Songs About Pets

Songs about pets are tracks written about the bond between people and their animal companions — dogs, cats, and other family pets. They span every genre, from children’s sing-alongs like “Bingo” to rock hits like “Black Dog” and tender pet-loss ballads like Sarah McLachlan’s “When She Loved Me.”

Key Takeaways

• Songs about pets show up in nearly every genre, including kids’ music, country, rock, pop, and soul.
• Some songs are literally about a real pet. Others use an animal as a symbol for something else, like freedom or heartbreak.
• Pet-loss songs are a popular sub-category, often used for memorials or grief support.
• Kids’ pet songs, like “Bingo” and “Old MacDonald,” are some of the most widely sung songs in the English language.
• Music can help soothe anxious pets, but not every song or genre works the same way for every animal.
• Always check with a vet or certified animal behaviorist before using music as a calming tool for a pet with real anxiety or noise sensitivity.

Introduction

If you’ve ever caught yourself belting out “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window” while scooping kibble, you already get the appeal of songs about pets. Pet owners search for these songs for a few reasons. Some want a fun playlist for a road trip with the dog. Some are decorating a birthday video for their cat. Others are grieving a pet they just lost and need a song that understands.

This topic keeps growing, too. Pet ownership is at record highs across the US, and music platforms have noticed. Streaming services now build seasonal “pet playlists,” and social platforms are full of short videos set to songs about dogs, cats, and the loyal weirdos we call pets.

This guide rounds up the most well-known songs about pets across genres and moods. You’ll find picks for kids, for rock fans, for anyone missing a pet who has passed, and for pretty much everyone in between.

What Is “Songs About Pets”?

Songs about pets are simply songs whose subject, title, or main story centers on a companion animal. Some are literal tributes to a real dog or cat the artist owned. Others use a pet as a stand-in for loyalty, love, or loss.

The category covers a wide range. Kids’ songs like “Bingo” teach children through repetition and rhythm. Country songs often tell a full story about a specific dog, like Elvis Presley’s “Old Shep.” Rock and pop songs sometimes use “dog” or “cat” symbolically, as in Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog,” which isn’t about an actual dog at all.

Not every song with an animal in the title is about a pet. A song about a wolf, a tiger, or a farm animal usually falls under the broader “songs about animals” umbrella instead. This guide covers both, but keeps the focus on true companion-animal songs.

Quick Facts Box

Fact	Details
Main genres involved	Kids’ music, country, rock, pop, soul, folk
Common pet subjects	Dogs (most common), cats, and occasionally birds or farm pets
Popular use cases	Playlists, pet memorials, kids’ sing-alongs, social media videos
Famous early example	“How Much Is That Doggie in the Window,” a hit for Patti Page in 1953
Common sub-theme	Pet loss and grief, a well-established songwriting topic
Where to find them	Streaming platforms, YouTube, curated “pet playlist” collections

Where Do Songs About Pets Come From?

Songs about pets go back further than most people expect. Folk and nursery songs about a farmer’s dog or a family cat were passed down long before recorded music existed. “Bingo,” the classic dog song kids still sing today, is a good example. It’s a traditional English folk song, and versions of it have been around since at least the late 1700s.

This can vary depending on the exact song and region, since folk songs often changed as they traveled between communities. What’s clear is that pets have been a songwriting subject for centuries, long before pop radio or streaming made the category easy to track.

History and Evolution

Pet songs picked up steam in the mid-20th century as radio and record sales exploded. “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window” became a massive novelty hit in the 1950s. Elvis Presley’s “Old Shep,” a song about a boy and his aging dog, became one of the most emotional early examples of a pet-loss song in pop music.

By the 1960s and 70s, rock bands folded pets into their sound in different ways. The Beatles wrote “Martha My Dear,” inspired by Paul McCartney’s sheepdog. Ted Nugent leaned into cat imagery with “Cat Scratch Fever.” Some bands used animals as metaphors instead, like Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog.”

More recently, pet songs have found a second life online. Sad pet-loss songs circulate widely on platforms like TikTok, often paired with home videos of a pet that has passed. This has kept older songs relevant while giving newer independent pet-loss tracks a chance to reach grieving pet owners directly.

