Did you know that, like vibrating piano strings, the sounds and vibrations your purring cat emits are in perfect musical harmony with each other? Those positive vibrations form the basis of one of the most soothing and pleasurable means of communication in the entire animal kingdom. Usually, your cat is telling you, “I’m feeling good.”
In addition to the messages purring can send to you and others, it offers physical benefits to both felines and the lucky people petting them.
Purring Mechanics Despite all of our high-tech advancements, the anatomical and mechanical roots of your cat’s purr aren’t entirely known. “Theories are that it is a vibration of the larynx [voice box] or diaphragm,” says Elaine Wexler-Mitchell, DVM, author of Ask the Vet about Cats (BowTie Press 2004). “The vibration is stimulated by neural messages sent from the brain.”
Cat behavior expert Amy Shojai, author of PETiquette: Solving Problems in Your Multi-Cat Household (M. Evans 2005), says that purring results when laryngeal muscles alternately open and close the glottis [the combination of the vocal chords and the space between the folds], causing a sudden separation of the vocal chords. The sound is due to the sudden buildup and release of pressure from the inhaling and exhaling of breath.
Purring Messages Even though your cat purrs the same way no matter what’s going on, the circumstances surrounding the purring determine what your pet is communicating. Often it’s contentment -- a reflection of your cat’s perception that all is right in its world. However, those feline rumbles may be sending a different message in some situations. These messages include:
“I’m a nice kitty” Some cats may purr to signal to other cats that they’re friendly and want to come closer to them. In certain situations, a cat purrs to signal to another party -- feline or human -- that it poses no threat to that individual. If your cat purrs while being handled at the vet and also head bumps with forward-facing ears, she’s probably signaling that she poses no threat and feels minimal fear.
“I want to reassure myself” A cat that’s feeling nervous or upset may respond by purring. “Cats that are gravely ill will purr,” notes Wexler-Mitchell. “Purring in this situation may provide some comfort.” Dying cats are also known to purr, as are cats giving birth.
“I’m OK, you’re OK” Many experts believe that kittens, which can purr when they are only 2 days old, do so to signal to their mothers that everything is fine. The mother not only hears the sound of the kitten’s purring but also feels the vibration. Mother cats are likely to purr back to their offspring in the same spirit of reassurance.
Physical Benefits While mother cats and kittens use purring to let each other know that everything’s all right, purring also helps ensure the kittens’ survival. That’s because newborn kittens, like many newborn animals, can’t see or hear. However, they can feel the vibrations of their mother’s purring, and those vibrations can guide them to their mother and enable them to nurse. The kittens then continue to purr while they nurse, as the vibrations reassure the mother cat that her babies are where they’re supposed to be and doing what they’re supposed to be doing.
Researchers have additionally found that purring may have healing properties too. “Interesting studies indicate that purrs help speed healing, particularly of broken bones,” notes Shojai. Scientists have also found that low-level vibrations, such as those in feline purring, may help strengthen bones as well as muscles, ligaments and tendons -- which may account for the relative rarity of muscle and bone diseases in cats.
Finally, purring has a calming effect. Because of this quality, cats often serve as therapy animals in health care facilities, especially nursing homes. But a person doesn’t need to be sick to benefit from feline therapy. “Nothing can be quite so therapeutic as a purring kitty on your lap,” says Shojai. “My cat, Seren, seems to know when I need this sort of purr therapy. Petting her calms and reduces my stress.”
Do you need a break from everyday pressures and hassles? Hang out with your purring kitty and feel those stresses melt away.
About the Author
Susan McCulloughis an award-winning pet writer and the author of Housetraining for Dummies, Senior Dogs for Dummies and Beagles for Dummies. She was also honored by The Cat Writers Association as a finalist for the Muse Medallion, which recognizes excellence in writing about cats.
Posted by Virginia K. Bryan on 2009-07-02 at 17:05:15
my love!!
