How To Calm A Crazy Cat (With Your iPhone)

Posted in Communication, Software, reviews by Joe on the November 29th, 2009

Every once in a while I get an odd feeling about something I’ve been asked to review. In this case, it was an application for the iPhone that promises to calm down your pet with music. Could this really work? I reviewed it and I’ve got your answer.

About The Application

The application is called Pet Acoustics and you can get it for $1.99 in the iPhone app store. According to the site…

Pet Acoustics music has been specifically designed for the hearing sensitivities of your pet, both in frequency, volume and rhythm to calm and soothe your pet anytime, anywhere.

About The Cat

I have three cats. One is very timid, one is right in the middle, and then there’s Chaplin, pictured above. He loves when people pet him any second he can get it. It’s adorable, but then it seems like every night at 2 AM he’s tearing through the house like a crazy cat. I haven’t clocked him, but I think he’s part cheetah. As much as I love all my cats, he drives me crazy sometimes, so any way to calm him is welcome.

The Results

My first reaction was to be skeptical. In fact, I waited to try it until a time when my cat was really ripping around the house. This happened the other night. Chaplin was running around the house like his tail was on fire, so I broke out the iPhone, turned the volume all the way up, loaded the Pet Acoustics app, and stood in his path with the phone. He stopped long enough to hear it and looked interested, so I put the phone on the floor and stepped away. The picture at the top of this review was taken 5 minutes later and he remained there, listening to the music, for nearly an hour. He has his quiet moments, but to see him go from sixty to zero that fast was a great surprise.

Was this a coincidence? I had to question it, and in the interest of providing a complete review, I decided to wait and try it again. Tonight, he was full speed again and this time, I just started the app, turned up the volume, and tossed the phone to the carpet. Once again, he slowed down and then sat, listening to the music. Two for two… looking pretty good.

Conclusion

Two bucks to get my cat to calm down in an instant? There’s no question that this app is worth the cost. I can’t say how well it works or doesn’t work for other pets like your dog or horse (yeah, they’ve got your horse covered), but if you have a cat like mine, search for “pet acoustics” in your iPhone and buy it.

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Book Review: ZenDOG: Music and Massage for a Stress-Free Pet by Janet Marlow - Books - Blogcritics

Book Review: ZenDOG: Music and Massage for a Stress-Free Pet by Janet Marlow - Books - Blogcritics

Ok this is really wonderful! I get to speak at Barnes & Noble BookStores talking about the information in my book, Zen Dog to wonderful people. These young ladies were getting the science behind the music and of course Rags was the high adorable factor of the event.

Zen Dog Book Talk at Griffin Hospital Dog Therapy Program

I just had the most wonderful experience with Rags talking about Zen Dog ( Barnes & Noble) and the use of music and massage for dogs, cats and horses to a group at Griffin Hospital ( Derby, Ct) for their Dog Therapy program run by Ruth Tuccio. Ruth you are the best! It continues to be my quest to enlighten pet owners about their animals hearing sensitivities and using species specific music for their well being. At this event, the audience here was surely talking to the choir. Thanks to you all as well. Rags was a true ambassador greeting everyone at the door and

demonstrating the music's use by laying down next to the player and relaxing.

On June 21st, 2009 please join us in Litchfield, Connecticut for The 1st Annual Pet Festival held at White Memorial Conservation Center. Please bring your pet and participate in this fundraising event on behalf of animal shelters and organizations for dogs, cats and horses. The event is sponsored by Nancy Stokes, Litchfield Pet Supply, Susan Begasse, Pet Aesthetics, Southbury, CT and myself for Music for Pets and People.

The Entrance to The White Memorial Foundation and Conservation Center is located off Route 202 bewteen Litchfield and Bantam, Connecticut approx. 2 miles west of Litchfield and Whitehall Road.

Sunday, June 21st from 11-3 (rain or shine) Directions are available on my website www.musicforpetsandpeople.com Pet Festival link. Or visit

www.whitememorialcc.org

or call (860) 567-7737 Litchfield Pet Supply

The human voice on behalf of our animal world is growing. You can see it everywhere. Dogs and cats and their people are a common image as reflected in the media everyday with new products for better care for pets. The good people of the United States are leading the awareness and I am proud to be part of the movement in anyway that I can help. I had a fun interview with TV's Scot Haney on Better Connecticut, once again having the opportunity to talk about my music for pets and their hearing sensitivities. Scot is a great supporter for animal organizations and spotlights pet businesses in the state on this daily show! I am also playing my ten string guitar. Here is the link to watch the interview http://www.wfsb.com/video/18994042/index.html

Enjoy the music! Janet

On the afternoon of March 1st, I had the privilege of talking to an audience of pet lovers at The Warner Theatre www.warnertheatre.org in Torrington, CT. Rags was the roaming ambassador and the adorable factor of the event. This was the launch of Zen Dog:Music and Massage for a Stress Free Pet. ( Barnes & Noble). It was an opportunity for me to bring the awareness of hearing sensitivities in our pets to pet lovers and how it effects their pet's behavior. Common questions asked were about thunderstorms and fear of vacuum cleaners, separation anxiety and a story of a Boston terrier attacking the dust buster when in use. All the questions from these wonderful pet owners clarified the subject of how animals respond to high and low frequencies and volumes with agitated and stress behaviors. Our pets are always telling us what they are hearing. We can easily assist them for a well- balance environment for calm and confidence using specifically designed music and the touch of massage as pet owner tools. Thanks to everyone who came to the event. Rags also appreciated the extra love and treats for the day!... and the stardom photo shoot by these lovely ladies.

A few weeks ago, a visitor to my home met Rags  and looked into his eyes and said 'oh he has cataracts" and my heart sank. Rags is now 10 years old and the unexpected can occur. Everyday, I looked into his eyes not quite seeing the usual graying cloudiness signs of this condition but I did see something. With a deep breathe I made an appointment with Rags' veterinarian.  Anticipating the worst  while waiting for the vet to arrive in the room taps a unique place of character strength in myself and I assume all of us as we go through these feelings. It's good to talk about it because being their voice is our primary job in these tenuous vet visits. Doesn't your inner voice say " well I will do whatever it takes to help him or her. Anything and everything". It surely is the returned unconditional love that they give us so freely. Rags shaking and his looks of  "there is the door let's go" and my calming words filled the time until the doctor came in. Her calm analysis exclaimed that he didn't have cataracts but the condition of a dogs aging. He has Lenticular Sclorosis. As dogs age the nucleus of the lens becomes denser, harder and somewhat cloudy in appearance. ah! that was great news and made for a happy long walk afterwards with treats returning home. 

One of the aspects of meeting people as I travel  is hearing about their pets. The depth of care and love is a joy to hear. So today was the day to start a blog from Music for Pets and People website for blogging.

OK here we go! Janet