like the sound.

Rosemary7391

phryne wrote: »

If it were a stringed instrument/piano I'd be more concerned about the damage the cat will do to the instrument than the other way round. I would think with those three you should be fine. The cat can always pop upstairs/outside while you're playing if it doesn't like the sound.

Believe me, I'm worried about the cat damaging them if they don't take kindly to them! They're all good instruments, I get them serviced yearly to keep them in top working order. They won't take kindly to being dropped or investigatively clawed. Saxophone is 90 odd years old and difficult/expensive to get repaired.


I live in a first floor flat so there would be no upstairs or outside for the cat to escape to... I do like the idea of serenading the rescue centre - would probably look like an idiot but at least I'd know for sure then!

GreenQueen

Rosemary7391 wrote: »

Thanks! At the moment it's flute/clarinet/saxophone that's encouraging! Yeah, I will likely look to get a rescue. I live in a first floor flat so I'm leaning towards an older cat who would be happier inside anyway, but obviously need to double check they'll be okay with the noise as they won't be able to escape it.


I will most certainly keep the cat and instruments separate! Cannot imagine what trouble cat hairs in the mechanism could cause, nevermind knocking things over... They're always tucked safely in their cases when not in use.

Assume this is referring to the instruments, not the cats. On the other hand...

Callie22

We have a piano and the cat doesn't mind the noise at all. She's never really been allowed/encouraged to jump or sit on it so she ignores it most of the time, although she does occasionally sleep on the piano stool. She really isn't that bothered by music generally although there is the odd piece where she'll make it clear that she's not impressed - it tends to be strings or high-pitched singing that worries her, and sends her running to me for a cuddle. Mind you, she really, really doesn't like the sound of babies crying or children shouting either so I think it's more high-pitched, distressed sounding noises than music as such.

WibblyGirly

My cat doesn't care about guitar noise, he sleeps right through it