You might hear something surprising when you walk into a trendy pet café in Tokyo or Taipei. Not just the soft purring of cats or the clinking of coffee cups—but actual karaoke. At some of these spots, cat lounges double as casual karaoke rooms. The twist? While humans belt out pop ballads, a quieter soundtrack plays: calming music for pets.

This odd pairing—pet ASMR and karaoke—might seem contradictory. But it’s part of a growing trend in urban spaces: mixing pet-friendly environments with human entertainment. Even places like 호치민 가라오케 are experimenting with unique combinations to attract a broader crowd. As more people treat pets like family, businesses are adapting. And that means blending things like cat cafés and karaoke rooms into single, hybrid experiences.

The Rise of Pet Calming Music

The idea of music for animals isn’t new. Pet owners have long played classical music or nature sounds to relax anxious dogs or soothe high-energy cats. But in recent years, animal-specific audio has evolved. YouTube channels now feature hours-long “cat sleep music” tracks full of gentle harp chords, soft pianos, and ambient sounds. Streaming platforms like Spotify offer curated playlists for pets, with names like Mellow Meowsic or Dog’s Day In.

The science is mixed. Some studies suggest certain sounds, especially classical music or repetitive rhythms, can lower cortisol levels in dogs and cats. Others caution that the evidence is still developing. But in practice, many pet owners swear by it—and businesses are paying attention.

Pet Cafés with a Twist

Pet cafés started as cozy hangouts for animal lovers. Customers sip coffee or tea while interacting with animals—usually cats, but sometimes dogs, owls, or rabbits. To keep the animals relaxed in a busy setting, many cafés play calming music in the background.

This soundscape is designed more for the animals than the customers. Low-frequency hums, soft melodies, and natural sound loops can reduce stress for pets and keep the atmosphere mellow. For humans, it’s like stepping into a spa with furballs.

Lately, some cafés have added new layers to the experience, such as karaoke.

When KTV Meets Cat Café

In places like South Korea and parts of China, karaoke—or KTV (short for “karaoke television”)—is more than a hobby. It’s a social ritual. Private rooms with microphones, snacks, and neon lights are a staple of urban nightlife.

Now, a few spots are experimenting with crossover spaces. Think: a KTV room where you’re surrounded not just by your friends but by a few sleepy cats. In these hybrid cafés, you might find yourself singing a BTS ballad while a Maine Coon naps in your lap.

It sounds chaotic, but it’s carefully designed. Volume is kept low, especially in the cat-friendly areas. Some places separate louder singing rooms from the animal lounges, while others use soundproofing and play pet-calming music underneath the vocals. It’s an odd layering—soothing frequencies for the cats, pop hits for the people.

The Sound Collision

The result is a kind of sonic tug-of-war. On the one hand, you have music engineered to keep cats calm: slow tempos, soft textures, and minimal variation. On the other, you have spontaneous human singing—often loud, pitchy, and unpredictable.

Does it stress the cats out? Possibly. Animal welfare is a valid concern. While some cafés claim their animals are used to noise, others are more cautious, limiting singing hours or offering silent karaoke with headphones. It’s a delicate balance between customer fun and animal well-being.

That said, some animals don’t seem to mind. Café staff often observe which cats like to be around people and which prefer quiet corners. The more social cats may even gravitate toward rooms with music and activity, especially if treats are involved.

Why This Works (For Some)

Part of the appeal is novelty. Karaoke for cats isn’t really for the cats—but it gives humans a quirky, memorable experience. For people living in crowded cities with limited pet access, these cafés offer a dose of animal interaction without full-time responsibility.

There’s also the emotional benefit. Singing with friends is fun, and petting a cat is calming. Do both at once, and you get a stress-relief mashup that appeals to young urbanites.

Add ambient cat music; you’ve got a weirdly soothing, slightly absurd, and oddly marketable format.

The Future of Pet-Friendly Entertainment

Will we see more of this? Possibly. As pet culture grows, so does the desire to include animals in more parts of daily life—including leisure. We’re already seeing pet-friendly movie nights, dog yoga, and animal livestream concerts. Karaoke-for-cats might be just another step in this evolution.

Still, it needs to be done responsibly. Animal welfare should never take a back seat to entertainment. But these hybrid venues could carve out a niche if done with care—low noise levels, separate spaces, and plenty of animal breaks.

At the very least, it shows how much we’re willing to share our world with pets. Even if that means serenading a room full of cats while a gentle ASMR track hums in the background.