why cats purr – what you need to know as an owner


cat purring

One of the best sounds in the world is the sound of a cat purring.  It can be very soothing and reassuring to the person who hears it.  Although the sound can be reassuring and relaxing to us, especially if we have had a hard and stressful day, cats purr for many reasons and are not always because they are happy and contented.

Cats do not always purr when a human is present because purring is something that begins when the cat is a very young kitten, and is suckling from its mother, and is the way that the mother and her kittens communicate with each other.

Many cats can purr because they are anxious or distressed, especially during a visit to the vet.  This article will help you to understand why cats purr, and whether you can do anything to help your cat if it is purring because of a stressful situation, or has stopped purring altogether.  The first thing to learn is how cats purr.

 

How do cats purr?

Experts have had several different theories over the years as to how cats purr, but the theory they now believe to be the most believable is that the purr starts in your cat’s brain and is created when the laryngeal and diaphragmatic muscles work together with the neural oscillator.

The laryngeal muscles vibrate when a message is sent from the neural oscillator making them twitch at 25 to 150 vibrations per second.  Another popular theory is that the sound of the purr is created by the hyoid bone, which is situated between the cat’s skull and larynx.

Scientists have also found during research that not only domestic cats are able to purr, with other members of the Felinae subfamily, such as bobcats, lynxes, pumas, and cheetahs also having that ability.  Scientists have, however, discovered that members of the Pantherinae family such as lions, jaguars, leopards, and tigers are unable to purr.

A cat who purrs is unable to roar, whilst a cat who roars is unable to purr.  A cat that roars has this ability because the hyoid bone located in its vocal cords is flexible.  Although this bone is also present in domestic cats, it is hardened and only allows vibrations to take place while the cat is inhaling and exhaling, creating the purring sound.

One exception to his rule is the snow leopard, who, although it has a flexible hyoid bone just like its cousins in the Felinae family, cannot purr or roar, creating a sound that is said to be a mixture of a roar and a purr.

Another major difference in cats that roar and cats that purr is that the vocal cords in roaring cats are shaped like a square, rather than a triangle.  Larger cats are able to create a louder sound by using much less pressure in their lungs.

The roar of a larger cat can achieve 114 decibels, which is close to the pain threshold of a human.  Cats such as lions can roar to scare away any potential predators.  In comparison, the sound of a domestic cat’s purr can reach approximately 25 decibels and is its way of showing it is content or to calm itself.

The cat’s inhalation and exhalation cause the purring sound we know, but the velocity of the sound depends on the cat.  Some cat’s purring is so quiet you can barely hear it, but some cat’s purring is so loud you can hear it across the room.  My cat Bess’s purr is probably somewhere in the middle of that range.  It is not so quiet you can barely hear it, but is not so loud you can hear it across the room.

 

Do cats purr when they are asleep?

Veterinarians are split on the issue of whether cats are able to purr whilst they are sleeping.  Although some theorise that cats do indeed purr when they are sleeping, others state that they do not.  One theory common to most veterinarians is that cats do not purr if they are in a deep sleep, but purr if they are sleeping more lightly.

If cats ever fall into a deeper sleep, the purring stops.  If you ever hear your cat purring while it is seemingly sound asleep, it could be that it is not actually in a deep sleep, but is sleeping lightly, ready to awaken at the slightest sound or hint of danger.

 

A cat’s purr helps them to feel safe

When cats are born, they are deaf and blind but can feel vibrations.  When the mother purrs, vibrations are created which helps the kitten to find its mother so it can have those all-important meals.  A kitten can also be protected by the warmth emanating from the body of its mother because a kitten cannot regulate its own body temperature when it is first born.

Kittens can communicate with their mother and their siblings through their purring.  A kitten normally begins to purr when it is a few days old and is its way of telling its mother it is content and happy because it does not yet have the ability to meow.  The mother’s purr is reassuring to the kitten, promoting safety and security, and also helps to strengthen the bond between the mother and her kittens.

If a cat meets another cat, it may purr to show the cat that it is not going to attack it, and is not aggressive in any way.  It is telling the other cat that it is friendly and wants to become closer.

 

A cat may purr because of rekindled memories

cat kneading

Cats may also purr while they are kneading, which is a process that goes back to when they were nursing from their mother.  The kneading motion helps to release the flow of milk, with many cats carrying on this kneading action throughout their lives.

