For what reasons does a cat purr?
When answering why cats purr, many owners confidently say that the reason lies in positive emotions. This answer is correct, but incomplete. Sometimes purring is also triggered by negative emotions. You can only understand your pet's desires over time by remembering the difference in volume, duration and frequency of sounds.
Positive emotions
The ability to make a vibrating sound appears in kittens on the 2nd day after birth.
This is necessary to communicate with the mother. The purring of the babies indicates their satiety and good health, and the sounds emanating from the mother cat confirm the safety of her offspring.
In the wild, light vibrations are not detected by other predators, but are clearly perceptible to parents located at a long distance. This helps protect the litter until it becomes independent.
Among the positive emotions that awaken purring are:
- greeting the owner or communicating with other animals;
- going to bed before bed;
- gratitude for the treat or affection received;
- attracting the opposite sex;
- trying to beg for something tasty;
- interest in some object (delicious food) or object (a bird outside the window).
According to one version, cats purr to prevent muscle diseases that threaten them due to too much sleep. Vibrations spreading throughout the body have a positive effect on ligaments, bones and muscles, helping to reduce the load on the musculoskeletal system.
Negative emotions
Purring also occurs when a furry pet is under stress. The vibrations help him stabilize his blood pressure and bring his pulse back to normal.
Sometimes the reason lies in illness. Purring is a physiological pain reliever. It speeds up metabolism and promotes rapid regeneration. Try to observe how a cat purrs after sterilization: the frequency and volume of the sound will differ from usual until the end of rehabilitation.
One of the possible complications of coronavirus infection is feline infectious peritonitis. Its alternative name is “purring disease.” Due to damage to the blood vessels, some of the fluid enters the peritoneum and lungs, causing peritonitis. The bloating that appears is accompanied by a characteristic purring sound.
Also, mustachioed pets purr when their owner strokes them incorrectly or when a more formidable opponent tries to scare them. In the second case, they demonstrate their defenselessness, trying to avoid a possible fight.
Why do cats purr?
The most interesting thing is that it was recently established why and how cats purr. Although in fact they have been doing this their entire adult life.
Causes:
- Most often, such a sound, which is very similar to grunting or rumbling, occurs when the animal has positive emotions. This usually happens when he is stroked or caressed.
- Sometimes this sound appears while eating. But most often, purring occurs in positive situations, when the animal is relaxing.
- It has been noticed that there are some types of anxious purring when the cat is scared, worried or in pain. Accordingly, purring does not always mean that the cat is pleased. Be attentive to the frequency of the sound and its features.
Cat
How the purring mechanism is started
Scientists do not fully understand how cats purr. The vocal cords are responsible for the sound, but vibration is explained by more interesting reasons.
Physiological features
The most popular theory to explain how cats purr is the one that focuses on the hyoid bones. In domestic animals they take the shape of a triangle, and in wild animals they take the shape of a rectangle. Because of this, wild feline predators are rarely found purring.
Everything is easier with sound. It passes through the animal's nose and mouth. The heart and lungs at this moment cannot be listened to.
What is known for certain about vibrations is that they appear based on a signal from the brain. When receiving positive and negative emotions, it sends neurons to the responsible organ. This helps to guess what cats purr about.
Unproven facts
When discussing how cats purr from a physiological point of view, we take as a basis the muscles located behind the vocal cords. Their contraction leads to vibration of the hyoid bones, spreading throughout the body. This theory is the most popular, but there are several others. They explain that purring occurs through:
- Lungs
. A purring pet is the result of the work of the diaphragmatic and intercostal muscles. It is assumed that during the breathing process they create sound vibrations of different amplitudes. This is the least popular theory, since the intensity of the purring does not change with inhalation and exhalation.
- False ligaments
. They are located directly above the vocal cords and look like a bunch of elastic membranes. According to this theory, sound vibrations appear due to changes in pressure in the circulating bloodstream. This causes the chest to vibrate and transmit sound to the sinuses.
The hyoid bone theory is more convincing. This is confirmed by the absence of purring in cats with laryngeal paralysis.
How cats purr, why cats and cats purr, where the sound comes from: mechanism
Scientists have discovered the origin of this sound. How does a cat purr? The fact is that this is not purring at all, but a peculiar sound that is reproduced using thin bones that are located under the tongue. The sound mechanism is quite complex. When a cat is petted, it feels good, it receives pleasure, or vice versa, it feels a feeling of anxiety, a certain signal is sent to the brain centers.
The impulse sends signals to these bones, which begin to vibrate. Together with these bones, the vocal cords also vibrate. It produces a peculiar sound. A cat can purr both while inhaling and exhaling, without making any effort. This sound is produced reflexively.
Curious cat
Which other member of the cat family can purr?
Once you understand how cats purr, it is not so difficult to understand which of their wild relatives is capable of emitting similar sound vibrations. Large cats differ not only in the shape of the hyoid bone, but also in the elasticity of the ligaments. Only the group of small cats has the most flexibility: cheetahs, ocelots and lynxes; they can make purring sounds.
