Feline Sense Series: All Ears .Sandra L. Toney
1/08/2008 14:01:20
Okay, face it . . . cats are cute and those little triangular ears perched atop their heads are merely icing on the furry cake. But those ears are not just pretty decorations; they are a powerful set of investigative tools used by felines to hear what humans would find unimaginable. They can hear extremely high as well as extremely low frequencies. In other words, in the art of hearing, a cat’s ears are an astonishing machine.
So, of all the senses, including smell, taste, sight and touch, a cat's hearing is its most reliable. Felines can perceive the slightest noise and accurately judge where it is coming from. They can hear soundsthree times more intensely than humans can. The external ears, known as the pinna, are fairly large relative to a cat's head, and can rotate up to 180 degrees so sounds are captured more accurately.
Perhaps that is why the sound and tone of our voice is so important to kitty because, the more they get to know us, the more crucial the sound of our voice becomes in their world. In fact, the tone of voice you use to scold or praise your cat – even if it is the same exact phrase – will tell kitty your intent. In other words, what your cat hears are not the words, per se, but the tone in which they hear it.
For example, did they do something wrong (such as kitchen counter cruising) that they were not supposed to be doing, or are you simply telling them how much you adore and love them? The tone of your voice and how their ears perceive your words makes all the difference.
Since hearing is such a large part of a cat's life, it is important to try to shield cats from loud, high-pitched noises, which can greatly disturb them. One example is the American tradition of the fireworks display on Independence Day. In warmer climates, many cities celebrate the New Year with an explosion of fireworks. While it may be a fun time for humans watching the beautiful display, the deafening boom of fireworks can terrify most animals merely from the sound itself.
For cats, however, it is not just scary, but downright painful to their delicate, sensitive ears. You can protect them as much as possible by placing them in an interior room with a television or radio playing and try to be with them to reassure them that everything is okay.
Consequently, due to the evolutionary aspect of cats as predators in the wild, their senses progressed differently than humans – as did many other animals. While living the life of a feline, the savvy cat probably uses a combination of all of its senses to function most effectively. However, it is certainly no secret that their sense of hearing has always been their most reliable resource.
Sandra L. Toney is an award-winning author who lives in Plymouth, Indiana. Three cats own her and, no matter how she tries to distract the deep-sleeping beauties, they can hear the slightest sound of their treat drawer opening – no matter how quietly and carefully she glides it open. This just proves, yet again, that they can indeed sense their prey with those incredibly sensitive and powerful ears – always ready to pounce – even if it is only on a small selection of tasty treats.
To read the next part of the Feline Sense Series, click on the links below.
