Pets & TV

My inquiring mind wants to know... do your pets watch TV? Like actually look at the TV, not just sleep while the TV is on. It may sound crazy—pets watching TV—but truly it's not as crazy as it sounds. Many people leave a radio or TV on for their pets if they aren't home. Why? We all have different reasons for doing it.

As I pet sit for lots of different people, most of the pets I sit for are used to having people home for the majority of the day. I will leave the TV on when I'm out. Why? For background noise - I mostly do this for the dogs. I figure they are used to hearing noises throughout the day, so why not let them have some constant background noise. 99% of the time, I would say they don't actually pay attention to what's on. The 1% that does pay attention reacts to things they see on the TV. One of the dogs I sit for, any time dogs come on the TV, barks non-stop until I change the channel. She lives with another dog, so it's not that she doesn't like dogs.

Another little dog I sit for goes crazy when the Emu from Liberty Mutual comes on the TV.

She stands up, barks, and walks to the TV. She also actively watches Law and Order, Sheriff Country, and Fire Country. Her head moves as things happen on the TV, and her ears perk up, meanwhile, her brother couldn't care less and just sleeps. I truly wonder what she is getting from the TV - is she entertained like we are?

Now, if you were to ask my cats—especially Roughy—they LOVE TV. Roughy enjoys it the most, with his favorite shows being Naked & Afraid, Elf, and YouTube Cat TV. The only YouTube Cat TV he's not allowed to watch is the animated fish ones. It brings out the most aggression, and he attacks the TV hardcore. With the wildlife, he pats the TV nicely. Elf and Naked & Afraid are his pre-nap/bedtime faves.

The kittens also love to watch TV, trying to figure out how to catch all the moving things. They peek behind the TV when things go off-screen and tap the screen to catch things. They are mostly more gentle than Roughy. They have yet to show interest in any specific shows. Bear, on the other hand, loves to sit with Gene on the couch and keep an eye on whatever he's watching. There's a chance he just likes having some time to hang with his favorite human. No matter what his reason, he's adorable when he hunkers down to watch some TV.

It is believed that pets do watch TV, especially now with the new technology. What is most likely to catch their attention? Fast-moving images, colors, and sounds. Most pets show a preference for shows with other animals in them. If your pet watches TV, you'll notice that they watch in short bursts rather than for longer periods.

While dogs have better sight, especially with colors, cats don't see red or green as well as other colors, so they won't see the images like humans and dogs do. Letting your pets watch TV can be a good source of enrichment, but it is best to limit screen time. Cats can become overly aggressive, and dogs can become overstimulated without a way to release the aggression and stimulation.

If you do let your pet watch TV, you'll want to make sure your TV is secure so any reactive pets can't damage it. For pets that tend to be overreactive, consider taking them for a walk or a bit of outside playtime first to burn off some energy. Leaving your TV on can have a comforting effect, but it should never be a replacement for physical activity or enrichment with your pet.

Drop in the comments if your pet watches TV & what they prefer.

Til our Tails Cross Again

Mel