Why are a cat's "everyday sounds" so endearing? The top three healing sounds chosen by cat owners

The sounds of daily life with a cat, like the scratching post or drinking water, seem to have a warming effect on the human heart. (※This is my personal opinion.)

Nobody asked me to "tell them!", but this time I'm unilaterally announcing my top 3 favorite cat sounds! It's really information that no one benefits from, but I'd be happy if you thought, "Life with a cat is good after all..."

[3rd Place] Longing for the scratching sound...

This is a very personal ranking, but in 3rd place is the surprisingly loud sound of a cat scratching its claws. Every time I hear that sound, I'm reminded again that cats, from their claws, are a different species from us humans.

And my imagination expands. If I had claws like that, I'd want to scratch them with a bold, rasping sound (laughs). We humans only know the sensation of cutting our nails, so I wonder what it feels like to sharpen them.

Humans do file their nails for things like manicures, but it feels like a different sensation. If I tried it once, it might surprisingly become a habit, and I might better understand my beloved cat's desire for a scratching post.

Also, when I hear the sound of them sharpening their claws, I'm once again reminded of their kindness, and a loving feeling wells up inside me. After all, even with such sharp claws, they don't use human skin as a scratching post, and in fact, they often retract them during physical contact.

To put it mildly, don't you think they're too good? (laughs)

Scratching my own nails would hurt and I "couldn't do it"... so the sound of scratching claws is probably a sound I'll forever long for but never be able to produce.

[2nd Place] This is it after all! The rumbling purr from their throat

Among the sounds of daily life that cats make, my favorite is definitely the rumbling purr when they start purring. There are many concrete research findings that it's good for human mind and body, so it's undoubtedly 100% healing, but I also love that sound because it's a testament to the trust between me and my cat.

When you first start living with a cat, it feels like there's a little distance. Even a naturally friendly cat seems to be observing your behavior, and sometimes they'll suddenly put up a wall saying, "I'm me." I like that cat-like independence, but after months and years, when those walls gradually thin and you realize, "They're purring from the bottom of their heart...!" the joy is indescribable.

Of course, some cats purr from the very beginning, but even for those cats, the purring sound you hear after some time has passed must be precious.

The purring sound, in a way, is the sound of the bond of trust you've built. There's a scientific basis for it, but cat owners know that fact, which is why they love the purring sound so much.

[1st Place] The sound of drinking water is "life" itself and brings tears to my eyes!

The glorious first place goes to the sound my beloved cat makes when drinking water. This sound is inaudible if the room is quiet or if you're not listening carefully. That's why I feel it's a truly precious and revered sound.

Personally, I also like the crunching sound my beloved cat makes when eating dry food, but I realized that the sound of them drinking water is my favorite because the act of drinking is "life." The catalyst for this realization was experiencing my beloved cat's illness.

When we started palliative care, at first I would fluctuate between joy and sorrow depending on whether she ate or not. When I heard the crunching of her eating food, or the sound of the dry food scraping against the bowl as she tried to eat, I was so happy, thinking, "She's still trying to live!" Conversely, when I couldn't hear those sounds, it was truly agonizing, feeling like the end was approaching.

However, as palliative care progressed, days without eating became "normal." No matter how many tricks I tried or what kind of food I bought, life without the sound of her eating was painful. I became anxious, thinking, "The time is finally approaching. Will I be able to live without my beloved cat...?"

At that moment, the lapping sound of my beloved cat drinking water reached my ears. Covered in tears, I heard it and thought, "This child is still trying to live until the very end! What am I doing being so faint-hearted!" and my mindset changed.

For all living creatures, water is essential for sustaining life. I will never forget the sight of my late beloved cat, who tried so hard to replenish it herself until the very end, and that lapping sound that echoed in the room at that time.

Besides what I've introduced this time, there are still many other daily sounds that your beloved cat makes, aren't there? I'd love to hear about your "favorite everyday sounds" too. Listening carefully to subtle sounds might make life with your cat even more cherished.

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