What Makes a Great Pet Song

The best pet songs share a few traits that make them stick. They usually tell a specific, personal story instead of staying vague. A song about “a dog” is forgettable. A song about a named dog with real details, like Elvis’s Shep or Luke Bryan’s black lab, feels true.

• A clear emotional core — love, loyalty, playfulness, or grief
• Specific details — a name, a breed, a memory, not just “my pet”
• A melody that fits the mood — upbeat for playful songs, slow for pet-loss ballads
• Universal feeling — even if the story is personal, the emotion should feel familiar to any pet owner

Songs that hit these notes tend to outlast trends. That’s part of why decades-old tracks like “Old Shep” still show up on pet-loss playlists today.

Quick Comparison Snapshot

Song Type	Best For	Key Difference
Kids’ pet songs (e.g., “Bingo”)	Toddlers and preschoolers	Simple, repetitive, easy to sing along to
Classic pop/country pet songs (e.g., “Old Shep”)	Sentimental listeners, road trips	Tells a full story about a specific pet
Rock pet songs (e.g., “Black Dog”)	Fans of guitar-driven music	Often symbolic rather than literally about a pet
Pet-loss songs (e.g., “When She Loved Me”)	Grieving pet owners, memorials	Written specifically to process loss

Songs About Pets Love

Some of the most beloved songs about pets are simple love letters to a companion animal. These tracks focus on the everyday joy of having a pet around, not drama or loss.

Cat Stevens’ early single “I Love My Dog” is a clear, upbeat example from 1966. John Hiatt’s “My Dog and Me” is another warm tribute, thanking a dog for steady companionship through life’s ups and downs. These songs work well for slideshow videos, adoption day playlists, or just celebrating a pet’s personality.

What ties them together is tone. They’re affectionate, often a little playful, and rarely heavy. If you want a feel-good pet playlist, this category is the best place to start.

Songs About Pets and Animals

A handful of songs have crossed so far into pop culture that almost everyone recognizes them, whether they’re pet owners or not. “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window” and “Who Let the Dogs Out” are two of the most recognizable pet-and-animal songs ever released.

Other widely known crossover picks include “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo,” a folk-country hit about life on the road with a loyal dog, and novelty tracks like “The Cat Came Back,” which has been covered by several children’s artists. These songs tend to blend pet ownership with broader themes like freedom, travel, or humor, which is part of why they reach such a wide audience.

Songs About Pets for Kids

For kids past the toddler stage, pet songs tend to lean playful and story-driven rather than purely repetitive. Laurie Berkner’s “The Cat Came Back” is a favorite here, following a stubborn cat who just won’t leave.

Movie and TV songs also fit this category well. “If I Could Talk to the Animals,” from the 1967 film Doctor Dolittle, is a classic example that still shows up on kids’ music playlists. These songs are a bit more complex than nursery rhymes, making them a good fit for kids who are past the youngest toddler stage but still love animal stories.

Songs About Pets Dying

Pet-loss songs are one of the most searched categories in this whole topic, and for good reason. Losing a pet is real grief, and music can help people sit with that feeling instead of pushing it away.

• “Old Shep” by Elvis Presley — one of the earliest and most famous songs written about losing a beloved dog
• “When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlan — a gentle, often-used pick for pet memorials and tribute videos
• “Martha My Dear” by The Beatles — written about Paul McCartney’s real sheepdog, Martha

These songs are commonly used in pet memorial slideshows and Rainbow Bridge tribute videos. This can vary a lot depending on personal taste, since grief songs land differently for everyone. Some people want something gentle, while others want a song that matches raw, unfiltered sadness.

Songs About Pets for Preschoolers

For the youngest listeners, simple and repetitive wins every time. “Bingo,” also known as “B-I-N-G-O,” is the gold standard here. Kids love spelling out the dog’s name and clapping along as letters get replaced.

Other preschool staples include “Old MacDonald Had a Farm,” which introduces animal sounds in an easy call-and-response format, and “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” a nursery rhyme about a girl and her pet lamb. These songs are built for short attention spans, with easy melodies that toddlers can pick up after just a few listens.