Cats purr because it brings back happy memories of when they were nursing from their mother.  My cat, Bess, often kneads before she settles down to sleep somewhere, especially if she is on a blanket or item of clothing.

 

Your cat may be telling you it is happy (or not!!)

When you stroke a cat, you can often hear it purring, which can help to lift your mood and lower your blood pressure.  Many cats purr because they enjoy being stroked, and it is your cat’s way of telling you that it is happy with the way you are stroking it and that it feels completely content with you.

If, on the other hand, your cat stops purring and begins to twitch its tail, it is its way of telling you that it has enough of being stroked, and wants you to leave it alone.

If you pick your cat up, and it begins to purr, you may never know, however, if it purring because it is enjoying the experience or because it is nervous that you have picked it up.  Sadly, you may never know the answer to that question and will have to rely on your cat’s other mannerisms to tell you if it wants to be put down or is happy to stay in your arms.

My cat, Bess, soon lets me know when she wants to be put down, squirming in my arms or gently biting me, which is usually straight away!!  She hates being picked up!!

 

A cat may purr when it is stressed

One of the best ways of understanding that a cat may not only purr when it is happy but also when it is stressed is to link the human smile with the cat’s purr.  Humans do not only smile when we are happy.  We also smile when we are stressed or nervous and are trying to distract ourselves or are attempting to make another person feel better, and it is just the same for your cat.

If a cat is involved in a stressful situation, it may purr in an attempt to distract or calm itself.  One of the most common times that your cat may begin to purr is during a trip to the vet because this is often one of the most stressful things a cat can go through.

It is not unheard of for a mother cat to purr whilst she is giving birth to help keep her calmer during this process and to reduce her pain.

 

A cat purrs to gain attention

content cat

Kittens and cats quickly realise that purring helps to them to obtain food and attention so will resort to purring when they want to obtain that affection and some treats, especially if they feel they are not obtaining the attention they feel they deserve!

The sound of the purring differs according to the type of attention the cat craves and your cat knows just how to change the sound of its purr to manipulate you into doing what it wants.  If your cat is hungry and wants to be fed, that purring sound, almost like a cry and the emotional equivalent to that of a new-born baby asking for food, is very difficult to ignore.

It is quite different from the sound of the purr the cat makes when it is lying on your lap when its purr is more soothing!!

If you have just got home from being out for the day, and your cat rubs around your leg it may be telling you that it is pleased to see you, but if your cat rubs around your leg and begins purring around a meal time, it may be telling you that it expects you to feed it and is demanding attention.  My cat, Bess, normally begins to purr and rub around my legs at meal times, obviously demanding that I feed her.

 

Your cat may be purring to help promote healing

If your cat is in pain, it may begin to purr and because a cat purrs at a frequency between approximately 25 to 150 HZ, this helps to promote healing and eases the pain in muscles.  It is said that frequencies of between 35 to 50 Hz can help to stimulate the healing of bones and can also help to reduce pain and swelling.    An old veterinarian adage states that ‘if you put a cat in a room with a bunch of broken bones – the bones will heal’.

This adage goes some way to explaining why cats seem to be more resilient when recovering from an injury than other people or animals.  The idea of cats having nine lives may be based on the healing power of their purr.

Cats can also purr for humans when we are ill, which can have a great therapeutic effect.  If you are stressed and begin to pet a cat, and it begins to purr, the sound can help reduce your stress levels because listening to a cat purr can help you to relax and can be a great distraction from your worries.

People suffering from illnesses such as dyspnea (laboured breathing) may also be helped by listening to a cat purring because the sound of a purring cat can help you to control your breathing because you try to synchronise your breathing with your cat’s purrs.

If you have high blood pressure, hearing your cat purr may help it to reduce because hearing a cat’s purr can help you to relax.  Hearing the sound of cat’s purr is also said to reduce the pain caused by migraines.

Research conducted by analysing 4435 Americans aged 30 to 75 has shown that people who have never owned a cat are 40% more likely to have a heart attack than those who own a cat or have owned a cat in the past.

