What is it with cats and tinwhistles.
Am I the only one when playing, in NO time my cats jump on the desk and stay there? What attracts them in the sound hm?
Is it the breed? Two male maine coons 
Other whistlers who have noticed this weird behaviour?
berti
Come on BertiâŚMaine Coons arenât cats as we know them. They are free spirited beasts that do exactly as they please, arenât all catsâŚBUT this is often in direct contrast with other cats.
I have a silver tabby Maine Coon female who spends half her life standing in the shower, sleeping in the bath, out in the rain getting wetâŚshould have been a seal or a dolphin really. And sheâs whistleproof - all keys, all volumes, all notes.
NowâŚthe enormous black moggy male will stay in his bed and pay no attention, while the young ex-feral will wind himself around my neck and around the whistle, until he sees something more exciting like a pen to play with instead (very soon, hopefully).
They all like Native American Flutes too.
If you require a cat-free zone, take up saxophone - they ALL hate itâŚand it doesnât sound half as bad as it did 
Trisha
Two of our cats are totally indifferent to whistle playing, and one HATES it. Go figure
Seems to have to do with pitch, also. I have one who absolutely loves soprano Dâs and ocarinas, but isnât too interested in my Bb or low D.
When I first started playing, one liked to be in the room, the other would often get into my lap and chin-mark the whistle. It was the ONLY time she would sit in my lap, and Iâm not sure whether the chin-marking was a sign of affection toward the whistle or she was trying to knock it out of my hands. The novelty has worn off,though; now theyâre completely indifferent.
The reason that they seem attracted is because they just want it to stop and they donât know what to do. Our three year old will sometimes let loose with a screaming fit. One of cats will come over and start loving on her. He just wants her to shut up. Itâs pretty much the same with the whistle.
One reason that I took up the flute is that the whistle is just so high and out there. You can practice the flute with the wife and kids around and not drive them totally crazy. All of you out there with forebearing families owe them a huge debt of gratitiude for putting up with the whistle. My family put up with me for three years and I guess they still are with the flute.
All 4 of our herd promptly dispatch when I break out any instrument. 
Jonah-cat is totally indifferent to the whistle until I get well up into the second octave. High B is about his limit. In fact, he hates it so much, all I have to do to get him to get off the table, etc., is say "JonahâŚif you donât behave, Mommy might have to play âDanny Boyâ!
My old cat, Khani, however, got very excited by anything musical. It didnât matter if you were playing whistle, piano, singing, or just listening to music on the computerâŚsheâd come running in, perch on your shoulder, and purr.
Redwolf
Both our cats (alley cat sisters, they) seem very tuned in; they listen peacefully and attentively nearby to airs, sit up erect for marches, and chase about to some jigs and reels. I kid you notâŚ
PhilO
Ours (a young ex-feral tabby) loves whistle. If she hears me playing, even at the other end of the house, she will come running to climb into my lap and chin-mark the whistle (if seated) or twine around my legs (if standing).
If sheâs outside and we canât find her, I go out on the patio and start playing - she usually comes running up before I can finish more than a couple of tunes. She appears to like high whistle more than low, too.
I think if she just had thumbs and a bit more reach Iâd buy her a high G 
I wonder if any of this has to do with a catâs reaction to something that sounds like birds.
Best wishes,
Jerry
My two cats, take off and hide, or scream at me really loud to stop if I am playing any whistle D or above. The flute is okay even when I punch the upper register but foget the whistles.
But I also live in a condo with concrete everything for walls, floor and ceilings, this might be just the factor that creates to much noise for them.
Oh well, I do get to practice the flute more than the whistle, and this is a good thing.
MarkB
Mubu the Crafty Mouser lets me know if she really likes a new tune. Sheâll run bonkers and go about âkillingâ the throw rugs, scrambling velcro-like along the upholstered chair backs, doing flips, and shooting wild-eyed looks at me to make sure Iâm paying attention. Good concentration practice for me; I used to crack up laughing at that. Once the tune is no longer new, sheâll just sit close by, eyes closed, and smile.
Okay, the five we live with:
Spot, our female Bengal, comes from anywhere as soon as I start playing whistle. She gets as close as she can and blinks at me with love. Robin (dsh male) and Mewzette (polydactyl female) run from the room as soon as I touch it (before playing). Jazpurr the happy cat (dsh female) is indifferent. She just wants to be touched, always. Swede (I didnât name him) (dsh male, former runt, current bruiser) doesnât care much unless heâs trying to sleep; boy, then do I get the looks!
Mewzette (who runs from whistles) is the only one attracted to my uilleann pipe practice set. She hangs out and either wants to kill it and is looking for a chance or is falling in love with the thing. I always make sure itâs in its case when Iâm done!
One of our three house bunnies, Marshmallow, comes aârunninâ whenever I play anything and hunkers down as close to my feet as he can. The other two arenât interested.
Itâs not about bird sounds. Different cats have different preferences. A terrific cat I used to have loved to sit next to me when I played piano. He really seemed to like it. Nice to have an appreciative audience.
I think it depends on the instrument. Our Tonk likes my recorders and doesnât mind the softer whistles, but hates the louder ones (like my Sweet Proâright outta the room, immediately).
My DOGS either ignore my whistling, or, in the case of my Skye, come to listen and watch. Another reason I love dogs.
Tabby stays in the room and sometimes sleeps when I play flute. Recorder, she comes over and rubs her face on it. D whistle, she sits in the room and meows for me to stop. Fife, she runs and hides.
Hmmm, is she trying to tell me something?
She doesnât differentiate between tunes, she doesnât know a hornpipe from an air. It all depends on which instrument the noise is coming out of.
Linda S.
madfifer9
I think itâs pitch. I have 6 cats.
High-D whistle
1st octave, they pay no attention
2nd octave, cats give me insulting looks, higher notes get a âmeowâ reply.
3rd octave notes, cats get up - hop on table and try to stop me from whistling by swatting at whistle and complaining âmeowsâ. Other cats leave the room.