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

The ambient sounds you only get to hear because you live with a cat—like the sound of them sharpening their claws or drinking water—seem to have a way of warming the human heart. (*Personal opinion.)

Nobody asked to hear this, but I’ve taken the liberty of announcing my top 3 favorite cat sounds! It’s really information nobody needs, but I’d be happy if this made you think, “Living with a cat really is just the best, isn’t it?”

[#3] Longing for that scratching sound...

This is a super personal ranking, but coming in at number 3 is the surprisingly resonant sound of a cat sharpening its claws. Every time I hear that, it’s a reminder that we are different species, right down to the very anatomy of our claws.

It also sparks my imagination. If I had claws like that, I’d love to sharpen them with a satisfying, powerful *scritch-scratch* too (laughs). As humans, we only know the sensation of clipping our nails, so I often wonder what it actually feels like for them to sharpen theirs.

Humans sometimes file their nails for manicures and the like, but I feel like it must be a completely different sensation. If I tried it once, it might become surprisingly addictive, and I might better understand why my cat is so obsessed with their scratching post.

Also, hearing them sharpen their claws reminds me once again of how gentle cats are, which fills me with such affection. After all, despite having such sharp claws, they don’t use them on human skin—and they often even retract them when we’re cuddling.

To put it mildly, don’t you think they’re just too sweet? (laughs)

Because I can’t do it myself without hurting my own nails, I think the sound of a cat sharpening its claws is a sound I’ll always find fascinating.

[#2] This is the one! The sound of purring

Among all the ambient sounds a cat makes, my favorite has to be the purring when they’re content. There’s plenty of scientific evidence that it’s good for human mind and body, so there’s no doubt it’s a 100% healing experience, but I love it because that sound is also the embodiment of the trust we share.

When you first start living with a cat, it feels like there’s a bit of distance. Even if they’re naturally friendly, they seem to be sizing you up, and sometimes they suddenly put up a wall, as if to say, “I am my own person.” I love that cat-like independence, but as the days turn into months and that wall gradually fades, the joy of knowing, “They’re purring from the bottom of their heart!” is beyond words.

Of course, some cats purr from the very beginning, but even then, hearing that purr after having spent time together is a precious thing.

Purring is, in a way, the sound of the trust you’ve built together. There might be a scientific basis for it, but as an owner who knows that, that’s exactly why I love that sound so much.

[#1] The sound of them drinking water makes me cry with the feeling of "life"!

The glorious number one is the sound of my cat drinking water. You can’t hear this sound unless the room is quiet or you’re really listening for it. That’s why I feel it’s such a rare and precious sound.

Personally, I also love the sound of my cat crunching on dry food, but I decided the sound of drinking water is my favorite because the act of drinking is a sign of "life." What made me realize this was going through my cat’s battle with illness.

When you start palliative care, at first you’re on a roller coaster of emotions depending on whether they ate their food or not. Hearing them crunch on their kibble or the sound of the food scraping against the bowl as they tried to eat would make me happy, thinking, “They’re still trying to live!” Conversely, not being able to hear that sound felt like being told that the end was drawing near, and it was truly painful.

But as palliative care progresses, days without eating become the “new normal.” No matter how much you try, no matter what kind of food you buy, living in a house where the sound of eating doesn’t echo is hard. I felt anxious, thinking, “The time is finally drawing near. Will I be able to keep living once my cat is gone…?”

It was then that I heard the little *lap-lap* sound of my cat drinking water. Teary-eyed, I heard that and thought, “This little one is still trying to live until the very, very end! What am I doing being so weak?” And my mindset changed.

For every living thing, water is essential to sustain life. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the image of my beloved cat trying so hard to drink water until the very end, or that single *lap-lap* sound that echoed in the room at that moment.

There are still so many other ambient sounds our cats make beyond what I introduced here. I’d love to hear about your "favorite cat sounds," too. Listening to the small, subtle sounds might just make your life with your cat even more precious.

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