Cats hearing range

Cats hear frequencies from about 45 Hz to 64,000 Hz – a span of 10.5 octaves. Compared with humans (about 20 Hz–20 kHz), cats hear higher – up to 64 kHz, well into ultrasound.

45 HzLowest frequency

64,000 HzHighest frequency

10.5Octaves

3.2×Upper limit vs. humans

How it compares

Greater wax moths Bottlenose dolphins Beluga whales Bats Mice Rats Cats Opossums Gerbils Guinea pigs Dogs Hedgehogs Ferrets Sheep Rabbits Pigs Raccoons Goats Cows Horses Chinchillas Humans Elephants Owls Budgerigars (parakeets)Canaries Cockatiels Tree frogs Catfish Bullfrogs Goldfish Chickens Tuna

10 Hz1001 kHz10 kHz100 kHz

Shaded band: typical human range (20 Hz–20 kHz). Log scale.

Good to know

One of the broadest hearing ranges of any mammal – useful for detecting the ultrasonic squeaks of rodents.

Tones cats can hear

Tones cats cannot hear

Frequently asked questions

What frequencies can cats hear?

About 45 Hz to 64,000 Hz.

Can cats hear ultrasound?

Yes – their upper limit is above 20 kHz.

Can cats hear infrasound?

No – their lower limit is above 20 Hz.

Sources & credits

Wikipedia – Hearing range (compiled from Fay 1988; Heffner & Heffner) · Approximate hearing ranges from behavioural audiograms (largely Fay 1988 and Heffner & Heffner), usually measured at 60 dB SPL. Individual animals, ages and studies differ.