I just want to share with everyone that I have a beautiful cat and his name is Powder. He was named because of the fact when he was born he was the only white colored one.The mama had a litter of seven,only 6 survived. Powder was the runt of the litter and the other babies wouldn't let him nurse.Well,I went to a pet store and explain what was going on.I ended up with a baby bottle and formula plus some drop for his eyes.I really didn't think he would survive,but thanks be to God,he made it!!Powder is now going on 3yrs.old!!He has brought so much love and happiness to me.My husband passed 6yrs.ago,and I surely wasn't looking or wanting a relationship with a man.So I believe God sent him to me!! My life is so busy thanks to Powder!I'm so happy and Lucky! "our babies,"pets",really are there for us.I really feel that powder feels what i go through,when and if i'm going through it. I just want to say,that because they are animals,remember that they love also.They are there for us,and can feel when we are going thru something.. Please love your Babies,they deserve it..
Posted by elizabeth vallejo on 2009-07-11 at 17:11:48
Purring kitty
I enjoyed your article very much.
Posted by Lea on 2009-07-11 at 18:38:53
Purring
I have found that when one of my three wonderful babies leaps onto my lap, pulls him or herself up so they are laying on my chest with their head on my neck, then start purring-- it means "Mommy, I just did something I wasn't supposed to do, and I am really, really sorry." My husband and I just couldn't do without our three babies, all of whom are rescue cats.
Posted by Rae on 2009-07-16 at 08:38:45
mother with 1st litter
I have a nice female young cat with a new kitter of kittens She is healthy as well as the kittens I hope. She almost never meows but all of a sudden she seems nervous and meows all the time but eats well and takes good care of her kiittens but acts like she's trying to scratch and hurt them but she doesn't.They are about 3 weeks old all active. She acts like they need to be doing something but when I take them out of the box and put them on a blanket she tries to put them back in the box and than prowls around meowing and acting like she wants to pounce on them. This is the first cat and litter we've had so I just don't know what to make of this sudden strange behavior.Should I start trying to get the kittens to eat on their own? Or just let nature take care of it Thanks
Posted by ken fausch on 2009-07-16 at 10:32:08
Non-purring Calico
I have a 3 yr old female calico who doesn't purr. She does however whistle through her nose. Very odd.
Posted by Wes Marsh on 2009-07-18 at 14:39:10
cat does not purr or meow
Cat was given to me 8/10/08 and she is a wonderful cat but does not meow or purr do you think she was abused. She is a good cat and I know she loves me. Thank you
Posted by shirley Gever on 2009-07-19 at 08:47:32
purrs for cures
I have high blood pressure problems and adopting my 2 year old cat Smudge from my local animal shelter has made my life healthier! He is my smallest best friend; and always has something to purr about. We brought each other better health and happiness!
Posted by Renee on 2009-08-02 at 11:19:08
loud prring
I have a 2yr old torbie that is like a prring machine and prres all night but,she has a scratchy and small cry.what should I do ?
Posted by Jessica on 2009-08-02 at 12:09:41
My Feline
Hi. I adopted an older cat from a friends relative to prevent her from being euthanized. I had her for almost 3 years before she would adjust to me and even though she seems more comfortable and a tad more secure, she won't let me pet her, she runs when I approach her no matter how slow my approach. She won't let me groom her and frankly it's becoming too costly for me to take her to be groomed. I have since aquired two more cats (brothers) now they are 15 months old, she adjusted to them but still won't let me approach her. Does this mean she's been abused. Ms. Bella is approximately now 8 years old. Help!
Posted by Zelda Cropp on 2009-08-05 at 11:22:49
Early a.m. Waking
Always had dogs & now a cat....3 yrs of being woken up at 3:30-4:00 with banging & scratching on my bedroom door..I love my cat anyway..asked everyone I knew who had a cat plus 2 vets..no one had a answer...well 2 mths ago I started feeding his dinner in spurts with the final portion just before I went to bed...WOW..he is so content now I wake up without his help after 6:00am. Was so simple to solve. Hope this helps someone else. His name is Squeeky by the way.