Despite physiology, there are exceptions. Purring large predators include snow leopards, pumas, clouded leopards and leopards. Given the structure of the larynx, their ability is a real mystery.
Why does he purr when you pet a cat?
Don't be surprised if you pet your cat for a long time and he will start purring. This is connected precisely with receiving positive emotions. The animal likes such stroking, it calms it down. Accordingly, the cat makes a characteristic sound. Sometimes pets can come to their owners, lie down next to them and purr for no apparent reason, even if you don’t pet them. This is connected precisely with the desire to improve health.
Often cats lie down near the area that is sore. Perhaps these are chronic diseases. It is at such places that cats lie down, lean against them and purr. In this way they try to cure their owner. A cat may purr for the simple reason that it is hungry or wants to go for a walk. Accordingly, in this case, the nature of the purring will be different.
Petting the cat
Cat-human interaction
The way a cat purrs depends on the person. A purring pet can trample its paws on its owner, lie down on top or next to it. All these actions have their explanation.
Showing affection
If you stroke your mustachioed pet, he will soon begin to purr. This means that he enjoys touch and communication with a person. When stroking against the grain or by a stranger, you can see the opposite effect. The animal will be angry or frightened and will hasten to leave with a threatening hiss.
Foot trampling
The most popular interpretation of trampling is the “milk step”. Kittens make similar movements on their mother's chest, stimulating the faster production of milk. Fingering with paws is also associated with:
- showing gratitude and demonstrating trust in a person;
- unrealized sexual instinct in castrated animals;
- treating the owner or relieving one’s own stress;
- preparing a comfortable place to sleep.
If your pet releases its claws when trampling, do not scold it. He does not control this action, so pet him and place a thick blanket or pillow under his paws.
Lying on or next to a person
Lying nearby is the highest form of trust and love. The animal feels safe with its two-legged owner. If a person is unwell, a furry pet can lie on top, sending its healing vibrations to the sore spot.
Why do kittens purr?
British scientists have found that cats can purr starting from the age of two days. In this way they signal to their mother that they are hungry or afraid of something. This is a unique way of communication between kittens and an adult cat. We can say that they speak such a unique language.
Thus, the cat often leaves her kittens to eat. If she is in the wild, then approaching her nest, she begins to purr, thereby informing her kittens that there is no need to squeak, she is nearby and is already approaching the house. At the same time, kittens may purr in response. This happens especially often if the cat licks them and cares for them. This is a kind of gratitude, the kittens seem to tell her that they are warm, good and very happy. Zoologists believe that such purring of small kittens stimulates lactation in a cat and provokes it to better care for its offspring.
Cat
As you can see, cats purr for a variety of reasons. If, during prolonged petting, your pet does not purr, but ignores you, you should think about the psychological comfort of the animal. Perhaps the cat is dissatisfied with something or feels negative emotions on your part.
Why don't some cats purr?
Non-purring breeds include Ragdolls and Devon Rex, as well as overly phlegmatic pets. If a healthy cat does not purr, like its relatives, then everything is fine with it. This feature is inherited.
If lethargy, rapid heartbeat, dry nose or shortness of breath appear, the animal should be seen by a doctor. Damage to the “rumbling” occurs in diseases of the respiratory system.
Also, the reason for the lack of purring can be stress or a bad mood of the owner. Relaxing in the arms of a tense person is not so easy.
What does the purring of a cat mean?
Not long ago, British scientists began to use sound therapy, namely the purring of cats in recordings. This is done so that astronauts who arrive on earth after a long stay in space can quickly adapt. It is purring that helps restore muscle and bone tissue.
Accordingly, there can be a huge number of reasons why a cat purrs. Actually, the same as a person’s laughter or tears. A person can laugh and cry with happiness. In the same way, a cat purrs when it is happy or vice versa when it feels anxious. It has been noted that cats can purr when they are hungry, feel anxious or are afraid of something.
The cat purrs
Benefits of “cat songs”
“Cat songs” are useful not only for their authors, but also for listeners. They are helping:
- normalize the emotional state, which is especially useful for owners with nervous disorders;
- strengthen bone tissue and reduce pain;
- improve blood circulation in the brain;
- lower blood pressure or pulse that is too high;
- enhance the regeneration of tissues of the gastrointestinal tract;
- reduce the likelihood of stroke and heart attack.
People who live with furry pets live 4.5 years longer than those who do not have pets. There is also a relationship with allergen resistance. Children who live with a mustachioed pet from birth are less susceptible to respiratory diseases and rarely suffer from asthma.
Why do cats purr?
Not long ago, British scientists determined that cats can purr in order to improve their health or cure their owner, possibly another pet. Sound therapy has been known for a long time. It’s not for nothing that sick children are played classical music. The actual process is almost the same.
British scientists in a study found that the sound of a cat purring is observed in the range of 20-150 hertz. Moreover, from 20 to 140 - this purring is therapeutic. It has been found that such purring heals bone tissue, promotes restoration of the body, and also cures diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
White cat