Songs About Animals

Stepping slightly outside pure pet territory, “songs about animals” is a much bigger bucket that includes wildlife, farm animals, and symbolic creatures alongside true pet songs. From a pet owner’s angle, this category is worth a quick mention because some of these songs get lumped into pet playlists even though they’re not really about companion animals.

Examples include The Beatles’ “Blackbird,” Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock,” and Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.” None of these are about a pet specifically, but they’re often included on “animal song” compilations. Worth knowing if you’re building a playlist and want to keep it strictly pet-focused.

Rock Songs About Pets

Rock music has plenty of dog and cat references, though many lean symbolic rather than literal. Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” is one of the most famous rock songs with an animal in the title, even though the lyrics aren’t really about a dog at all.

Other notable rock picks include Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever,” the Stray Cats’ “Stray Cat Strut,” and Primus’s “Tommy the Cat,” which uses a cat character as a narrative device. These songs tend to use pets as a vibe or a metaphor more than a heartfelt tribute, which sets them apart from the country and folk pet songs on this list.

R&B Songs About Pets

This is a smaller, harder-to-pin-down category. Unlike rock or country, R&B and soul don’t have a large, well-documented catalog of songs written specifically about companion pets. Many “dog” or “cat” references in R&B and soul music are slang or wordplay rather than literal pet tributes, so it’s worth being cautious about calling a song a “pet song” just because it has an animal word in the title.

One clearer example is Rufus Thomas’s “Walking the Dog,” a soul and R&B dance hit from the 1960s that’s become a genre staple, though its lyrics are more about a dance craze than a real pet. If you’re building an R&B pet playlist, expect to search a bit harder than you would for rock or country picks.

How to Build Your Own Pet Songs Playlist

Putting together a playlist doesn’t have to be complicated. Start by deciding on the mood you want, whether that’s playful, sentimental, or calming for a nervous pet.

1. Pick a theme first — love, loss, kids, or genre-specific
2. Mix tempos — a few upbeat tracks alongside slower ones keeps a playlist from feeling flat
3. Add 2–3 crossover hits — songs like “Who Let the Dogs Out” work for almost any pet playlist
4. Save it to a shared platform — makes it easy to play during car rides, parties, or memorial slideshows
5. Test it with your pet — if the playlist is meant to calm an anxious pet, watch how they react and adjust

If the goal is calming a nervous pet rather than entertainment, keep volume low and avoid songs with sudden loud drops or heavy bass, since sharp sound changes can startle some animals.

Cost Breakdown

Listening to songs about pets is usually free or low-cost, since most tracks are available on streaming platforms you likely already pay for. A standard music streaming subscription typically runs somewhere in the range of $10–$12 a month, though pricing and tiers can vary by provider and region.

Custom pet songs are a different story. Some independent songwriters and small studios offer personalized tracks written about a specific pet, often for a one-time fee. Pricing for these varies quite a bit depending on the service, so it’s worth comparing a few options and checking reviews before paying for a custom song.

Common Mistakes Pet Owners Make

A few habits can make a pet playlist less effective, or even stressful for the animal it’s meant for.

• Playing music too loud. Pets have much more sensitive hearing than people, so what feels normal to you can feel overwhelming to them.
• Assuming every pet reacts the same way. Some dogs relax to soft rock or classical music, while others show no reaction at all. This can vary a lot by individual animal.
• Skipping the “test run.” Playing a new playlist for the first time during a stressful event, like a vet visit, isn’t a great idea. Test it during a calm moment first.
• Using pet-loss songs too early in grief. Some pet owners find these songs comforting right away. Others need more time before they can listen without it feeling overwhelming.

Pros and Cons

Pros	Cons
Free or low-cost to enjoy on most streaming platforms	Some genres, like R&B, have a thin selection of true pet songs
Wide variety across moods, from playful to comforting	Not every “animal” song is actually about a pet
Can support emotional processing during pet loss	Music effects on pet behavior vary and aren’t guaranteed
Great for kids’ music education and sing-alongs	Some songs use pets symbolically, which can be misleading if you’re looking for a literal tribute

Similar Alternatives to Explore

Beyond a straightforward pet playlist, there are a few other ways to enjoy or use music built around pets.

