Strauss for feline surgery?!

A recent study in the Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery revealed that cats not only benefited from music while undergoing surgery, but they also responded more positively to certain types of music.   Classical music evoked the most positive effects, evidenced by lower respiratory rates and less pupillary dilation (fear and stress cause pupils to get bigger: think Puss In Boots in Shrek!).  Pop music (Natalie Imbruglia) produced some positive effect, though less than classical.  Heavy metal, such as AC/DC, actually induced stress!  So, yes, please to Johann Strauss waltzes with surgery for our feline companions.  See a link to the pioneering research article below:

http://jfm.sagepub.com/content/early/2015/04/01/1098612X15575778.full.pdf

Rest assured, I will ensure that my feline patients have Mozart, Bach, and Handel to soothe them in my surgical suite!

Katy Hazzard, VMD