Cats’ blood pressure and respiratory rates can increase in veterinary settings in response to lots of noise, making what they consider a difficult situation more difficult still. Researchers at Ontario Veterinary College assessed more than 30 cats examined both quietly and against the backdrop of tapes on which people talked and laughed at 80 decibels—as loud as a garbage disposal or a busy downtown street. Average heart rates went from 155 beats per minute during the quiet exams to almost 200 beats per minute when the tapes were played. Respiratory rate—the number of breaths taken per minute—soared from about 48 to an average of 61. Bodily reactions indicating stress— dilated pupils and the like—increased, too.
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