Option	Best For
Pet-specific streaming stations or curated playlists	Owners who want calming background music without picking every song themselves
Custom pet memorial songs	Pet owners who want a track written specifically about their own pet
Movie and TV soundtrack pet songs	Fans who prefer songs tied to a familiar story, like Doctor Dolittle
Pet-themed music videos on social platforms	Owners looking for short, shareable content rather than a full playlist

When to Consult a Vet or Professional

Music can be a nice addition to a pet’s environment, but it isn’t a substitute for real behavioral or medical care. If a pet shows ongoing signs of anxiety, like pacing, excessive barking, hiding, or destructive behavior, that’s worth discussing with a licensed veterinarian or a certified animal behaviorist rather than relying on a playlist to fix it.

This is especially true around loud noise events, like thunderstorms or fireworks, where a pet’s stress response can be serious. A vet can also let you know if a pet’s reaction to sound has a medical cause, since hearing sensitivity and anxiety can sometimes point to an underlying health issue.

If you’re grieving a pet loss yourself, know that it’s completely normal to need support beyond music. A grief counselor or a pet loss support group can help if the sadness feels heavier than expected.

Fun Facts

• “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window” was a hit for Patti Page in the early 1950s and remains one of the most recognizable pet songs ever recorded.
• “Bingo,” the classic dog song kids still sing, is a traditional folk song with roots going back to at least the late 1700s.
• Paul McCartney’s real sheepdog, Martha, inspired The Beatles’ song “Martha My Dear.”
• Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog” is named after a dog that wandered around the recording studio, even though the song itself isn’t about the dog.
• Elvis Presley’s “Old Shep” is considered one of the earliest and most influential songs about losing a pet.
• Sarah McLachlan’s connection to animal welfare campaigns has made “When She Loved Me” a common pick for pet memorial videos, even though it wasn’t written specifically about a pet.
• “Who Let the Dogs Out” became a global sports-arena anthem, far beyond its original release context.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some songs about pets? Well-known picks include “How Much Is That Doggie in the Window,” “Old Shep,” “Bingo,” “Martha My Dear,” and “Who Let the Dogs Out.” These span different decades and genres, from 1950s pop to classic rock and kids’ folk songs. If you want a broad starting playlist, mixing a few from each category above gives a good range of moods, from playful to sentimental.

Which popular songs mention animals? Plenty of hit songs mention animals without being true pet tributes. Examples include Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog,” Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger,” and Elton John’s “Crocodile Rock.” These use animals as imagery or metaphor rather than telling a literal pet story, so they’re better described as “animal songs” than “pet songs” in the strictest sense.

What is a good song for a pet that has passed away? Many pet owners choose “When She Loved Me” by Sarah McLachlan or “Old Shep” by Elvis Presley for memorials, since both carry a gentle, reflective tone. The right choice really depends on what feels comforting to you. Some people prefer a quiet, acoustic song, while others want something that matches raw grief more directly.

Are there any songs about cats? Yes, several well-known songs center on cats specifically. Examples include Cat Stevens’ “I Love My Dog” (despite the title, it references cats in his catalog broadly), the Stray Cats’ “Stray Cat Strut,” and Primus’s “Tommy the Cat.” Petula Clark’s “The Cat in the Window” is another example, using a cat’s longing to roam as its central image.

Can playing music actually calm a pet down? Some pet owners report that soft, steady music helps a nervous pet relax, particularly during loud events like storms. Results vary by individual animal, though, and this shouldn’t replace guidance from a vet if your pet has ongoing anxiety. Think of music as a possible comfort tool, not a guaranteed fix.

Final Thoughts

Songs about pets cover a lot more ground than most people expect. They’re playful and silly for kids, nostalgic for rock fans, and quietly comforting for anyone processing the loss of a companion animal. There’s genuinely a song for whatever mood you’re bringing to it.

If you’re building a playlist, start with a theme, whether that’s love, memory, or pure fun, and layer in a few crossover hits everyone will recognize. And if music is meant to help a nervous pet relax, keep an eye on how they actually respond, and loop in your vet if anxiety seems like more than a passing thing.

Whatever brought you here, whether it’s a birthday video for your dog or a hard goodbye to a pet you loved for years, there’s likely already a song out there that gets it.