Posted by Lil on 2009-08-06 at 07:49:31
crying cat
my cat cries constantly and I don't know what to do, she doesn't need anything and she doesnt want to be pet she just cries and cries and its really annoying, any suggestions?
Posted by dawn on 2009-08-09 at 00:12:09
3 babies
I have three male cats,ages 13yrs,5yrs,3mths i wouldn't give them up for anything, they're my pride,and joy. i love them so much they are my babies after all, so if you own a cat love it and they will love you back.
Posted by amy on 2009-08-20 at 23:51:09
purring
My black cat who has a tendency to bite me but not drawing blood or anything, has recently been coming on my lap. I have been diagnosed with breast cancer and believe she is now doing this because she really loves me.
Posted by Anne on 2009-08-21 at 23:12:37
purring
I had a a pure white cat growing up. Whenever you even looked at her, she would purr. She loved being in someones lap.
Posted by John on 2009-08-30 at 16:14:13
My 2 Sweetheart Kitties
I have 2 female cats a little over a yr. old. and they are my Sweethearts. They comfort me when stressed or check on me if I'm sick they are truely 2 loving cats. I have an all white kitty & an all grey kitty & would never give them up for nothing. I lost my Mom a little over a year ago and I got my all grey cat to keep me company & then got my all white kitty to keep my all grey kitty company and they are keeping me company. they always purr when I pick them up.
Posted by Barbi Dingman on 2009-09-04 at 19:12:15
Mean
I have five cats and all of them I have found and brought home. some of them have been abused. I have one female and four boys. My female I have had for about 4 yrs. I brought home a litte boy about 2 mons old that some one had abused. He is just the sweetest thing. My female cate from the day i brought him home has been so mean to him and is always jumping on him. He is now over a year olkd and she is still jumping on him and keeps him so scared of her. She does not miss with any of the others, just him. What can I do with her?
Posted by Teresa Smart on 2009-09-10 at 14:07:41
cat
i want a cat
Posted by claire bowman on 2009-09-28 at 18:40:19
mean
your female cat is probably a little angry about the new cat or feels threatened or something. I just brought home a 3 month old kitten and my 3 yr old female cat is insanely jealous. she kept hitting him and she's a lot bigger than her. i've been keeping the little one (davidson) in the bedroom at night alone and i do tell my female no when she hits him....she knows what im saying. when i say no she looks at me and walks away. i know that's not the best advice since you've had him for a year now but i hope that helps!
Posted by amanda b on 2009-10-01 at 18:23:49
mean
I have a large 8yr old male cat. We found a female cat a year ago that bites and jumps on the male all the time. I use a squirt bottle with water on the female, now I just show her the water bottle and she backs off.
Posted by nancy r on 2009-10-21 at 08:31:05
feral Fiv cat
trying to save...2months of feeding it finally came tome puering rolling over on his back etc....took him to my vet and they didnt know how to handle it...bit a tech now is stuck there for 8 more days also have another cat at home no infected.....any chance i can save this feral fiv cat?
Posted by rugger on 2009-10-22 at 22:57:10
Purring Kitten
My 9 week old kitten purrs quite often. just recently it has started licking and purring. sometimes I can easily get it to stop licking and it will continue to purr. but other times it will purr right before it attacks and bites me or my 10 yearold daughter. I can not seem to get it to stop bitting, do you have any suggestions? We call her Boo because she also likes to jump out of no where and attack you (playfully).
Posted by Shawnc on 2009-10-23 at 13:14:58
omg
mycat is funny and crazy
Posted by tj on 2009-11-11 at 17:06:47
siamese
Ilove my two stray siamesecats
Posted by marie on 2009-11-12 at 12:30:12
Sophie
I just gotta tell ya-- I love my cat-- I feel so important and loved when Sophie comes to me for a hug.
March 11 is Johnny Appleseed Day, marking the date on which famed nurseryman John Chapman is believed to have died. Johnny Appleseed planted apple trees all across America, but are apples included in some high-quality cat foods?
Suggestion Box
Do you have a comment about something you've read?
Send to a Friend
Digg
del.icio.us
