“Human composers must envy the cat its ears. But it is sad for the ordinary cat owner to realise that there is a whole range of sounds that simply cannot be shared with a much-loved pet. It is one of the humbling lessons we learn from living with companion animals, namely that we are in some many ways their inferiors, even though as a species we have come to dominate the planet.” – Desmond Morris.
For completeness:
What is a ‘tone’ in music terms? The reference to ‘tone’ in the infographic is explained in item 2 below.
In music, the term “tone” can have a few meanings, depending on the context:
- Pitch/Frequency: A tone refers to a sound with a specific pitch or frequency. For example, a middle C note on a piano produces a tone with a specific frequency (about 261.63 Hz). This is sometimes called a musical tone because it has a steady pitch.
- Whole Step/Whole Tone: In Western music theory, a “tone” can refer to an interval between two notes that are two semitones (or half steps) apart. For example, the interval between C and D is a “whole tone” or “whole step.” This is in contrast to a half tone or semitone, which is the interval of one half step (like C to C#).
- Quality or Timbre: “Tone” can also refer to the quality or character of a sound. This is sometimes called the timbre of an instrument or voice, describing the unique sound that differentiates, say, a trumpet’s tone from a violin’s tone, even when they play the same pitch.
- Musical Expression: Tone can describe the general character or emotional quality conveyed by a piece or performance, such as whether it has a “warm” tone, a “dark” tone, or a “bright” tone.
Each of these uses of “tone” contributes to the way musicians and listeners experience music, whether through specific pitches, intervals, qualities, or emotional character.
Some more on locating prey by the sounds they emit.
Domestic cats have excellent hearing and a strong ability to locate the precise location of prey based on sound alone. This skill, called sound localization, is one of their key adaptations for hunting.
How Sound Localization Works in Cats:
- Rotating Ears: Cats can rotate each of their ears independently by up to 180 degrees. This allows them to pinpoint the direction of a sound by adjusting their ears to capture the sound waves more effectively.
- Frequency Sensitivity: Cats are especially sensitive to high frequencies, which are common in the sounds made by small prey animals like rodents. This sensitivity allows them to detect subtle noises, like the rustling or high-pitched squeaks of a small animal.
- Time Delay and Intensity Difference: Cats use the slight differences in the time it takes for sound to reach each ear, as well as variations in sound intensity, to calculate the location of the source. This is similar to the way humans and other animals localize sound but is especially refined in cats.
- Vertical Detection: Unlike many animals, cats are also skilled at locating sounds vertically. This means they can detect whether the sound is coming from above or below, which helps when hunting animals that may be in trees or underground.
Practical Advantage for Hunting
This precise ability allows cats to hunt effectively, even in low light or at night when visibility is limited. By zeroing in on the sound of a prey animal, cats can pounce accurately, increasing their chances of a successful catch.