Besides purring for humans who are unwell, cats have also been known to purr for other animals such as sick rabbits and dogs.  Sometimes cats can lie beside the stricken person or animal, which increases the good effect.  Cats can sense if you are unwell and wish to be near you so they can offer you comfort and support.

Cats able to purr heal more quickly than cats unable to perform this action because endorphins are released that can reduce pain whilst the healing process goes on.  Bone and muscle diseases are very rare in cats.

When cats spend time waiting for the perfect opportunity to hunt, purring helps to stimulate their bones so they do not become brittle or weak.  A cat’s purr is said to stimulate its muscles and bones without them having to expend much energy or make too much effort.  Cats can be very lazy, spending most of their time sleeping, so must have developed over time so that they can look after themselves without having to do much exercise.

If your cat continues to purr, and it seems to be subdued, or simply does not seem to be like itself, it may be purring to draw your attention to the fact that it is unwell or in pain.  If, when your cat purrs, it sounds raspy or it sounds like your cat is congested, it could be that your cat is having difficulty breathing.

A trip to the vet may be necessary to rule out any possible problems if your cat suffers from these conditions.  Cats do, however, purr to show affection more than they do to state something is wrong, so please do not worry every time your cat begins to purr.  You should never let anxiety take away the pleasure that the sound of your cat purring can give you.

 

What if my cat does not purr?

It is always disappointing if your cat does not purr, because of the pleasure and enjoyment we derive from listening to the sound, but it does not necessarily mean that it is unhappy or discontent in your home or with you.  Cats show emotion in many different ways, just like humans, and may have found that they are better able to communicate through other means, or the sound of the purr is so soft you are unable to hear it.

If you are unable to hear whether or not your cat is actually purring, you should place your hand on its chest to see if you are able to feel any vibration.

Other reasons why your cat may not purr is because it was taken away from its mother too soon, and just never learned the art of purring from its mother and siblings.

Your cat may be stressed, and that has caused it to stop purring, or it could be that your cat has simply grown older and does not purr anymore.

If your cat has been frightened, it will run and hide and will stop purring.  Cats in the wild, when hiding, know that they must be silent to avoid detection by predators, so a domestic cat could simply be displaying the same trait as its wild cat cousins.

If you wish to try to make your cat begin to purr, you could try giving it a treat to see if that makes it want to purr.  If your cat enjoys being groomed, you could try brushing it to see if that has the effect you are seeking.  Some cats, like my cat, Bess, love to be petted under their chin or on the top of their head, and in Bess’s case, the action almost always makes her begin to purr – it may be the same for your cat.

Other options you could try include stroking your cat very gently if it comes onto your lap – this may help it to relax and so it may then begin to purr.  Some cats, however, simply do not want to come on to your lap, so you should not place them there if that is not what they want.  My cat, Bess, has made it very clear to me that she does not like being on my lap, and I have given up hope of ever getting her to crawl onto my lap, unfortunately.

If you wish to make your cat feel more comfortable and feel at home, you should allow it to go to and lay wherever it likes.  If your cat shows that it has a favourite place or items that it likes to lie on, do not stop it from going to that place or lying on that item.

You should ensure that your cat has its ‘own space’, such as refraining from picking it up if it shows that it does not like it.  These actions will make your cat feel secure and happy in your home.

The environment you provide for your cat should stimulate and encourage it – it would be prudent to provide perches and items where it can practice its climbing skills.  Giving your cat toys is also good because this will give it the opportunity to practice its hunting skills.

If you have recently rearranged the furniture or have moved home, it could be that your cat has become nervous because it is in an unfamiliar environment and has thus stopped purring.

You should never shout at your cat – if you do this, it is even less likely to want to purr, and may even become scared of you, which is the exact opposite of the relationship we are trying to nurture.  We want the cat to feel more comfortable, not make it feel uncomfortable.

If your cat has always purred in the past, however, and has suddenly stopped, it is prudent to check your cat over for any possible injuries or illnesses.

Illnesses such as laryngitis make it that much more difficult for your cat to swallow food and makes purring much more difficult.  If you are in any doubt as to the reason why your cat does not purr, a trip to the vet may be necessary, if only to put your mind at rest.

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About Me

My name is Rachel Dunkley and I love cats, which has inspired me to create this website, devotedtocats.com. Here are photos of my cat, Bess, who is now 11 years old. Bess has given...