The City of Toronto has issued a warning to singers inspired to take to their balconies amid social isolation measures.
“While nothing is more inspiring to hear beautiful music, we’ve been seeing a wave of stray cats entering the city from surrounding suburbs of Scarborough and Etobicoke,” said Ontario health minister, Christine Elliott. “They seem to be attracted to singers belting out arias from their balconies.”
According to the health minister, the worries stem from the possible transmission of COVID-19 to felines being attracted to the city by the singing. They are asking singers to take their voices online, where cats are less likely to listen.
Cats hearing is significantly better than humans. A cat’s ear amplifies sound waves 2 to 3 times for frequencies between 2000 and 6000 Hertz (Hz). They can pick up singing from as much as one kilometre away.
“All this says to me is that even cats love opera too” said soprano Anna Stoloff, who has been singing from her balcony every day at 5 p.m. from her apartment in the Toronto Beaches neighbourhood.
“I won’t stop. The world needs opera now more than ever.”
Meow.
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