Can Dogs Hear CatStop?

These days, there are various ways in which people try to keep cats out of their gardens. Gone are the days when people used to stomp outdoors angrily with a bucket of water to throw over the local garden-wrecking feline. These days, people use specialist cat deterrents that emit a high-frequency sound to keep cats at bay – and keep them dry! 

However, if you are a dog owner that is trying to keep cats out of your garden, should you invest in cat deterrents such as CatStop or will these cause an issue for your dog? Can your dog even hear CatStop? 

Dogs have exceptional hearing and they are able to hear sounds at very high frequencies, which means that they can hear noises from cat deterrents such as CatStop. However, while the sound may pique the curiosity of some dogs and may even make some dogs nervous for a while, it won’t do them any harm. Some dog owners worry in case their dogs suffer as a result of the deterrent, but many will simply start ignoring it after a short while because they become used to it.

You will see various signs that your dog can hear CatStop, although it will depend on the personality of your dog, amongst other things. For dogs that are nervous, they may shy away from the area where the deterrent is placed or they may tail tuck and whine as soon as it is within range. 

Other dogs will be more curious and you will see them looking around, staring in the direction of the sound, or looking very alert. Some may bark at the noise but there are also dogs that will ignore it altogether because it doesn’t bother them. The signs and reactions can vary from one animal to another but in many cases, the dog will quickly become used to the sound. 

The body language of your dog will, again, depend on its personality. Those that are nervous about the noise from the CatStop may run away, tuck their tails, and show signs of nerves. Others may sit and stare at the noise, look alert, and even make their way over to where the CatStop in a bid to investigate further. 

Some may follow you around closely when they are in the vicinity of the device while others will simply act nonchalant and will think nothing of the noise at all. Looking at your dog’s body language will give you a better idea of how it feels about the noise from the CatStop.

There have been many developments over recent years when it comes to stopping unwanted felines from entering gardens. Many people have now started to use these cat deterrents, which emit a high-frequency noise in order to scare cats away from the garden. 

However, because many animals are able to hear sounds at higher frequencies, deterrents such as CatStop can also be a nuisance to other creatures. Many people are keen to stop cats from getting into their gardens and causing damage but do not want to use chemical products or other undesirable means of keeping felines at bay. At the same time, they do not want their dogs to suffer as a result of having a deterrent such as CatStop in place.

Historical research shows that dogs, like cats, do have very sensitive hearing and this means that dog owners that use these deterrents have to accept that their pooches will also be able to hear the noise from the deterrent. 

Having said that, there is nothing to suggest that these deterrents can do your dog any harm and at worst they may simply cause your dog to become nervous for a while. In addition, many people believe that animals get used to the sound after a short period, which is good news for your dog but not so good for you if you want to keep cats away from your garden. 

So, what is the science behind your dog being able to hear CatStop? Well, it is all based on frequencies, as dogs can hear very high pitched sounds that most humans would not pick up on. Although you may not be able to hear the sound from your CatStop, your dog and other animals may hear it. 

Dogs and cats can hear frequencies that are as high as 45-67 KHz. The whole idea of CatStop is to use these frequencies as it is designed to emit a sound that cats can hear, so it is highly likely that your dog will hear it as well. 

If you have a cat deterrent such as CatStop in your home, the first thing to do is monitor how it affects your dog. As mentioned previously, there are some dogs that may hear the sound from the deterrent but simply are not bothered about it. This means that they are unlikely to react to it to a point where you may think they cannot even hear it. 

The chances are that they can hear it but it doesn’t worry them and so, they do not react. There are many other dogs that will simply be curious about the noise. They will run toward the sound and investigate the area but it will not bother them or cause them any issues.

If you have a dog that is of a nervous disposition, things may be different. Again, the deterrent will not harm your dog, but it may make your pooch nervous. If your dog is reluctant to go into the area where the CatStop is installed or if it runs off as soon as it gets into range, it is probably a little nervous and unsure as to what it is. Nervous dogs may whine and back away from the area the sound is coming from. Some may even become clingy and follow you closely while in that particular area. Others will refuse to venture into that particular area.  

In the event you do have a nervous dog and it doesn’t calm down after several days of your CatStop being fitted, it may be advisable to disable the deterrent so that it does not cause your pooch any further distress. Many dogs, including nervous ones, will get used to the sound in a matter of days. However, if this is not the case, you may want to speak to your vet about possible alternatives.